MacRumors

This month, "SP!NG," "Cozy Grove," "HitchHiker," and "Farm It!" arrived on Apple Arcade, joining the expanding library of 152 games already on Apple's exclusive-based mobile gaming subscription service.

Last month, ‌Apple Arcade‌ gained just two games: "Lumen" and "Survival Z." In March, four new games joined the platform in the casual, adventure, and simulation genres.

March 5: SP!NG

SP!NG was the first new game to arrive on ‌Apple Arcade‌ this month, offering a simple one-touch game based on avoidance.

SP!NG comes from SMG Studios, developer of the ‌Apple Arcade‌ Game "No Way Home." SP!NG encourages players to swing through levels to collect jewels and aim for a perfect score. Each level involves a start and end port with anchor points to spin around in order to reach the destination.

SP!NG features over 180 unique levels, daily challenges, five aesthetic themes, and 40 unlockable characters.

March 18: Cozy Grove

Cozy Grove comes from developer Spry Fox, urging players to discover the secrets of a haunted island to help ghosts and spirits find peace.

Welcome to Cozy Grove, a life-sim game about camping on a haunted, ever-changing island. As a Spirit Scout, you'll wander the island's forest each day, finding new hidden secrets and helping soothe the local ghosts. With a little time and a lot of crafting, you'll bring color and joy back to Cozy Grove!

With a relaxing soundtrack, a hand-drawn aesthetic, and landscapes that come alive when helping a spirit in need, Cozy Grove aims to provide a comforting and unique atmosphere.

The game features dozens of characters in an extensive and unusual story that is able to last for many hours of gameplay. Players can collect spirit animals, craft decorations, go fishing, and more.

March 26: HitchHiker

HitchHiker is a road-trip mystery adventure game about exploring the unknown in order to find yourself. Set along lost highways, players need to solve the puzzle of their own backstory.

As a hitchhiker with no memory or destination, you catch a series of rides across a strange and beautiful landscape, tracking the mysterious disappearance of a person close to you. Your drivers range from stoic farmers to off-duty waitresses, and each one has a story to tell. Clues appear, alliances emerge, and nothing is quite what it seems.

As the player's journey progresses, they must decode the events of the past while confronting the dangers that lie ahead.

HitchHiker spans a "strange and beautiful landscape" in five rides with five strangers, each providing new insights on the mystery of the protagonist's mysterious backstory. The game features environment-based puzzles and interaction choices that can reveal new secrets.

March 26: Farm It!

Farm It! involves mini-games, such as animal farming or fishing, to get resources to build and decorate a farm.

Players can sell their collected resources to customize their character and decorate different rooms in their farm-house. Accompanied by an animal friend, players take part in a wide range of farming activities such as selecting seeds and harvesting crops.

Coming Soon: Fantasian and Wonderbox

There are two new games slated to arrive on ‌Apple Arcade‌ soon in the role-playing and adventure genres.

"Fantasian" comes from the makers of the popular video game series "Final Fantasy," and is set against a backdrop made from over 150 handmade dioramas that blend physical environments with 3D characters. Players assume the role of "Leo," who awakens to find himself lost in a strange land with only one remaining memory.

"Wonderbox" is an action-adventure multiplayer game. Players can engage in pre-set adventures filled with challenges, enemies, puzzles, and platforms, or construct their own in Creator Mode. The game revolves around "boxes" used to form a deep chain of interconnected environments.

SP!NG, Cozy Grove, HitchHiker, and Farm It! are available on the App Store now. Keep an eye out throughout April for more new games.

‌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.

Apple's rumored AirTags item trackers will be slightly larger than a 50 cent coin and around three times the thickness, based on dimensions offered by leaker Max Weinbach (via YouTube channel EverythingApplePro).

According to Weinbach, the AirTags will come in one size measuring 32mm x 32mm x 6mm, which would put the circular devices in the same ballpark diameter-wise as a half dollar piece – a bit smaller than Samsung's Galaxy SmartTags (39mm x 39mm x 9mm) and a little larger than a Tile Sticker (27mm x 7.3mm).

