MacRumors

Some iPhone 12 models have been losing color from their aluminum chassis, according to a new report from Svetapple.sk, which includes photos of a PRODUCT(RED) ‌iPhone‌ 12 model that has been noticeably leached of color.

The side of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 near the power button has faded to an orange shade and there's a clear delineation where the red coloring has worn off.

Svetapple.sk says that the ‌iPhone‌ has been used in a transparent case, so friction from a hand has not been a factor, though it's not clear if the case itself may have caused the issue.

There have been similar reports of fading from ‌iPhone‌ 11 and iPhone SE 2 users. MacRumors reader t101, for example, shared photos of an ‌iPhone‌ 11 with a dramatic loss of color on the edges. That ‌iPhone‌ model had also been in a transparent case. While many of the reports have focused on the Red ‌iPhone‌ models, the fading has been seen less frequently on ‌iPhone‌ 11 models in different colors.

Some MacRumors readers speculated that the color fading is due to UV exposure enabled by the clear case, but the problem would likely be more widespread if it was a UV exposure issue. There has also been speculation that the issue could be caused by a chemical reaction with a case, but there's no clear cut explanation.

There are a limited number of reports about color fading, but this is a problem that seems to have persisted for years as there are complaints about the ‌iPhone‌ XR, too. Aside from the ‌iPhone‌ 12 photos shared by Svetapple.sk, we have not seen similar reports about color loss on other ‌iPhone‌ 12 devices, and this could be a manufacturing defect that's not widespread.

Apple likely considers the color fading to be a cosmetic issue, so it's not known if devices that are suffering from color loss will be replaced.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will be one of the 100-plus high-profile CEOs and executives in attendance at this year's China Development Forum (CDF) being held Saturday, March 20 through Monday, March 22, Global Times reports.

The CDF is an annual conference organized and led by the Development Research Center of the State Council, to gather the world's most prominent executives and CEOs to discuss China's economic future and the roadmap of the global economy. BMW's chairman of the management board, Oliver Zipse, will co-chair this year's conference.

According to a description from the state-run outlet Global Times, this year's forum will mark the "first five-year plan for the country (China) to embark on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country and realize the second centenary goal." The conference's overarching theme is "China on a New Journey Toward Modernization."

This year's conference will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person, although it's unclear in which capacity Cook will attend. This will not be the first time ‌Tim Cook‌ attends CDF. In 2018, Cook co-chaired the conference, in which he advocated for stronger privacy regulation amid Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal.

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.

Apple TV+ today picked up its first-ever Oscar nominations, with the Tom Hanks film "Greyhound" nominated for "Best Sound" and the animated Cartoon Saloon film "Wolfwalkers" nominated for "Best Animated Feature Film."

"Greyhound" is up against some tough competition, including the Pixar film "Soul" on Disney+ and the Netflix film "Mank," along with "News of the World" and "Sound of Metal." In the animated category, "Wolfwalkers" is also up against "Soul," in addition to "Onward," "Over the Moon," and "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon."

Apple TV+'s first Oscar nominations are not in major categories, but the streaming service still has a relatively small catalog of films. On the television side, Apple TV+ has seen more success this awards season, with hit comedy series "Ted Lasso" and star Jason Sudeikis winning a Golden Globe Award, multiple Critics Choice Awards, and more.

The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will be hosted on Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The awards honor the best films released between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, as chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Update: Apple has highlighted the Academy Award nominations in a press release.

"Nothing is more exciting than seeing these unique and meaningful films resonating with both critics and audiences globally," said Zack Van Amburg, Apple's head of Worldwide Video. "We are incredibly proud of what we're building at Apple, and to have these films celebrated in this way — and in such a short space of time — we're humbled and thankful for the artists and filmmakers who have partnered with us."

With iOS and iPadOS 14.5 scheduled for an early spring release, Apple has begun testing a new feature that could provide Apple Maps users with real-time crowd data for points of interest, similar to Google Maps.

In the iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta, an updated section in the "Location Services" menu of Apple's Privacy settings states that Apple will collect data from users, such as when a specific app is opened near a point of interest, to determine how crowded the location is, and whether that specific business is open:

Routing and Traffic: While you are in transit (for example, walking or driving), your iPhone will periodically send GPS data, travel speed and barometric pressure information in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple, to be used for augmenting crowd-sourced road traffic and atmospheric correction databases. Additionally, when you open an app near a point of interest (for example, a business or park), your iPhone will send location data in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple, which Apple may aggregate and use to let users know if that point of interest is open and how busy it is.

