MacRumors

Google-owned Fitbit appears to be readying an update to its Charge fitness tracker lineup, based on a leaked video and renders of the wearable shared online.

With a price tag said to be $179, the Fitbit Charge 5 will be $50 more expensive than the current Charge 4, but there are some obvious hardware changes on the way that have more in common with the Fitbit luxe, not least being a full-color rounded display that traces the curve of the ergonomic wrist strap.

The images suggest the device will have capacitive touch areas on the sides, and according to the leaked video, the Charge 5 will additionally have built-in GPS and ECG sensors, as well as an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor that claims to track your stress levels.

The EDA sensor plays into the company's Daily Readiness Score, which is a subscriber-only Fitbit Premium feature ($10 per month or $80 per year). The score is based on your exercise history, sleep, and heart rate, and is used to recommend what exercise routine you should undertake each day.

Every device purchased comes with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, which is clearly competing with Apple Watch and its Apple Fitness+ integration, with guided workouts and programs on offer on top of sleep tools and other health insights.

The Fitbit Charge will be available in at least three colors, and there's no word on the specific release date for the fitness tracker-cum-smartwatch, but Google is likely to place it strategically around the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7 that's expected to be announced in the next month or so.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to join other tech executives in a cybersecurity meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden next week, reports Bloomberg.

The meeting will focus on the efforts by private companies to improve cybersecurity following a surge in online attacks over the course of the last year, an official familiar with the event told Bloomberg.

The executives could discuss efforts undertaken by critical infrastructure entities, including those in the banking, energy and water utility sectors, to improve cybersecurity and collaborations with the government. The tech executives are likely to discuss how software can drive better security in the supply chain, the senior official said.

The meeting will include Cook and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, with executives from Google, Amazon, IBM, Southern Co., and JPMorgan Chase & Co also invited to attend.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Facebook is re-adding voice and video calling features to its main Facebook app after moving the features to Messenger back in 2014, reports Bloomberg.

Users in some countries including the United States are now able to make voice or video calls directly from the Facebook app. As of now, Facebook is testing the feature, which is meant to cut down on the number of times that Facebook users need to swap over to the Messenger app.

Messenger and Facebook used to be a single app, but in 2014, Facebook split them into separate apps and removed Messenger functionality from Facebook. Customers were forced to download the Messenger app to send private messages to other Facebook users or to make phone calls using the Facebook platform.

Facebook has also been testing adding a limited version of the Messenger inbox to the main Facebook app, further expanding what can be done without having to switch to Messenger.

Connor Hayes, director of product management at Messenger said that Facebook is beginning to consider Messenger as a service rather than a standalone app. "You're going to start to see quite a bit more of this over time," Hayes told Bloomberg. He said that Messenger is the "connective tissue" for people to communicate regardless of which service they're using. Facebook believes that a unified messaging infrastructure will keep its users engaged in the Facebook ecosystem rather than using alternative services like iMessage.

Facebook combined messaging between Instagram and Messenger last year, a feature that the company also plans to bring to WhatsApp. Deep integrations could make it harder for the Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp apps to be split should Facebook lose the antitrust lawsuit it is facing. The United States FTC has accused Facebook of a social networking monopoly and has called for the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp to bolster competition.

Apple appears to be expanding on the native Apple Maps review functionality that it first introduced in iOS 14, allowing ‌Apple Maps‌ users in the United States the option to review places of interest, restaurants, and other locations.

In the ‌Apple Maps‌ app in iOS 14 and iOS 15, U.S. users can now see an option to provide a thumbs up or thumbs down for most locations. Tapping on the thumbs up/down icon brings up a secondary interface for providing thumbs up and thumbs down ratings for various categories like products, customer service, food, atmosphere, and more, based on the location being reviewed.

Users also have the option to upload photos of the location to the ‌Apple Maps‌ app to be added to the maps listing.

At the current time, the ‌Apple Maps‌ native rating system is displayed alongside the Yelp ratings that are provided for various locations. Apple may eventually be planning to replace Yelp and TripAdvisor integrations, but will need to build up a database of ratings before that will be possible.

There are no options for written reviews at this time, however, so it is not clear if Apple plans to entirely replace Yelp.

Native rating options in the ‌Apple Maps‌ app appear to be new for users in the United States, but Apple has been testing the feature in other countries like the UK and Australia for some time now. Ratings may also be available in additional countries based on the Ratings and Photos Terms legal site for Maps that was shared on Reddit.