A previous rumor from L0vetodream suggested Apple would make AirTags available in two size options, but it's not really clear why two sizes would be required.

Based on images found within an internal build of iOS 13, ‌AirTags‌ are small, circular white tags with an Apple logo on the front. They will likely be attached to items via adhesive or an attachment point like a ring, and there may be multiple ways to use them with different items.

According to his retail sources, Weinbach says AirTags are estimated to be priced at around $39 each (Samsung's SmartTags are $29.99). When they'll be launched though remains the question.

A new "Items" tab enabled by default in the Find My app in the iOS 14.5 beta has led to some hope that Apple's long-awaited AirTags item trackers will finally be released soon. Apple said iOS 14.5 will be released in "early spring," but a specific release date remains unclear.

Weinbach also believes Apple will announce new products "soon," either via press release or some sort of event, although event rumors remain murky at best. According to a YouTube video by hit-or-miss leaker Jon Prosser, Apple plans to host an April event this year.

Prosser himself acknowledges that it's worth treating this April event rumor with some skepticism since it would be Apple's first April event in 11 years, but he does say the source he got this from has a perfect track record.

Either way, Weinbach's retail source tells him that they are expecting three new products to drop into the tablet, wearable, and accessories categories.

The wearables are "likely" to be new seasonable Apple Watch bands, new colors for the solo loop bands, and possibly a new band style. The rumored new iPad Pro is the new tablet, while AirTags will fall into the accessories category.

Volume shipments of mini-LED display components for a new 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ will reportedly begin in the second quarter of 2021, which spans April through June. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously claimed that Apple plans to announce new iPads as early as April, including new 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Despite being months away from launch, we've already seen several rumors regarding the 2021 iPhone. Now, as we inch closer to release nonetheless, new rumors point towards some design changes, new colors, and new features to expect.

According to leaker Max Weinbach (via YouTube channel EverythingApplePro), the ‌iPhone‌ 13 will come with a matte black option for the Pro and Pro Max models, a new stainless steel coating that reduces smudges and fingerprints, a new rear-camera design, and improved noise cancelation with beamforming for phone calls.

Last month, Weinbach reported that Apple plans to include an always-on display for this year's new ‌iPhone‌ as part of its design. He's now building on that rumor, saying that on top of an always-on 120Hz display, Apple is likely to include a matte black option for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max.

Weinbach says the color is a "redesigned graphite" but is "borderline black." According to Weinbach, Apple is also experimenting with an orange, almost bronze-like color for the new iPhones, but he says it's unlikely to launch.

The ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup brought back the beloved flat-edged design, as well as stainless steel edges for the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. Since the models were launched, users have complained about the ability of the edges to attract smudges and fingerprints, especially for lighter-colored options like Gold. Apple's looking to address the issue with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 by adopting a new anti-smudge and fingerprint coating, according to Weinbach.

Moving to the rear, Weinbach says the new camera module will not be completely flat but that each lens will protrude less from the main body. Additionally, the immediate run-up to the camera module will be smaller, reducing the camera system's thickness entirely.

Alongside a suite of previously rumored features, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max camera system will include a new process for taking portrait photos. Weinbach reports that portrait mode on the new Pro iPhones will rely significantly on LiDAR. LiDAR, currently on the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, Pro Max, and iPad Pro, is used for improved low-light image photography. However, Weinbach says Apple will take it a step further with portrait mode this year.

Portrait mode on the new iPhones will be overhauled greatly. It will now rely heavily on a new process that combines both data from the lenses as well as LiDAR. LiDAR is specifically going to be used for much better edge detection. Things like smaller gaps in street signs are now supposed to be detected by the new process. This goes with portrait video as portrait mode overhaul that Apple is working on for the 2021 iPhones.

Weinbach says that within iOS itself, Apple will also include a new iOS "image stabilization correction" mode that will automatically detect and keep a subject in focus during a video. Given this is software-based, it's unknown if special hardware within the 2021 iPhones enables this mode or whether it could silently debut in older ‌iPhone‌ models.

