MacRumors

Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack designed for iPhone 12 models came out this week, and Charger Lab has taken one of the new accessories apart to give us a look at its inner workings.

The teardown has detailed information on how the ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌ works and what each component inside does. There are two charging coils inside, shielding for heat dissipation, and a magnetic ring that allows it to attach to ‌iPhone‌ 12 models.

There are two batteries inside that are connected together, with the previously known 11.13 watt hour energy and 7.62 voltage. Each individual battery is 5.733Wh, based on the internal labeling.

At the back of the ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌, there's a large metal plate to help with heat dissipation. Underneath the heat shields on the front, there are all of the chips that allow the ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌ to function.

Images from Charger Lab's teardown surfaced earlier this week, but this is the first time the full video has been available and it's well worth watching for those who are interested in what's inside the ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌.

The ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌ can be purchased from Apple's website for $99.

Apple today clarified details on which of its devices support Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos through the built-in speakers, and it turns out that some older iPhones and iPads previously thought to work with spatial audio do not, in fact, offer the feature.

In an updated support document, Apple says that the built-in speakers of the iPhone XS or later (minus the iPhone SE), the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, and the fourth-generation iPad Air support spatial audio.

Prior to today's update, this support document said that spatial audio was also compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ XR, the iPad mini 5, the ‌iPad Air‌ 3, and the 6th to 8th-generation iPads.

Before today's update:

The built-in speakers on an iPhone XR or later (except iPhone SE), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later), iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad (6th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later), or iPad mini (5th generation)

After today's update:

The built-in speakers on an iPhone XS or later (except iPhone SE), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later), iPad Pro 11-inch, or iPad Air (4th generation)

Apple has not yet updated the footnote on its Apple Music page with the latest information on supported devices, and this is not the first time that Apple has offered confusing information on which devices work with spatial audio.

An earlier version of the Apple Music page at one point said that spatial audio worked with the ‌iPhone‌ 7 or later, but that was updated to say ‌iPhone‌ XR in June. Apple will likely soon update the footnote again to reflect the new data, which indicates spatial audio is limited to newer iPhones and iPads.

Those who have older iPhones and iPads can still access spatial audio with several headphone options including AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Beats X, Beats Solo3 Wireless, Beats Studio3, Powerbeats3 Wireless, Beats Flex, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Solo Pro, or Beats Studio Buds.

On Macs, all of the above listed headphone options work as well as the built-in speakers on MacBook Pro (2018 model or later), MacBook Air (2018 model or later), or iMac (2021 model).

Update: Some ‌iPhone‌ XR owners have been able to get the Spatial Audio feature working on their devices in automatic mode, with the iPhones playing Spatial Audio as expected, so it appears the Spatial Audio feature may work with the ‌iPhone‌ XR, XS, and later. The ‌iPad mini‌ 5, ‌iPad Air‌ 3, and 6th to 8th-generation iPads do not support Spatial Audio.

Twitter's beta for iOS has gained "Sign in With Apple" functionality, with the end goal of allowing users to create Twitter accounts using their Apple ID, but still in beta, the feature is still not fully functioning properly.

Twitter researcher Jane Manchun Wong discovered earlier this month that Twitter was working to port over ‌Sign in With Apple‌ to its service. Wong's report was based on code found within Twitter's website. With its beta app for iOS, Twitter is now properly testing the functionality, with some beta testers seeing a "Continue with Apple" option alongside continuing with Google or no third-party sign-up service at all.

In its current phase, attempting to continue with ‌Sign in With Apple‌ may prompt some initial errors, and once through with an account made, there are some quirks. Firstly, when users use ‌Sign in With Apple‌, they aren't creating a specific password for that app or service. Instead, the app links the service to a user's ‌Apple ID‌.

Currently, with a Twitter account made with ‌Sign in With Apple‌, it's not possible to change account information such as email and more since the app asks for a password. These are technical loopholes that will get ironed out before Twitter rolls out that feature to all users.

Twitter is also testing other new features for its iOS app, including a new edge-to-edge timeline view for photos and an internal dislike button for tweet replies.

Apple today updated its Apple Music for Android app to introduce support for Spatial Audio and Lossless music quality, bringing feature parity to the Android and iOS operating systems.

Spatial Audio and Lossless for Apple Music came to Apple devices in June, and has been available in a beta capacity on Android since last month. From the release notes for the update:

In this update, Apple Music adds a spatial listening experience on compatible devices, with thousands of tracks in Dolby Atmos available at launch.

Other updates include:
- Lossless Audio, a new way to experience uncompromised sound, with bit-for-bit accuracy.
- Automatic Crossfade, a new way to listen that blends each song into the next for a seamless experience.
- Search enhancements to library, which allow you to more easily find your favorite music with in-line search.

