As indicated in a newly published support document, WhatsApp has ended support for iOS 9 and earlier versions of Apple's mobile operating system, requiring all users to be running at least iOS 10, released in 2016.
Up until now, iOS 9 users – who will have been mainly iPhone 4s owners – were able to use the encrypted chat service. Going forward, however, iOS 10 is required, meaning users will need an iPhone 5 or later model to use WhatsApp.
The drop in support follows a similar move by the Facebook-owned instant messaging service last year, when it ended support for iOS 8 and older.
For customers finding themselves no longer being able to use the app due to the end of support, it's recommended that you back up your WhatsApp chats to iCloud, and restore your chat history to a newer, supported device. You can find instructions on how to do so here.
Apple's first entry-level Mac to feature mini-LED display technology will be a new MacBook Air due to launch next year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
From his latest investors note, obtained by MacRumors:
We expect that the new MacBook Air will adopt a mini LED in 2022, increasing MacBook's mini LED adoption rate. In contrast, only high-end iPad models will use mini LED displays, and the overall growth momentum may be lower than that of MacBooks.
The 2022 MacBook Air will also feature Apple Silicon, according to Kuo. The analyst believes that Apple will be able to offset the increased cost of using mini-LED panels in its Macs precisely because the cost of Apple Silicon chips is significantly lower than that of Intel processors.
Kuo said last year that he believes a mini-LED MacBook Air is due to arrive in 2022, and also said he expected Apple to release two redesigned MacBook Pro models, both equipped with mini-LED displays, in the second half of this year. In today's note, Kuo underlined how much suppliers can expect to benefit from Apple's wider adoption of mini-LED as a result.
We expect the new MacBook Pro will boost the shipment of mini LED displays in 2H21 because the new MacBook Pro will equip with mini LED displays, and MacBook's mini LED display is less challenging to produce than the iPad. We forecast that mini LED display shipments in 2021 and 2022 to be 10 million and 20–30 million, respectively.
Today's note from Kuo also said that Apple's first mini-LED 12.9-inch iPad Pro will enter mass production in the second half of April, and that the iPad Air would adopt OLED displays in 2022, positioning mini-LED as a display technology exclusive to iPad Pro devices in the company's tablet lineup.
Apple will transition the iPad Air to OLED displays in the second half of next year, while mini-LED display technology will remain exclusive to upcoming higher-end iPad Pro models, according to a new report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple is expected to be just weeks away from launching a mini-LED iPad Pro, the first Apple device to feature the newer technology. In Kuo's latest investor note, seen by MacRumors, the analyst underlines his belief that even when the iPad Air transitions to an OLED display in 2022, mini-LED will remain in its tablet lineup as a display technology exclusive to iPad Pro models.
The market is worried that if the iPad starts to use OLED in 2022, Apple will abandon the mini LED. However, according to our latest industry survey, if the iPad adopts an OLED display in 2022, it will be the mid-/low-end iPad Air, while the high-end iPad Pro will still use a mini LED display. The adoption of OLED in iPad does not affect the positive trend of mini LED. Since the OLED used in iPad is a rigid type and has a significantly lower PPI than iPhone, it is less challenging to produce, and the cost is close to the LCD currently used in iPad Air.
Kuo envisions a future iPad lineup in which OLED and mini-LED further differentiate Apple's mid-to-low end iPad Air models from its iPad Pro devices. Apple currently uses OLED displays in the Apple Watch and the iPhone, while Macs and iPad still retain the older LCD technology. OLED displays offer higher brightness, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles. However, they often cost significantly more to produce than LCDs.
Earlier this month, DigiTimes reported that a 10.9-inch iPad, presumably the iPad Air, will be updated with an OLED display in early 2022. In contrast to Kuo's note, DigiTimes stated that Apple would also adopt OLED technology for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. DigiTimes has also claimed that Apple might release 16-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro with OLED later on next year.
Apple is already working on several products with mini-LED displays, including redesigned MacBook Pros. Kuo believes that Apple's use of mini-LED will accelerate in the coming years as production costs decrease, with Apple's mid-to-high-end devices consistently adopting the technology first.
Apple's new 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro will enter mass production in the second half of April, according to a new note by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The prediction adds further credence to a Bloomberg report just yesterday that said next month would be the earliest time we should expect the new models to appear.
In an investors note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo says that mass production for the new iPad Pro with a mini-LED display will now begin in "mid-to-late April."