As for the lineup itself, Weinbach says Apple plans to keep the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini form factor in its lineup, despite widespread reporting of the iPhone 12 mini's lackluster sales performance. With the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, Apple is looking to improve battery life, a significant point of concern for customers who enjoy the smaller form factor. Weinbach says the battery itself will be larger and that longer battery life will further be improved thanks to the efficiency of the A15 chip.

Weinbach previously stated that the new iPhones would include stronger MagSafe, astrophotography capabilities, and the ability to take portrait mode videos.

Earlier this week, images sent to MacRumors show alleged photos of the front glass panels for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 models, which show the earpieces relocated to the top bezel. If true, it would be the most significant change to the notch's design since its debut in the ‌iPhone‌ X. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple plans to switch to a hole-punch design for some iPhone models starting in 2022.

Apple is weighing up the possibility of launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing that's made for use in extreme environments, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

From the report:

Apple Inc. is considering launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing aimed at athletes, hikers and others who use the device in more extreme environments, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has internally discussed introducing such a Watch variation later in 2021 or 2022 at the earliest, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

As noted by Gurman, this isn't the first time Apple has considered a rugged smartwatch. The company mulled releasing a model to appeal to extreme sports athletes alongside the original Apple Watch, which launched in 2015.

If Apple goes ahead this time, the rugged version would be an additional model similar to how Apple offers a lower-cost option called the Apple Watch SE and special editions co-branded with Nike Inc. and Hermes International. Sometimes dubbed the "Explorer Edition" inside Apple, the product would have the same functionality as a standard Apple Watch but with extra impact-resistance and protection in the vein of Casio's G-Shock watches.

The latest Apple Watch models are water resistant to 50 meters, but Gurman suggests that Apple could make a new device more "rugged" by giving it a rubberized casing, making it more resistant to damage in extreme environments compared to the current lineup of aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel cases.

Despite actively considering such a model, Gurman includes the usual caveat about rumored future products by noting that his sources say it could be ultimately canceled or delayed.

Apple is also working on new swim tracking features for the Apple Watch, according to the report, although no additional details were given.

Apple typically launches new Apple Watch models in September, but rumors are thin on the ground when it comes to a Series 7 model. According to Korean site ETNews, Apple will add blood glucose monitoring capabilities to the Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.

Other rumors indicate a future version of the Apple Watch may adopt solid state buttons that don't physically click but instead provide haptic feedback to users when the buttons are touched, but it's not clear when this is coming.

Major carriers in the U.S. like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T have made a change to how SMS messages are routed to put a stop to a security vulnerability that allowed hackers to reroute texts, reports Motherboard.

Carriers introduced the change after a Motherboard investigation last week revealed how easy it is for hackers to reroute text messages and use the stolen information to break into social media accounts. The site paid a hacker $16 to reroute texts using the tools of a company called Sakari, which helps businesses with mass marketing.

Sakari offered a text rerouting tool from a company called Bandwidth, which was supplied by another company called NetNumber, resulting in a confusing network of companies contributing to a vulnerability that left SMS texts open to hackers (Motherboard has more information on the process in its original article). The hacker hired by Motherboard was able to access Sakari's tools without any authentication or consent from the rerouting target, successfully getting texts from Motherboard's test phone.

Sakari is meant to allow businesses to import their own phone number for sending mass texts, which means a business is able to add a phone number to send and receive texts through the Sakari platform. Hackers could abuse this tool by importing a phone number of a victim to get access to the person's text messages.

Aerialink, a communications company that helps route text messages, said today said that wireless carriers are no longer supporting SMS or MMS text enabling on wireless numbers, something that "affects all SMS providers in the mobile ecosystem." This will prevent the hack demonstrated by Motherboard last week from working.

It is not clear if this text rerouting method was widely used by hackers, but it was easier to pull off than other smartphone hacking methods like SIM swapping. A Security Research Labs researcher said that he had not seen it before, while another researcher said it was "absolutely" in use.

