MacRumors

For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with BlackPods to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a AirPods that have been custom-painted in black or space gray. We've partnered with BlackPods to give away several sets of AirPods, and they're always our most popular giveaways.

If you haven't come across BlackPods before, the company takes a regular set of boring white AirPods and then paints them in one of three sleek, unique shades of black or gray using a proprietary painting system.

BlackPods uses a multi-phase painting process for a high-quality coating of paint that's not going to chip, fade, scuff, or otherwise get damaged from regular usage. Each set of BlackPods is completed by hand and given a rigorous inspection to ensure a flawless finish.

When BlackPods first launched, there were two colors -- the BlackPods Classic with a high-gloss finish and the BlackPods Stealth, with a matte satin finish -- but BlackPods this year introduced a stylish new Space Gray shade that has an iPhone-style metallic finish.

BlackPods cost $279 for the original high gloss finish or $299 for matte black or space gray, which is a $120+ premium over standard AirPods, but it's one of the only ways to get AirPods in a darker shade that better matches Apple's Space Gray iPhones.

If you already have AirPods, BlackPods has a service for the painting process alone. You can send in your AirPods and BlackPods will paint them for you. It takes about 10 days and it costs $99 to $119, with that price covering the cost of both the AirPods and the AirPods Charging Case.

BlackPods are repainted AirPods, so the full AirPods functionality remains intact, with a W1 chip for simple pairing, a long battery life, a built-in accelerometer for ear detection, iCloud support for device switching, and gesture support.

We have one set of BlackPods to give away to a MacRumors reader, with the winner able to choose a Stealth, Classic, or Space gray finish. 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 winners and send prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook 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 (March 30) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on April 6. The winner will be chosen randomly on April 6 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

The Chainsmokers: Memories is a new short documentary series that's available on Apple Music starting today. There are six videos in total available to watch right now, each ranging in length from just over two minutes to five and a half minutes.

The videos in the series follow The Chainsmokers' Do Not Open worldwide arena tour and the rollout of singles like "Sick Boy," "You Owe Me," and "Everybody Hates Me," which are part of a new album coming in December of 2018.

While the first six episodes are available today and focus on the tour, Billboard says additional episodes could cover The Chainsmokers' Las Vegas residency at the XS Nightclub along with time spent in the studio.

A group of criminals in China were caught smuggling 500 million yuan ($79.8 million) worth of refurbished iPhones from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, using drones connected via cables to transport the smartphones. Reported by the Legal Daily (via Reuters), customs officers in Shenzhen caught the group and ceased its illegal actions, arresting 26 total suspects in the process.

The group was using drones to fly two 660-foot cables between Hong Kong and the mainland as a method of transporting the iPhones. They typically operated after midnight and into the morning hours, and "only needed seconds" to transport small bags that held 10 iPhones or more using the cable-connected drones. In one night, they could reach a quota of as many as 15,000 iPhones transported.

According to a news conference held by the customs officers, this marks "the first case found in China that drones were being used in cross-border smuggling crimes."

Shenzhen customs was quoted by the Legal Daily as saying it would closely monitor new types of smuggling with high-tech devices and enhance their capability with technical equipment, including drones and high-resolution monitors, to detect smuggling activity.

Drone regulations are said to be "an important task" for Chinese officials, with the government publishing a series of strict rules in 2017 after drones were found to be interfering with aircraft flight paths. Civilian drone owners are now required to register any drone "up to a certain weight" using their real names.

While using drones might be new, the act of individuals attempting to smuggle iPhones out of Hong Kong has certainly been around for years. In early 2015, a man tried to smuggle 94 iPhones into mainland China by strapping them onto his body and under his clothes. Smuggling operations pop up frequently because of higher import taxes, which cause the iPhones to be more expensive in the mainland than they are in Hong Kong.

Twitter this week updated its iOS and Android apps with a new feature called "Timestamps," which the company said will make it easier to share brief moments from longer live videos.

Previously, Twitter users had to direct their followers to specific time codes in a live video so that people knew which moment they were referring to. The Timestamps update is a direct response to that, according to product lead for Periscope Mike Folgner.

Now, when users tap the share sheet extension on a live video, Twitter displays a playback track that they can scrub through to find the exact moment they want their followers to watch. Then they can tap the "new tweet" button, type in any commentary on the video clip, and press "tweet." The clips can also be sent via direct message or copied and shared through a link.

So, we built Timestamps which lets anyone Tweet a live or replay video starting from the exact moment they want to discuss.

People have always used Twitter to talk about the things they experience. With Timestamps, now we can show rather than just tell everyone what’s happening.

People who see the tweet will be able to watch the specific moment shared within, and if the broadcast is still live they can skip forward in time by tapping "live." Folgner said the feature is available across all live videos, "whether from a professional content publisher or someone broadcasting from their phone."

Timestamps are available now on Twitter for iOS [Direct Link] and Android, Twitter.com, and Periscope.

MyFitnessPal parent company Under Armour today announced that MyFitnessPal has been the victim of a hacking incident, which has seen personal details of approximately 150 million user accounts accessed in a data breach.