In the Settings menu of the ‌Apple Music‌ app on Android, users can access an "Audio Quality" sub-menu with options to enable Lossless Audio and choose between different tiers where applicable.

Apple does not provide specific details on which Android devices are able to support the ‌Apple Music‌ features, and suggests in a support document that Android users check with their device's manufacturer.

An Akamai outage is affecting multiple major websites, many of which are down or experiencing issues at the current time.

Affected websites include Amazon.com, HBO Max, UPS, Steam, PlayStation Network, LastPass, The Home Depot, Costco, American Express, and tons more. Some of these outages are regional, so not all users will see all affected sites impacted.

According to Apple's System Status page, iCloud Backup, ‌iCloud‌ Mail, ‌iCloud‌ Storage Upgrades, and Photos are experiencing issues that could be related to the outage.

Akamai says that it is actively investigating the issue and is aware of a problem with the Edge DNS service. It is not clear when the issue will be resolved.

Today's outage mirrors a Fastly outage that occured in June, bringing websites like Reddit, Spotify, Twitch, Hulu, and more down.

Apple today shared a new Apple Watch Series 6 ad that highlights the various health-related features of the device like fitness tracking, various kinds of workouts, blood oxygen monitoring, and fall detection.

"With features like fall detection, the Blood Oxygen app and workout tracking, the future of health is on your wrist," reads the tagline for the video.

The Apple Watch Series 6 is the first Apple Watch model to support blood oxygen monitoring, allowing users to see their blood oxygen levels with a quick test, giving them a better idea of their overall health.

The Apple Watch Series 6 ad shared today joins another series of Apple Watch ads that Apple released back in February highlighting ECG, the Sleep app, and more.

Apple is widely rumored to be planning a new iPad mini with a significant redesign, including a larger 8.5-inch to 9-inch display with slimmer bezels, a Touch ID power button instead of a home button, a USB-C port instead of a Lightning connector, and more.

According to a paywalled preview of a DigiTimes report today, the sixth-generation iPad mini will also feature a mini-LED display:

BLU maker Radiant to kick off shipments for Apple mini-LED backlit devices in 3Q21
Radiant Optoelectronics will kick off shipments of its backlight units for the upcoming mini LED-backlit MacBook Pro and iPad mini later in the third quarter, with the shipments to expand in volume in the fourth quarter, according to industry sources.

The full report should be published by tomorrow with further details.

Compared to traditional LCDs, mini-LED backlighting offers benefits like higher brightness, improved contrast, and deeper blacks.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously stated that an iPad mini with a mini-LED display was in the works, but he said it would be a 7.9-inch model launching in 2020, a prediction that failed to materialize. Nevertheless, a mini-LED iPad mini certainly remains plausible as Apple expands the display technology across its product lineup, starting with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro earlier this year and the MacBook Pro likely next.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu previously reported that the new iPad mini will be announced later this year, and mini-LED display-related component shipments kicking off in the third quarter of the year lends credence to that timeframe.

9to5Mac's Chance Miller recently reported that the next iPad mini will also feature the same A15 chip as the upcoming iPhone 13 lineup, and a Smart Connector for easily connecting compatible keyboards, while leaker Jon Prosser said the device will sport dramatically improved speakers and have compatibility with a new, smaller Apple Pencil.

The current iPad mini was released in March 2019 and features a 7.9-inch display, an A12 chip, and a Touch ID home button.

HBO today officially shut down its Apple TV channel, forcing customers that previously used the channel part of ‌Apple TV‌ to access HBO content to upgrade to HBO Max.

HBO began promoting a notice to users on its ‌Apple TV‌ channel reading that it will be "ending its channel service on July 22" and that users are now required to "get HBO Max to continue watching." The channel was originally shut down for new subscribers when HBO Max launched last year, but existing subscribers continued to access the channel.

HBO Max is its own separate ‌Apple TV‌ app available from the App Store.

Simultaneously, as HBO shuts down its ‌Apple TV‌ channel, several users are reporting across social media that HBO has removed the ability within its HBO Max app to sign in with an Apple ID account. Users who were previously signed up to HBO via the ‌Apple TV‌ channel had done so through their ‌Apple ID‌. Now, with the channel shut down and the ability to sign in with an ‌Apple ID‌ missing, some users are locked out from their accounts until further notice.

Some users have found success in retrieving access to their account by creating a new HBO Max account using the same email address used in their ‌Apple ID‌.

CARROT Weather, a popular app known for its funny and sarcastic weather information, today received a major update that adds a new video Weather Report option.

CARROT Weather users can now film 30-second TV news-style videos to share with friends using the onscreen script that the CARROT Weather app generates.

These quick 30-second weather reports turn CARROT Weather users into citizen weather reporters offering up current weather temperatures, next-day temperatures, and fake little news tidbits to add flair.