In the latest episode of hit Apple TV+ comedy series "Ted Lasso," Jeremy Swift's character Higgins briefly poked fun at actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchasing Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC last year.

As noted by Deadline, Reynolds and McElhenney responded over the weekend by tweeting a letter that sarcastically threatens legal action against Apple TV+ over the joke.

"While we hold the incomparable Jeremy Swift in no ill regard and are honored to be mentioned on the platform that's brought us high-quality programming ranging from Mythic Quest season one to Mythic Quest season two, we must insist that you cease and desist from the casting of any doubt regarding our commitment to the club, the fans and the entire Wrexham community," the letter reads in part.

For context, McElhenney is one of the creators of "Mythic Quest," so he is sarcastically pumping up his own Apple TV+ series.

Reynolds and McElhenney added that, in order to avoid legal action, Apple was required to send two large boxes of Ted Lasso's biscuits to Wrexham AFC's stadium prior to the club's season opening match on Saturday. Apple TV+ responded with a tweet saying that it has a team of 2,000 lawyers furiously baking. It would be humorous if Apple actually delivered on the promise, but sadly the actors have yet to follow up with any evidence.

Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year and provides access to a growing library of original TV shows and movies, including "Ted Lasso," which has been a massive hit for the service and a strong marketing asset. The first season of the show won multiple major awards and the second season is currently underway.

T-Mobile today announced that new and existing Magenta and Magenta MAX customers can receive 12 months of Apple TV+ for free starting this Wednesday, August 25 in the United States. T-Mobile has launched a promotional page with further details.

The offer can even be redeemed by users who already pay for Apple TV+. Once you redeem the offer, your paid Apple TV+ subscription will pause and the free one-year period will begin. Once the free period ends, standard billing will resume. T-Mobile's offer can also be stacked with any free trial included with the purchase of a new Apple device.

Magenta, Magenta MAX, and T-Mobile for Business customers can login to the T-Mobile app or my.t-mobile.com and navigate to Rate Plan Details to redeem the offer starting Wednesday. Look for a "one year of Apple TV+ on us" banner. T-Mobile customers still on the Sprint billing system can redeem by visiting T-Mobile's promotions page and entering the promo code 2021APPLETVP1 into the redemption field.

Eligible plans for T-Mobile customers include Magenta, Magenta MAX, and other Magenta plans, as well as Business Unlimited Advanced and Business Unlimited Ultimate. The offer extends to select Sprint plans, including Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Premium, and others.

Apple TV+ is regularly priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The streaming service provides access to Apple's growing library of original TV shows and films, including the hit comedy series "Ted Lasso" starring Jason Sudeikis.

T-Mobile recently suffered a massive data breach that exposed personal information about nearly 50 million customers.

Apple today announced that it will make an unspecified donation to the National Park Foundation for each qualifying Apple Pay purchase at an Apple Store, on Apple.com, or in the Apple Store app in the United States from August 23 through August 29.

The promotion is limited to the first 100,000 transactions and it is subject to a $10 minimum purchase with Apple Pay, according to fine print on Apple's website.

This is at least the fifth consecutive year that Apple has ran this promotion in support of the National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of the National Park Service in the United States. Apple CEO Cook has expressed his appreciation for national parks, and in an interview last year he said that Apple Park has conference rooms named after U.S. national parks, such as the Grand Canyon room near his personal office.

On August 25, all U.S. national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission in celebration of the National Park Service's birthday. On August 28, Apple Watch users around the world can earn an Activity Challenge award themed after national parks by completing a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile (1.6km) or longer.

Despite having tested and worked on the technology, Apple has decided not to include an under-screen Touch ID sensor with the upcoming iPhone 13, continuing to leave customers with Face ID as the only biometric authentication option for the ‌iPhone‌.

Apple had been testing ‌Touch ID‌ technology that would have allowed the company to place the sensor under the display on the ‌iPhone‌, allowing users to simply put their finger on the display to authenticate. While Apple regularly tests and researches new ideas and technologies, reports earlier in the year had suggested the company was on track to include ‌Touch ID‌ under the display with the 2021 iPhones.

Now, however, Apple's plans have shifted dramatically, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in his latest Power On newsletter, an under-screen ‌Touch ID‌ sensor "won't make the cut" for the ‌iPhone‌ 13. Gurman states that Apple's eventual goal is to embed ‌Face ID‌ under the display rather than ‌Touch ID‌.