MyFitnessPal is a popular health and fitness iOS app and website that's used by many iPhone and iPad owners, and it is consistently among the top Health and Fitness apps in the App Store.

The breach, which happened in late February, included usernames, emails, and encrypted passwords. Credit card numbers from paying customers were not accessed.

Under Armor has already been sending emails and in-app messages to its customers who were affected by the breach. The company says it is working with "leading data security firms" to assist in its investigation.

MyFitnessPal users will be required to change their passwords.

On our YouTube channel, we've got a monthly series that highlights new, interesting, fun, and useful apps that we think are worth downloading and checking out.

There are so many apps on the iOS App Store, which makes it hard to find new content, and it can also be easy to overlook great apps that are a bit older. We've designed our app lists to include apps - both old and new - that we personally recommend and have used over the course of the month.

• Pocket Penguins (Free) - Here in the Bay Area, we have a great place that's part zoo, part science museum, and part research institute called the California Academy of the Sciences. The California Academy of Sciences is home to a bunch of endangered African penguins (as part of a breeding program), which you can watch through the Pocket Penguins app. It's a penguin livestream that's on 24/7, and it's a fun second screen activity (there's an Apple TV app too) or something to do when you need a wildlife breather. If you like the penguins, you may also like the stingray feed.
• Hop (Free) - There's a popular game called Hop, but we're talking about the email app in this week's video. Hop is a team-based email app that's designed to make your email more like a chat conversation than a traditional email inbox. It's supposed to make sending and managing emails much faster for those of us who need some assistance cutting down on the inbox time.
• Pod Calendar (Free) - Pod Calendar is a free app that's a simple, light alternative to the standard Calendar app on the iPhone and iPad. It uses color coding for all of your events so it's easy to see what's going on at a glance, and it uses natural language for adding new entries quickly. There's support for multiple calendars, multiple reminders, an interaction history for your contacts, and tools for sending quick emails and messages.
• Zedge Wallpapers (Free) - As the name suggests, this is an app for downloading wallpapers. When we upload videos, we get a lot of questions about the wallpaper we're using. A lot of the time, the wallpapers in our videos are from this app. Check it out if you're looking for a fresh look for your iPhone - there are thousands to choose from.
• PUBG (and Fortnite) (Free) - Unless you're living under a rock, you've heard of PUBG and Fortnite, both of which are battle royale-style games that are super popular right now. The idea is to kill or be killed, with the aim of the game to be the last person standing. PUBG and Fortnite both came out on iOS recently, with PUBG available to everyone and Fortnite available as a beta. You might not think a battle royale game would work on an iOS device, but both of these games are surprisingly good and worth checking out.

If you have favorite iOS apps, make sure to share them with us. We'll check out what you have to recommend and we may just include them next month. Want more apps? Check out our February recommendations.

Zendesk is partnering with Apple to introduce support for the Business Chat beta feature that's available in the Messages app on iOS devices running the new iOS 11.3 update.

With Business Chat integration, retailers who use Zendesk tools for customer support will be able to interact with customers using the Messages app, providing more prompt and responsive support.

"Today's customer expects to communicate with businesses in the same way they do with friends, on whatever channel is most convenient for them." said Caitlin Henehan, VP & GM of Zendesk Chat. "Zendesk's integration with Apple Business Chat Beta will allow customers to engage with businesses on a much more personal level through Message. Companies will be able to provide timely responses and interact on the channel that is familiar and accessible to the consumer."

First announced when iOS 11.3 was previewed in January, Business Chat is designed to allow iPhone, iPad, and macOS users to communicate directly with businesses right within the Messages app. Business Chat allows users to chat with businesses, schedule appointments, and make purchases.

As with most of its services, Apple focused on privacy with Business Chat. No business is provided with a user's contact information and chats can be ended at any time.

In addition to Zendesk support, several major companies are supporting Business Chat at launch, including Lowe's, Discover, Hilton, and Wells Fargo. Additional businesses are likely to begin adopting the feature in the near future.

Business Chat is currently in beta and is available to users who are running iOS 11.3 in the United States.

A few weeks ago MacRumors announced a partnership with accessory maker Twelve South, offering spring break travelers the chance to get five vacation-friendly items discounted by 15 percent. That sale will end tomorrow, March 30, so be sure to head over to TwelveSouth.com and use the promo code MacRumorsSpringBreak on any of the items listed below before the code expires.

• CableSnap - $16.99, down from $19.99

• Compass 2 - $25.49, down from $29.99

• PlugBug World - $38.24, down from $44.99

• BookBook CaddySack - $42.49, down from $49.99

• TimePorter - $42.49, down from $49.99

Customers browsing Twelve South this week should also note that the company has discounted its BookBook case for iPad and iPad Pro by $20 following the launch of the sixth-generation iPad on Tuesday. The case fits the new 2018 iPad as well as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro first released in 2016, and comes in Brown ($59.99, down from $79.99) and Rutledge ($79.99, down from $99.99).

RAVPower also has a sale ending tomorrow, this one on a pair of wireless chargers at Amazon, with savings of 20 percent hitting both the HyperAir stand and HyperAir pad. We reviewed both stands recently and came away impressed with each device, although the HyperAir stand just beat out the HyperAir pad in our charging time tests.

