Priced at $99, the Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop weaves together the original rainbow colors with those drawn from various Pride flags, according to Apple. For $49, the Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop features a nylon weave with reflective rainbow yarn inspired by the Pride flag, which is designed to shimmer when light strikes it.
The first online orders of the new Pride bands are beginning to arrive to customers, including MacRumors reader Harry.
The Braided Solo Loop is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, while the Nike Sport Loop is compatible with the Series 3 or later.
The watchOS 7.5 software update released this week includes a new Pride Woven watch face that matches the design of the Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop. With the rotation of the Digital Crown, the colorful threads on the watch face infinitely scroll and animate with a raise of the wrist. Apple has included an App Clip code on the band's packaging for easy access to the watch face with an iPhone running iOS 14.3 or later.
Netflix is mulling an expansion into online gaming that could end up being similar to Apple's digital subscription offering, Apple Arcade, according to multiple reports.
News of the plans began trickling out on Friday when The Information reported that Netflix had approached veteran game industry executives about joining the company.
Netflix is looking to hire an executive to oversee an expansion into videogames, a sign it is stepping up its efforts to grow beyond traditional filmed entertainment, according to people familiar with the situation.
[...]
One option the company has discussed is offering a bundle of games similar to Apple's online subscription offering, Apple Arcade, one of the people said.
The planned hire, since corroborated by Reuters' sources, signifies part of a wider push into gaming that is said to have been prompted by a desire to find new ways to attract subscribers after the company's slowed growth in the U.S. market.
According to The Information, Netflix's plans are still "very much in flux," although it has reportedly decided not to include ads in the games, which suggests an upcoming service that would be offered to subscribers as an extra bundle.
Since the initial report, an Axios source has said to think of the service as "a smaller Apple Arcade" bundle that would consist of a mix of licensed Netflix intellectual property and original work commissioned from independent studios.
The move follows previous dips into gaming by the company, such as its ill-fated partnership with Telltale Games to create a game based on "Stranger Things," which was never released, and its choose-your-adventure style film "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch," which proved a hit.
Netflix already offers several shows based on popular video games, such as "The Witcher" and "Resident Evil," so it could be looking at leveraging this lucrative IP and offering new titles that could even produce spin-off shows further down the line.
Asked from comment on the latest reports, Netflix didn't deny the planned gaming exec hire and told Axios and The Information that it's "excited to do more with interactive entertainment."
Whatever the outcome, Netflix's gaming service is said to be some way off, with Axios' sources suggesting a possible launch in 2022, although plans are subject to change.
As if to underline the fluid nature of the plans, The Information reported that Netflix hasn't ruled out other potential approaches, including the possibility of making games in-house or getting the games to run on smart TVs.
WaterField Designs has launched a new Leather AirTag Keychain and an AirTag Luggage Tag for Apple's popular item tracker.
The AirTag Luggage Tag consists of two layers of bonded rugged leather that form a pocket in which the AirTag is secured. The Tag attaches with a strong 1.5 mm stainless steel wire that threads through a metal grommet, while perforated holes in a diamond pattern allow sound to travel from the AirTag's built-in speakers.
An included address card or a business card can be slid behind a clear window that's covered by a secure leather flap.
Meanwhile, offering something different to the typical polycarbonate AirTag holders, WaterField Design's more traditional-looking Keychain accessories house the AirTag within a layer of full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, which protects the tracker while also concealing it from view.
The AirTag Keychain has nine small perforations in the raindrop-shaped leather pouch that allow AirTag sound alerts to pass through, and a heavy-duty matte black ring that can hold multiple keys. The accessory can be attached to items with a metal screw fastener.
A Matte black metal screw stud closes the pouch but allows access for battery replacement, and WaterField Design offers the Keychain with a choice of carabiner or 1.5mm stainless-steel cable, with a barrel closure, that threads through a metal grommet to attach to bags, belt hooks, and so on.
The Leather AirTag Keychain is available from May 28 for $25 in Acorn, Black, Blue, and Red, while the Leather AirTag Luggage Tag is available from June 9 for $49 in a Black exterior/Black interior, Blue/Black, Crimson/Black, and Grizzly Brown/Black.
macOS Big Sur 11.4, which was released this morning, addresses a zero-day vulnerability that could allow attackers to piggyback off of apps like Zoom, taking secret screenshots and surrepetiously recording the screen.
Jamf, a mobile device management company, today highlighted a security issue that allowed Privacy preferences to be bypassed, providing an attacker with Full Disk Access, Screen Recording, and other permissions without a user's consent.
