An Intel executive appears to have unintentionally leaked details of Thunderbolt 5, the next-generation hardware interface protocol that is yet to have been officially announced by Intel.
The details appeared Sunday in a tweeted photo, since deleted, by EVP and GM of Intel's Client Computing Group, Gregory Bryant, who was documenting his visit to Intel's R&D labs in Israel.
As outlined by AnandTech, the photo from a Thunderbolt-related tour revealed a poster on a lab wall with the words "80G PHY Technology," suggesting TB5 connectivity will support up to 80 Gb/s throughput, or double the bandwidth of existing Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 connections.
The poster also includes the sentence "USB 80G is targeted to support the existing USB-C ecosystem," implying that Intel intends to run the extra bandwidth through the same USB-C interface connector.
A more technical reference in the poster appears to refer to a new PAM-3 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) implementation that would make use of a 3-bit data signal, allowing TB5 to achieve a higher bandwidth than that allowed in the more standard non-return-to-zero (NRZ) and PAM-4 implementations seen in existing connectivity protocols.
Intel launched Thunderbolt 4 last year and several TB4 accessories have been available for some time, but Apple's latest Macs and iPad Pro models still only support Thunderbolt 3. However, while TB4 offers more power and utility and is backwards compatible, it doesn't deliver any bandwidth increase over the maximum 40 Gb/s of Thunderbolt 3, so the step up to Thunderbolt 5 with its doubled maximum throughput could be significant.
The practical upshot of these innovations could mean, for example, TB5 supporting higher refresh rates for 4K and 8K monitors while providing backward compatibility with older Thunderbolt and USB connections.
Whether Intel Thunderbolt 5 will be officially launched – and supported by future Apple devices – is unclear at this time, but the unintentional leak at least provides a peak into where Intel might take the interface protocol in the future.
For future iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, Apple plans to use smaller internal components in an effort to increase the size of the device's battery, according to DigiTimes.
Image Credit: iFixit
Specifically, Apple plans to "significantly increase the adoption" of IPDs or integrated passive devices for the peripheral chips in its products. These news chips will be slimmer in size and allow for higher performance while also taking up less internal space inside a device, allowing for larger batteries.
Apple is expected to significantly increase the adoption of IPD (integrated passive devices) for new iPhones and other iOS products, providing robust business opportunities for manufacturing partners TSMC and Amkor, according to industry sources.
Peripheral chips for iPhones, iPad and MacBook series are going slimmer with higher performance to allow more space for larger-capacity battery solutions for the devices, with the demand for IPDs to grow sharply in line with the trend, the sources said.
The report doesn't note when specifically these new smaller chips will debut, but it does note that Apple has approved TSMC's 6th-generation process to mass-produce IPDs for new iPhones and iPads.
Alleged battery capacities of the upcoming iPhone 13 lineup, leaked earlier this year, signaled that the upcoming iPhones will feature larger batteries. Schematics previously seen by MacRumors also revealed that the new iPhones will be thicker, making room for the larger batteries.
Although the 2021 iPhones aren't mentioned in today's report, it's reasonable to assume that new IPD chips, coupled with an increase in thickness, provide Apple with the freedom to increase battery size thanks to free internal space. The new larger batteries are rumored to be put to good use thanks to more advanced displays in the upcoming high-end iPhones.
The Australian government has introduced support for adding COVID-19 vaccination digital certificates to Apple Wallet via the Express Plus Medicare app on iOS.
As spotted by Tap Down Under, users who have received two doses of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine now have access to the digital certificate through their Medicare online account or via the Medicare app, downloadable as a PDF or by using the "Add to Apple Wallet" option.
The front of the digital certificate includes the user's date of birth, document number, and the "valid from" date, which indicates the date the second dose was received. The back of the pass includes the individual's Healthcare Identifier, what vaccine was received, and the date of both doses.
The Australian digital certificate is official proof of COVID-19 vaccination should it become needed domestically or for travel, and is separate from any other immunizations the individual may have received. The certificate is similar to digital passes generated by some other government apps, such as the UK's NHS COVID pass scheme.