The second-generation iPhone SE is currently the only ‌iPhone‌ within the lineup that features ‌Touch ID‌, but it has made a recent reappearance in the iPad. With the latest-generation iPad Air, Apple engineers were able to embed ‌Touch ID‌ into the Power Button. Apple could choose to bring that same technology to future low-end iPhones while keeping ‌Face ID‌ exclusive to higher-end models.

The reasons for Apple's decision to scrap its initial plan to include ‌Touch ID‌ with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 remains unknown; however, the company may not have felt that the technology is mature enough yet to go mainstream in its flagship iPhones. Alternatively, the company may have felt less pressure to include the feature following the launch of iOS 14.5, which allows customers to unlock their iPhones with their Apple Watch.

• Unlock with Apple Watch Not Working? Here's How to Fix the Problem

The global health crisis and daily wearing of a face mask increased demand for ‌Touch ID‌, as ‌Face ID‌ doesn't work while a user is wearing a face covering. Apple addressed the problem with iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, allowing customers to unlock their ‌iPhone‌ while they're wearing a mask, as long as they have an Apple Watch.

While the lack of an under-screen ‌Touch ID‌ sensor will be disappointing for some, Apple is still planning some considerable upgrades with the ‌iPhone‌ 13. The new iPhones will focus heavily on camera capabilities, including ProRes and portrait mode for videos. The new handsets will also include a smaller notch, larger batteries, and improved performance.

Effective next year, pricing for all commercial plans of Microsoft 365 will be increased as a way to compensate for the "increased value" Microsoft's suite of tools has provided to customers over the last ten years, Microsoft has announced.

In a blog post late last week, the company says the new changes are the first time it has substantively increased the price of Office 365 since it launched a decade ago. Microsoft notes some of the ways that Microsoft 365 has grown in prominence over the last year, including that it has added 24 different apps to its suite of tools.

Since its launch a decade ago, Office 365 has grown to over 300 million commercial paid seats. Along the way, we have continuously re-invested to meet the changing needs of our customers. Four years ago, we introduced Microsoft 365 to bring together the best of Office, Windows, and Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS). That same year we added Microsoft Teams as the only integrated solution where you can meet, chat, call, collaborate, and automate business processes—right in the flow of work.

In fact, since introducing Microsoft 365 we have added 24 apps to the suites—Microsoft Teams, Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, Stream, Planner, Visio, OneDrive, Yammer, and Whiteboard—and have released over 1,400 new features and capabilities in three key areas.

The pricing increases are small, consisting of only $2-$4 hikes, and are as followed:

Microsoft 365 Business Basic (from $5 to $6 per user), Microsoft 365 Business Premium (from $20 to $22), Office 365 E1 (from $8 to $10), Office 365 E3 (from $20 to $23), Office 365 E5 (from $35 to $38), and Microsoft 365 E3 (from $32 to $36).

All of the changes will apply globally on March 1, 2022.

Apple can be expected to launch an updated high-end Mac mini with a new design and a faster "M1X" Apple silicon processor in the "next several months," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

In the latest publication of his Power On newsletter, Gurman writes that a new high-end ‌Mac mini‌, which has previously been reported to feature a new design with additional ports, can be expected to replace the current Intel ‌Mac mini‌ in "the next several months." This presumably means the new ‌Mac mini‌ may launch alongside the redesigned 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros this fall. As Gurman writes:

Last fall, as part of its trio of initial Macs to transition over to Apple Silicon chips, the company updated the older Mac mini design with the M1 processor. The Mac mini is used for more basic tasks like video streaming, but many people use it as a software development machine, as a server or for their video editing needs. Apple knows that, so it kept the Intel model around. Well, expect that to go away in the next several months with a high-end, M1X Mac mini. It will have an updated design and more ports than the current model.

Apple leaker Jon Prosser in May shared renders of what the upcoming Mac mini may look like, and according to those renders, allegedly based on images from internal Apple sources, the new ‌Mac mini‌ will feature a "plexiglass" top and a magnetic power port. The new ‌Mac mini‌ is also rumored to feature additional ports.

