The Electronic Frontier Foundation has said it is "pleased" with Apple's decision to delay the launch of of its controversial child safety features, but now it wants Apple to go further and completely abandon the rollout.
Apple on Friday said it was delaying the planned features to "take additional time over the coming months to collect input and making improvements," following negative feedback from a wide range of individuals and organizations, including security researches, politicians, policy groups, and even some Apple employees.
The planned features include scanning users' iCloud Photos libraries for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Communication Safety to warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, and expanded CSAM guidance in Siri and Search.
In its response to the announced delay, the EFF said it was "pleased Apple is now listening to the concerns" of users, but "the company must go further than just listening, and drop its plans to put a backdoor into its encryption entirely."
The statement by the digital rights group reiterated its previous criticisms about the intended features, which it has called "a decrease in privacy for all iCloud Photos users, not an improvement," and warned that Apple's move to scan messages and iCloud Photos could be legally required by authoritarian governments to encompass additional materials.
It also highlighted the negative reaction to Apple's announced plans by noting a number petitions that have been organized in opposition to the intended move.
The responses to Apple's plans have been damning: over 90 organizations across the globe have urged the company not to implement them, for fear that they would lead to the censoring of protected speech, threaten the privacy and security of people around the world, and have disastrous consequences for many children. This week, EFF's petition to Apple demanding they abandon their plans reached 25,000 signatures. This is in addition to other petitions by groups such as Fight for the Future and OpenMedia, totalling well over 50,000 signatures. The enormous coalition that has spoken out will continue to demand that user phones—both their messages and their photos—be protected, and that the company maintain its promise to provide real privacy to its users.
The suite of Child Safety Features were originally set to debut in the United States with an update to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey. It's not clear when Apple plans to roll out the "critically important" features or how it intends to "improve" them in light of so much criticism, but the company still appears determined to roll them out in some form.
Drake's latest album "Certified Lover Boy" is Apple Music's most-streamed album in 24 hours in the services' history, Apple revealed to Billboard over the weekend.
The album was released at midnight EST on Friday, September 3, and is the sixth studio album from the artist. It features a number of prominent rappers, including Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Future, Rick Ross, and Lil Baby.
"Certified Lover Boy" is a 21-track album and features Apple's pregnant woman emojis on its album cover. The cover notes describe the album as "a combination of toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth which is inevitably heartbreaking," and is executive produced by Drake, Noah “40” Shebib, Oliver El-Khatib and Noel Cadastre.
The album had already reportedly broke the record for the most-streamed album in 2021 in under 12 hours on the service.
Taiwan's Railways Administration (TRA) has officially announced support for using Apple Pay when purchasing train tickets with the service's e-booking mobile app.
In a press release on its website, the country's railway operator said it was making the new "Apple Pay ticketing service" available from September 7 in order to improve convenience for passengers when booking tickets via the official mobile app.
After passing the initial verification, the payment procedure will be completed via Apple Pay, saving users the time it takes to enter their credit card number, said the operator.
Alongside Apple Pay support, the TRA's new membership system is launching a reward scheme where passengers can accumulate redeemable points for using the mobile ticket purchasing mechanism.
Every 50 NT dollar spent is converted into 1 point, and every 2 points points can be redeemed to earn up to a 30% discount on the price of a ticket. Originally, the scheme was only open at the physical ticket windows where points could be used to buy train tickets, but the mobile app now supports the feature, too.
A now-deleted video purporting to show official Apple silicone cases for the "iPhone 13 Pro Max" appears to corroborate the "iPhone 13" naming convention for the company's upcoming 2021 iPhone lineup.
Originally shared online last week by Twitter account @PinkDon1, the video shows a batch of silicone cases in white boxes, held together by elastic bands, with the labels reading "iPhone 13 Pro Max Silicone Case" along with the MagSafe branding below it. The video then shows a stack of the boxes in clear packaging, suggesting the location is a manufacturing facility or distribution warehouse.
The video has since been taken down from the Twitter account, which now makes no mention that it was ever posted, although it has since been posted by other accounts. The @PinkDon1 account has low engagement and few other recent tweets, so it's hard to make any assessment of the video's authenticity based on the source, but it's not unusual to see images of iPhone accessory packaging emerging at this time of year as the device's launch date approaches.
Most reliable sources have been consistent in referring to the 2021 iPhone models as the "iPhone 13" lineup, and a previous image leak purportedly featuring sticker tabs used to seal Apple products in their boxes showing the name "iPhone 13," but there have been a few claims from leakers with no track record that the upcoming iPhones will in fact take "iPhone 12S" nomenclature.
Earlier this year, a survey suggested that most consumers don't want the devices to be called the "iPhone 13." Some 38% of survey respondents said that Apple should call its next smartphone series simply "iPhone (2021)," while 26% thought that the "iPhone 13" was the best name, and only 13% said that they would like to see the devices called the "iPhone 12S."
The iPhone 13 lineup is expected to be announced this month, possibly as early as next week, debuting a number of new features, including a 120Hz display, larger batteries, new camera features, an "A15" chip, up to 1TB of storage, and more. For all the details, check out our comprehensive iPhone 13 rumor roundup.