Models of the Apple Watch Series 6 with titanium cases part of the "Apple Watch Edition" collection is currently widely unavailable for pick-up in several of Apple's retail stores in the United States and is unavailable entirely for delivery in major markets.
Noted by Bloomberg'sMark Gurman in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, titanium models of the Apple Watch Series 6, which starts at $799, is currently listed as unavailable in the US and other major markets for pick-up in retail stores and delivery. Apple hasn't stated the Apple Watch Edition for the Series 6 is being discontinued; however, with less than two months before the Apple Watch Series 7 is released, Gurman hypothesizes what the latest shortage could mean.
Apple hasn't said that the Apple Watch Edition is discontinued, so here's my theory. With just weeks to go until the next version of the Apple Watch, Apple has nearly run out of the titanium models. Given the high price point, Apple probably only made a small amount expecting they wouldn't sell very well. They likely stopped manufacturing them months ago and are finally running out of supply.
We'll see if Apple chooses to keep titanium for the Apple Watch Series 7, but it wouldn't surprise me if the company ditched the pricier Edition material, as it did in the past with both ceramic and real gold. Seriously, what's the point of spending $800 or more on a watch that will be outdated in one year and nonfunctional in under five?
As Gurman points out, Apple previously sold, then ended the selling of "Apple Watch Edition" models with ceramic and gold. Apple may also decide to end the titanium Apple Watch models later this fall.
This week saw an interesting range of Apple news and rumors, including a blockbuster earnings report, rumors about next year's "iPhone 14" and Face ID coming to Macs, and more.
Other popular topics included Apple's crackdown on leaks, changes in the latest round of betas for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, and several stories involving Tesla CEO Elon Musk, so check out our video above and read on below for all of the details!
Face ID Expected to Come to Mac Within a 'Couple of Years'
While it has been nearly four years since Face ID debuted on the iPhone X, the facial recognition feature has yet to expand to the Mac. However, that could change in the not too distant future, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said Face ID is coming to the Mac within a "couple of years."
Gurman believes that Apple's ultimate goal is to shift most of its product lineup to Face ID, including lower-end iPhone models such as the iPhone SE and the iPad Air, both of which currently feature Touch ID.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Takes Shots at Apple During Earnings Call
In crazier Musk news, a new book about Tesla claims that Musk demanded he be named Apple CEO in a brief phone discussion with Tim Cook about a potential acquisition of Tesla by Apple. Musk has denied the claim, saying that he and Cook have never even spoken or written to each other.
Apple Reports 3Q 2021 Results: $21.7B Profit on $81.4B Revenue, New June Quarter Records
Apple this week announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter of 2021, which roughly covered the months of April through June. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $81.4 billion and net quarterly profit of $21.7 billion, or $1.30 per diluted share, shattering June quarter records for the company.
Apple Demands Leaker Reveals Sources Under Threat of Being Reported to Police
It was recently reported that Apple sent letters to several prominent leakers asking them to immediately stop sharing information about unreleased products, or else face legal action, and further details about the letter have emerged this week.
The fourth beta of iPadOS 15 that was released this week introduces tweaks to Safari, with the browser's layout now mirroring the updated design that was introduced in the third beta of macOS Monterey.
Apple also seeded a fourth beta of macOS Monterey to developers this week and this version enables the new Live Text feature on Intel-based Macs, whereas the feature was previously exclusive to Macs with the M1 chip.
iPhone 14 Pro Said to Feature Tougher Titanium Design
The investor note said the use of titanium alloy will be one of the biggest changes to the casing design of the 2022 iPhone models, and Foxconn will supposedly be the exclusive manufacturer of the titanium frames for the devices.
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.
Telegram Messenger has received a major update to its video capabilities, including support for video calls with up to 1,000 viewers.
Group video calls in Telegram allow up to 30 users to stream video from both their camera and their screen, and now a maximum of 1,000 people can tune into the broadcast. Telegram says it intends to continue increasing this limit "until all humans on Earth can join one group call."
Meanwhile, video messages now have a higher resolution, and any audio playing on the user's device will keep playing when a message is being captured so that it's included in the recording.