For premium users, there's a new Smart Layouts feature that changes the CARROT Weather interface based on the weather or the time of day. If it's raining, for example, CARROT Weather can automatically switch over to a precipitation-focused UI.

Today's update also introduces new layouts and designs for layout components, screenshot styles, along with support for wet-bulb temperature readings. Wet-bulb temperature readings are useful for determining human survivability in extreme heat events.

CARROT Weather can be downloaded from the App Store for free, and there is an optional $4.99 per month premium tier that unlocks new weather data sources, notifications, customization, widgets, and Apple Watch complications. There's also a higher tier $9.99 per month option with even more features. [Direct Link]

The winners of the 14th annual iPhone Photography Awards were announced today following submissions from thousands of photographers from all over the world.

The recipient of the "Photographer of the Year Award" went to photojournalist Istvan Kerekes from Hungary for his photo "Transylvanian Shepherds." In the photo, shot on an iPhone 7, two rugged shepherds are traversing a snowy industrial area in the Romanian city of Târgu Mureș, each while carrying a lamb.

Other top winners included Sharan Shetty from India for his photo "Bonding," where a man and his horse commune in an empty landscape, and Dan Liu from China for his "A Walk on Mars" photo of an astronaut traversing a desolate Martian-esque landscape. "Bonding" was shot with an iPhone X and "A Walk on Mars" was shot with an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Top-three winners in an additional 17 categories were awarded to photographers from almost every corner of the world, including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

We've highlighted a few of the winning photos here and the full gallery can be viewed on the iPhone Photography Awards website.

Satechi, known for its line of accessories designed for Apple devices, today announced the launch of a trio of USB-C chargers that are designed for use with iPads, Macs, iPhones, and more.

The 66W 3-Port USB-C GaN Wall Charger is priced at $54.99, has a foldable plug, and offers three USB-C ports with output combinations of 65W, 30W/30W, 45W/20W, 30W/18W/18W, adding up to 66W total. This model is designed to charge a MacBook Air while also fast charging an iPhone and charging up an iPad at full speed.

Satechi's 100W USB-C PD Wall Charger, priced at $69.99, has a single USB-C port that's able to charge at up to 100W, as the name suggests.

The 108W 3-Port USB-C GaN Wall Charger also features three ports to work with, but it supports higher watt devices. It can charge with a single port at 100W, or in the following combinations: 60W/45W, 88W/20W, 45W/30W/30W, 58W/30W/20W, or 65W/20W/20W. It's available for $74.99. The 108W charger can charge a 13-inch MacBook Pro, an ‌iPhone‌, and an ‌iPad‌ at the same time, and it's high-powered enough to work with the 15-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

All three of the new chargers feature Gallium Nitride or GaN technology, which is designed to keep them small and compact. Satechi says they're all also CE certified and will charge devices safely and efficiently.

The three new chargers can be purchased from the Satechi website or from Amazon.com. Customers can get a 15 percent discount from July 22 to July 31 with promo code GANFAST15.

Apple today celebrated four decades of the company's presence in Singapore, which was just 16 years old as a nation when Apple's first office opened there in 1981.

In a press release, Apple hailed its base for Asia Pacific operations as a globally recognized center of innovation and expertise, dedicated to embracing a "high-tech vision for the future."

"We're thrilled to be celebrating this important milestone with our teams in Singapore, and the customers and communities they serve with creativity and passion," says Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail + People. "Together, we've created an enduring partnership rooted in our shared values that will empower us to build a brighter tomorrow."

According to Apple, Singapore is home to more than 3,500 Apple team members representing over 50 nationalities, and the company supports over 55,000 jobs in the country when factoring in the iOS app economy.

Singapore also boasts five Apple Distinguished Schools, where educators are certified Apple Teachers, trained in foundational skills for iPad and Mac, while students learn basic Swift coding as part of their core curriculum.

In 2020, Apple partnered with Singapore's healthcare system to launch LumiHealth, a personalized program to encourage healthy activity and behaviors using Apple Watch and iPhone. It was also the first company in the country to run on 100% renewable energy.

Last year, Apple made a splash in Singapore when it opened its Marina Bay Sands retail store, which has a unique dome-like design unlike any other Apple store and sits on a body of water.

Also today, CEO Tim Cook was interviewed on local radio to celebrate the company's 40-year history, and explained that his first job at Apple was to visit Singapore's production line for the original translucent iMac. Cook also revealed that the first Apple product he used was an Apple II when he was studying at Auburn university.

Alongside introducing the new MagSafe Battery Pack last week, Apple debuted new AirTag Leather Loop and ‌AirTag‌ Key Ring accessories in updated colors, but it appears there may be more official shades to come, if existing reseller listings are accurate.

For example, Amazon currently has additional ‌AirTag‌ Loop color options in Capri Blue and Pink Citrus, and both the ‌AirTag‌ Leather Loop and ‌AirTag‌ Leather Key Ring are listed as available in Meyer Lemon.