The bypass was actively exploited in the wild, and was discovered by Jamf when analyzing XCSSET malware. The XCSSET malware has been out in the wild since 2020, but Jamf noticed an uptick in recent activity and discovered a new variant.
Once installed on a victim's system, the malware was used specifically for taking screenshots of the user's desktop with no additional permissions required. Jamf said that it could be used to bypass other permissions as well, as long as the donor application the malware piggybacked off of had that permission enabled.
Jamf has a full rundown on how the exploit worked, and the company says that Apple addressed the vulnerability in macOS Big Sur 11.4, Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that a fix has indeed been enabled in macOS 11.4, so Mac users should update their software as soon as possible.
The three week Epic Games v. Apple trial wrapped up today, with a series of debates that were held in lieu of traditional closing arguments. The wrap up follows Apple CEO Tim Cook's testimony last week, which saw him grilled by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Apple's App Store policies.
As outlined by Protocol, at the conclusion of the trial, Rogers aimed to get at the heart of the dispute and determine what remedies might ultimately be appropriate.
As she did earlier in the trial, Rogers hinted that she may be leaning toward something of a compromise with a ruling that would see Apple required to allow apps like Fortnite to direct users to make purchases on the web rather than in apps, something that's currently forbidden by the App Store rules.
In this scenario, Apple would be required to relax its "anti-steering" restrictions, but the rest of the iOS ecosystem would remain untouched and would function as normal. Apple's lawyers attempted to say that Apple's anti-steering rules are meant to improve transaction efficiency, but Cook's testimony undermined that argument. "Cook conceded that it's a method of being compensated for intellectual property," Rogers said.
Epic's lawyers argued that iOS should be opened up to competing app stores. Apple could still offer the security and privacy of the current App Store, but with third-party app stores, customers would have a choice. Epic's closing argument pointed toward the Mac as an example of what iOS should look like.
Apple's lawyers argued that consumer choice already exists because people can choose Android, and that the changes that Epic Games wants implemented would ruin the iPhone by making it less secure with apps that are impossible to curate or moderate. Epic wants Apple to "drop its gloves and stand in the middle of the arena and take what comes without any meaningful defense," Apple's lawyer said.
Rogers was not particularly convinced by Epic's argument because it would result in such a drastic change to the App Store. Epic Games could not demonstrate similar antitrust cases where the extreme kind of outcome it is asking for had been granted by a court.
At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Rogers said that she expects that her verdict will take quite some time, but she did not provide a concrete date. It could be several weeks before we hear about the Epic Games v. Apple trial again, and it's quite likely that any decision will be appealed, so this is a lawsuit that could carry on for months to come.
Prosser provided no additional information, but there are new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in the works. The new MacBook Pros will feature the most radical redesign to the MacBook Pro lineup since 2016.
Apple is planning to reintroduce the MagSafe port, and the 2021 MacBook Pro models will feature an HDMI port and an SD card reader in addition to a trio of Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, and multiple color options are a possibility.
There will be no Touch Bar included, with Apple returning to a traditional row of function keys, and there will be a redesigned thermal system to accommodate the upgraded Apple silicon chips that the machines are expected to include.
Bloombergrecently said that the new MacBook Pro models will feature 10-core Apple silicon chips with eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, along with 16 or 32-core GPU options and support for up to 64GB RAM.
No other sources have indicated that the MacBook Pro models will be coming at WWDC, and it has been atypical for Apple to debut hardware at the event in recent years, but it is not unheard of. The new MacBook Pro models are expected to enter production in the second half of 2021, and reliable sources that include Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have suggested a launch in the second half of the year.
Apple last Friday released the first M1iMac models to customers and began selling them in stores, and iFixit has now started one of its traditional teardowns on the new machines.
iFixit is tearing down the mid-tier purple iMac model with an 8-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, and 8GB RAM. It's worth noting that the internals of this model will look different than the internals of the base model with a 7-core GPU as the two machines have different cooling systems.
The base iMac has a single cooling fan and a heat sink while the higher-end 8-core GPU models have two fans and a heat pipe along with heat sinks, so expect the internals to look different if you have a 7-core GPU iMac.
The teardown starts off with a detailed x-ray, and the x-rays are always fun to look at because they give us a look at the internal components without opening up the machine. There are two main metal plates inside and an RF passthrough for antenna hardware in the Apple logo.
The iMac is sealed with what iFixit says is "classic iMac adhesive," which is not as gloopy and hard to work with as adhesive Apple uses for products like the iPad.