In addition, users can now tap on a video message to expand it in the conversation thread. Tapping on an expanded video message initially pauses it, and it's also possible to fast-forward and rewind the message.
Elsewhere in this update, the media player now supports multiple video playback speeds, screen sharing has been added to one-on-one calls, the in-app camera supports all zoom levels a device is capable of, and the media editor includes new tools to illustrate photos and videos with drawings, text, and stickers.
Several other smaller tweaks and improvements have made it into this bumper update, and Telegram has further details in its latest blog post. Telegram is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Since introducing the unified Find My app, Apple has been working to improve the Find My experience. iOS 15 brings some major new features to Find My, including features like live locations and the ability to track an iPhone even after it's been erased or powered off.
This guide covers everything that Apple added to the Find My app in iOS 15.
Live Locations
When you track a friend or a family member using the Find My app, it now shows continuous streaming updates on their location rather than updating with a new location every few minutes.
Apple says that this feature is designed to provide an immediate sense of speed, direction, and progress when you're looking at someone's location.
Locate Lost Devices That Are Off
Devices that have been turned off can still be tracked by the Find My network in iOS 15. If a device was low on battery power or turned off by a thief, it can still be found when it's close to another Apple device.
The Find My network is a feature that Apple introduced with iOS 13, and it enabled Apple devices to be located even without a WiFi or cellular connection by leveraging other nearby iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
In iOS 15, Apple has extended the Find My network to work with devices that are turned off as well. Apple has not outlined just how this feature works, but either the U1 chip, Bluetooth, or NFC continues to be powered in the background even when your device is off or out of battery, though in the case of battery, tracking may last a limited number of hours.
Apple has a similar feature for Car Keys that uses NFC, and it lasts for about five hours after an iPhone's battery dies. In this case, it lets you continue to unlock your car if your iPhone is dead.
For this feature to work, the Find My network feature must be enabled. It's on by default, but you can double check by going to your profile, tapping on Find My, selecting Find My iPhone, and then making sure "Find My network" is toggled on.
If someone steals your iPhone and then erases it, in iOS 15, it's still going to show up in the Find My app, and it will be trackable even after it's been wiped.
The feature is tied to Activation Lock, which prevents someone from using your iPhone without your Apple ID and password. In iOS 14 and prior iOS updates, erasing a device would leave Activation Lock on so no one could use your iPhone without your password, but erasing a device did prevent Find My from functioning.
A wiped iPhone would not show up in the Find My app, but now, erasing an iPhone no longer works that way. If Activation Lock is on (i.e., it wasn't wiped using your username and password to disable Activation Lock), it's tied to your account and locatable using Find My.
Combined with the feature for tracking a device that's turned off, the Find My app serves as a much stronger theft deterrent.
To prevent someone from being tricked into purchasing a device that's tied to your account, the Hello screen will make it clear that the device is locked, locatable using Find My, and the property of someone else.
Separation Alerts
With Separation Alerts, the Find My app can let you know if an iPhone or iPad is left behind by alerting you on one of the other devices with you.
Separation Alerts work for AirTags and for third-party accessories that integrate with the Find My network, so if you leave a wallet or a MacBook behind at a cafe after you walk out with your iPhone, your iPhone will let you know.
Separation Alerts can be toggled on in the Find My app and need to be turned on for each individual item that you own. You can also set exceptions, so if you leave something behind at home on purpose, you won't get an alert.
For AirPods Max and AirPods Pro, the Find My network is able to deliver an approximate location if these items become lost.
AirPods have always shown up in the Find My app, but until now, functionality has been limited. In iOS 14 and earlier versions of iOS, AirPods Pro and Max show up in Find My, but if they're out of Bluetooth range of your own devices, you only see their last known location.
With the Find My network, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max can communicate with the Apple devices of others, which lets you track them even when they're out of range of your own devices.
You can get an approximate location using this method, and Apple says it is designed to help you get within Bluetooth range so you can activate the Play a Sound feature to track them down. According to Apple, this feature will be coming in an update to iOS 15 that will be released later in the year.
Find My Widget
There's now a Find My widget that you can add to the Home screen or the Today View to track items at a glance without having to open up the Find My app.