We expect EMS to start mass production of mini LED iPads beginning mid to late April. The supply bottleneck, TSMT's yield rate, will increase significantly in 2Q21, and overall supply chain shipment momentum will also increase significantly in 2H21.
We have predicted in several previous reports that the mini LED iPad will be mass-produced in 1H21. Although this mass production date is slower than the market’s overly-optimistic expectation of February or March, it will provide a good entry point if the related supply chain stock price corrects.
Over the past few days, there has been widespread chatter about a possible event on March 23, when Apple was said to be to announcing the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display, amongst other products.
Credible sources such as Bloomberg and Ming-Chi Kuo have now both signaled that no launches will take place before April, and as things stand, it looks like there will be no March announcement from Apple either, despite earlier claims by some leakers.
The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected to have "on par" performance with the performance of the M1Apple Silicon. It's also rumored to include a Thunderbolt port and improved cameras. The device is expected to adopt mini-LED display technology, which offers improved brightness, improved contrast ratios, and color in its larger 12.9-inch iPad model. However, the smaller 11-inch variant is not expected to be updated with the mini-LED display technology anytime soon, according to rumors.
Apple will introduce new iPads as early as April, according to a new report shared today by Bloomberg. The April date comes following incorrect rumors that Apple planned to hold an event on March 23.
Apple will refresh its iPad Pro lineup, introducing new models that "look similar to the current iPad Pros" in the same 11 and 12.9-inch screen sizes. The two iPads are expected to feature an updated A14X processor that's "on par" with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, along with better cameras.
A mini-LED display will be included with "at least" the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the display upgrade bringing improved brightness and contrast ratios. This is in line with many rumors that we've heard previously, and most of the information suggests the upgraded display technology will be limited to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Apple has tested iPad Pros with a Thunderbolt connector that would make them compatible with additional external monitors, hard drives, and peripherals, plus it brings faster data syncing speeds. Apple's Mac machines have featured Thunderbolt technology for years now, but current iPad Pro and iPad Air models have standard USB-C ports.
Later this year, Apple plans to refresh its cheapest iPad, and Apple is also working on a new version of the iPad mini with a larger display.
There was a lot of chatter suggesting Apple would hold a March event to introduce new iPad models, AirPods 3, and perhaps AirTags, but those rumors were never confirmed by a reliable source like Bloomberg or Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. With iPad Pro models launching in April and the AirPods 3 now set for the third-quarter of 2021 based on rumors from earlier this week, it looks like there will be no March announcement.
T-Mobile today announced a partnership with SiriusXM that will see T-Mobile customers getting expanded access to Pandora with ad-free radio weekends, "Top Tracks" music stations that are powered by popular SiriusXM channels, and early access to original SiriusXM podcasts.
Starting on Tuesday, March 23, any T-Mobile customer that participates in T-Mobile Tuesdays can get free access to the enhanced version of the Pandora music experience. Ad-free radio weekends will be available through March 2022.
"We're rolling out the magenta carpet once again for T-Mobile customers giving more free benefits and even more value through partnerships with today's best brands," said T-Mobile CMO Matt Staneff. "Now more than ever, we recognize the power that music has to connect communities. Today marks another exciting step in our relationship with Pandora, offering T-Mobile customers a new, supercharged version of a brand they already love. At T-Mobile, it's about getting more value on us -- just for being with us."
Ad-free Pandora weekends will include personalized music stations that can customized with the Modes feature, plus access to tens of thousands of podcasts.
T-Mobile customers will need the T-Mobile Tuesdays app and will need to redeem the Pandora offer. After that, users can download the Pandora app and create a Pandora account. Sprint users are also eligible to download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app.
Belkin recently introduced the $99 Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe, which joins the existing Belkin-branded 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger that came out earlier this year.
Belkin continues to be the only third-party accessory maker that offers Apple-approved MagSafe-compatible charging accessories that are able to charge Apple's iPhone 12 models at the maximum speeds, so there's not a lot of competition out there aside from Apple's own MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo.
Design wise, the 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger features a circular base with a chrome arm that houses a MagSafe charging puck that works with the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max. The charger's base is made from a plastic material and comes in either black or white. It's not the most high quality charger that I've used, but I think it looks fine on a desk or table, blending in well without standing out.