Despite the Apple Watch Series 7 reportedly facing production issues, Apple still plans to announce the new smartwatch alongside the iPhone 13 at its usual September event, but the device will be available in limited quantities at launch, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman outlines three potential outcomes of Apple's production headaches: The company delays its Apple Watch announcement until the production issues are resolved, it goes ahead with the announcement and makes the Series 7 available in limited quantities, or Apple announces the watch but doesn't make it available until a later date.
According to Gurman, Apple will announce the Apple Watch Series 7 alongside the iPhone this month, but some models will ship later than usual or in limited quantities.
But if you can't wait to get the new watch, you may have to. My colleague Debby Wu and I reported that the new display is causing production headaches. When that happens with a new product, there are typically three outcomes: The announcement is delayed until the issues are fixed, the product launches on time in small quantities, or the device is announced on time but goes on sale later.
I'm led to believe that we'll see an announcement during the usual September event alongside the iPhone, but there will be a mix of the models shipping late or in small quantities.
The Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a much more dramatic design change that will make it clearly distinguishable from prior Apple Watch models. It will come in new 41mm and 45mm size options, up from 40 and 44mm, and feature updated screen technology and a flat-edged design similar to the iPhone 12. New health sensor features aren't expected, but the new model is likely to have a faster processor and possibly improved battery life.
Based on past event dates, the most likely date for the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 event is Tuesday, September 14. For everything you can expect in the new Apple Watch, check out our dedicated guide.
Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 7 in September 2021 alongside the new iPhones, and the Series 7 was a surprise because it did not match up with what we expected from rumors.
Rumors indicated the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature a flat-edged design like the iPhone 13 models, but it does not. It continues to use a rounded body, but it is available in new 41mm and 45mm size options.
Display improvements have been added alongside slimmer bezels so the display is larger than ever, and the watch is also more durable. Apple did not add new health features this year.
Though the Apple Watch Series 7 has launched, the below guide serves as a collection of the rumors that we heard before its launch. As mentioned up above, full details on the Apple Watch Series 7 can be https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-watch/.
Design and Display
The Apple Watch has looked largely the same since it was released in 2015, though it did get a display overhaul with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 4. The Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a much more dramatic design change that will make it clearly distinguishable from prior Apple Watch models.
First of all, it will come in new 41mm and 45mm size options, up from 40 and 44mm. The larger sized display will feature thinner bezels and a new lamination technique that brings the display closer to the front cover, with updated screen technology.
The 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 model, which will be the largest to date, will have a body size that measures in at 1.9 inches diagonally, up from 1.78 inches, and it will have a resolution of 396 x 484, up from 368 x 448, which equates to 16 percent more pixels. We don't know the exact dimensions of the 41mm model, but it too will see a comparable increase in body size.
The casing will have a flat-edged design that's similar to the iPhone 12 or the iPad Pro, which is a departure from the curved edges of the current Apple Watch models. Apple is also rumored to be considering new color options, including a green color that would join the blue shade introduced in 2020.
Because of this new design, the Apple Watch may be slightly thicker, but Bloomberg says the thickness increase won't be noticeable to users. Other rumors have suggested the Apple Watch Series 7 will be thinner than prior models, so we'll need to wait to see which take is correct.
Renders
We haven't seen Apple Watch Series 7 component leaks this year, but a few sites have created renders that are based on information allegedly sourced from the Apple's Asian supply chain.
These renders from 91mobiles feature an Apple Watch with a flat-edged design, a flatter digital crown, and two longer speakers at the left side of the device.
According to the information the renders are based on, the 44mm Apple Watch Series 7 will have a 1.8-inch display, up from the 1.73-inch display in the Series 6. It may also be 1.7mm thinner than the current version.
Processor and Connectivity
Apple updates the processor in the Apple Watch each year and the Series 7 will be no exception. The Apple Watch Series 7 is rumored to include a smaller "S7" chip that uses double-sided technology for module miniaturization.
A smaller S7 chip will allow more room for other components, and one source suggests Apple will use this extra space for a bigger battery or new health sensors. Apple is also expected to introduce improved wireless connectivity and an improved U1 Ultra Wideband chip.
According to leaker Max Weinbach, the Apple Watch Series 7 will bring the Apple Watch's biggest improvement in battery life yet.
Health Features
There have been no rumors of new health sensors coming in the Apple Watch Series 7, but Nikkeirecently claimed that the device would have blood pressure measuring capabilities
Bloomberg's Mark Gurmanquickly refuted this claim and said there is "no chance" that blood pressure monitoring will be included in the 2021 Apple Watch.
There has been discussion of blood pressure monitoring due to Apple's partnership with Rockley Photonics, a company that makes advanced digital health sensors, but this technology is not ready for use.
New Watch Faces and Software
The Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a series of exclusive watch faces that are designed to take advantage of the larger displays. Bloomberghas outlined what to expect:
A Modular Max watch face will offer the digital time alongside a small complication like temperature, while additional larger complications will be stacked on top of each other below. It's similar to Infograph Modular, but can show more than one large complication.