If you're still on the lookout for a new charging mat for an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X, head over to Amazon and use promo code MACRPC69 to bring the stand down to $39.99, from $49.99, and use promo code MACRPC66 to bring the pad down to $30.59, from $39.99.

Anker typically has numerous sales on Apple-related accessories happening at Amazon, and this week the company is offering 30 percent off USB-C charging and power accessories that should make nice companions with Apple's recent line of MacBooks. There's also a collection of portable chargers, power strips, and iPhone cases up for sale.

Below you'll find a list of Anker's latest deals, including the dates they expire and the promo codes needed for each sale. Note that prices exclude shipping and handling fees, but Amazon Prime members will get the usual 2-day free shipping.

Expires April 8, use code ANKEBEST

• Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 3ft - $7.69, down from $10.99

• Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 6ft - $9.79, down from $13.99

• Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C Cable 3ft - $6.99, down from $9.99

• Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C Cable 6ft - $8.39, down from $11.99

• Anker PowerPort Wireless 10, Qi-Certified Charging Pad - $18.19, down from $25.99

• Anker Premium 5-Port 60W USB Wall Charger, USB-C with Power Delivery - $37.79, down from $53.99

• Anker Quick Charge 3.0 39W Dual USB Wall Charger - $16.79, down from $23.99

Other Anker Sales

• PowerCore II 20,100mAh Portable Charger - $35.99 with code ANKERPC2, down from $49.99 (exp. 4/20)

• 12 Outlets + 3 USB Ports Surge Protector - $26.99 with code SUPERPWR, down from $34.99 (exp. 4/13)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Breeze Case - Gunmetal - $6.99 with code BLCK9015, down from $8.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Breeze Case - Rose Gold - $7.99 with code PINK9015, down from $9.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Silicone Case - Black - $8.99 with code BLCK9027, down from $15.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Silicone Case - Pink - $8.99 with code PINK9027, down from $15.99 (exp. 4/10)

• Slim Profile Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard - White - $17.99 with code ANKER721, down from $21.99 (exp. 4/1)

Head over to our full Deals Roundup for more sales information, including a free $25 e-gift card from Best Buy with the purchase of the new 9.7-inch iPad, along with the retailer's ongoing discounts on MacBook Air, iPad mini 4, and more.

Alongside iOS 11.3, watchOS 4.3, and tvOS 11.3, Apple today released a new 11.3 software update designed for the HomePod.

This marks the first software update that's been released for the HomePod since it became available for purchase in February.

The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod after you update to iOS 11.3, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.

It's not clear what new features are included in the HomePod software just yet, but we are waiting on both AirPlay 2 and a feature to allow two HomePods to be paired together for stereo sound. Apple's release notes don't divulge any details about what might be included, suggesting these features have not been implemented.

According to the release notes, the update "includes general improvements for stability and quality."

Apple today released watchOS 4.3, the third major update to the watchOS 4 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 4.3 comes more than three months after the release of watchOS 4.2, the last major update that brought Apple Pay Cash.

watchOS 4.3 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4.3 introduces support for Nightstand mode when the Apple Watch is positioned in a portrait orientation, a feature that was previously only available when the watch was placed in landscape orientation on its side.

Today's update also reintroduces a much-desired feature that allows music playing on the iPhone to be controlled using the Music app on the Apple Watch.

In previous versions of watchOS, starting with watchOS 4, the Music app could only be used to control music playing on the watch itself. watchOS 4.3 returns pre-watchOS 4 functionality and once again allows you to select the music playing on your iPhone from the Apple Watch. With watchOS 4.3, you're also able to control playback and volume on the HomePod using the Apple Watch.

Other new features in watchOS 4.3 include a new charging animation when the Apple Watch is placed on the charger and a new app loading animation when opening up an app. You'll also now see your Activity data on the Siri watch face, and the battery complication more accurately reports battery life.

For more on the watchOS 4 operating system, make sure to check out our dedicated watchOS 4 roundup.

Apple today released tvOS 11.3, the second major update to the tvOS operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 11.3 comes more than three months after the release of tvOS 11.2, and a month after the release of a minor tvOS 11.2.6 update.

tvOS 11.3 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 11.3 automatically.

tvOS 11.3 introduces performance improvements and bug fixes for issues discovered following the release of tvOS 11.2.6.

The update introduces enhancements to Match Content support, automatic frame rate switching on the fourth-generation Apple TV (a feature that was added to Apple TV 4K in a past update), and automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions.

The TV app, designed to let users find and watch television shows and movies aggregated from entertainment apps, is expanding to Brazil and Mexico. Brazil is also gaining Siri support on Apple TV 4K and the fourth-generation Apple TV.

Early beta versions of tvOS 11.3 included support for AirPlay 2, allowing the Apple TV to be added to the Home app as part of a HomeKit setup and enabling multi-room audio across multiple Apple TVs.

AirPlay 2 functionality was, however, removed in the third beta of tvOS 11.3, eliminating these features. AirPlay 2 was not re-added during the beta testing period, so it's likely Apple is saving the feature for a future update.