Since the front of the iMac is a single piece of glass, there's no separate front to the chin that blocks access to the internals as on past models. The chin houses the logic board, and there are two fans blowing inward. A copper heatpipe and two short heatsinks draw heat away from the M1.
iFixit detailed the components on the logic board, which include SK Hynix memory, Kioxia NAND flash storage, and an Apple-designed M1 SoC, Bluetooth/WiFi module, and power management IC, among other components.
There is a "mystery button" with three LEDs below it, that iFixit says will be revealed later. iFixit also plans to share Magic Keyboard Touch ID sensor details, info on the speakers, and a repairability score.
iFixit's teardown won't be completed until tomorrow, but MacRumors readers interested in seeing inside the iMac can follow along on the iFixit website as new components and details are unveiled.
Update: iFixit has now completed part two of its teardown, giving us a full look inside the iMac, the Touch ID Magic Keyboard, and power supply.
Apple today released iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 to the public. The iOS 14.6 update isn't quite as significant as the iOS 14.5 update that preceded it, but it still introduces a number of notable new features. We've highlighted everything that's new in iOS and iPadOS 14.6 below.
Apple Music Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio Support
Apple in May introduced two new Apple Music features, which Apple Music subscribers are getting for no additional cost. Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos will offer up an immersive, multi-dimensional audio experience that lets artists mix music in a way that makes it sound like the notes are coming from all around you.
Apple is also upgrading its entire music catalog to Lossless Audio, which preserves the details in the original audio file so Apple Music subscribers can hear songs exactly as artists recorded them in the studio.
Neither of these two features are launching with iOS 14.6 and Apple plans to enable them in June through a server-side update, but iOS 14.6 does lay the groundwork.
Announced in April, Apple Card Family is designed to allow an Apple card to be shared among family members. Two adults in a family can share a single Apple Card account, with each person serving as a co-owner to build credit.
Apple Card Family also lets parents share an Apple Card with their children for making purchases, with optional spending limits and parental controls to help children learn smart financial habits. All spending by the family is tracked with a single monthly bill.
Up to five people can be added to an Apple Card account for sharing purposes, with sharing handled through the Wallet app. All users must be part of the same Family Sharing Group, and be 13 years of age or older.
Co-owners must be 18 years or older, and will have a combined spending limit and the ability to see each other's spending. Existing Apple Card customers will be able to merge their Apple Card accounts if they have two cards, resulting in a higher shared credit limit with the lower APR of the two accounts, but this feature won't be available until July. Adding new family members or adding a co-owner to an Apple Card can be done through the Wallet app, and Apple has provided tutorials.
Apple Podcasts Subscription Support
iOS 14.6 introduces support for subscriptions in the Apple Podcasts app, allowing podcast creators to collect subscription fees from their listeners.
Subscriptions can unlock additional content, with NPR, the Los Angeles Times, Sony Music Entertainment, Wondery, and more planning to introduce premium content. Podcast subscriptions are available in more than 170 countries.
AirTag and Find My
In the Find My app, if you put an AirTag or a Find My accessory into Lost Mode, you can now add an email address for contact purposes. Prior to iOS 14.6, the only option was to enter a phone number.
AirTags will also now show a partially masked phone number of an owner when tapped with an NFC-compatible device.
Voice Control
iPhone users with the Voice Control accessibility option enabled can unlock their iPhones for the first time after a restart using only their voice after installing iOS 14.6.
Bug Fixes
There are a number of bug fixes that are included in iOS 14.6, with Apple fixing issues that include the Apple Watch not working to unlock the iPhone, disconnecting Bluetooth devices, and performance issues during startup. A full list of bug fixes is below:
Unlock with Apple Watch may not work after using Lock iPhone on Apple Watch
Reminders may appear as blank lines
Call blocking extensions may not appear in Settings
Bluetooth devices could sometimes disconnect or send audio to a different device during an active call
iPhone may experience reduced performance during startup
Apple alongside the second-generation Apple TV 4K debuted a redesigned version of the Siri Remote, which is now available to customers with new Apple TV orders and as a $60 standalone replacement for the original Siri Remote.
We picked up the updated Siri Remote to see if it's worth picking up if you have an original Apple TV 4K or HD and are tired of the first iteration of the remote, which has several shortcomings.
Apple entirely overhauled the Siri Remote's design. It has an all-aluminum body that does away with the touchpad interface, instead adopting a touch-based clickpad and several additional buttons for control purposes.