A Continuum face will shift based on "the flow of time and the current hour."
A new world time watch face will allow users to see all 24 time zones simultaneously. An external dial will display the time zones, while an inner dial will display the time in each location. Bloomberg says it's similar to watch faces popularized by luxury watch makers Patek Philippe, Breitling, and others.
There's a new Hermes watch face that features numbers that change hour by hour and new Nike watch face with numbers that change based on a person's motion.
With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple also plans to introduce new "Time to Run" and "Audio Meditations" features that will accompany the "Time to Walk" option that was introduced earlier this year.
Apple Watch Series 7 Release Date
We're expecting Apple to introduce the Apple Watch Series 7 in September alongside new iPhone 13 models. Based on past event dates, the most likely date for the Apple Watch Series 7 event is Tuesday, September 14.
Normally new Apple Watch models come out shortly after Apple holds a launch event, but late August reports from Nikkei and Bloomberg have pointed toward production issues. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in September that the issues had been resolved and that the Apple Watch Series 7 is still set to be available for purchase in September. Production is expected to ramp up starting in the middle of September.
Future Apple Watch Rumors
According to The Wall Street Journal and other sources, Apple is developing several new health features for future Apple Watch models. These include blood-pressure monitoring, a thermometer for fertility and sleep tracking, sleep apnea detection, and diabetes detection.
None of these features are expected to arrive in Apple Watch models before 2022.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Apple is rumored to have a team of biomedical engineers working on a method for non-invasively monitoring blood glucose levels using optical sensors, technology that could potentially make its way into the Apple Watch at some point in the future. Such a feature would make diabetes management much easier because it would not require puncturing the skin.
There have been rumors that Apple will add blood glucose monitoring capabilities to the Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor, but Bloomberg says that a blood sugar sensor will not be ready for commercial launch for several more years.
Blood glucose monitoring has been a feature that Apple has been working on for years, based on rumors, but it is a serious health feature that would likely require regulation.
Blood Pressure measurements
Apple supplier Rockley Photonics is working on an advanced digital sensor system that allows wearable devices to monitor biomarkers like core body temperature, blood pressure, body hydration, alcohol, lactate, glucose trends, and more, using optical sensors.
This technology could eventually make its way to the Apple Watch given the partnership between Apple and Rockley, and rumors suggest we will see blood pressure monitoring capabilities introduced at some point.
A wrist-worn blood pressure monitor could be used to detect when blood pressure is rising and the function would be able to detect hypertension. Apple was aiming to release this feature in 2022, but it could be pushed as the technology still needs to be perfected.
Blood pressure monitoring would work by measuring the speed of the wave of a heartbeat through a user's arteries using sensors. It would tell a user how their blood pressure is trending, but it won't be able to provide baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.
Temperature Sensor
Apple was considering adding a body temperature sensor in the 2021 Apple Watch, but Bloomberg says it is instead likely to be introduced in the 2022 update.
A temperature measuring function would be useful for fertility tracking and keeping track of sleep, and in the future, it could also detect when a user has a fever.
Sleep Apnea Detection
Apple is aiming to use the existing blood oxygen sensor to detect sleep apnea, but there are issues with taking frequent readings without significantly impacting battery life.
Rugged Apple Watch
According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a version of the Apple Watch "with a rugged casing" that's aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who use the watch in more extreme conditions than day to day wear. It will feature the same functionality as a standard Apple Watch, but with improved impact resistance and protection. Apple is expected to launch the rugged Apple Watch in 2022.
Haptic Buttons
Rumors indicate a future version of the Apple Watch will adopt solid state buttons that don't physically click but instead provide haptic feedback to users when the buttons are touched, but it's not clear when this is coming. Apple introduced haptic feedback for the Digital Crown in the Series 4, and haptic feedback could potentially extend to the side button in a later Apple Watch model.
Further in the future, the Apple Watch may do away with buttons altogether, with the sides of the device adopting support for touch and swipe-based gestures.
MicroLED Displays
Apple reportedly has a secret manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, California where it is designing and producing test samples of displays that use microLED, a technology that will follow OLED. microLED screens can result in devices that are slimmer, brighter, and use less power. Rumors suggest an Apple Watch with a microLED display could launch in three or four years.
Apple Watch Patents
Apple has patented several interesting technologies that could potentially be used in future Apple Watch devices, such as a biometric authentication feature that authenticates identity based on the wearer's skin pattern. Such a feature would eliminate the need for a passcode when wearing the Apple Watch.
Another patent describes a self-tightening Apple Watch band that would adjust during intensive activities like running or working out for accurate heart rate readings, and loosen up afterward. The tightening could also be used for directions, workout reps, and more.
A third patent describes an Apple Watch band with an LED indicator that would visualize the progress of an activity or task, providing a visual indicator when completing a workout or an Activity ring, for example.
Apple in December 2019 published a patent describing how the Apple Watch could help doctors monitor the symptoms of Parkinson's patients using sensors to keep track of tremors. Apple believes this method of data tracking will allow users to better track their symptoms so they can plan activities around symptom patterns.