Some customers who have purchased an M1 Mac mini have been experiencing an issue that causes the machine not to wake a connected third-party display from sleep.

This is not an issue that's affecting all ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ owners, but there are numerous complaints on the MacRumors forums and the Apple Support Communities dating back to November when the ‌Mac mini‌ was first released. MacRumors reader gooimac explains:

My M1 (8gb/256) Mac mini doesn't seem to want to wake my displays after its been sleeping. I have tried with 2 different displays with 2 different HDMI cables with the same thing occurring on each one. I am currently only using one at a time. I also noticed some pink squares/graphics glitches on the Big Sur boot/log in screen (with the coloured background, not the black and white boot up)

MacRumors reader Mike, who emailed us about the issue, has seen the same problems.

I have a new Mac Mini M1 with 16 GB of RAM running Big Sur 11.2.3 and every time the computer and screen go to sleep, the computer will not be able to wake the screen up.

Actually, I get "No Signal" displayed on the screen after the Mini wakes so technically the computer wakes the monitor but it fails to send a video signal. The screen is a 34" LG Ultrawide 4K Thunderbolt. It wakes fine with my 2018 MacBook Pro so there's nothing wrong with the display itself.

The only way I can get the Mini to send a signal to the display is to unplug and replug in the Thunderbolt cable. Sometimes repeatedly. Obviously, this is not an ideal solution.

This issue appears to be affecting a wide range of displays that connect over Thunderbolt, HDMI, and DisplayPort adapters, but there are also plenty of people who are having no issues at all.

It's not clear what the problem is, but Apple has been looking into one ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ display issue that causes strange pink squares to appear on displays connected to one of the machines.

Apple is aware of the issue, and there could be a fix in the works that's coming in a future update. One solution for now may be to disable the feature that puts the ‌Mac mini‌ to sleep, but that's not ideal. The other solution is to unplug and replug in a display that's not responding after a ‌Mac mini‌ wakes from sleep, but that too is an inelegant solution. There appears to be no other fix available at this time.

Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max is among the best smartphones of 2021 and is the top iPhone of the year, according to new smartphone rankings shared today by Consumer Reports.

The faster A14 processor, OLED display, camera technology, and 5G connectivity earned it one of the top slots, with Consumer Reports recommending the 12 Pro Max over other options because of the longer battery life, larger display, and 2.5x zoom camera.

While the 12 Pro Max will cost you $100 more than its smaller sibling, the 12 Pro, it packs in several more hours of battery life, a slightly larger display, and a 2.5x zoom camera that gets you just a hair closer to the action than the 12 Pro's 2x camera.

On the flip side, the Max version is significantly heavier and can be tough to use one-handed, even for people with long fingers. If you're wary of bulky phones, you might be happier with the 12 Pro.

Other top smartphones in the list include the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (named Best Android Phone), and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G, which took the "Best Budget Phone" and "Best Phone for All-Day Battery Life" awards.

Consumer Reports maintains a ranking of the best smartphones that are on the market by a number of criteria, and several iPhones top that list, including the ‌iPhone‌ 11, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.

Apple will have new smartphones coming in 2021, and the ‌iPhone‌ 13 models are already in the works. The 2021 flagship iPhones will feature faster chips, camera technology improvements, 120Hz refresh rate displays for the high-end models, and more, with details available in our iPhone 13 roundup.

The Apple Fitness+ service and app is experiencing an outage that has made some workouts unavailable at the current time.

The Fitness app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV is currently not listing Core, Strength, HIIT, or Yoga workouts in the top navigation menu, and attempting to access one of these workouts leads to an error message.

"Unable to access Apple Fitness+ content at this time," the app reads when trying to start an affected workout.

On Twitter, Apple Support said that Apple is aware of a "potential issue" and is logging/tracking information affiliated with the Apple Fitness features, so presumably a fix is in the works.

Update: It appears Apple has fixed the issue and the Apple Fitness+ outage is over.

There was a major issue with Shortcuts earlier this week, which prevented all Shortcut links shared through iCloud to stop working properly. Apple has now fixed the problem, and links to Shortcuts on the web should be largely functional again.