The new remote is thicker than the prior version, and Apple has used that thickness change as an explanation for why the Siri Remote 2 doesn't need Find My. It's bigger, thicker, and shouldn't get as easily lost in couch cushions, though whether that's true remains to be seen and will vary from household to household.
Along with no Find My, the new remote does not feature a gyroscope or an accelerometer, so you can't play games with it. Apple now recommends gaming controllers for playing games rather than the standard remote.
The clickpad that Apple added can be used like a standard directional button, and you can also swipe around if you want, but you don't have to. It's much more versatile than the prior touch interface, and it's useful to be able to scroll/scrub through content using a circular swipe gesture.
The buttons are tactile and satisfying to press, and Apple has added dedicated mute and power buttons along with the standard buttons for play/pause, volume control, and more. Siri can be activated through a side button.
Like the prior Siri Remote, you can charge this one using Lightning, and other than the physical changes, it operates the same as the original remote so it should be intuitive for most Apple TV users. If you're fed up with the original Siri Remote, the updated version has the potential to be a good alternative if you don't mind the selling price. Get a new Siri Remote? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Following its announcement last month, Apple today officially flipped the switch to allow parents to share their Apple Card with their teenagers or friends and the ability for spouses to co-own a single Apple Card account. However, one notable feature that didn't get released today is the ability for two separate Apple Card accounts to be merged into one.
Apple announced the feature last month but didn't specifically pin a release date. Now, in a new support document, Apple says that starting later on in July, users will be able to merge two existing Apple Card accounts into one, and in doing so, be able to combine their credit limits.
Coming July 2021: You will be able to invite another Apple Card owner to combine credit limits and form one co-owned account.1
The ability to share an Apple Card with iCloud Family members above 13 years old and the ability to co-own an Apple Card were released today as part of the iOS 14.6 update.
Apple today released iOS 14.6, with it bringing support for Apple Podcasts subscriptions and new support for Apple Card Family. Announced last month, Apple Card Family allows families to share a single Apple Card with users above 13 years old with the ability to set a spending limit.
Last month, Apple also announced the ability for couples to co-own a single Apple Card, allowing them to build their credit score together. The process is similar to sharing an Apple Card with your teenager or friend but requires you to share your spouse's annual income.
Apple Card Family is available today with the iOS 14.6 update.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.6, marking the sixth major updates to the iOS and iPadOS operating systems that initially came out in September 2020. iOS 14.6 comes one month after the launch of iOS 14.5, an update that added Apple Watch iPhone unlocking, Apple Maps accident crowdsourcing, and tons more.
The iOS and iPadOS 14.5 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
iOS 14.6 introduces support for several previously announced features. It lays the groundwork for the Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio functionality, but these new Apple Music capabilities aren't expected to launch until June.
The update also adds support for Apple Card Family for sharing Apple Cards, it introduces new Podcast subscription options, and it adds new AirTags capabilities, in addition to addressing several bugs.
Apple's full release notes for the update are below:
Apple Card Family - Apple Card can be shared with up to five people, including anyone 13 years or older in your Family Sharing group - Apple Card Family adds support for families to track expenses, manage spending with optional limits and controls, and build credit together
Podcasts - Subscription support for channels and individual shows
AirTag and Find My - Lost mode option to add an email address instead of a phone number for AirTag and Find My network accessories - AirTag will show the partially masked phone number of the owner when tapped with an NFC-capable device
Accessibility - Voice Control users can unlock their iPhone for the first time after a restart using only their voice
This release also fixes the following issues: - Unlock with Apple Watch may not work after using Lock iPhone on Apple Watch - Reminders may appear as blank lines - Call blocking extensions may not appear in Settings - Bluetooth devices could sometimes disconnect or send audio to a different device during an active call - iPhone may experience reduced performance during startup
Major development on iOS 14 will be coming to an end in the near future as Apple prepares to transition to iOS 15, an update that will be unveiled on June 7.
Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Big Sur operating system that launched in November 2020. macOS Big Sur comes one month after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.3, an update that added M1 optimizations, AirTag integration, and more.
The new macOS Big Sur 11.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.
macOS Big Sur 11.4 lays the groundwork for two upcoming Apple Music features: Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio, both of which will be available on the Mac.
It also adds support for Apple Podcasts subscriptions, and fixes a number of bugs, as outlined in Apple's release notes.
macOS Big Sur 11.4 adds Apple Podcasts subscriptions and channels and includes important bug fixes.