A 2020 pair of patents suggest Apple is researching Touch ID and an under-display camera for the Apple Watch. Apple describes a side button with an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor that could be used for user identification and device unlocking. Currently, the Apple Watch unlocks with a passcode and also when the paired iPhone is unlocked.
As for an under-display camera, the patent describes a two-stage display technology that includes a camera that are externally visible only when engaged.
In 2021, Apple outlined a radical redesign of the Apple Watch in a patent filing, featuring a rounded watch face, wrap-around flexible display, and digitally-customizable watch bands.
Apple has filed several other patents covering the possibility of moving hardware into the Apple Watch's band, including batteries, speakers, kinetic power generators, haptic feedback devices, and even cameras.
There's no word on whether these patented features will make it into an actual Apple Watch in the future, but it's interesting to see what Apple is working on and considering behind the scenes.
The finish line is in sight! Apple's annual iPhone event is likely just a week or so away and all eyes will be on the company as it unveils the next version of its most popular product line. With any luck, we'll also see the next-generation Apple Watch and perhaps even some new AirPods.
Other news this week saw Apple making some more changes to its App Store policies in response to a Japanese investigation and delaying the rollout of its controversial child safety features that raised privacy concerns. Read on for details on these stories and more!
iPhone 13 Feature Breakdown: Everything Rumors Say We Can Expect
Apple has yet to announce a date for its iPhone event, but the safe bet is on Tuesday, September 14. It's likely that Apple Watch Series 7 models will be unveiled at the same event, and we've got more details on what to expect from that device and more below.
The next-generation Apple Watch is likely just weeks away, and rumors suggest it will be a notable upgrade, complete with a new design, larger display sizes, a new color option, and more. Here is what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 7!
Apple to Let Apps Like Netflix and Spotify Offer Links for Account Sign Ups Outside of the App Store
Apple this week announced that, starting in early 2022, it will allow developers of "reader" apps to include an in-app link to their website for users to set up or manage an account. "Reader" apps allow a user to access previously purchased content or subscription-based content for digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video, according to Apple, such as Netflix, Spotify, and the Amazon Kindle app.
Apple Delays Rollout of Controversial Child Safety Features to Make Improvements
Apple this week delayed the rollout of the child safety features that it announced last month following negative feedback, the company has today announced. The planned features include scanning users' iCloud Photos libraries for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Communication Safety to warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, and expanded CSAM guidance in Siri and Search.
Apple confirmed that feedback from customers, non-profit and advocacy groups, researchers, and others about the plans has prompted the delay to give the company time to make improvements.
Apple's Upcoming AR/VR Headset to Require Connection to iPhone
The report offers new details on the Apple-designed chip and other features we can expect from the headset, which is expected to launch in 2022 or later.
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.
Apple's Safari app has undergone a number of changes during the iOS 15 beta testing process. Apple started out with a radical new design that moved the address bar from the top of the app's interface and introduced a floating tab bar, but after a multitude of complaints, there were several redesigns that culminated in an option to undo the iOS 15 design entirely.
This guide walks through all of the features added in the iOS 15 Safari app, including those new design options.
Design Changes
Safari started out with a new floating tab design that moved the address bar and tabs to the bottom of the iPhone interface, but now the design change is optional.
In the Safari section of the Settings app, you can choose your tab view. The "Tab Bar" option moves the address bar to the bottom of the Safari interface, which is the new design.
There is a dedicated control bar at the bottom of the Safari interface, and above that, an integrated tab bar and address bar. You can swipe left and right to swap tabs, or tap into the bar to search or type in a new URL. The dedicated control bar was added in a later iOS 15 beta and offers access to forward/back, share tools, bookmarking tools, and tabs.
You can get to webpage settings by tapping on the Aa, or reload a page by tapping on the reload button. With this Tab Bar interface, when you scroll through a webpage, the entire Tab Bar collapses down so you can see more of the website. You can bring it back up with a tap.
If you choose "Single Tab" instead of "Tab Bar," the address bar and tabs will remain at the top of the Safari window, which is how iOS 14 works. The design of the Single Tab option is unchanged from iOS 14, with the same control bar available at the bottom of the interface. You can't swipe through tabs using the Single Tab interface and will instead need to use the Tab Switcher.
You can swap between the bottom Tab Bar and the Single Tab interface by tapping on the "Aa" button that's next to any URL.
Available in the Settings app, Allow Website Tinting matches the collapsed Safari address bar interface to the website's colors to make it blend in better with the background.
Website tinting activated on left, disabled on right
This only applies when you're scrolling through a webpage and have collapsed the address bar. In both Single Tab and Tab Bar modes, the interface adopts the colors of the website at the top and bottom, with the coloring extending all the way to the iPhone's status icons.
With the new Landscape Tab Bar setting, when you use your iPhone in landscape mode with Safari, you'll see a Mac-style tab bar that shows all of your open tabs, and you can swipe through them.
Pull to Refresh
A downward swipe on any webpage in iOS 15 will refresh the page, and this is an alternative to having to tap on the reload icon.
Tabs in iOS 15 can be saved into Tab Groups, which offers a way to preserve a set of tabs you have open without having to have those tabs active.
