MacRumors

Apple apparently provided some user data to a hacker group that forged legal requests for the information in a 2021 social engineering scam, reports Bloomberg, citing three sources with knowledge of what happened.

The hackers masqueraded as law enforcement officials and were able to convince Apple's staff to provide them with data that included customer addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses after sending forged "emergency data requests."

Typically, Apple provides this information with a search warrant or subpoena from a judge, but that does not apply with emergency requests because they are used in cases of imminent danger. Apple did not confirm that data had been shared, and directed Bloomberg to its law enforcement guidelines when asked for comment.

In response to a request for comment, an Apple representative referred Bloomberg News to a section of its law enforcement guidelines.

The guidelines referenced by Apple say that a supervisor for the government or law enforcement agent who submitted the request "may be contacted and asked to confirm to Apple that the emergency request was legitimate," the Apple guideline states.

Facebook parent company Meta also provided data to the same hacker group, and in a statement, Meta said that it is working with law enforcement on the suspected fraudulent requests. Information obtained from Apple, Facebook, and others has been used in harassment campaigns and could be used in financial fraud schemes.

The requests were sent from hacked email domains belonging to law enforcement officials from multiple countries, and were crafted to look legitimate with forged signatures of real or fictional law enforcement officers.

According to Bloomberg, a cybercrime group known as "Recursion Team" is linked to some of the forged legal requests that were sent to various companies in 2021. Some of the hackers are believed to be minors located in the United States and United Kingdom, and at least one of the minors involved has also participated in the Lapsus$ group that attacked Microsoft, Samsung, and Nvidia.

As The Verge pointed out earlier today, Lapsus$ shared a post on Telegram claiming to have stolen 70GB of data from international software developer Globant, and screenshots of the data captured show a folder called "apple-health-app." What's in that folder and whether it contains data obtained from Apple is unclear.

Apple is working on a multiyear plan to bring its financial services in-house in the future, cutting down on the need for financial partners like Goldman Sachs, reports Bloomberg.

Apple is developing payment processing technology and infrastructure such as lending risk assessment, fraud analysis, credit checks, and dispute handling, plus it is working on tools for calculating interest, rewards, approving transactions, reporting data to credit bureaus, increasing credit limits, and more. Part of this project is called "Breakout" internally, as it would see Apple moving away from the current financial systems that it uses.

At the current time, Apple works with Goldman Sachs Bank and CoreCard for the Apple Card, Green Dot for Apple Cash, and Citizens Bank for the iPhone Upgrade Program, but Bloomberg says Apple's work on financial services would be aimed at future products rather than its current products.

Apple already has Apple Pay and ‌Apple Card‌, plus it is developing a future subscription service for hardware and a "buy now, pay later" option for ‌Apple Pay‌ transactions.

The "buy now, pay later" feature, which is called "‌Apple Pay‌ Later" internally, is expected to be the first product to use Apple's new system. There will be an option for a four-payment ‌Apple Pay‌ purchase called "‌Apple Pay‌ in 4," and an option for long-term payment plans through "‌Apple Pay‌ Monthly Installments." The ‌Apple Pay‌ in 4 feature could use Apple's in-house payment processing, while the longer term financing would be handled by Goldman Sachs.

In the future, Apple could also use its new system for the hardware subscription plan that it has in the works, plus it could serve as lender for more "buy now, pay later" services. To start with, Apple could limit risk by requiring customers to use debit cards, plus its in-house risk assessment tools could take into account Apple purchase history and factors like whether a credit card attached to the App Store has been declined to determine whether a customer can use the payment services.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has faced some "hurdles" building its financial services product, so there is a chance that it could end up delaying its plans, or could continue to work with partners, though this is a "very unlikely scenario."

Apple earlier in March released the Studio Display, its first standalone display since the Pro Display XDR. iFixit today disassembled the Studio Display in a video teardown to give us a look at the internals.