Widgets come in two sizes, small and medium, and can be used to track People or Items. The People feature tracks your friends and family members who have location sharing enabled, and the Items widget tracks your AirTag items and third-party accessories that use the Find My network.
Tapping on either Find My widget opens up the full Find My app.
Find My on iPad and Mac
The changes in this guide are applicable to the iPhone, but on the iPad, there's support for Separation Alerts, the Find My Widget, and live locations for family and friends.
Macs with macOS Monterey support the Find My widget and for live locations for family and friends. Offline tracking and tracking for erased devices are features limited to iPhone.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Find My in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
"Unicorn Hunters," a YouTube and Facebook show starring Apple-cofounder Steve Wozniak and singer Lance Bass as judges, is aiming to make its way to television, reports Variety.
The show aims to find "unicorn" companies, which are startups able to reach a $1 billion valuation. A panel of investors called the "Circle of Money" serve as judges on the show, in a format that's similar to "Shark Tank." Circle of Money members include Steve Wozniak, Lance Bass, Moe Vela, Silvina Moschini, Alex Konanykhin, Scott Livingston, and Rosa Rios.
Unicorn is the name given to startup companies with a valuation of over one billion dollars. If you spot one and invest in it at an early stage, you could potentially earn enormous returns on your investment.
No one has the ability to predict which companies will ultimately become Unicorns, but Unicorn Hunters offers you a front-row seat to hear the pitch from businesses that have what it takes to become one.
With Unicorn Hunters, you "discover" private startups at the same time as our Panel of Experts, and you get an equal shot at investing in these very promising companies before they go big.
The Circle of Money can opt to invest in a show, but there is also a crowd funding component as audience members can opt in to be "hunters" to invest in private startups at the same time as the experts.
Four episodes of the first season of "Unicorn Hunters" with Steve Wozniak were filmed earlier this year and debuted online, but the show's producers and its stars want to transition from online to television and are seeking distribution both in the United States and internationally.
There is no word on which television companies might be interested in the show at the current time. Companies on the show so far include Far UV Technologies, fitness company Forte, Starton Therapeutics, Introimmune Therapeutics, and Carbon Connect. The initial episodes can be watched on the Unicorn Hunters website.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Harber London to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Everyday Leather Briefcase and a matching Magnetic Envelope Sleeve for either the MacBook or the iPad.
Harber London makes a range of attractive, quality leather accessories designed for Apple devices, including multiple bag and briefcase options. The Everyday Briefcase is a sleek, high-quality bag that's ideal for carrying a Mac or an iPad.
Priced at GBP289.00 (~$400), the Everyday Briefcase can fit a 13 to 16-inch laptop or a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard attached, so it's ideal for all of Apple's Mac and iPad offerings. There are two sizes. The medium version has a 5.6L capacity, while the larger version has a 7.5L capacity.
The Everyday Briefcase is constructed from a full grain leather and handmade in Spain, with color options that include tan, deep brown, and black. Given the nature of the material, the Everyday Briefcase will age with a unique patina over time, and it will look even more refined with use.
Inside the Everyday Briefcase, there's a specially padded laptop compartment with double padding to keep a Mac or an iPad safe from bumps and scratches. In addition to the laptop compartment, there's a dedicated charger pocket, slots for cords, chargers, and pens, and more, plus pockets for notebooks, and a carry strap with a custom made buckle. There's also a bonus magnetic keychain that lets you dock your keys inside your bag and then take them out again when they're needed.
To go along with the Everyday Briefcase, Harber London is offering one of its Magnetic Envelope Sleeves, available for both Apple's MacBooks and Apple's iPads. There are sleeves sized to fit the full range of Mac notebooks and all of the modern iPad options.
At GBP89.00 (~$124), the Magnetic Envelope Sleeve is an ideal solution for protecting an iPad or Mac when the device is inside of another bag or when being carried. The Envelope Sleeves come in tan and black colors to match the Everyday Briefcase, and are made from a dense and soft protective wool material with a leather topper. There's a built-in charge through system for charging a device while it's inside the sleeve, and the name comes from the magnetic flap that keeps everything locked in place when you're on the go.