This fall, Apple is preparing to launch several new products, including the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, a new iPad mini, an updated baseline iPad, new AirPods, and completely redesigned 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros. With Gurman's new reporting today, Apple may launch its new MacBook Pros alongside the new ‌Mac mini‌ at a fully focused Mac Apple silicon event. Apple last year held an event focused on the M1 Apple silicon chip in November.

We're rapidly approaching Apple's busy product launch season, and rumors are continuing to fly. It sounds like Apple has enough products in the pipeline that it'll need to hold multiple virtual events before the end of the year to introduce them all, so get ready for a flurry of activity over the next few months.

Other news this week included a fresh round of betas for iOS 15 and most of the associated operating system updates, reducing the update interval to one week as Apple finalizes things ahead of an expected September public launch. We also saw an interesting story of a "double agent" in the Apple leaker community, confirmation of a never-released "iPhone nano" thanks to an old email from Steve Jobs, and more.

Multiple Apple Events Expected This Fall, M1X MacBook Pros by November

With summer coming to an end, Apple's busy fall season will soon be upon us. It was reported this week that Apple plans to hold multiple events this fall, with several new products expected to be announced, ranging from iPhone 13 models in September to highly-anticipated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a so-called "M1X" chip by November.

Another report has indicated we could even see multiple events within the same month of September. Regardless of the timing, Apple's events will likely remain virtual due to continued health and safety measures, with a live stream available on its website and YouTube for customers to watch around the world.

Everything New in iOS 15 Beta 6: SharePlay Disabled, Safari Redesigned and More

Apple seeded the sixth betas of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 to developers this week for testing, and as usual, we've rounded up everything new, including a new option for the Safari address bar.

In the release notes for the betas, Apple revealed that SharePlay has been postponed beyond the initial public release of iOS 15. Apple said the feature will now be enabled in a future software update later this year.

Apple Secretly Had a 'Double Agent' in the iPhone Leaker Community

For more than a year, a member of an online community leaking internal Apple information was actually serving as a "double agent" for Apple by secretly providing the company with information about other leakers, according to a report this week.

The individual advertised internal Apple information and stolen devices for sale on platforms like Twitter and Discord. However, unbeknownst to other members of the community, he was secretly emailing Apple information about others.

Steve Jobs Email Reveals Apple Considered Launching an 'iPhone Nano'

In a 2010 email surfaced in the Epic Games v. Apple trial, the late Steve Jobs listed an "iPhone nano" as a product on the company's roadmap.

The device likely would have been a smaller, lower-priced version of the iPhone 4, but Apple never released such a product. In fact, it wasn't until 2014 that Apple started offering its latest iPhone model in multiple sizes with the introduction of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple Watch Series 7 Renders Reveal New Design With Flat Edges and Larger Display

In line with information shared by leaker Jon Prosser earlier this year, new renders of the alleged Apple Watch Series 7 have surfaced, revealing a new design with flat edges and a larger display. This would be the first significant design change to the Apple Watch since the Series 4 was released in 2018.

Apple is expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 7 at a September event alongside the iPhone 13 lineup. iPhone 13 Pro models could be available with up to 1TB of internal storage.

Future MacBook Could Feature Removable Key That Works as a Mouse

Apple is researching a MacBook keyboard that features a removable key that can be used as a mouse, according to a newly published patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The key would contain a sensor allowing it to be used as a pointing device, providing MacBook users with an additional option beyond the built-in trackpad for input without needing to carry around a separate mouse.

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.

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Apple in 2020 acquired popular weather app Dark Sky, and in iOS 15 some of those Dark Sky features have been incorporated into the official app. Apple's Weather app has received a major design overhaul in iOS 15, making it a much better weather resource.

Design Overhaul

The Weather app in iOS 15 has an updated design that makes it easier than ever to see the information that you want to know at a glance. The Weather app adopts the card-style interface that's also been used for the Settings app, separating different information into sections.

There continues to be a main view with the weather conditions on an hourly basis that you can shift through, and a new 10-day forecast view lets you know what weather you can expect in the future. The updated 10-day forecast shows expected conditions and has a bar that makes it easier to see the temperature over time at a glance.

Scrolling down through the Weather app will bring you to new weather modules, where new graphical weather data has been added. There are modules for air quality, temperature, UV index, sunset and sunrise, wind, precipitation, humidity, visibility, and pressure.

For each of these modules, Apple provides graphics, context, and more information than was previously made available. Apple shows the specific direction of the wind, for example, and provides details like when precipitation is next expected, what the UV level will be like throughout the day, temperature adjusted for humidity, dew point, and more.