The inside of the Studio Display may be confusing at first because it has an internal setup that's not too dissimilar from a computer like the Intel iMac, thanks to the inclusion of an A13 chip, speakers, and fans. Several iFixit staff members were shown an opened up ‌iMac‌ and a Studio Display and asked to determine which was which, and many of them got it wrong.

The Studio Display opens up with an ‌iMac‌ opening tool, so it's easy to get to the components inside. iFixit last week gave a quick look at the Studio Display in its Mac Studio teardown, and confirmed at that time that the Studio Display Camera is essentially identical to the iPhone 11 camera.

There's no internal indicator of why the Studio Display camera has been experiencing quality issues, and Apple has promised a software fix that's coming in the future.

The Studio Display is using the exact same display as the 5K ‌iMac‌, and there's an internal power supply, which iFixit says is an impressive feat of engineering. The internal power supply makes the Studio Display different from the ‌iMac‌ because it requires massive fans for heat dissipation, plus it requires a ~50 percent thicker chassis.

The speakers are "impressive for a display," and are glued down, which will make the speaker hardware difficult to remove. According to iFixit, the Studio Display's build in general is an "impressive testament to Apple's ability to solve problems."

iFixit has not yet shared a full written teardown of the Mac Studio or the Studio Display, so there could still be a few additional tidbits to discover when the complete teardowns are available in the future.

Apple is unlikely to release any iPhone models with under-screen Touch ID within the next two years, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet today.

In a September 2021 research note, Kuo had predicted that Apple would launch at least one new iPhone model with an under-screen fingerprint scanner in the second half of 2023, but his latest tweet suggests this is unlikely to happen anymore.

"I previously predicted iPhones would support under-display fingerprint sensing/Touch ID in 2023 at the earliest," tweeted Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities. "But the latest survey indicates new iPhones in 2023 & 2024 may not adopt under-display Touch ID. Face ID with a mask on iPhone is already a great biometrics solution."

Apple did test an under-screen fingerprint scanner for at least some iPhone 13 models, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but Apple apparently decided not to move forward with the idea.

Under-screen Touch ID would have been most useful when Face ID did not work with masks, but iOS 15.4 introduced a new "Face ID with a Mask" feature on iPhone 12 models and newer. An argument could still be made that having both Face ID and under-screen Touch ID on an iPhone would provide customers with the best of both worlds, but Kuo's tweet suggests that will not happen for several years, if ever.

There remains a possibility that Apple introduces an iPhone with Touch ID built into the power button, in line with the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models, but there haven't been any rumors to suggest that Apple plans to go down that avenue.

Apple Watch Series 7 discounts have been frequent in the first few months of 2022, and Amazon this week is still offering solid discounts across nearly every model of the latest Apple Watch. Overall, the newest sales are taking up to $50 off Series 7 devices and offering all-time low prices in a few cases.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

41mm GPS Aluminum

You can get the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 for $349.00 in all colors, down from $399.00. This version of the Apple Watch Series 7 has been down to $339.00 in previous sales, so today's deal is a good second-best option.

• (Product)Red with (Product)Red Sport Band - $349.99, down from $399.00
• Green with Clover Sport Band - $349.00, down from $399.00
• Starlight with Starlight Sport Band - $349.00, down from $399.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $349.00, down from $399.00
• Blue with Abyss Blue Sport Band - $349.00, down from $399.00

45mm GPS Aluminum

There are fewer sales on the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 this week, and it's priced at $379.00 in three colors, down from $429.00. Just like the 41mm option, we have seen a steeper discount in the past that reached another $10 off these models, making today's deal the second-best price.

• (Product)Red with (Product)Red Sport Band - $379.00, down from $429.00
• Blue with Abyss Blue Sport Band - $379.00, down from $429.00
• Green with Clover Sport Band - $379.00, down from $429.00

41mm Cellular Aluminum

Four of the 41mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 devices are on sale on Amazon this week, with record low discounts on the Midnight, Green, (Product)Red, and Starlight models. As with other versions of the Apple Watch Series 7, most models are in stock and ready to ship today.