We have one Everyday Briefcase and one Magnetic Envelope Sleeve available for a lucky MacRumors reader. The winner will be able to choose the size of the briefcase and their preferred sleeve, as well as their favorite color option.
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 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 (July 30) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 6. The winner will be chosen randomly on August 6 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.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter today to criticize Apple's App Store fees in a tweet that sides with Epic in the ongoing Epic v. Apple dispute.
"Epic is right," wrote Musk, before going on to call Apple's App Store fees a "de facto global tax on the Internet."
Musk earlier this week made veiled comments about App Store fees, but today's statement is a much more direct criticism.
During Tesla's earnings call, Musk said that Tesla was planning to let other companies use its charger network because Tesla does not want to "create a walled garden" and use that to "bludgeon" competitors. Musk said that this is a tactic used by "some companies," and then he fake coughed and said "Apple."
Epic Games launched a major dispute with Apple in August 2020, defying the App Store rules and getting popular game Fortnite removed from the App Store. After that, Epic Games launched a planned lawsuit to call out Apple's App Store fees and restrictions.
Apple and Epic Games went to trial earlier this year, and we're waiting to hear the outcome. Epic Games is aiming for alternate app store or app loading options, while Apple wants to maintain the status quo.
Musk has clashed with Apple over the years due to employee poaching issues, but this is the first time he's directly spoken out about Apple's App Store policies. Tesla does not have a paid app in the App Store and is not impacted by fees.
Musk also took to Twitter today to deny claims that he'd once asked to be the CEO of Apple. A new book says that Musk once called Cook about a potential Apple acquisition of Tesla. The book claims that Musk asked to be CEO of Apple, at which point Cook said "F-- you" and hung up the phone.
According to Musk, he has never spoken or written to Cook, and while there was one point where he requested a meeting with Cook about a potential acquisition, Cook refused to meet. Cook has also said that he has never spoken with Musk.
While the iPad has long been the world's most popular tablet, newly published market research helps put Apple's lead into perspective.
According to estimates shared by research firm IDC, Apple shipped 12.9 million iPads in the second quarter of 2021. By comparison, IDC estimated that Samsung and Amazon shipped a combined 12.3 million tablets in the quarter, suggesting that Apple shipped more tablets than Samsung and Amazon did combined in the quarter.
A big caveat is that Apple no longer reports iPad unit sales in its earnings results, forcing IDC to estimate shipments based off the iPad quarterly revenue number that Apple does share. As a result, other research firms like Strategy Analytics and Canalys have different iPad shipment numbers for the second quarter, but it doesn't change the narrative, as both have Apple with a significant lead over Samsung and Amazon.
iPad sales continued to surge last quarter as many people continue to work, learn, and communicate with others remotely. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the iPad had its best June quarter in nearly a decade, with the company reporting iPad revenue of $7.4 billion in the quarter, a significant increase over $6.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.
The launch of a new iPad Pro with an M1 chip and a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model likely also bolstered sales during the quarter.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk reportedly once demanded that he be made Apple CEO in a brief discussion of a potential acquisition with Apple's current CEO, Tim Cook. The claim comes in a new book titled "Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk and the Bet of the Century," as reviewed by The Los Angeles Times.
According to the book, during a 2016 phone call between Musk and Cook that touched on the possibility of Apple purchasing Tesla, Musk told Cook that a purchase of Telsa by Apple could only go forward if he became CEO of the combined company.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk are talking on the phone. The 2016 unveiling of the make-it-or-break-it Model 3 is coming soon, but Tesla is in serious financial trouble. Cook has an idea: Apple buys Tesla.
Musk is interested, but one condition: “I’m CEO.”
Sure, says Cook. When Apple bought Beats in 2014, it kept on the founders, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.
No, Musk says. Apple. Apple CEO.
“F— you” Cook says and hangs up.
Elon Musk has previously claimed that he once reached out to Tim Cook to "discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla." Cook, according to Musk, declined to take the meeting. The new book claims that while a meeting never took place, a phone call between the two CEOs did. It is worth noting, however, that during an interview with The New York Times' Kara Swisher in April, Cook said he had never spoken to Musk but has "great admiration and respect" for Tesla.