The MagSafe charging puck is similar to Apple's own MagSafe Charger in design, with that same soft rubber feel, and underneath, the charger has silicone pads to keep it in place on a desk. At the bottom of the base, there's a built-in Qi-based wireless charger that's meant to be used for the AirPods. There's a small hollow where the AirPods or AirPods Pro fit, and positioning the AirPods case within this hollow ensures that it's in the proper position for charging.
Even though the Qi charger at the base is designed for AirPods, it also works with other iPhones and smartphones that support Qi-based charging. The hollow is bigger and wider than the hollow Belkin added for the 3-in-1 charger, but it still works for iPhones of all sizes. This base charger is limited to 5W though, so it's not going to charge anything at high speeds.
The main MagSafe charging puck is identical to Apple's charging options and it charges the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max at 15W. The iPhone 12 mini maxes out at 12W, which the 2-in-1 charger also accommodates. The 2-in-1 charger is weighted a bit, but you do need to use a grab and twist gesture to undock an iPhone without lifting the charger itself. I've had no problems with this, and just giving that small twist when pulling up keeps it on my desk where it belongs.
With Apple's MagSafe chargers you need to make sure you have the appropriate power adapter, which is not included, but there's no guesswork involved with the Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand because it comes with a power adapter.
The circular base of the Belkin 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger doesn't take up too much room on a desk (it's about 5.3 inches at its widest point), which I appreciate, and the upright MagSafe charging arm can be used in either portrait or landscape mode. The charging arm is angled slightly to put the iPhone in an ideal position for watching videos, taking FaceTime calls, or glancing over to see the time at night.
The 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger comes in either black or white, and there's a small LED light on the base that lights up when the Qi-based charger is in use so you know if charging is happening. There's no need for a light for the MagSafe charging puck because the iPhone connects magnetically and automatically gets oriented in the right position.
You can use the MagSafe charger with a naked iPhone or with a MagSafe-compatible case, but because it's magnetic, it does not work with non-MagSafe cases or with non-iPhone 12 models because they don't have the necessary built-in magnets.
In my testing, Belkin's 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger charged my iPhone 12 from dead to 62 percent in an hour while also charging the AirPods Pro at 5W, which is just about the same charging speed that I tend to get from a standard Apple MagSafe Charger. It should be noted, though, that charging with MagSafe is variable, both with this Belkin charger and Apple's standard charger.
In some tests I get around 60 percent battery life in an hour from dead, but in other tests, battery life can be closer to 70 percent, so your actual charging speeds may vary somewhat. What I can say, though, is that the Belkin charger seems to be charging right at the same speeds as a standard MagSafe Charger, even when charging another device too.
Bottom Line
Apple's standard MagSafe Charger is $39, which means the 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger from Belkin is $60 more expensive. Not everyone is going to want to pay that price, but for those who are fully investing in the MagSafe product lineup, it could be worth the cost.
I prefer Belkin's upright charging options to the standard Apple MagSafe Charger because they're just more convenient to use. It's easier to grab an iPhone off a desk from the charging arm than it is to grab one from the flat charger, and there's also space for charging AirPods or another device with the Qi charging base. All-in-one charging options save space and require fewer cables, which is a bonus.
In the future there may be more MagSafe charging options to choose from, but right now you're only going to get the fastest speeds from Apple-approved accessories like the MagSafe Charger and Belkin's options. You can get a much cheaper magnetic charger from a third-party company, but those cheaper chargers are limited to 7.5W rather than 15W and aren't worth it for those who want the faster MagSafe charging speeds.
Apple has inked a deal with actress Natalie Portman's "MountainA" production company that she formed with producer Sophie Mas, reports Deadline. Under the terms of the multi-year deal, Apple will get first dibs on TV projects created by Portman and Mas.
Portman, Mas, and Apple are already working together on upcoming Apple TV+ show "Lady in the Lake," which will star Portman and Lupita Nyong'o. "Lady in the Lake" will mark Portman's first television role, with the series focusing on an unsolved murder that pushes a housewife to reinvent her life as an investigative journalist.
So far, there are no other shows that are in the works from MountainA, but the production company is newly established and this is its first producing deal. Portman's partner, Sophie Mas, has served as an executive producer on "Ad Astra," "The Lighthouse," "Call Me By Your Name," and "The Witch." Portman is best known for her roles in "Black Swan," "V for Vendetta," "Star Wars," and "Avengers."
Apple has inked first look deals with a number of high profile directors and producers, including Jason Katims, Justin Lin, Alfonso Cuaron, Lee Eisenberg, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Idris Elba, Martin Scorsese, and more.