The wording suggests that if a user opens an app for a specific business or service near a related point of interest on ‌Apple Maps‌, Apple may aggregate that data to possibly inform other users of how crowded that location is and whether the business/service is operating. Notably, Apple says it will only collect anonymized and encrypted data from users when the "Routing and Traffic" setting is turned on within Location Services -> System Services.

Currently, ‌Apple Maps‌ offers no front-facing interface for displaying this data to users. The lack of the feature on the visual front and Apple's wording implies that Apple is testing and collecting data to potentially launch a related feature in the official public release of iOS 14.5, or perhaps in a release subsequent to it.

Google Maps already offers a similar real-time feature called Live Visit Data that informs users of how busy a specific store or business is at a particular time. Google provides this data by gathering aggregated and anonymized data from users who have opted in to Google Location History.

Already present in iOS 14.5 beta is the ability for users to crowdsource car accidents, speed traps, and hazards within ‌Apple Maps‌. The new addition to ‌Apple Maps‌ joins an already extensive list of features in iOS and iPadOS 14.5, including App Tracking Transparency, the ability to unlock your iPhone with a mask, and more. Apple says the update will roll out to all users in the "early spring."

(Thanks, Stijn!)

Apple says its App Store now supports more than 330,000 jobs in the U.K., a 10% increase over the past year, despite the pressures of the global health crisis on the nation's economy.

According to Apple, 2020 was a "breakthrough year" for the iOS app economy, with developers in the U.K. generating more than £3.6 billion in total earnings, which represents 22% in growth compared to the previous year. The company says a similar trend was reflected in Europe, where the iOS app economy has grown to support 1.7 million jobs – a 7% percent increase since 2019. Apple published similar press releases in Germany and France, claiming that the ‌App Store‌ supports over a quarter of a million jobs in each of those two countries.

Growth in the UK was driven by the innovations and breakthrough success of UK developers, whose apps users relied on for learning, working out, keeping track of their health, or finding ways to stay connected and entertained. During the pandemic, people turned to UK workout apps like One You Couch to 5K, fitness plan app Fiit, and sleep support app Sleepiest Sleep Sounds Stories. UK developer Moshi, a sleep and mindfulness app for children, has seen a rapid growth in downloads and subscriptions over the last year, leading to a 50 percent expansion of its team with 10 new hires.

"In a year like no other, the UK has remained a vibrant and innovative hub for entrepreneurs and app developers," said Christopher Moser, senior director of the App Store. "More people in the UK than ever before are working as part of the iOS app ecosystem, creating exciting apps enjoyed by people all over the world."

In its UK press release, Apple highlighted a few ‌App Store‌ success stories from U.K. developers in 2020. These include Digital Workroom, which develops productivity apps like Noted and aids businesses trying to create their own branded apps, the online language learning community Busuu, and Hutch Games – creator of free-to-play titles like the popular F1 Manager, Top Drives, and Rebel Racing.

Apple says that U.K. developers have benefitted from its ‌App Store‌ Small Business Program, which launched earlier this year and introduced a 15% reduced commission rates for developers who earned under $1 million in 2020. Apple takes 30 percent commission from developers making over one million dollars per year.

The Small Business Program has received praise from many developers, however some larger developers such as Spotify and Epic Games – both of which accuse Apple of anti-competitive behavior – have since criticized the program, saying it undermines the ‌‌App Store‌‌'s rules.

Mass production will begin on the third-generation AirPods in the third quarter of 2021, according to an investors note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that was seen by MacRumors.

If mass production is not set to begin until the third quarter of 2021, it would mean that the AirPods 3 wouldn't ship until later in the year. Kuo previously said back in November that the ‌AirPods 3‌ would launch in the first half of 2021, and other rumors have suggested the new AirPods could come as soon as this month.

There have been several leaks depicting the redesigned third-generation AirPods, which normally suggests that a launch is close, and Kang, a well-respected leaker who often shares accurate information about Apple's plans, said recently that the AirPods 3 are "ready to ship."

Kuo expects AirPods shipments from the first quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2021 to decline by about 25 percent year over year to 55 million units. Should demand for the ‌AirPods 3‌ be better than expected, fourth quarter AirPods shipments will remain flat year over year at 23 million units. Overall AirPods shipments across 2021 are expected to decline to 78 million units, down from 90 million in 2020.

Kuo says that the AirPods Max have offered "limited help" to AirPods shipments, with an annual shipment of about one million units.

It is unclear at this time if AirPods 2 will stop being produced when the ‌AirPods 3‌ enter mass production. Kuo says that Apple has a dilemma -- if AirPods 2 stick around and are sold at a lower price, it could affect ‌AirPods 3‌ demand, but if there's a no low-priced AirPods model, it could have a negative effect on Apple's sales.