Colored Bars

With the 10-day forecast, there are colored bars next to each temperature listing, which many people have been curious about. These bars represent the temperature range of the day, with the dot in the middle representing the current temperature.

We have more on the colored bars and what the colors mean in our Weather app how to.

Weather Maps

Apple in iOS 15 added full-screen weather maps that provide overview data on expected precipitation, air quality, and temperature. You can get to the maps by tapping on the default temperature map and then tapping on the stack to change the view to precipitation or air quality.

There's also an option to access the weather maps from anywhere by tapping on the small folded map icon in the bottom left corner of the app.

The precipitation maps are animated and show the path of incoming storms and the intensity of rain and snow, while the air quality and temperature maps let you see the conditions in your area and the surrounding areas. You can zoom in or out as far as necessary.

Air Quality information is limited to Canada, China mainland, Germany, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, UK, and the United States.

• iOS 15: How to Use Apple's New Weather Maps

Next-Hour Precipitation

When it's going to rain, snow, or hail in the next hour, you can sign up for next-hour precipitation notifications to get a heads up.

Next-hour precipitation notifications are available in the United States, the UK, and Ireland.

• iOS 15: How to Get Weather Notifications on Your iPhone

Animated Backgrounds

To go along with the updated design in the Weather app, Apple offers thousands of new animated backgrounds that provide more information on sun position, rain, clouds, storms, and other weather phenomena. Backgrounds change throughout the day and the night and shift based on weather patterns.

Animated backgrounds are available on all devices with an A12 Bionic chip or later. Earlier iPhones will not have access to the more detailed animations.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the new Weather app features in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Highly anticipated game Tetris Beat today launched on Apple Arcade, offering up classic block-stacking Tetris gameplay merged with music and rhythm mechanics.

Players are tasked with rotating and dropping Tetriminos in time with the beat in Drop mode, keeping to the rhythm to build combo chains. Those who want a more casual gameplay experience can try out Tap mode, while Tetris fans who want a traditional gameplay experience are able to use Marathon mode, which offers a selection of soundtracks.

Tetris Beat features music from a diverse set of artists including Alison Wonderland, GARZA (of Thievery Corporation), Hannah Diamond, Octo Octa, Dauwd, CINTHIE, and more. There are 18 exclusive songs that span the dance, hip hop, and pop genres, with new music set to be introduced each month.

Apple adds new games to ‌Apple Arcade‌ on a regular basis, and earlier this month, surpassed 200 available titles. ‌Apple Arcade‌ games include no in-app purchase options or ads, with the service priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year for the whole family.

‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ titles can be played on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs, and many games are designed to support controllers, with support available for PlayStation and Xbox controllers. The service is available in more than 150 countries.

‌Apple Arcade‌ subscribers can download Tetris Beat for free. [Direct Link]

For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with Jackery to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station that's perfect for keeping Apple devices charged in emergencies, during camping trips, on road trips, and in power outages.

Available for $500, the Explorer 500 is Jackery's mid-range power station with a 518 watt-hour lithium-ion battery. Jackery also makes a range of larger and smaller batteries to meet various needs.

The Explorer 500 features a pure sine wave AC outlet, a 12V/10A carport, and three 5V 2.4A USB-A ports. It can provide power to all of your Apple products from Macs to iPhones, and it can also run TVs, fans, humidifiers, projectors, and other appliances that draw under 500 watts of power.

The built-in carport and USB-A ports can be used to power car appliances like coolers, air pumps, and vacuums, along with smartphones, tablets, and other small electronic devices.

A single charge can last for weeks on standby, so the Jackery Explorer 500 is ideal to have on hand for power outages and other emergencies. It can run a router or a cable modem to keep you connected while working from home, or run lights and other accessories when you're camping.

A handle at the top makes the Explorer 500 easy to carry, and a set of built-in fans keep it cool even when it's running at full power. There's an LCD screen on the front that displays the current charge level and the watts being drawn, which lets you track power usage.

We have a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Battery Station to give away to one lucky MacRumors reader, and Jackery is also offering 10 percent off all products on the Jackery website for those who do not win. Just enter the code "macrumors" when checking out from now until September 30.

To enter to win our giveaway, 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 MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (August 20) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 27. The winner will be chosen randomly on August 27 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.