The Shortcut issue affected links to shared shortcuts that were created prior to the last couple of weeks. When attempting to download a Shortcut from one of these links, there was an error about the shortcut link being invalid.

This impacted many websites that share various Shortcuts, such as MacStories, which houses a repository of useful shortcuts created by Federico Viticci. Last night, Apple told Viticci it was working on a fix to restore the broken shortcuts.

We are aware of an issue where previously shared shortcuts are currently unavailable. Newly shared shortcuts are available, and we are working to restore previously shared shortcuts as quickly as possible.

As of this morning, Viticci said that many of the MacStories shortcuts are once again functional, and we can confirm that most of the Shortcut links we tested from MacStories, RoutineHub, and Reddit are working.

We recently shared a video on some handy iPhone and iPad shortcuts for everything from editing photos to adding frames to screenshots to dictating notes, and the links to those shortcuts are all functional again.

Apple now allows customers to trade-in their Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 5, and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 devices for credit towards new Apple product purchases.

As part of Apple's trade-in program, customers can trade in a Google Pixel 5 and receive up to $350 of credit towards purchasing a new product, the Google Pixel 4a for a value of up to $180, or the Galaxy Note 20 for up to $425.

Alongside the new additions, Apple has also updated the maximum trade-in value of almost all other Android smartphones.

• Samsung Galaxy S20+: $305, down $10
• Samsung Galaxy S20: $230, down $10
• Samsung Galaxy S10+: $250, up $30
• Samsung Galaxy S10: $180, down $5
• Samsung Galaxy S10e: $190, up $45
• Samsung Galaxy S9+: $145, up $35
• Samsung Galaxy S9: $125, up $35
• Samsung Galaxy S8+: $100, up $30
• Samsung Galaxy S8: $80, up $25
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10: $260, down $10
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8: $75, down $5
• Google Pixel 4 XL: $200, down $20
• Google Pixel 4: $170, down $15
• Google Pixel 3 XL: $80, down $10
• Google Pixel 3a: $70, up $20

Apple determines the exact value of the traded-in product depending on its condition, such as if it has scratches, or dents and if it functions correctly. If a customer has a device not included on Apple's list of trade-in devices, the company does recycle devices for free. More information can be found on Apple's trade-in page.

Since the 2015 launch of the Apple Watch, Apple has had a growing focus on health and fitness, and has been aiming to make significant improvements in these areas with apps like the Health app and services like Apple Fitness+.

MacRumors videographer Dan this week put together a great fitness video that outlines his favorite fitness-related products that he's been using to stay in shape over the past year, plus he surveyed several other popular YouTubers to see what they like.

iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Kevin the Tech Ninja, and Andru Edwards are featured in the video telling us all about the products that they use to stay healthy.

Many of the YouTubers have high-end gear like the Peloton, Tempo Studio, and Tonal devices, all of which cost thousands and may be out of range for many people, but there are many other more affordable solutions like the Apple Watch for tracking all kinds of exercises and Apple Fitness+, which is $9.99 per month.

Make sure to watch the video up above to see the devices popular tech YouTubers prefer, and then let us know in the comments what you use at home to keep fit.

Apple is the leading buyer of companies in the global artificial intelligence space, according to data shared today by GlobalData. From 2016 to 2020, Apple acquired the highest number of AI companies, beating out Accenture, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, all of whom also had a high number of AI acquisitions.

Over the course of the last several years, Apple has bought companies like Emotient, Turi, Glimpse, RealFace, Shazam, SensoMotoric, Silk Labs, Drive.ai, Laserlike, SpectralEdge, Voysis, XNOR.ai, and more, all with the aim of improving the AI and machine learning capabilities of its products and services.

Apple does not make all of its acquisitions public, so it's possible there are other artificial intelligence companies that Apple has purchased that have gone under the radar.

During Apple's February shareholders meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple had acquired close to 100 companies over the course of the last six years. "We're not afraid to look at acquisitions of any size," said Cook. "Focus is on small, innovative companies that complement our products and help push them forward."