If you're planning a trip, for example, you can save all of your tabs into a "Vacation" group, accessing them when needed and leaving your device free for other content when you're not doing active planning. If you have a set of websites you always open up for work, you can save these in a dedicated Tab Group.
To make a Tab Group, just open up all of the websites that you want to include, tap on the Tabs button with the down arrow, and then tap New Tab Group from [#] Tabs. You can also use this option to create a New Empty Tab Group that tabs can be added to later. Long press on any open tab (or the main address bar if you have the single tab view enabled) to add it to a Tab Group.
To load up a Tab Group, tap on the Tabs button and then tap on the name of the group in the list. All of your Tab Groups sync across your devices so you can access them on iPhones and iPads running iOS and iPadOS 15 as well as on Macs running macOS Monterey.
In iOS 14, all of your open tabs are displayed in a card-like interface that you can swipe through, but in iOS 15, open tabs are displayed in a grid view.
You can tap on the tab button (which is two overlapping squares) to bring up the grid interface that shows all of your open tabs. Tapping on the "X" in the corner of any tab closes it.
Customizable Start Page
Safari is more customizable in iOS 15, and you can edit what's available on your start page. This is a feature that has been available on macOS, but is now also available on iOS devices.
To customize the start page, open a new, blank tab, scroll all the way to the bottom of the window, and tap on the "Edit" button.
You can choose to have the start page show Favorites, Frequently Visited sites, Shared With You content, Privacy Report info, Siri Suggestions, Reading List, and iCloud Tabs.
There's an option to use the same Start Page appearance across all devices, and a toggle to upload the background image of your choice.
With updates to Intelligent Tracking Prevention, the feature that keeps websites from tracking your web activity, trackers are now blocked from accessing your IP address to build a profile on you.
Safari in iOS 15 automatically upgrades sites that are known to support HTTPS from HTTP, which is insecure.
iCloud Private Relay
iCloud Private Relay is a privacy feature that makes sure all of your Safari traffic is encrypted.
As explained in our privacy guide, iCloud Private Relay protects your IP address and de-links it from the websites that you visit by utilizing two separate internet relays.
iCloud Private Relay sends all web traffic to a server that is maintained by Apple where information like IP address is stripped. Once the info is removed, the traffic (your DNS request) is sent to a secondary server that's maintained by a third-party company, where it is assigned a temporary IP address, and then the traffic is sent on to its destination.
By having a two-step process that involves both an Apple server and a third-party server, iCloud Private Relay prevents anyone, including Apple, from determining a user's identity and linking it to the website the user is visiting.
With this system, Apple knows your IP address and the third-party partner knows the site you're visiting, and because the information is de-linked, neither Apple nor the partner company has a complete picture of the site you're visiting and your location, and neither does the website you're browsing. Normally websites have access to this data and combined with cookies, can use it to build a profile of your preferences.
Web Extensions
Safari in iOS 15 supports web extensions, with web extensions able to be downloaded and installed through the App Store. Available extensions include content blockers, VPNs, and more.
With iOS 15, iPhones and iPads are able to use a new Live Text feature to detect text in any image, and this includes images that you find in Safari.
Any Safari image that contains text can be selected, copied, pasted, and translated. To use Live Text in Safari, long press on any image and then tap on "Show Text." From there, you can select the text and interact with it like any other text on an iPhone.
Shared With You, a new option available on the Safari start page, aggregates all of the links that you've been sent in the Messages app and other social networking apps that support the Shared With You feature.
This new section is designed to ensure that you don't miss links you've been sent, and it lets you know who sent a link to you so you can get back to them with what you thought.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the new Safari changes in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
A former Chrysler proving grounds for automotive testing outside of Phoenix, Arizona, that has been rumored to be used by Apple was recently purchased for $125 million by the firm that has been leasing it for the past five years, according to AZ Big Media.
Back in 2017, it was reported that a company by the name of Route 14 Investment Partners LLC had signed a lease to use the facility, with rumors suggesting Apple was behind the deal, although there was no definitive proof of the link. Route 14 is represented by the Phoenix office of law firm Greenberg Traurig, hiding the true ownership of the company.
Route 14 has now exercised an option to purchase the property, which consists of 34 separate parcels, for $125 million in cash. The purchase agreement is dated June 25, 2021, with a deed and assumption of an existing development agreement with the City of Surprise both dated July 30 and seen by MacRumors.
We have still not been able to concretely tie Apple to Route 14, but it's clear that whoever is behind the firm has deep pockets and a long-term interest in the testing facility.
Rumors about Apple's work on both autonomous driving systems and actual electric vehicles have ebbed and flowed over the last several years. The most recent report just this week claimed that Apple has been visiting with Toyota as it seeks to develop a supplier network with an eye toward producing an Apple-branded car starting in 2024.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with MAXOAK to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Bluetti portable power station and an accompanying solar panel. Bluetti makes a range of portable power station options that are useful for camping, emergencies, power outages, off-grid living, and similar situations.
The Bluetti EB70 is a solid middle of the road option that offers 716Wh and support for electronics that draw up to 700W at a $599 price point.