Amazon today is offering Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,172.92, down from $1,249.00. This is one of the first notable discounts on the new MacBook Air since earlier in the year, and it's currently the best price available online among the major Apple resellers. It's being sold by Expercom on Amazon.
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.
You can get the notebook at this price in Silver, but the other colors are coming in around the same amount. Gold is available for $1,174.92 and Space Gray is available for $1,179.00. The lowest price we've ever seen on this model was around $1,149 late last year, but we've yet to see a return to that amount in 2021.
Apple updated the MacBook Air in November 2020 with its new M1 chip, which is the first Apple-designed Arm-based chip. M1 chips replace the prior Intel chips, and bring major speed and efficiency improvements. The new models feature a 13-inch Retina display with slim bezels and a large Force Touch Trackpad.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Apple is expected to release a redesigned iMac powered by Apple silicon later this year, and ahead of time, developer Dennis Oberhoff has discovered an unreleased ARM-based iMac in an Xcode crash log for his Mac app DaftCloud.
Oberhoff shared the Xcode crash log on Twitter and with 9to5Mac, which took a closer look at the log and believes that it is legitimate.
DaftCloud is a third-party macOS desktop app for music sharing website SoundCloud, and it is possible that an Apple engineer was using the app on an Apple silicon iMac prototype, but this is merely speculation. The log indicates that the iMac is running macOS 11.2.1, released in early February, but no further details can be discerned.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported that a redesigned iMac with an Apple silicon chip will be released later this year. Gurman said the new iMac's design will be inspired by Apple's high-end Pro Display XDR, with slimmer bezels around the display, no metal chin below the display, and a flat back.
New deals today include a pair of iPad offers, centering on the 2020 models of the 10.2-inch iPad and iPad Air. Prices start at $299.00 for the 32GB Wi-Fi iPad and $559.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air, and all of the sales can be found on Amazon.
iPad
First off, the 32GB Wi-Fi 10.2-inch iPad is on sale for $299.00 today at Amazon, down from $329.00. Only the Gold color option is available to ship out today at this price, with the Space Gray color delayed until April.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple introduced the eighth-generation iPad in September 2020 as an iterative update to the previous low-cost iPad, but with an upgraded A12 Bionic processor with Neural Engine. This version of the iPad supports Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, and includes Touch ID.
This isn't quite the best price we've ever tracked on this version of the iPad, but it is among the first sales we've tracked in 2021, with discounts being rare after the holidays. For more storage, you can get the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.99, down from $429.00.
iPad Air
You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $679.99 at Amazon, down from $749.00. This marks a new lowest-ever price on this model of the 2020 iPad Air, with previous sales hitting at around $699 for the tablet. It's available in all colors, but only Sky Blue has a 1-2 day shipping estimate.
The new iPad Air launched in October 2020 with a 10.9-inch edge-to-edge display and a design that's similar to the iPad Pro with an aluminum chassis that features flat, rounded edges that wrap around the fully-laminated display. The iPad Air does not feature Face ID and relies solely on Touch ID for biometric authentication purposes.
Amazon also has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air at $559.00, down from $599.00. This sale is available in all colors. While it's not a lowest-ever price, it is among the best available online right now.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Intel has called on the services of former "I'm a Mac" actor Justin Long in a series of new ads in which Apple's latest custom-made M1 processors are cast as inferior to newer laptops powered by Intel processors.
Well known for his role in Apple's popular "Get a Mac" TV ad campaign from the 2000s, Long stars in a series of ads called "Justin Gets Real" on Intel's YouTube channel, beginning each video by introducing himself as "... a Justin – just a real person doing a real comparison between Mac and PC."
In one ad, Long promotes the flexibility of Windows laptops, specifically the Lenovo Yoga 9i versus a MacBook Pro. In another video, Long meets a PC user gaming on the MSI Gaming Stealth 15M laptop, powered by a Intel Core i7. Long then asks for a Mac, before swiftly agreeing with the PC user that "no one games on a Mac."
Intel undertook a similar marketing campaign in February with a series of tweets highlighting the "shortcomings" of Apple's M1 powered-Macs compared to Intel-powered computers. In November, Apple released its first Apple Silicon and is expected to fully transition its entire lineup away from Intel over the next couple of years.