• (Product)Red with (Product)Red Sport Band - $449.00, down from $499.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $449.00, down from $499.00
• Green with Clover Sport Band - $449.99, down from $499.00
• Starlight with Starlight Sport Band - $449.00, down from $499.00

45mm Cellular Aluminum

Finally, Amazon has two of the 45mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 devices at $479.00, down from $529.00. You can get this sale in the Green and Midnight aluminum color options, and at $50 off this is still an all-time low price on these models.

• Green with Clover Sport Band - $479.00, down from $529.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $479.00, down from $529.00

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Meta (aka Facebook) today announced the introduction of Messenger "shortcuts," a new Slack-style command system that allows users to speed up communication and get messages to their intended recipients.

Building on the @username tagging method to direct a message to a specific person in a chat, the new system introduces @everyone for grabbing everyone's attention in a group chat, and /silent to send a message to members of a chat without them being immediately notified about it during their off hours.

Messenger is also gaining additional shortcuts over the next few weeks that aim to be both practical and fun, such as /Pay to send and receive money within one-on-one Messenger chats (U.S only) and /gif to easily find and send GIFs. Users need only type /gif and then their chosen topic to see GIF options appear.

Lastly, Messenger on iOS is soon to support /shrug and /tableflip to more easily convey the old-school text-based emoticons ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻. Meta says these are just the first of many more shortcuts coming to Messenger later this year.

Apple today released its 16th annual People and Environment in Our Supply Chain report. Previously known as the Supplier Responsibility report, the document details how Apple and its suppliers are supporting people across the company's supply chain, transitioning to clean energy, and investing in innovative technologies.

Apple also announced a new $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund that the company said will expand access to learning opportunities and skills development for people across its supply chain. Apple said the fund also includes new and expanded partnerships with rights advocates, universities, and non-profit organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the International Labor Organization.

Apple said the new educational programming will be initially available to supplier employees in the United States, China, India, and Vietnam. By 2023, Apple said it expects more than 100,000 supplier employees to participate in new learning opportunities, ranging from leadership training and technical certifications to classes on coding, robotics, and advanced manufacturing fundamentals, including green manufacturing.

"We put people first in everything that we do, and we're proud to announce a new commitment to accelerate our progress and provide even more opportunities for people across our supply chain," said Sarah Chandler, Apple's senior director of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation. "Together with rights advocates and education leaders, we are continuing to drive new innovation to support people and the planet."

Apple is facing a new multibillion-euro lawsuit out of The Netherlands that alleges the company overcharges users who purchase apps and in-app subscriptions through the App Store and accuses Apple of partaking in "market dominance" and "anti-competitive practices."

The foundation spearheading the lawsuit is the Consumer Competition Claims Foundation, which describes itself as "an independent non-profit foundation that is committed to protecting consumers against unfair commercial practices and violations of consumer law."

On its website, the foundation says that Apple, through its ‌App Store‌ policies, is overcharging users who pay for apps and in-app services, adding that users should "demand" refunds for purchases.

By using anti-competitive practices, Apple has been able to charge excessively high prices and impose restrictive conditions. Apple excluded all competition and withheld choice for consumers on their App-store and in-app purchases.

The foundation points to what is commonly referred to as the "Apple tax," a 15% or 30% commission that Apple takes for all digital purchases made on and through the ‌App Store‌. The foundation says that the commission forces developers to increase prices for users. "iPhone and iPad owners pay the price for Apple's App-store abusive monopoly," the foundation states.

Bloomberg reports the foundation believes the lawsuit will lead to upwards of $5.5 billion in damages sought for all EU ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ users who have made a purchase through Apple's ‌App Store‌. On its website, the foundation asks customers to join their efforts to "hold Apple accountable."

The new lawsuit is one of several legal battles brewing for Apple in Europe. Apple continues to be fined by the Dutch consumer and markets authority for its failure to comply with a previous ruling, which allows for third-party payment methods for Dutch dating apps. The authority says that despite Apple's announcement and plan to let eligible developers use a third-party payment method for in-app purchases, Apple still fails to comply with the new ruling. Apple has been fined €50 million as a consequence.