Available in either red or black with a convenient carrying handle, the EB70 is equipped with a number of plug and port options. It includes four Pure Sine Wave AC outlets, two 5V/3A USB-A ports, two 100W USB-C ports, two 12V/10A DC outputs, one 12V/10A car port, and a 15W wireless charging pad right at the top.
With support for up to 700W, it's powerful enough to support appliances that draw more power like heaters and mini refrigerators while also leaving the ports open for iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices. The USB-C ports are able to charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro at close to full speed.
MAXOAK says the EB70 is designed with an ultra-stable battery that will allow it to last for 2,500 cycles before it reaches 80 percent capacity. This technology also prevents short circuiting and issues with overcurrent, overvoltage, overloading, and overheating. It has an LCD screen that displays power draw and battery level, plus it's equipped with a built-in flashlight.
The Bluetti EB55 is more affordable at $499, and it offers the same support for appliances up to 700W, but a lower 537Wh capacity. It has four AC outlets, one 100W USB-C port, two 12V/10A DC outputs, four 5V/3A USB-A ports, and a 15W wireless charging pad, along with all of the other features of the Bluetti EB70.
For those looking for something more compact, Bluetti has the 500Wh 300W AC50S, which has a dual handle design and a colorful chassis. It features two AC ports, four USB-A ports, a 45W USB-C ports, two 12V/3A ports, a 12V/10A car port, and a 10W wireless charging pad, along with a built-in LCD.
To go along with the Bluetti power stations, MAXOAK makes solar panels. The $549 Bluetti PV200 200W Solar Panel is a fold down solar panel that MAXOAK says has a conversion efficiency of 23.4 percent, which lets it charge up the EB70 to full in three to four hours.
Smaller Bluetti power stations pair well with the more affordable Bluetti PV120 120W Solar Panel, which has a smaller, more portable design that's easier to carry around.
We have three Bluetti prize package for MacRumors readers. The grand prize winner will get the EB70 plus the PV200 Solar Panel, while two second place winners will get the EB55 and the PV200 Solar Panel. Three third place winners will get the AC50S and the PV120 Solar Panel.
To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook 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 (September 3) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 10. The winners will be chosen randomly on September 10 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple has hired two former Mercedes engineers to join the company, likely as part of its effort to continue to build out its internal workforce as the development of an "Apple Car" continues.
The leading new hire previously worked at Mercedes, focusing on mass production of vehicles, vehicle steering, dynamics, and software and project management. The hire, now working as a product design engineer at Apple at its "Special Projects Group," also previously worked at Porsche, undertaking similar responsibilities. A second engineer who previously worked at Mercedes has also recently been tapped by Apple to join the company, MacRumors has learned.
The Apple Car, internally codenamed "Project Titan," is one of the company's most secretive projects. Despite a myriad of rumors, Apple's ultimate goal in the automotive space remains unclear. The most recent hires by Apple joins a list of former engineers and executives the Cupertino tech giant has tapped in from some of the world's largest car makers.
As the company continues to build up its workforce with skills and talents needed to produce and develop a car, Apple has also had several setbacks. The company lost several top managers from "Project Titan" over the course of the year, potentially derailing the timeline for an "Apple Car." Kevin Lynch, well known for work on the Apple Watch, is helping to lead "Project Titan."
While Apple has invested in its in-house talent over the past years, it will also need to rely on third parties to help it get the wheels moving. Apple is reportedly in discussions with several suppliers, including its most significant, Foxconn, and carmakers regarding a partnership. The talks and discussions have so far not materialized into any formal deal.
Foxconn, which serves as the mass producer for the iPhone, is likely to be tapped to play some role in the supply chain of an Apple Car, said to be at least half a decade away. One of Apple's most recent aforementioned hires previously held responsibilities in the mass production release schedule of Mercedes cars, which could be an asset to the company.
BMW's upcoming flagship electric vehicle the "i4" features one of the most integrated Apple CarPlay experiences yet, recent promotional material has shown.
BMW describes the Apple CarPlay experience in the i4 as "even more seamless." The i4 features two curved displays and a heads-up display. All three displays can display information from Apple CarPlay simultaneously.
The BMW i4 features iDrive 8, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay, turn-by-turn Apple Maps prompts in the heads-up display, and Apple Maps and directions in the instrument cluster.
The new-generation BMW iDrive 8's higher degree of flexibility makes in-car use of third-party apps even simpler and more convenient in the future. BMW iDrive 8 features full integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The control display's large screen clearly presents all available apps in the system's menu. The user's favorite apps can be launched quickly and easily either via the main menu or the toolbar. The increased integration of app functions into the information display and even the BMW Head-Up Display also results in seamless transition throughout the screen grouping. And music streaming and communications apps are now integrated within BMW iDrive 8. They are displayed as original sources in the main menu, enabling customers to make full use of their apps' functions.
Many recent vehicles with Apple CarPlay already feature limited turn-by-turn directional information fed from Apple Maps on the driver's display, but BMW's full integration of Apple Maps into the instrument cluster is among the first implementations of its kind.