This isn't the first time Long has featured in ad campaigns for Apple rivals. In 2017, the actor starred in a series of Huawei commercials promoting the company's Mate 9 smartphone.
Samsung is ringing the alarm bells, signaling that it may skip releasing a new Galaxy Note device this year due to the fallout from a global semiconductor shortage.
As Bloomberg reports, Samsung's co-CEO Koh Dong-jin said during an annual shareholder meeting that there's a "serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally." Specifically, D J Koh said the Galaxy Note is a high-end device in its lineup and that it may be difficult for Samsung to release a new Note and S series device in the same year.
"Note series is positioned as a high-end model in our business portfolio," he said. "It could be a burden to unveil two flagship models in a year, so it might be difficult to release Note model in 2H. The timing of Note model launch can be changed but we seek to release a Note model next year."
Reuters reported earlier this week that Qualcomm is struggling to keep up with processor demand from Samsung. The wider implications of the shortage are still unclear; however, delaying a device that is usually launched annually would be significant.
The shortage is not expected to impact Apple, as it manufactures its own chips in partnership with TSMC. Samsung will be holding a Galaxy Unpacked event next week, when it's expected to reveal a new "A" series device.
Apple will face a French antitrust probe into its upcoming App Tracking Transparency feature, following a complaint from advertisers in the country that the planned changes are anticompetitive.
Starting in iOS 14.5, Apple will require apps to get opt-in permission from users to collect their random advertising identifier, which advertisers use to deliver personalized ads and track how effective their campaigns were.
In light of the planned changes, a group of advertising companies and publishers filed a complaint in France last year alleging that the wording of Apple's permission prompt will lead most users to decline tracking of their device's advertising identifier, which could result in lost revenue.
On Wednesday, France's competition regulator rejected a plea from the group to block Apple's plan to restrict tracking of users' app usage, on the grounds that obtaining consent "doesn't appear to be abusive." Instead, the probe will scrutinize whether Apple is being consistent in applying the same rules to itself.
The investigation will "look closely" at whether Apple applied less stringent rules to itself than to other services as it makes privacy changes to curb online tracking in its forthcoming iOS 14 software update, the authority's chief, Isabelle de Silva told reporters at a Paris press conference on Wednesday. The case shows the need for fast antitrust action into technical issues, she said, promising a final ruling by early 2022 at the latest.
Apple's planned rollout of its new App Tracking Transparency feature has been controversial among advertisers from the off, with the upcoming feature drawing criticism from the likes of Facebook, which is concerned that many users will not consent to being tracked across apps for ad personalization purposes.
App Tracking Transparency is different from Apple's own personalized advertising system, which the regulator is likely to scrutinize as part of its probe. Apple's ads system doesn't track users across apps and doesn't identify users to target its ads. Instead, it relies on the anonymous grouping of users' shared characteristics such as apps downloaded, age, country or city of residence, and gender.
In a statement given to Bloomberg, Apple said it was "grateful" to the authority for "recognizing that app tracking transparency in iOS 14 is in the best interest of French iOS users," and said it looked forward to working with regulators on user privacy and competition.
Update: Apple issued the following statement to MacRumors in response to the French Competition Authority:
We're grateful to the French Competition Authority for recognizing that App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 is in the best interest of French iOS users. ATT will provide a powerful user privacy benefit by requiring developers to ask users' permission before sharing their data with other companies for the purposes of advertising, or with data brokers. We firmly believe that users' data belongs to them, and that they should control when that data is shared, and with whom. We look forward to further engagement with the FCA on this critical matter of user privacy and competition.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple will not launch a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display until at least the second quarter of the year, which begins on April 1, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes.
From today's report:
Epistar has become the exclusive supplier of miniLED chips to be used in 12.9-inch miniLED-backlit iPad Pro, with nearly 50% of the corresponding production capacity booked up for the tablet and volume shipments to begin in the second quarter of 2021, the sources said.
Last week, DigiTimes reported that the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro could launch at the end of March, or early in the second quarter. The publication is now shifting, explicitly stating that mass shipments for the new iPad will begin in the second quarter. At the same time last week, speculation grew that Apple will hold an event on Tuesday, March 23.
That event, yet to be confirmed, is rumored to include the launch of AirTags, AirPods 3, and new iPad Pro models. If DigiTimes is to be believed, however, the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display will not launch until at least April.