If AirPods 2 will go to end-of-life after AirPods 3's mass production, we estimate AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Max will account for about 40%, 28%, 31%, and 1% of total shipments, respectively, in 2021. If AirPods 2 will continue production after mass production of AirPods 3, we estimate AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Max will account for about 32%, 28%, 39%, and 1% of total shipments in 2021, respectively.

Kuo attributes the decline in AirPods shipments to increased competition and a loss of market share. There are a number of lower-priced true wireless earbud options on the market for Apple to contend with.

The competitive advantage of Apple's products lies in providing integration of the "hardware, software, and service" ecosystem, not just hardware. The iPhone, for example, has seen its market share decline due to the rapid growth of the smartphone market, but it has been able to maintain shipment growth because of the strong ecosystem of the App Store and developers. We believe that Siri is the core of AirPods' software and service ecosystem, but since Siri's competitive advantage is not significant, the gap between AirPods' leading edge and its competitors' shrinks due to a lack of protection from the ecosystem as competitors gradually improve their user experience and launch lower-price strategies at the same time. We believe that HomePod and HomePod mini shipments were significantly lower than expected for the same reason.

AirPods have quick pairing and fast switching capabilities that give them an edge over competitors, but Kuo says that these advantages are "gradually offset" by improved user experiences and lower prices offered by competitors.

In terms of high quality, while AirPods Pro's low latency is about 50% improvement vs. AirPods 1 and 20% improvement vs. AirPods 2, and it offers active noise cancellation, sales results show that consumers are not very willing to spend more than US$100 to buy the selling points of AirPods Pro.

Kuo says that if Apple wants to improve AirPods shipments in the future, hardware innovation like health management functionality is necessary to differentiate the earbuds from similar products offered by competitors.

Apple today shared a new AirPods Pro-focused ad called "Jump" on its YouTube channel, highlighting the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency features of the earbuds in a creative way.

In the spot, a man wearing AirPods Pro jump ropes through the city. It's set to the song "Fallin' Apart" by Young Franco, and it features the tagline "Turn the world into your playground with ‌AirPods Pro‌."

Apple's ‌AirPods Pro‌ ad comes amid rumors of third-generation AirPods, which could be released as soon as this month. The AirPods 3 will look similar to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ with shorter stems and a smaller case, but will not have the same Active Noise Cancellation functionality.

Apple is also rumored to be working on a new version of the AirPods Pro that will lack a stem, but it is not yet clear when the new ‌AirPods Pro‌ might launch.

A judge in California has ruled that Google must face a class action lawsuit alleging that it secretly tracks the online activity of Chrome users even when they're using the browser in its privacy-oriented Incognito mode (via Bloomberg).

The lawsuit was filed in June by three plaintiffs alleging that Google hoovers up user data through Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager and other applications and website plug-ins, including smartphone apps, regardless of whether users click on Google-supported ads.

The plaintiffs claim that Google is therefore deceiving customers into believing that they have control over the information they share with the company when they use Chrome's private browsing mode, and in doing so, violates federal wiretap laws.

According to the plaintiffs, the lawsuit likely covers "millions" of Google users who since June 1, 2016 browsed the internet using Incognito mode. The proposed class action therefore seeks $5,000 in damages per user for violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws, amounting to at least $5 billion.

Google attempted to have the case thrown out by arguing that the plaintiffs consented to its privacy policy, which the company said explicitly discloses its data protection practices.

"Google also makes clear that 'Incognito' does not mean 'invisible,' and that the user's activity during that session may be visible to websites they visit, and any third-party analytics or ads services the visited websites use," Google said in a court filing.

However, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh ruled that the company "did not notify users that Google engages in the alleged data collection while the user is in private browsing mode."

Google has said it will defend itself "vigorously" against the claims.

Metrolinx this week announced that commuters can now use contactless payment options like Apple Pay to pay for their fare on UP Express, a train that connects Downtown Toronto with Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Prior to boarding the train, commuters simply need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the PRESTO payment terminal to pay for their fare with a credit card loaded in the Wallet app — or tap a physical credit card. At the end of the trip, riders must "tap off" with the same credit card or mobile payment device they used to "tap on" with to ensure that they pay the correct fare for their trip on UP Express, as usual.

If a rider is approached by a fare inspector, they can present the same credit card or mobile wallet used to pay the fare as proof of payment.