Apple Maps and navigation information is displayed in the middle of the instrument cluster, unifying with BMW iDrive's interface that is laid on top of it.
A look at the BMW i4's CarPlay integration and Apple Maps in the instrument cluster may be seen from 08:40 in the video.
Turn-by-turn prompts and Apple Maps in the second display have been supported in CarPlay as of iOS 13, but BMW is among the first to have implemented the full view of Apple Maps in the second display instrument cluster. BMW appears to be using a large number of Apple developer features such as independent night mode per H.246 stream to accomplish this close integration.
BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback.
The BMW i4 launches in Europe later this year and in the United States in summer 2022.
Apple has delayed the rollout of the Child Safety Features that it announced last month following negative feedback, the company has today announced.
The planned features include scanning users' iCloud Photos libraries for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Communication Safety to warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, and expanded CSAM guidance in Siri and Search.
Apple confirmed that feedback from customers, non-profit and advocacy groups, researchers, and others about the plans has prompted the delay to give the company time to make improvements. Apple issued the following statement about its decision:
Last month we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features.
The suite of Child Safety Features were originally set to debut in the United States with an update to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey. It is now unclear when Apple plans to roll out the "critically important" features, but the company still appears to be intent on releasing them.
YouTube says it has passed 50 million subscribers for its Premium and Music subscriptions, making it the "fastest growing music subscription" service in the world, according to YouTube's global head of music, Lyor Cohen.
YouTube says that it has more than 50 million paying subscribers collectively across YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. The Google-owned service says it attributes this milestone to several factors, but mainly due to how subscribers can get "uninterrupted access to the largest and most diverse catalogue of music, artists and culture" through its subscriptions.
We've got killer products in YouTube Music and YouTube Premium that deliver truly unique value to artists and creators and the best experience for music fans and video lovers. We're in our own lane -- there's no other place where fans can get uninterrupted access to the largest and most diverse catalogue of music, artists and culture. We're making it easy for music fans to go deep and find their thing -- whether that's on YouTube or the YouTube Music app.
YouTube Music comes as part of a YouTube Premium subscription but can also be purchased standalone. With YouTube Premium, customers can download videos for offline viewing, play videos in the background playback, no ads, and more.
YouTube Music is one of many competitors to Apple Music, and it's hard to name a winner purely based on subscriber count. Apple doesn't provide specific subscriber figures, but the latest estimate was 60 million subscribers in 2019. Three years on, the number is likely higher. Additionally, Apple One, which bundles Apple Music with other Apple's services, makes it harder to determine how many Apple Music subscribers are out there.
Apple may be exploring the possibility of using an open-source alternative to the Arm architecture, which it's been using in its products for decades.
According to a newly posted job alert, spotted by Tom's Hardware, Apple is looking for an engineer that specializes in RISC-V, an open-source architecture instruction set that allows device makers to build their own chips without having to pay a license or royalty. Apple currently uses the Arm architecture in its products, and it pays the company a royalty fee to use its instruction set.
Apple's job posting description states that the engineer will implement "innovative RISC-V solutions and state of the art routines" to Apple's products. Specifically, Apple hopes prospective engineers will be able to work with the RISC-V instruction set, as well as have an understanding of Arm.
Tom's Hardware theorizes that if Apple were to adopt the open-source instruction set of RISC-V, it may save the company money because it wouldn't need to pay Arm a license fee for its instruction set.
Every Arm core requires Apple to pay a licensing fee to Arm, and since the number of cores for things like SSD controllers and smartwatches will only increase, so will Apple's payments to Arm. As such, replacing at least some Arm cores with RISC-V cores could save Apple millions of dollars in royalty payments every year...
The job listing is a confirmation that Apple is exploring the use of RISC-V, but whether the company decides to implement the open-source technology remains to be seen. Apple's reliance on Arm has increased in the past year as Apple is in the process of switching its Mac lineup to Arm-based processors rather than Intel.
Twitter is planning new privacy-related features that provide users with greater control over follower lists and who can see their posts and likes, reports Bloomberg.
The plans are said to include an option to archive old tweets so that other users can't see them after a set period of time designated by the account holder (such as 30, 60, or 90 days, or a whole year), as well as the ability to edit follower lists.
According to Bloomberg, the plans are an effort to make people more comfortable interacting and sharing on Twitter, and are related to what Twitter executives call "social privacy," or how users manage their identities and reputations on the social network.
Internal research at the company reportedly found that many Twitter users don't understand the privacy basics, like whether their account is private or public, which causes them to engage less on the social network because they don't know what other people will be able to see about them.
To counter this, Twitter will start prompting users to review whether their accounts are public or private beginning in September. Its privacy team are also working on other potential changes including the ability to remove followers (as opposed to blocking them), hide liked tweets, and remove oneself from a public conversation.
Twitter has no timeline for some of the changes, while some features, like the archive option, are still in the "concept phase," but Twitter plans to let people remove followers starting this month, and to let users remove themselves from conversations by the end of the year.
Those who use the Notes and Reminders apps will be pleased to hear that iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 bring some useful new features. The Notes app has enhanced functionality on the iPad with the Quick Note feature, while Reminders features better Siri integration and natural language support.
