In the detailed letter sent yesterday afternoon, addressed to CEO Tim Cook and the company's executive leadership, the Apple employees said that they want a more flexible approach where those who want to work remotely are able to do so.
Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and a decision many would prefer not to have to make.
Earlier this week, Tim Cook sent a note to Apple employees explaining that they will need to return to the office for at least three days a week starting in September. Teams that require in-person work will return to the office for four to five days a week, but most employees will still be able to have two days of remote work. Employees will also be able to work entirely remotely for up to two weeks every year, but the remote work requests will need to be approved by managers.
Over the last year we often felt not just unheard, but at times actively ignored. Messages like, 'we know many of you are eager to reconnect in person with your colleagues back in the office,' with no messaging acknowledging that there are directly contradictory feelings amongst us feels dismissive and invalidating. Not only do many of us already feel well-connected with our colleagues worldwide, but better connected now than ever. We've come to look forward to working as we are now, without the daily need to return to the office. It feels like there is a disconnect between how the executive team thinks about remote / location-flexible work and the lived experiences of many of Apple's employees.
The new remote working policy is a distinctive easing compare to the company's previous working from home policy, but some Apple staff believe that the new plan does not go far enough and is "not sufficient in addressing many of our needs."
Benefits of more flexible work highlighted by the employees included diversity and inclusion in retention and hiring, tearing down previously-existing communication barriers, better work-life balance, better integration of existing remote workers, and reduced spread of pathogens.
We ask for your support in enabling those who want to work remotely / in location-flexible ways to continue to do so, letting everyone figure out which work setup works best for them, their team, and their role — be it in one of our offices, from home, or a hybrid solution. We are living proof that there is no one-size-fits-all policy for people. For Inclusion and Diversity to work, we have to recognize how different we all are, and with those differences, come different needs and different ways to thrive. We feel that Apple has both the responsibility to recognize these differences, as well as the capability to fully embrace them.
The letter reportedly began in an Apple Slack channel for "remote work advocates" with around 2,800 members. As many as 80 employees are said to have been involved in writing and editing the note.
The letter summarised its formal requests as follows:
We are formally requesting that Apple considers remote and location-flexible work decisions to be as autonomous for a team to decide as are hiring decisions.
We are formally requesting a company-wide recurring short survey with a clearly structured and transparent communication / feedback process at the company-wide level, organization-wide level, and team-wide level, covering topics listed below.
We are formally requesting a question about employee churn due to remote work be added to exit interviews.
We are formally requesting a transparent, clear plan of action to accommodate disabilities via onsite, offsite, remote, hybrid, or otherwise location-flexible work.
We are formally requesting insight into the environmental impact of returning to onsite in-person work, and how permanent remote-and-location-flexibility could offset that impact.
Apple's 32nd annual Worldwide Developers Conference will continue to be held in a digital-only capacity much like the 2020 WWDC event, which means it's free for all developers worldwide to attend.
Apple is holding a virtual keynote that will take place on Monday, June 7, with the event set to give us our first look at new operating system updates. We don't know a lot about this year's event, but everything that we're expecting to see based on rumors has been highlighted below.
Apple is working on new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models that could perhaps see a launch at WWDC. The rumor comes from leaker Jon Prosser, who has something of a mixed track record when it comes to predicting Apple's plans. Other more reliable sources have pointed more broadly to a launch in the second half of the year and haven't pinpointed June as a specific launch month for the new machines.
Analysts from Wedbush and Morgan Stanley have also said that new Apple silicon Macs could debut at WWDC, but a recent DigiTimes report said that redesigned MacBook Pro models won't be shipping to customers until late 2021, so it's unclear what's going to happen.
Apple has in the past launched new hardware at WWDC, but since 2017, WWDC events have focused on software. MacRumors recently discovered a database listing for a battery that could be used in the next-generation MacBook Pro, but that also doesn't offer a clear picture on a release timeline.
The new MacBook Pro models will feature the most radical redesign to the MacBook Pro lineup since 2016. Apple is reintroducing the MagSafe port, and the new MacBook Pro models will include an HDMI port and an SD Card reader in addition to a trio of Thunderbolt/USB-C ports.
There will be no Touch Bar, with Apple instead returning to a traditional function row of keys, and there will also be a redesigned thermal system to accommodate the upgraded Apple silicon chips that the machines are expected to include. Additional color options are also a possibility.
Even if we don't end up getting new MacBook Pro models at WWDC, we could possibly hear about the next-generation Apple silicon chips that are in the works.
Apple is working on 10-core Apple silicon chips for the MacBook Pro models, with the chips expected to include eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, along with 16 or 32-core GPU options and support for up to 64GB RAM.