The contactless payment option has been available for UP Express adult fare since March 11, as part of a pilot program. Student or other discounted fares still require using a PRESTO card for now. Metrolinx plans to expand contactless payments to more transit agencies "soon" across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including the TTC.

It's worth noting that it is still not possible to add the PRESTO card to the Wallet app, and this does not appear to be part of the current plans.

"We're currently working with the TTC to determine the potential timelines for this work," a Metrolinx spokesperson told Global News.

Later this year, Metrolinx also plans to add Interac Debit as a payment option for UP Express.

In a new ad on its YouTube channel, Apple is promoting the durability and water resistance of the iPhone 12 and the performance of the "Ceramic Shield" display.

The ad, named "Cook," showcases a chef putting an ‌iPhone‌ 12‌ through its paces by splashing it with liquids and flour, plus dropping it on its screen multiple times. The ad aims to highlight the "Ceramic Shield" display on the ‌iPhone‌ 12, a new type of glass made by "introducing nano-ceramic crystals into the glass."

Apple claims this new glass on the front and back of ‌iPhone‌ 12 models results in four times better drop performance and calls it the toughest glass in any smartphone. ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ models are certified with an IP68 rating, allowing them to withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

Rumors about a potential Apple event are starting to heat up as we're getting close to the time of year when Apple frequently hosts an event, so stay tuned for more information on that front in the coming days and weeks.

This week also saw Apple confirm it has discontinued both the iMac Pro and the original HomePod, while rumors are continuing to look forward to new Apple silicon MacBook Pro models later this year, a mixed reality headset in 2022, augmented reality glasses by 2025, and maybe even some sort of augmented reality contact lenses by the 2030s. Read on below for details on these stories and more!

Next Apple Event Rumored for March 23

March is a common month of the year for Apple to announce new or updated products, and this year will likely be no exception.

A reliable Chinese leaker known as "Kang" this week said an Apple Event is planned for Tuesday, March 23, with potential new products including Apple's long-awaited AirTags item trackers, a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display, third-generation AirPods, and a new Apple TV. A wildcard possibility is a redesigned iMac with an Apple silicon chip.

If the rumor is accurate, Apple should officially announce the event early next week. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event will surely be another virtual affair with a prerecorded video from Apple Park.

Apple Confirms iMac Pro Will Be Discontinued When Supplies Run Out, Recommends 27-Inch iMac

After adding a "while supplies last" notice to its iMac Pro product page and removing all upgrade options for the computer late last week, Apple confirmed to MacRumors that the iMac Pro will be discontinued when supplies run out. The computer remains available for now, but delivery estimates are several weeks out.

Apple said the latest 27-inch iMac introduced in August is the preferred choice for the vast majority of pro iMac users, and said customers who need even more performance and expandability can choose the Mac Pro. Of course, it may be worth exercising patience, as rumors suggest that Apple is working on a redesigned iMac with an Apple silicon chip for release this year and performance should be quite impressive.

Apple previously confirmed that its transition to Apple silicon across Macs will be completed by around June 2022.

Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini

The iMac Pro wasn't the only Apple product to be discontinued over the past week, with Apple also announcing that it has discontinued the original HomePod, with orders only available while supplies last. Apple says it will focus its efforts on the smaller and cheaper HomePod mini, which was launched last November.

Apple had hoped that the ‌HomePod‌'s high-quality sound would give it an edge over competing products, but sales of the ‌HomePod‌ have always been lackluster with so many more affordable options on the market. Apple has been selling the ‌HomePod‌ for $299, but it was originally priced at $350. The ‌HomePod mini‌ is available for $99.

Should You Buy a Super Cheap Refurbished iPhone From Amazon?

Amazon maintains lists of its best selling products, and right now, the best-selling smartphone that's available from Amazon is an Amazon "Renewed" iPhone 8, which is frequently priced below $200.

That's super cheap for an ‌iPhone‌, and cheaper than Apple's own refurbished price for the same device, so in our latest YouTube video, we picked up one of these Amazon Renewed iPhones to see if it's worth the savings.

Amazon's "Renewed" devices are all pre-owned and are not Apple certified, but Amazon says they've been professionally "inspected, tested, and cleaned" by Amazon-qualified suppliers. Note that the iPhones come from various third-party suppliers and are not necessarily provided direct by Amazon.

Two New Apple Silicon MacBooks Expected to Enter Mass Production in Second Half of 2021

Apple is planning redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by Apple silicon for release in the second half of 2021, according to well-regarded analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and a Nikkei Asia report this week lent credence to that timeframe.