The guide below highlights the new features that you'll find in the Notes and Reminders apps in iOS 15.
Notes
The major new feature in the Notes app, Quick Note, is exclusive to the iPad, but Apple has added some general quality of life improvements and new features for those who share notes between multiple people.
Tags
When writing a note, you can use hashtags to tag it with a word or a phrase for organizational purposes. You can use any tag you want, like #cooking, #plants, #work, #reminders, etc.
Once you create a tag, it's added to the "Tags" section in the Notes app overview. You can tap on any of the tag names to see all notes that contain that tag.
To go along with tags, there's a new Smart Folders option that you can use to create a folder to house tags.
When creating a Smart Folder, you can choose a name and select which tags you want it to include. You can choose tags you've already created or add new tags that will be used in future notes.
Tags and Smart Folders offer a new way to organize your notes and it's a system that's quicker and more simple than manually organizing your notes into different folders.
Activity View
The Notes app has offered sharing features for some time now, but in iOS 15, Apple is making it easier to collaborate and work on a note with another person.
On any shared note, if you tap the three dots in the upper right hand corner or the little person icon, you can get to an Activity View that shows you the edits that each person has made and who has interacted with the note.
If you tap on "Highlights" or swipe right in a note, you can see an overview of the portions of the note that each person has contributed. If you have a gift list or grocery list, for example, you can see the items that each person involved with the note has added.
Edit times and dates are included, and each person's contributions are shown in a different color. When you open a note, you'll also see a notification of the changes that have been made since the last time you opened the note.
Mentions
In shared notes or folders, you can add an @ sign and type in the name of a person the note is shared with to bring their attention to it and to let them know if there's been an important update.
With an @mention, the person receives a notification about the note, which is similar to how @mentions work in other apps.
Quick Note - iPadOS 15
On the iPad, if you tap in the lower right corner with an Apple Pencil or swipe with a finger, you can bring up a Quick Note to jot down a thought or an idea.
You can bring up a Quick Note from the Home Screen, in any app, when using Split View, or anywhere else in iPadOS.
You can type in a Quick Note or use the Apple Pencil to write, and Quick Note size can be adjusted or it can be collapsed down to the side of the iPad so you can bring it right back up when you need it.
Links from an app or website can be added to Quick Note for context, and when you go back to the same place in the app or on the site, a thumbnail of the Quick Note appears to remind you of your earlier note.
Quick Notes are all stored in the Quick Note folder in the Notes app and they can be viewed on the iPhone or a device that doesn't support Quick Note as a standard note.
Some of the same new features that Apple added to Notes are also available in the Reminders app, along with a few useful bonus features like natural language support.
Tags
As with Notes, you can now add any hashtag to a reminder as a new organizational method. You can group up all reminders that are tagged with a certain word, such as "groceries," so it's a great way to split your reminders up without having to use different lists.
Once you've added at least one tag to a reminder, the Reminders app will have a new Tag Browser that aggregates all of the tag names. Tapping on a tag shows all of the reminders using that tag.
Custom Smart Lists
Smart Lists are how your different Reminder tags can be aggregated together. Smart Lists can be made to organize reminders based on tags, dates, times, locations, flags, and priority.
For tags, you can create lists that will aggregate multiple tags like #cooking and #groceries so you can create the organizational system that works for you.
Natural Language Support
In iOS 15, you can use more natural phrases to create reminders more quickly. "Jog every other morning," will create an every other day reminder, for example. You can use phrases like "clean the kitchen every Friday" or "check the mail every day at 4:00 p.m." and the iPhone and iPad will accurately interpret what you're aiming for.
Deleting Completed Reminders
It's easier to delete completed roundups in iOS 15. In any list with a lot of reminders, you can tap on the new "Clear" label. Depending on how old the reminder is, you might see options for deleting all completed reminders, completed reminders older than a year, completed reminders older than six months, and completed reminders older than a month.
If your completed reminders aren't visible, you can tap on the icon with the three dots and then select "Show Completed." From there, the "Clear" option for removing finished reminders will be available.
Swiping to delete, a feature that was already available, can also be used to clear completed reminders, but the new feature for clearing all finished reminders is quicker.
Announce Reminders with Siri
When a reminder that you need to attend to pops up when you're wearing AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, Siri will announce it similar to notifications or incoming messages.
This feature can be toggled on in the Settings app under Siri and Search > Announce Notifications > Reminders.
Expand Suggested Attributes
Adding a tag is a new quick suggestion in the Reminders toolbar along with date, location, flag, and photo.
Tapping on the info icon also now provides tags as an option alongside date, time, location, flags, when messaging a certain person, and priority.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the new Notes and Reminders changes in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple today sent out emails advertising its latest Apple Pay promotion, which will see Instacart offering up to $30 off deliveries of $50 or more with the promo code APPLEPAY30.
The $30 discount is limited to new users, and the promo code must be used in the Instacart app or on the web.
Those who are already Instacart users can get $5 off of their next order of $35 or more with the promo code APPLEPAY5. The discounts are available through September 8.