According to GlobalData analyst Aurojyoti Bose, growing competition in the AI space has led to an acquisition spree.

"Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook collectively undertook 60 acquisitions in the AI tech space during 2016-2020 while Apple led the race with 25 acquisitions. AI has remained a key focus area for tech giants and growing competition to dominate the space has resulted in an acquisition spree among these companies."

Many of Apple's acquisitions have been aimed at improving Siri. Apple purchased Inductiv to improve ‌Siri‌'s data, while Voysis was acquired to improve ‌Siri‌'s understanding of natural language. PullString, meanwhile, makes it easier for iOS developers to use ‌Siri‌ features in apps.

"Apple has gone on a shopping spree in efforts to catch up with Google (Google Assistant) and Amazon (Alexa). Siri was first on the market, but it consistently ranks below the two in terms of "smartness", which is partly why Apple is far behind in smart speaker sales. Apple also want to make sure to keep its strong position within wearables. It is the dominant player in smartwatches. The acquisition of Xnor.ai last year was made to improve its on-edge processing capabilities, which has become important as it eliminates the need for data to be sent to the cloud, thereby improving data privacy."

Other acquisitions are aimed at future products, like Drive.ai, a self-driving startup that Apple purchased in 2019, presumably to further its autonomous car development project.

All of the above listed companies are also on an "AI talent-hiring spree" and collectively posted more than 14,000 jobs in the AI space in 2020.

Throwboy, known for its pillows and blankets that look like classic Apple products, this week debuted a new series of t-shirts that may interest Apple fans.

Available in both women's sizes and men's sizes, there are several Apple product-themed design options to choose from like the iconic Apple time 9:41, or the design of the Command key.

There's a rainbow design that lists Apple's most important products like the Macintosh, iMac, iPod, and iPhone, along with a "1984" design that harkens back to the classic Apple ad and a "Think Different (Again)" t-shirt.

Each shirt is priced at $32.99 and can be purchased from the Throwboy website.

Spotify today announced that it has overhauled its desktop app and web player with an "improved look and feel" that offers design parity and also makes both the app and the web experience easier to use.

According to Spotify, it took "months" of tests, research, and user feedback to develop the new, cleaner design that's simpler while also offering all of the useful features from the desktop app.

Using the desktop app and then switching to the web player will feel like a seamless experience now that the two share the same general design. There's a redesigned Home experience, search has been relocated to the left side of the navigation page, and listener profile pages feature top artists and tracks. Users can now start a radio session for any song or artist using the "..." menu.

It's easier than ever to edit and customize playlists, and there's a new embedded search bar for quickly locating new songs and podcast episodes to add. With a new dropdown menu in the top-right corner, Spotify desktop app users can edit Queue and view Recently played.

Spotify users on Mac can download the new Spotify app for desktop from the Spotify website or use Spotify in the browser through open.spotify.com.

T-Mobile today announced that it is the first U.S. wireless provider that has managed to complete deals with all wireless networks to implement full number spoofing and spam call protection for customers.

With these partnerships in place, T-Mobile has completed its implementation of the STIR/SHAKEN standards that are in place to combat illegal caller ID spoofing. T-Mobile is now able to authenticate calls with wireless and network providers that represent 98 percent of wireless customers in the United States.

T-Mobile offers a "Scam Shield" Un-carrier feature that susses out and blocks scams and robocalls. The company has been working on improving Scam Shield, and its new partnerships with Spectrum Voice and Charter Communications ensure number verification across almost all providers in the U.S. to authenticate incoming calls for T-Mobile customers.

"T-Mobile was first to implement number verification in 2019 because protecting customers against scammers and spammers is one of the most important things we can do as an industry," said Mike Sievert, CEO T-Mobile. "To date, T-Mobile has protected over 80 million customers from more than 33 billion suspect calls - and counting. With the combination of Number Verification, free Caller ID and the scam blocking tools in Scam Shield, and by working with network providers of all sizes, we are providing the industry's most comprehensive scam and spam protection for free to all our customers and working every day to make scammers jobs impossible."