When it comes to downloading iOS software updates, Apple users can be reasonably divided into two camps: Those who manually seek out updates the moment Apple releases them, and those who are happy to let their device's Automatic Updates feature take care of everything in the background with minimal input on their part.

While it's generally acknowledged that manually tapping into Settings -> General -> Software Update is the faster option, Apple has never really explained why auto-updates tend to come through to users sometimes days or even weeks later – until now.

Interested iPhone user Mateusz Buda put this question in an email to Craig Federighi, Apple's senior VP of software engineering. In the email, Buda explained that he had turned on auto-updates, and yet after two weeks since the public release of iOS 15.4 he still hadn't received an update notification. "What conditions must be met for this function to work?" Buda asked. To his surprise, Federighi responded and was happy to explain.

Hi Mateusz,

We incrementally rollout new iOS updates by first making them available for those that explicitly seek them out in Settings, and then 1-4 weeks later (after we've received feedback on the update) ramp up to rolling out devices with auto-update enabled.

Hope that helps!

- craig

Given the number of iPhones and iPads in the world, it's not hugely surprising to hear that Apple's software update strategy proceeds in a staged rollout. By implementing an intentional delay of between 1-4 weeks for users with auto-updates turned on, Apple adds a level of protection for its servers so they aren't easily overloaded when a new version of iOS is released.

Still, it's interesting to learn that Apple also considers its auto-update feature to be a safeguard when things go wrong: If early adopters report serious bugs with the software, Apple still has a window of opportunity to resolve any server-side issues or pull the update entirely before the wider user base has automatically downloaded it.

In a somewhat related point, made by several Redditors, Apple hasn't explained why some app auto-updates are also sometimes very late to be delivered to users, but perhaps the reasoning is the same: Server protection and an ability to action feedback before a wider rollout is complete.

Apple today announced that it will report its earnings results for the second fiscal quarter (first calendar quarter) of 2022 on Thursday, April 28.

The earnings report and subsequent call will provide us with insight into the period between late December and March, which is typically a slow quarter for Apple following the holiday quarter. Apple in March came out with the 5G iPhone SE, the 5G iPad Air, the Mac Studio, and the Studio Display.

Apple reported revenue of $89.6 billion revenue in the year-ago quarter, but Apple did not provide guidance for the quarter due to continuing uncertainty caused by the global health crisis and chip shortages.

Apple's quarterly earnings statement will be released at 1:30 p.m. Pacific/4:30 p.m. Eastern, with a conference call to discuss the report taking place at 2:00 p.m. Pacific/5:00 p.m. Eastern. MacRumors will provide coverage of both the earnings release and conference call on April 30.

Google today released Chrome 100, the latest version of its browser that's available on Macs, PCs, iPhones and iPads, Android devices, and more. Chrome 100 is notable because it features the first major icon update for Chrome since 2014.

The updated design was first previewed in February, and it features a simplified icon with brighter colors and no shadows. Chrome designer Elvin Hu said that the refreshed design was meant to align with "Google's more modern brand expression." Chrome has new icons on the desktop and on iOS devices.

Google adds new features to Chrome on a monthly basis, so additions to the browser come in smaller doses rather than huge releases, plus many updated features are provided server side. For that reason, there are few other notable features worth mentioning.

Google has, however, addressed several security issues in Chrome 100, and the update includes 28 security fixes.

Chrome for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free, while Chrome for Mac can be downloaded from Google's website. The Chrome 100 updates are available now.

Apple last week introduced the 2022 iPhone SE, an upgraded version of its low-cost smartphone. The 2022 ‌iPhone‌ SE looks identical to the 2020 model, featuring only internal upgrades, and it is arguably Apple's most lackluster ‌iPhone‌. So who is it for? Read on to find out what we think.