In a report focused on Apple slashing iPhone 12 mini orders from suppliers, the publication briefly noted that Apple has pushed back mass production of the two new MacBooks from May or June until the second half of the year. The report refers to the notebooks as "MacBooks," but it is likely this is referring to the upcoming MacBook Pro models.

The second half of the year begins in July, so there should be ample time for Apple's suppliers to ramp up production for a launch later in the year.

Kuo expects the new MacBook Pro models to feature brighter displays with Mini-LED backlighting, a new design with a flat-edged top and bottom, an HDMI port and SD card reader, classic MagSafe charging with a magnetic power cable, and physical function keys instead of the Touch Bar.

Kuo: Apple to Launch Mixed Reality Headset in Mid 2022 and Augmented Reality Glasses by 2025

Apple plans to release its long-rumored mixed reality AR/VR headset "in mid-2022," followed by augmented reality glasses by 2025, well-regarded analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said this week.

Kuo also looked far into the future and predicted that Apple will launch "contact lenses" at some point after 2030. He said this product will bring electronics from the era of "visible computing" to "invisible computing," but there is "no visibility" for this product yet and he offered no further details.

Apple is highly committed to AR/VR technologies, according to Kuo, who has a "positive view" about Apple's future in the space.

Apple Accuses Former Employee of Stealing Trade Secrets and Leaking Them to Media

Apple this filed a lawsuit against Simon Lancaster, a former employee who allegedly used his position within the company to steal "sensitive trade secret information" from Apple that was then leaked to a journalist and published in rumor articles.

Lancaster worked at Apple for more than a decade, using his seniority to attend internal meetings and access documents that Apple says were "outside the scope of his job's responsibilities." Details he obtained were published in media articles that "cited a 'source' at Apple."

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Apple has discontinued the standard HomePod to focus exclusively on the HomePod mini, reports TechCrunch. First introduced four years ago, Apple's larger ‌HomePod‌ has never sold well because of its high price tag.

Apple hoped that the ‌HomePod‌'s high-quality sound would give it an edge over competing products, but sales of the ‌HomePod‌ have always been lackluster with so many more affordable options on the market. Apple has been selling the ‌HomePod‌ for $299, but it was originally priced at $350. The ‌HomePod mini‌ is available for $99.

The ‌HomePod mini‌ offers all of the features of the ‌HomePod‌ in a smaller and less expensive package. Many reviews praised the HomePod mini for its sound quality relative to its size, and while it won't quite match the sound available from the ‌HomePod‌, it features the same Siri integration, Apple Music support, and HomeKit controls.

In a statement, Apple said that the ‌HomePod‌ will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store and Apple retail stores.

HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.

On Thursday, many tech sites noticed that the full-sized space gray ‌HomePod‌ was out of stock in the United States, but it was believed to be just a stock shortage. As it turns out, it was because Apple no longer plans to sell the ‌HomePod‌.

The space gray ‌HomePod‌ can likely be purchased from third-party retailers, but it is no longer available from Apple, while the ‌HomePod‌ in white continues to be available for purchase as of right now.

Qualcomm is having a hard time keeping up with demand for the processor chips that Android manufacturers rely on, reports Reuters. Chip shortages have been impacting multiple industries, and have now hit the electronics business.

There's no indication that Qualcomm's supply troubles will impact Apple, but smartphone manufacturers like Samsung could be in trouble. Apple develops its own A-series chips that are manufactured by TSMC, but it does use Qualcomm's modem chips.

Samsung and other Android manufacturers rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips to power their smartphones, and demand has soared over the course of the past few months. Qualcomm is facing shortages of some of the subcomponents used in its chips, and the component issues could impact production of mid and low-end Samsung models.

A source told Reuters that Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 888 chip is impacted, but it's not clear if this is impacting the manufacturing of Samsung's high-end smartphones. Samsung next week will hold an Unpacked event to unveil its latest mid-range Galaxy A series device, which is expected to compete with the iPhone SE.

An executive at a contract manufacturer for several major smartphone brands said that it was facing a shortage of a range of components from Qualcomm and would cut handset shipments, but it's not likely that this is referring to Apple.

For the most part, the shortages are impacting Qualcomm's older processor technology because Qualcomm is directing key components toward its newer processor options that are more profitable. On Wednesday, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told investors that Qualcomm's demand is "basically higher than supply."

With a lack of supply, chip component prices are going up. A microcontroller unit chip from STMicroelectronics, for example, originally sold for $2 but is now priced at $14.

It's not clear if these chip issues will eventually have some kind of impact on Apple's business, but so far the Cupertino company appears to be able to manufacture devices as normal with no supply shortages.