Podcasts - Apple Podcasts subscriptions are available for purchase via monthly and annual subscriptions - Channels group together collections of shows from podcast creators
This release also fixes the following issues: - Bookmarks in Safari may get reordered or moved into a folder that can appear hidden - Certain websites may not display correctly after your Mac wakes from sleep - Keywords may not be included when exporting a photo from the Photos app - Preview may become unresponsive when searching PDF documents - 16-inch MacBook may become unresponsive when playing Civilization VI
Apple's attention will soon be focused on the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 12, which is expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference that kicks off on June 7.
Apple today released watchOS 7.5, the fifth major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September 2020. watchOS 7.5 comes one month after the release of watchOS 7.4, an update that added Apple Watch iPhone unlocking and other features.
The watchOS 7.5 update can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 7.5 introduces support for Apple Card Family and subscription content in the Podcasts app. In Malaysia and Peru, it enables the ECG app and irregular heart rate rhythm notifications.
The update also includes support for the new Pride faces that are designed to accompany the 2021 Pride bands that Apple released today. There are two new "Pride Woven" faces to choose from in an animated rectangle or circle design.
Apple today released tvOS 14.6, the sixth update to the tvOS 14 operating system that was released in September 2020. tvOS 14.6 comes a month after the release of tvOS 14.5, an update that added a new Color Balance feature and support for the latest gaming controllers.
tvOS 14.6, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 14.5 automatically.
tvOS updates are often minor in scale, focusing primarily on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. tvOS 14.6 lays the groundwork for the new Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio features.
Spatial Audio offers an immersive audio experience that makes it sound like music is coming from all around you, while Lossless Audio will provide higher-quality songs that sound exactly like they do when artists record them in the studio.
At launch in June, thousands of tracks will feature Spatial Audio support, and more than 20,000 songs will support Lossless Audio. By the end of the year, 75 million songs will support it.
Xbox says that to enable Dolby Vision for Apple TV on Xbox, users must first have a compatible TV that supports high dynamic range. With compatible TVs, users will find a new toggle under "TV & display options" in their Xbox settings tab to enable Dolby Vision. Additionally, not all Apple TV content will initially support Dolby Vision.
To start experiencing it with a Dolby Vision compatible TV, you need to have “Allow Dolby Vision” enabled and checked in Settings > General > TV & display options > Video Modes on your console. You can also confirm if content is available in Dolby Vision by looking for the Dolby Vision logo at the bottom of the Movie / Show’s description page in the Apple TV app or during playback by pressing the B button on your controller.
The Apple TV app, which previously only lived on Apple devices, has gradually been making its way to other devices such as the PS4, and select smart TVs. This is part of Apple's recent strategy to expand its services business to more customers.
Apple today officially announced the lineup for its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, which will kick off with the traditional keynote at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 7.
The keynote will be streamed directly from Apple Park. Developers and Apple users will be able to watch on Apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple Developer website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube. The remainder of WWDC will include the usual Platforms State of the Union following the keynote, as well as the Apple Design Awards on June 10 and an array of other sessions throughout the week.
WWDC will feature over 200 sessions and labs, with over 1,000 Apple experts on hand for consultation with developers.
Apple is also launching a new Pavilions features for WWDC 2021, which will make it easy for developers to plan and organize their conference experience around topics like SwiftUI, Developer Tools, Accessibility & Inclusion, and more.
Anker today is introducing a new set of gallium nitride (GaN) USB-C chargers that offer fast charging speeds for mobile devices in a design that's smaller than ever. The new Nano II line is available in 30W, 45W, and 65W versions, and Anker says it has improved the chips and internal layout of its chargers to deliver greater efficiency while generating less heat.
The 30-watt charger measures in at just 31.5 mm by 30.4 mm and about 38 mm deep. (The UK versions of all three chargers are about 1.5 mm deeper due to their prong design.) It can fast-charge an iPhone or iPad, and even fully support the latest MacBook Air.
The 45-watt version offers a bit more power to be able to charge a wider variety of notebooks and other gadgets, and it measures 37.7 mm by 35 mm by about 41 mm. It also features foldable prongs to make it less likely to be damaged or to damage other items when tossed in together.
The 65-watt version can fully power devices all the way up to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it too features foldable prongs. The charger measures 41.7 mm by 36 mm by about 44 mm.
All three chargers are available for preorder on Amazon and Anker.com for US customers, priced at $29.99, $35.99, and $39.99 respectively. Versions for UK and EU customers will be available at a later date.