The FCC is requiring all carriers in the United States to implement STIR/SHAKEN by June 2021, so other major wireless providers like AT&T and Verizon will need to add the same protections for their customers.

T-Mobile's Scam Shield is a free Caller ID tool that warns customers when a number calling is likely to be a scammer, and there's an option to block scammers entirely.

AT&T and Verizon have similar spam caller prevention tools, but both charge for premium access. AT&T charges $3.99 for features that include Caller ID (though it is included free in the highest tier unlimited plans), while Verizon charges $2.99 per month for Caller ID. Both AT&T and Verizon are working to implement STIR/SHAKEN for identifying spoofed calls.

Apple is researching the use of "deployable feet" on the MacBook Pro to aid cooling, according to a newly-published patent application.

The patent application, first spotted by Patently Apple, is titled "Deployable Feet for Display Articulation and Thermals Performance" and outlines how a MacBook Pro could feature feet that move to raise up the rear of the device. Apple's deployable feet are able to extend by at least 3.8 millimeters, thereby significantly increasing airflow underneath the machine.

The filing explains how, in one embodiment, the MacBook Pro's display hinge could be connected to the deployable feet, so that the feet deploy relative to the mechanical movement of the lid.

In other embodiments, the feet could be deployed via a gear train, pneumatics, electro-mechanics, or simply flipped out manually by a user. The filing also suggests that the entire base of a MacBook Pro could expand, rather than individual feet.

The patent application explains that deployable feet can be an "efficient means of cooling the device" without taking up internal space with large components such as fans, ensuring that the MacBook remains "thin and lightweight while simultaneously including numerous features delivering high performance."

As the number and performance of internal components increases, so do thermal and other demands on the electronic device. Thus, there exists a demand for efficient usage of space within an electronic device, and efficient means of cooling the device. Accordingly, it can be desirable for an electronic device to include deployable features that can both increase clearance of the base portion and also improve the efficiency of the internal volume of the base portion, while maintaining a portable and sleek form factor.

In an embodiment where the deployable section is larger, the patent states that "the deployable feature can at least partially define a vent when deployed," potentially adding a dedicated vent as well as increasing natural airflow underneath the device.

In addition, Apple explains how the deployable feet tie into the Mac's software. When in a deployed position, the Mac's processor may be permitted to get hotter to deliver better performance, due to the increased airflow. In Macs that do feature a fan as well as deployable feet, the fan's speed would be "at least partially" determined based on the extent of the deployment.

The electronic device can include a sensor that detects at least one of a temperature or a processing speed of the electronic device, and provides the signal in response to the detection. The electronic device can further include a fan, wherein a speed of the fan is at least partially based on a state of the deployable feature.

The filing also addresses the potential waste of space within a MacBook that deployable feet could cause. It proposes that when in the deployed position, the internal space used to store the feet may be repurposed to be "usable by an antenna or a speaker."

The design has the added advantage of giving the display hinge more clearance to rotate, as well as improving the angle of the device for typing and raising the height of the display for greater comfort.

While Apple's patent applications cannot be taken as sure evidence of what the company is intending to add to its devices, there may be good reason to suggest that a feature such as deployable feet could be implemented on MacBooks at some point in the future.

Apple is demonstrably interested in passive cooling. The company has explored passively-cooled laptops starting with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, and most recently with the latest MacBook Air, which features no fan or vents on its base for cooling. Moreover, as the internal components of MacBooks are becoming more compact with the advent of Apple silicon, alongside improved battery life, it is perhaps more likely that deployable feet could be justified within a future Mac laptop.

Apple is believed to be working on high-performance custom silicon processors for future MacBook Pro models. Unlike the M1 chip, which generally runs very cool and powers Apple's entry-level Macs, the next-generation Apple silicon expected to come to the MacBook Pro is likely to have much more demanding thermal requirements.

Deployable feet could be one way in which Apple is able to improve the thermals of its passively cooled MacBooks, as well as enable even higher-performance on its Pro machines with active cooling, at some time in the future.