If you've seen the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ SE, well, you've seen the 2022 version. Apple has not made any exterior updates, and it still looks like the ‌iPhone‌ 8 that was introduced in 2017. This five-year-old design features thick top and bottom bezels along with a Touch ID Home button. It's the last ‌iPhone‌ to continue to use ‌Touch ID‌, as Apple has transitioned to Face ID for the rest of the lineup.

Apple didn't even spend too much time thinking about new colors for the ‌iPhone‌ SE. It comes in starlight, which is almost identical to the previous silver, midnight, which is not too far off from the prior black color, and (PRODUCT)RED, which was also available for the 2020 model. Apple did make it out of more durable glass, but glass is glass and it's still going to break when dropped onto hard surfaces, so that's not much of a reason to upgrade.

The new ‌iPhone‌ SE is equipped with the latest A15 chip, which is an upgrade over the A13, though it's hard to tell a difference in terms of day to day usage. Apps and games perform about the same, but the A15 chip will make a difference several years from now as Apple develops new versions of iOS and new features that require more processing power.

There's a single-lens 12-megapixel rear camera that has updated features like Smart HDR 4 and Photographic Styles powered by the A15, but when looking at photos from the 2020 and 2022 ‌iPhone‌ SE models side by side, there's little difference in quality. Battery life is also about the same.

The other major difference between the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ SE and the upgraded model is support for sub-6GHz 5G networks. 5G is still in its infancy, so 5G support is important for future proofing. The new SE doesn't support the fastest mmWave 5G speeds that are mostly limited to more urban areas, but it does work with the wider spread sub-6GHz bands that are going to expand worldwide in the coming years.

From the perspective of Apple enthusiasts who look forward to the latest and greatest each year, the ‌iPhone‌ SE is a disappointing phone, but that's not who it's for. Apple made the ‌iPhone‌ SE for the people who don't care about phones, those who just want a smartphone that's fast, simple, reliable, and most importantly, cheap.

At $429 the ‌iPhone‌ SE is more expensive than the prior-generation model, but in six months or so, it should come down in price with various carrier discounts and deals. It's the go-to phone for those who are upgrading from something like an ‌iPhone‌ 6, ‌iPhone‌ 7, or ‌iPhone‌ 8, because it's familiar and it's going to last for quite a few years to come.

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will now be alerted if an iPhone has been reported as missing in the GSMA Device Registry when a customer brings in the device to be serviced, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors.

If an Apple technician sees a message in their internal MobileGenius or GSX systems indicating that the device has been reported as missing, they are instructed to decline the repair, according to Apple's memo shared on Monday. The new policy should help to reduce the amount of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repair.

The GSMA Device Registry is a global database designed for customers to report their devices as missing in the event of loss or theft. Devices in the database are identified by their unique IMEI number. An iPhone's IMEI is listed in the Settings app under General > About.

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers are already unable to service an iPhone if the customer cannot disable Find My iPhone, and this policy will help to prevent stolen iPhones that never had Find My iPhone enabled from being repaired by Apple. In the event your iPhone is lost or stolen, be sure to read our guide on the next steps to take.

Moment today added to its existing line of MagSafe-compatible mounts, introducing three new magnetic mounts that can be used with Apple's iPhones. There's a mounting option for filmmakers, a mount that lets you put your iPhone anywhere, and an adapter for using Moment magnetic mounts with non-MagSafe iPhones.

Priced at $99, the Mobile Filmmaker Cage is a two-handed cage that is meant to make it easier to mount mics and lights on the phone when filming video. It has multiple cold shoe, 1/4"-20, and ⅜"-16 attachment points for accessories.

The $40 Strap Anywhere Mount is, as the name suggests, designed to allow ‌iPhone‌ users to strap their iPhones anywhere, from bike handles to exercise equipment, allowing for hands-free operation.

Available for $10, the Moment Stick-On Adapter can be stuck to the back of a non-MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ to add a magnet that makes it compatible with the existing Moment MagSafe accessories. It uses 3M VHB adhesive for a strong bond to the device that it is attached to.