Update:In a tweet, Elon Musk is denying the contents of the book, calling it both "false and boring."
Update 2: Musk has shared another tweet explicitly denying that he and Cook have ever spoken or written to each other, reiterating his statements from months ago that he had at one point requested a meeting with Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla but that Cook refused the meeting.
Cook & I have never spoken or written to each other ever.
There was a point where I requested to meet with Cook to talk about Apple buying Tesla. There were no conditions of acquisition proposed whatsoever.
He refused to meet. Tesla was worth about 6% of today’s value.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 30, 2021
Back to school season is already upon us, and in order to prepare students for a return to school we're collecting all of the best back to school sales from popular Apple-related accessory companies. These include Nomad, Twelve South, Nimble, Brydge, and more, with plenty of discounts to make a dent in your shopping list, whether it be for a return to in-person school or remote learning.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Nomad
We've got a few exclusive sales lined up for our readers during back to school season, starting with 20 percent off sitewide on Nomad through Monday, August 2. You can shop across Nomad's website (sale items excluded) and use the code MR20 to save 20 percent.
Nomad has a wide array of popular Apple related accessories, including Base Station wireless chargers, titanium Apple Watch bands, leather iPhone 12 cases, AirPods cases, and more. You can also save on the company's charging cables and useful USB-A to Lightning Carbon Carabiner, perfect for backpacks.
Nimble
Our second exclusive can be found at Nimble, where you can get 25 percent off any order by using the code MACRUMORS25. This code will also last through the end of August.
Twelve South is offering our readers a chance to take 12 percent off sitewide with the code MacRumors. This is another sale that will last for the entire month of August and end on August 31.
For back to school related items, Twelve South has a new landing page dedicated to products like the SuitCase for MacBook, BookBook Case for iPad, AirSnap, and Curve Riser for iMac. Of course, our exclusive code works sitewide at Twelve South, so you can browse anywhere on the company's website and take 12 percent off for the next month.
Brydge
Brydge's back to school sale has a large collection of the company's iPad keyboards at notable discounts, including those compatible with iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Pro. You'll also find USB-C accessories, a MacBook dock, and more.
Hyper is discounting USB-C hubs and docks that are compatible with the MacBook Pro and will help anyone working on Apple's notebook this semester to expand their productivity. The 4-in-1 USB-C Hub has USB-C, HDMI, USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio jack for $39.99, down from $49.99.
The PRO 8-in-2 USB-C Hub has HDMI, MicroSD, SD, Mini DisplayPort, 2x USB-A, and 2x USB-C for $99.99, down from $119.99. Lastly is the 4K HDMI 3-in-1 USB-C Hub with HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C at $39.99, down from $49.99.
You'll also find a pair of multi-purpose sterilization solutions on Hyper's sale this week, including a UV-C LED Sterilizing Box ($199.99) and UV-C LED Sterilizing Wand ($79.99). These accessories aid in eliminating germs and bacteria from any number of products, including tech items.
Adorama
Adorama is hosting a wide variety of discounts on computers, keyboards, mice, printers, headphones, and more, all perfect for those returning to remote learning this fall.
ZAGG is still offering an ongoing deal that lets you take 30 percent off your entire cart when you purchase two or more products on ZAGG's website. This includes all ZAGG brands, like InvisibleShield, Mophie, gear4, and Halo.
Mophie's portable chargers are perfect backpack accessories, for anyone going back to school or if you still have a few trips planned before the summer ends. The only exclusions for the sale are already-discounted items.
Belkin
If you're on the hunt for surge protectors, bedside Qi charging mats, Lightning cables, headphones, and other college dorm essentials, Belkin's sale is a good place to start. You'll find plenty of new accessories on sale, as well as some certified refurbished products at steeper discounts.
Of course, some of the all-around best school supply savings can be found at Office Depot and OfficeMax, which are both hosting a four day flash sale in anticipation of kids around the country going back to school soon. You can save up to 40 percent on backpacks, up to 70 percent on crayons, and up to 65 percent on Office Depot branded school essential storage items.
Staples has many competing prices on these school supply essentials. One inch three ring binders start as low as $1.88, while art supplies like a box of twelve colored pencils starts at $0.97.