Apple has several products in the pipeline with mini-LED displays. Compared to regular LCDs, mini-LED offers higher brightness, improved contrast ratio, and is expected to become the new standard amongst Apple's future products, including a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
In a press release today, Apple touted the significant progress it has made as part of its $4.7 billion Green Bond. Thanks to the bond, Apple has generated more than 1.2 gigawatts of clean power, removing an average of 921,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
In 2016, Apple issued its first bond of $1.5 billion towards the project, followed by $1 billion in 2017. In 2019, Apple invested $2.2 billion.
Last year, Apple funded more than 17 projects, resulting in the reduction of nearly 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions globally, equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road, according to Apple. Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, says the company is dedicated to pursuing investments to promote clean energy.
We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to fight against the impacts of climate change, and our $4.7 billion investment of the proceeds from our Green Bond sales is an important driver in our efforts. Ultimately, clean power is good business.
In addition to its investment in clean power, Apple has also allocated $2.8 billion into researching and funding new projects that "support low carbon design and engineering, energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon mitigation, and carbon sequestration." The investments come on top of Apple's commitment last year to become fully carbon neutral across its entire business by 2030.
Apple in November launched the App Store Small Business Program, which drops App Store fees from 30 percent to 15 percent for all developers who earn less than $1 million from the App Store, and it turns out the price drop isn't costing Apple much money.
According to estimates from app analytics company Sensor Tower shared by CNBC, had Apple's program been in place for all of 2020, Apple would have missed out on $595 million, or approximately 2.7 percent of the estimated $21.7 billion in App Store fees in 2020. The apps that earn the most money in the App Store are still subject to the full 30 percent fee and make up most of the money that Apple collects.
Google today also announced a similar price drop for developers, and starting on July 1, Google will collect 15 percent in Play Store fees from developers earning under $1 million. Google too stands to lose little money. Sensor Tower estimates that if Google's lowered fees had been available across 2020, Google would have missed out on $587 million, or about five percent of the $11.6 billion in Google Play fees for the year.
If the 15% fee schedule on revenue up to $1 million had been in place on Google Play in 2020, Google would have missed out on $587 million, or about 5% of Sensor Tower's estimate of $11.6 billion in Google Play fees for the year.
If Apple's program had been in place for 2020, Sensor Tower estimates that it would have missed out on $595 million, or about 2.7% of its estimated $21.7 billion in App Store fees in 2020.
Neither Apple nor Google share specific data on App Store sales, so Sensor Tower's data is based on estimates and is a rough calculation rather than an exact number. Apple lumps revenue collected from the App Store alongside other services, and Apple collected $54.76 billion in fiscal 2020.
All developers who earn less than $1 million from the App Store in a calendar year are eligible for reduced fees, which applies to approximately 98 percent of developers. Developers who exceed $1 million in sales will face the standard 30 percent fees. The fee reduction applies to app purchases, in-app purchases, and subscriptions.
Sensor Tower in January estimated that 2020 App Store spending hit $72 billion, with users spending the most on games and entertainment.
Apple has a dedicated team of experts that focus solely on ferreting out counterfeit products and stopping them from being sold. Apple shared the tidbit in a statement to Bloomberg on a piece about counterfeit iPhone chargers.
The safety of our customers is our first priority, and the risks associated with counterfeit products can be very serious. We have a dedicated team of experts constantly working with law enforcement, merchants, social media companies and e-commerce sites around the world to remove counterfeit products from the market. In the last year we have sought the removal of over 1 million listings for counterfeit and fake Apple products from online marketplaces, including Facebook and Instagram.
Apple in the last year had more than a million listings for fake Apple products removed from various online marketplaces like Facebook and Instagram.
Bloomberg's piece delves into fake chargers that have sometimes caused harm to users, with many of those chargers investigated sold on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media sites.
Chinese factories and illicit vendors sell knockoff Apple accessories at cheap prices, and those products are difficult to tell apart from real products. They're outwardly identical to the real thing in every way, but don't have the same safety standards.
Andrea Stroppa, a security researcher who accidentally used a counterfeit product borrowed from a friend, launched an investigation with his colleagues from Ghost Data Team. Their study from February 8 to March 8 uncovered 163 wholesale sellers of counterfeit Apple products on Instagram, ranging from fake $25 AirPods Pro to a fake $5 MagSafe Charger.
When purchasing an Apple accessory, it's important to make sure you buy from a reputable retailer or from Apple's own site to avoid fakes, and accessories should never be purchased on sites like Instagram.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