Along with these three products, Moment has updated its Wall Mount and Car Vent Mount with improved adjustable ball heads.

All of Moment's mounts are equipped with its (M)Force magnetic arrays, which it says are stronger than standard accessories for Apple for better attachment. The new accessories can be purchased from the Moment website.

Over a decade has passed since rumors first surfaced about Apple's interest in opening a flagship retail store at one of Canada's busiest intersections, but the plans might be abandoned due to a legal battle between Apple and a real estate developer.

The Globe and Mail this week reported that Apple has sued Mizrahi Developments to terminate its lease at the developer's long-planned condominium tower at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Bloor Street in Toronto. Apple was widely rumored to be planning a large street-facing store at the ground level of the 85-story skyscraper, called "The One," which is set to become Canada's tallest building when construction is completed.

"Apple regrets that Mizrahi's failures have resulted in Apple having to take the step of ending its relationship with Mizrahi," said Apple in a January 28 filing with Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, according to the report. Apple added that it had been "looking forward to opening this new store for its customers," the report said.

Specifically, Apple accused Mizrahi Developments of missing crucial deadlines, allowing it to exercise its option to terminate its lease agreement with the developer, according to the report. Mizrahi Developments attributed the delays to issues such as a plumber strike and the COVID-19 pandemic, but Apple disagreed with these claims.

The original lease agreement between Apple and Mizrahi Developments is dated March 23, 2016, and the deadline for Apple to take occupancy was amended twice from November 30, 2019 to October 31, 2021, according to the court filings.

All four of Apple's existing retail stores in Toronto are located in shopping malls, including the Eaton Centre, Sherway Gardens, Yorkdale, and Fairview Mall.

(Thanks, Bob Allan!)

Universal Control results from years of working on the iPadOS platform, allowing for a feature such as ‌Universal Control‌ that bridges the gap between the iPad and the Mac to exist, an Apple product manager has said in a new interview this week.

Vivek Bhardwaj, an Apple product manager who works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, shed light on Apple's thinking about ‌Universal Control‌ in an interview on the AppStories podcast. Bhardwaj said that Apple's approach to ‌Universal Control‌ was to help create a more continuous experience between the ‌iPad‌ and Mac platforms, building on existing Continuity features such as Universal Clipboard and the ability to unlock a Mac with an Apple Watch.

For ‌Universal Control‌ to exist, Bhardwaj said that Apple had to first work on iPadOS as a platform itself. Bhardwaj references features such as the ability to drag and drop files, photos, text, and more across the system and support for using a trackpad on an ‌iPad‌.

To use ‌Universal Control‌, at least one Mac has to be in the workflow as it can't be used solely between two or more iPads. Regarding whether ‌Universal Control‌ could ever work between just multiple iPads, Bhardwaj said that Apple designed ‌Universal Control‌ with both the ‌iPad‌ and Mac in mind, adding that a considerable amount of Mac users also own an ‌iPad‌, whereas many customers don't own two iPads.

In the interview, Bhardwaj also touched on Shortcuts coming to the Mac and what that means for automation on the platform. ‌Universal Control‌ became available to users after weeks of testing with macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4, released earlier this month.

Now that Apple has introduced a new model of the iPad Air, we're starting to track steep discounts on the previous generation tablet. On Amazon, you can get the fourth generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $469.99, down from $599.00 thanks to an automatic coupon that will be applied at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This is a new all-time low price on the 2020 iPad Air, and it's available in all colors except Sky Blue. Remember that in order to see the sale prices on each version of the iPad Air, you'll need to add the tablet to your cart on Amazon, and then at the checkout screen an automatic coupon will knock the price down to $469.99.

We haven't yet tracked particularly steep discounts on the new iPad Air, so if you're looking to save a good amount of money then the fourth generation model is still a solid option. In terms of the fifth generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air, it's available for $569.99 on Amazon, down from $599.00. That's the best price seen to date.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.