Pad & Quill
Pad & Quill's Summer Clearance Sale has notable discounts across a collection of iPad Pro and iPhone cases. For iPhone, prices start at $39.45 for the Bella Fino iPhone 12 mini Wallet Case (originally $69.95).
iPad Pro cases start at $58.85 for the Seconds Oxford Leather iPad Pro 11-inch Case (originally $129.95). You can also get the Seconds Oxford Leather iPad Pro 12.9-inch Case at $79.90 (originally $159.95).
Speck
At Speck you can take 30 percent off sitewide through July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PST, during the company's friends and family event. Speck has a large collection of cases compatible with Apple products like iPhone 12, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, AirPods, and much more.
Other Sales
Best Buy - Shop tech for fitness, studying, productivity, and more.
eBay - Save up to 50 percent on back to school products, including certified refurbished items.
JBL - Get up to 40 percent off headphones, earbuds, and more.
Moment - Save on gimbals, backpacks, tripods, and more.
Newegg - Save up to 40 percent on gaming monitors and PCs.
OWC - Save on USB-C docks, storage, power accessories, and more.
SENA Cases - Get up to 25 percent off select iPhone cases with code LEGACY.
Target - Save on back to school tech and other essentials like kids' headphones, tablets, and calculators.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
A few years ago, Apple announced that it would be revamping its Maps app with more detailed maps, better road coverage, and faster and more accurate navigation. The improvements have since rolled out in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain, and Apple is focusing on Italy next.
According to Apple Maps enthusiast Justin O'Beirne, Apple recently started testing its revamped Maps experience across the Italian Peninsula, including San Marino and Vatican City. The updated maps appear to be limited to devices with the iOS 15 developer or public betas installed for now, but at WWDC 2021 last month, Apple announced that its revamped Maps experience would be expanded to all users in Italy and Australia later this year.
In early 2020, Apple said it would begin rolling out the revamped Maps experience across Europe in the coming months, so other countries should soon follow. The updated maps provide more comprehensive views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, shopping malls, sports venues like baseball fields and tennis courts, and other details.
July was a busy month for Apple Arcade, with eight new titles joining the library of almost 200 games on Apple's growing mobile gaming subscription service, including some familiar, fan-favorite games.
Last month, "Legends of Kingdom Rush," "Game Dev Story+," "Frenzic: Overtime," "INKS.+," and "Leo's Fortune+" arrived on Apple Arcade. In July, eight new games joined the platform in the card, sports, puzzle, action, simulation, and racing genres.
July 2: Solitaire Stories
The first game to arrive on Apple Arcade this month was "Solitaire Stories," putting a new spin on the classic card game with a narrative focus, a range of deck designs, daily challenges, and global leaderboards.
Solitaire Stories features a progressive journey through increasingly difficult levels. Each story has a different theme with its own deck design, gameplay environment, level map, and soundtrack. There is also a quick play mode for a classic game of solitaire.
July 9: Ultimate Rivals: The Court
Next was "Ultimate Rivals: The Court," an action basketball game featuring more than 140 athletes from the NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL Players Association, WWE, and U.S. women's soccer national team. Players can create a squad of their favorite athletes to compete with friends and family in three-on-three matches.
The game features unique player moves, short sessions, a "Gauntlet" arcade mode that allows players to play through bracketed tourneys to unlock new athletes, four battle environments, and more.
July 16: Alto's Odyssey: The Lost City, Angry Birds Reloaded, and Doodle God Universe
Mid-July saw three fan-favorite titles join Apple Arcade. "Alto's Odyssey: The Lost City" is an endless runner set in the desert, where the goal is to sail across dunes, canyons, and temples to unearth the secrets of the Lost City. The game offers simple tap controls that are easy to learn but tough to master, and players are tasked with building up combos and meeting goals.
"Angry Birds Reloaded" builds on the physics-based bird slingshotting action from the original Angry Birds game, introducing new characters from the Angry Birds movie universe, a new game mode, new power ups, and all new levels.
In "Doodle God Universe," players start out on an empty planet with four elements, and the goal is to combine these different elements to create hundreds of new elements to make the planet thrive and grow.