The colors also appear in other third-party online retailers, yet none of them are listed on Apple's online store. All the resellers list the additional colors as out of stock until August or into September, so it's always possible Apple will also add them to its own online store at around that time.

We aren't expecting any big product announcements from Apple until at least September with the launch of the new iPhone series, so the company may just silently add them to its accessory offerings for ‌AirTag‌ in the near future or tag them onto a big product press release. Watch this space.

(H/T @epictechh)

Twitter is currently working on a "Voice Transformer" – a voice manipulation feature for Spaces, its live audio conversations service that rolled out to more users in May.

"Voice Transformer" will provide several effects for users to change the sound of their voice as they engage in Spaces conversations, which could inject some fun into chats or perhaps be used by people who dislike the sound of their own voice.

First spotted by app researcher Jane Manchun Wong, the feature manipulates voices by adjusting pitch or adding echo. MacRumors contributor Steve Moser subsequently revealed the full list of voice effects that will be available in Spaces. They include Bee, Cartoon, Helium, Incognito, Karaoke, Microphone, Phone, Spatial, Stadium, and Stage.

It's unclear when Voice Transformer will be available to use by the general public who engage in Spaces conversations, but code relating to the feature is already included in the latest version of Twitter for mobile, so it shouldn't be too far away.

Apple in July 2021 began offering beta firmware for the AirPods Pro, with the software available for Apple Developer program members.

‌AirPods Pro‌ firmware betas are limited to developers and are quite tricky to install, with an installation guide available below.

Note: Installing the firmware in an unauthorized way can put the ‌AirPods Pro‌ into an unusable state that necessitates an out-of-warranty repair, so non-developers should not attempt to install the software.

Install the AirPods Pro Firmware Profile on iPhone

1. On your iPhone, go to the Apple Developer website, log in, and navigate to the downloads section.
2. Tap on the carrot in the upper right corner and then tap on "More."
3. Scroll down to "‌AirPods Pro‌ beta" and tap on "View Details."
4. Tap on the iOSAirPodsProSeed.mobileconfig configuration profile.
5. Tap on "Allow" to install it, and select the ‌iPhone‌.
6. Open up the Settings app and tap on "Profile Downloaded," then tap on "Install" and enter your passcode.
7. Tap on "Install" again then tap on "Done."

Connect AirPods Pro to iPhone

1. With the ‌AirPods Pro‌ near the ‌iPhone‌, open up the ‌AirPods Pro‌ case.
2. The ‌AirPods Pro‌ should pair automatically to the ‌iPhone‌.

Use Xcode to Allow AirPods Pro to Receive Beta Software

1. Make sure you have the latest beta version of Xcode installed. It can be downloaded from the Apple Developer website.
2. After installing the ‌AirPods Pro‌ firmware configuration profile and then connecting the ‌AirPods Pro‌ to the ‌iPhone‌, connect the ‌iPhone‌ to a Mac with the appropriate USB to Lightning cable.
3. Launch the Xcode beta app. You don't actually need to do anything with the Xcode app beyond opening it up.
4. On the ‌iPhone‌, open up the Settings app, tap on the Developer section, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware.
5. Locate the ‌AirPods Pro‌ in the list of paired devices.
6. Tap to turn on automatic beta software updates for the appropriate ‌AirPods Pro‌ in the list.

Install the Beta Firmware

After tapping to turn on software updates, tap on "Agree" to agree to Apple's Legal Consent form. From there, your ‌AirPods Pro‌ will be ready to receive the firmware.

Firmware installation is not automatic and it can take up to 24 hours for the beta firmware to be installed on ‌AirPods Pro‌ after opting in.

To get the firmware to install, Apple says that the AirPods should be connected to the ‌iPhone‌ and then the case hinge should be closed to trigger the update.

You can check to see if your ‌AirPods Pro‌ have been updated with the new firmware by connecting them, tapping into the "Bluetooth" section of the Settings app and tapping on the "i" button. The number under version will let you know which update you have installed.

Removing AirPods Pro Firmware

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on "Profiles & Device Management."
4. Tap "‌AirPods Pro‌ Firmware Profile."
5. Tap "Remove Profile."

Once you uninstall the profile, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ will not receive new beta software updates, but will continue to have beta software installed until the next release of nonbeta software is available.

AirPods Firmware Warnings

After installing beta firmware on the ‌AirPods Pro‌, there is no way to downgrade to a release version of the firmware.

Apple says that once the ‌AirPods Pro‌ firmware has been installed, it's important not to put un-updated earbuds into the charging case because they may be updated with the firmware.

As mentioned above, Apple also warns that attempting to install the ‌AirPods Pro‌ firmware in an unauthorized manner could put the AirPods in an unusable state, which would necessitate an out-of-warranty repair.