Top Stories: What to Expect at WWDC, Back to School Promotion, 16" MacBook Pro Gets Faster Graphics Option

This week was mostly about Apple gearing up for WWDC, but aside from the expected preparations like updating its apps and websites to stream the keynote and other sessions and beefing up other areas to support the first all-digital WWDC, Apple also cleared the decks a bit with a few launches including a new high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, SSD kits for the Mac Pro, and the annual Back to School promotion.


Another big story this week was Apple's rejection of apps for the new "Hey" email service, due to the developers refusing to include a payment option using Apple's in-app purchase mechanism. The situation is leading to a more comprehensive discussion about what the rules for playing in the App Store should be more than a decade after the marketplace's debut.

Check out our video above and read on below for more on this week's biggest stories and to make sure you're ready to go for WWDC on Monday!

What to Expect at WWDC 2020: New iMac, Custom Arm-Based Chip Unveiling, iOS 14, macOS 10.16, and More

In a world that could use a little excitement, WWDC 2020 is finally almost here. While the event will be held virtually this year, it will still be jam-packed with announcements, with everything from iOS 14 to a potential redesigned iMac. For a look at everything we expect or hope to see at Monday's keynote, check out our overview guide!

MR WWDC 2020 What to Expect 3
Ahead of WWDC, Apple got the ball rolling this week by updating its Developer app and extending it to the Mac, announcing its Swift Student Challenge winners, launching its redesigned Developer Forums, and more.

Apple will live stream Monday's WWDC keynote at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through its website, the Apple Developer apps, the TV app on the Apple TV and other platforms, and on YouTube, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

16-Inch MacBook Pro Now Available With Up to 75% Faster Radeon Pro 5600M Graphics

As a pre-WWDC treat, Apple has released a new high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. For an extra $700, the notebook can now be configured with AMD Radeon Pro 5600M graphics with 8GB of HBM2 memory.

16 MBP Faster Grahpics Feature 2 1
Apple says the 5600M graphics are up to 75% faster than the base 5300M option.

Apple has also released user-installable SSD storage upgrade kits for the Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options available. Each kit contains two SSD modules, enabling users to upgrade the internal storage capacity of a Mac Pro themselves without needing to contact a service provider.

Apple Card Extends 0% Financing to Mac, iPad, and More

Previously limited to the iPhone, Apple Card Monthly Installments are now available for the Mac, iPad, AirPods, HomePod, Apple TV, and several accessories, including the Apple Pencil.

Apple Card 0 percent finance 1
This program allows customers to purchase new Apple products and pay for them in 6-24 monthly installments without any interest charges.

Apple Card remains limited to the United States.

Apple Launches 2020 Back to School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac or iPad Purchase

Apple has launched its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and Canada, several weeks earlier than usual. This year, Apple is offering free second-generation AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad.

back to school 2020 feature
During the checkout process, it is also possible to upgrade to second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for an additional $40 or to AirPods Pro for $90.

Phil Schiller: Apple Will Not Change Decision on 'Hey' Email App, No App Store Rule Updates Imminent

The App Store developer rules are back in the spotlight just ahead of WWDC, as controversy has erupted surrounding Apple's rejection of the new "Hey" email service that refuses to implement subscriptions via Apple's in-app purchase.

heyemailapp
Apple is digging in its heels in noting that email apps like Hey don't qualify for an exemption of the in-app purchase requirement, which is limited to "reader" apps for content services like Netflix and Spotify. The controversy is leading to a broader discussion about Apple's App Store rules, the fees it charges, and more.

Alleged iPhone 12 Molds and CAD Images Show New iPad Pro-Style Design

Alleged molds and CAD images for Apple's rumored iPhone 12 models suggest that the devices will have flat edges like recent iPad Pro models, as widely rumored. The return of this design would coincide with the 10th anniversary of the iPhone 4, which also featured a flat stainless steel frame.

iphone12another3dprint feature
There remains some debate as to whether the iPhone 12 models will feature a smaller notch, and exactly how many models will feature a LiDAR Scanner for augmented reality. It is also unclear whether the devices will be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G, as widely rumored, or the Snapdragon X60 as one report has claimed.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...

Top Rated Comments

HenrikWivel Avatar
58 months ago
Already preparing myself for a ‘magical’ event that will get me completely underwhelmed ?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FightTheFuture Avatar
58 months ago

Already preparing myself for a ‘magical’ event that will get me completely underwhelmed ?
If it’s coming next week, I think an ARM based Mac roadmap is gonna be plenty exciting. Even if you’re against the idea, it’s still a giant change.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
58 months ago

For Apple to really put Metal to use in the living room. The Nintendo Switch is a low-performance device and is immensely popular. I think a lot of people realize content is king — The majority don’t buy for just high-end specs alone. Apple is best positioned to throw all their gaming chips in on console competition with an Apple TV vs the Mac, iPhone, or iPad because it has a constant power source and no portability aspect. It’s an opportunity for them to expand Apple Arcade adoption as well. Where they would normally use power conserving techniques in a chip, they can push more to the limits on Apple TV because battery life is of no concern.

Release something like this a year before your AR/VR product and you have two stellar years in a row where you’re just killin’ it on the vertical integration front. I’m not convinced the reverse would work out as well. We’ll see what happens!
I don’t think the problem with ATV and gaming is a hardware problem. Maybe I’m wrong. But it seems to me if they sold the damned things with bundled controllers and then let devs write games that could only be played with controllers (and didn’t mandate that games had to be playable with the remote), it would go a long way.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AussieStu Avatar
58 months ago
I just want a MacBook Pro with Magsafe again. Some actual ports I can use, updated hardware and ram and SSD i can upgrade. Since Jonny left they seem to be slightly going back to how they used to be. How many times i have tripped over cables and pulled peoples MBPs off tables because of this stupid USB C ****.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
58 months ago

Bloomberg are saying ATV hardware later this year.

Azrael.
What is it people are hoping for in the new ATV?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sideshowuniqueuser Avatar
58 months ago

I wonder which x86 MBP will be the long term edition like the mid-2012 13" MBP was being sold as new long into 2015?
If they still sold the rMBP15, I'd happily buy a brand new one!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)