July 23: Jetpack Joyride+ and Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector+
"Jetpack Joyride+" is another classic App Store Game that originally launched in 2011. The popular game consists of a character embarking on a journey with a jetpack, with the player controlling them to avoid obstacles. It features a wide range of jetpacks, missions, outfits, obstacles, and power-ups.
"Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector+" is a simulation game that encourages players to attract cats to a yard with food and toys. The game features over 40 varieties of cat, and players can entice rare cats with particular items. Each visiting cat is logged in a book and players strive to collect as many cats as they can.
July 30: Detonation Racing
"Detonation Racing" is the final game to come to Apple Arcade this month. The racing game allows players to tactically collapse and disintegrate the track to open up new routes and hazardous shortcuts to gain a competitive advantage.
The game can be played in solo, online, and local modes, and features six tracks, nine cars, and a variety of unlockable vehicle paint jobs.
Coming Soon: Super Leap Day, Monster Hunter Stories+, Super Stickman Golf 3+, wurdweb, Tetris Beat, Baldo, and Asphalt 8: Airborne+
There are seven games slated to arrive on Apple Arcade soon, of which at least four are due to arrive in August, in the action, roleplaying, sports, word, puzzle, adventure, and racing genres. "Super Leap Day," "Monster Hunter Stories+," and "Super Stickman Golf 3+" are the first set to launch next on Friday, August 6. You can tap "Get" on any of these upcoming games on the App Store to be notified when they are available and set them to automatically install.
Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month with a one-month free trial available to test it out. Apple also has a one-year subscription option available for $49.99 per year, a savings of $9.89 over the monthly price, and it is also available as part of all tiers of Apple One, starting at $14.95 per month.
The most important TSMC factory that manufactures Apple's chips destined for next-generation iPhone and Mac models has been hit by a gas contamination, according to Nikkei Asia.
The factory, known as "Fab 18," is TSMC's most advanced chipmaking facility. TSMC is Apple's sole chip supplier, making all of the processors used in every Apple device with a custom silicon chip.
Industry sources speaking to Nikkei Asia said that all of the processors for Apple's upcoming iPhone and Mac devices are produced at this facility. This presumably translates to the iPhone 13 lineup and redesigned MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon, containing the "A15" and "M1X" or "M2" chips.
Gas used in the production of these chips was found to be contaminated on Thursday night. TSMC told Nikkei Asia: "Some TSMC production lines in the South Taiwan Science Park received certain gases from suppliers that are believed to be contaminated. These were quickly replaced with other gas supplies." Employees who had gone home were called back to the factory to bring the situation under control.
The company said that it is carrying out follow-up operations to ensure that product quality is not affected, and the incident is not believed to have caused a "significant impact on operations." Sources speaking to Nikkei Asia said that the gas contamination had affected the chip manufacturing process, but only in a limited way.
The contamination comes at a particularly bad time for Apple, as the company and its suppliers are currently said to be finalizing components for the final assembly process of new iPhone and Mac models by the end of August.
The acceptance of RuPay and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) cards means Apple users in India will be able to use the domestic payment systems as alternatives to regular credit/debit card payment methods to add funds to their Apple ID balance.
They can then use their Apple ID balance to buy apps, games, music, iCloud storage, and more in Apple's online stores.
RuPay was launched in India in 2012, and facilitates real-time electronic payments at all Indian banks and financial institutions. The massively popular instant payments network UPI followed in 2016.
Apple today sent out emails letting customers know about the latest Apple Pay promotion, which offers discounts for SONIC, ParkWhiz, and HotelTonight.
From now until August 4, customers can get a free SONIC cheeseburger, 10 percent off three parking reservations with ParkWhiz, and 10 percent off hotel reservations with HotelTonight.
To get the SONIC deal, customers must be logged into their MySonic account, and the free cheeseburger will become available in a future order after any SONIC purchase. For ParkWhiz, customers will need to use the promo code APPLEPAY10 when checking out, and for HotelTonight, customers will need to use promo code APPLEPAYHT when reserving a room. For all of these deals, Apple Pay must be used as a payment method.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