Higher-end chips are coming too. For a future Mac Pro, Apple is working on Apple silicon chip options with 20 or 40 computing cores, made up of 16 or 32 high-performance cores and four or eight high-efficiency cores. These upgraded chips are also expected to include 64 or 128 core GPUs, and at the top of the line, the graphics chips would be several times faster than the graphics modules Apple uses from Nvidia and AMD.
Last year, Apple unveiled details about Apple silicon chips, but it was when developers needed to prepare for the transition to Arm technology. That's not the case this year, so there's no clear word on if we might get more Apple silicon info at WWDC.
There have been several years where early versions of iOS leaked, giving us a clear picture of what to expect from the next-generation version of the iPhone's operating system, but that didn't happen this year. We've heard little about iOS and iPadOS 15, but there have been a few hints about what to expect, mainly sourced from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Notification Updates
iPhone and iPad users will be able to set notification preferences based on their status. So if you're awake, for example, you might set your iPhone to send notifications with sound, while sound might be disabled if you're sleeping.
Users will be able to select from categories like driving, working, or sleeping, and there will be a feature for creating custom categories for handling incoming notifications in different ways, along with new settings for automatic replies. Menu options for selecting a mode will be available on the Lock Screen and in the Control Center.
iMessage Changes
Apple is updating iMessage to better compete with other messaging apps like WhatsApp, but what new features we can expect remains unknown.
Last year, there was evidence that Apple was testing features like retracting sent messages, group chat typing indicators, and marking messages as unread, but none of these materialized in the iOS 14 update. It's possible that we might see some of these surface in the iOS 15 update.
Privacy Enhancements
Apple plans to enhance user privacy even further with the addition of a new menu that shows which apps silently collect data from users.
Food Tracking
An unconfirmed rumor has suggested that Apple is planning to add a new food tracking feature to the Health app, but it is not clear how expansive it might be. It could allow users to log the food items that they consume, providing nutritional details and calorie tracking through a built-in database, or it could be something more simple where users are required to manually enter information.
Interface Updates
We've seen some minor interface changes spotted in screenshots of Accessibility features coming in iOS 15, with Apple using inset cells and merged navigation bars in the Settings app. These changes could also be brought to other areas of the operating system.
Apple is also said to be making some minor tweaks to the colors that are used when an iPhone is in Dark Mode.
New iPad Home Screen
Apple is working on a new Home Screen for the iPad that will let users place widgets anywhere. An entire app grid will be replaceable with widgets on the iPad, a design that is available already on the iPhone.
Accessibility Updates
Apple is working on several new Accessibility features that are likely to debut in iOS 15, including Background Sounds, an option that will allow iPhone users to play various soothing sounds like ocean, rain, or white noise to drown out unwanted environmental or external noise.
AssistiveTouch, another new feature, will let the Apple Watch be used without the need to touch the display or the controls. the optical heart rate sensor, and on-device machine learning will let Apple Watch detect subtle differences in muscle movement and tendon activity that will control a cursor on the screen through hand gestures like a pinch or a clench.
Apple is also working on iPad eye-tracking, more inclusive Memoji, MFi hearing aid improvements, and more.
Other New Features
The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern said on the Friday before WWDC that she's heard Apple will introduce improvements to Safari, iMessage, Maps, and Health, but she did not provide additional context.
Of course, next week at WWDC the walls will get even higher. I hear there are big updates coming to Safari, Health, Maps and iMessage at WWDC next week.
— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) June 4, 2021
As little as we know about iOS 15, we know even less about macOS 12, the next-generation version of the Mac's operating system. We do expect it to be labeled macOS 12, however. For a long time, macOS updates were labeled as 10.x, but with the launch of macOS Big Sur, Apple jumped to macOS 11. We've already had 11.x software updates, so the next-generation version of macOS will be macOS 12.
Apple will also give the operating system the name of a California landmark. Apple has been using California landmark names since 2013, and so far, we've had Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, and Big Sur.
There's no word yet on what Apple will use for macOS 12, but the company has trademarked Mammoth, Monterey, and Skyline. Trademarks aren't a good guide to names, though, because Apple has used several names without trademarking them.
watchOS 8
Apple will introduce a new version of watchOS, watchOS 8, but what it will include is unknown at this time. Some of the features expected in iOS will naturally extend to watchOS, like the notification updates, but we don't know what's coming beyond that.
tvOS 15
We've also heard no hints of what to expect for tvOS 15, but a new version of tvOS always accompanies new versions of iOS.
homeOS?
In the days before WWDC, Apple mistakenly referenced "homeOS" as an operating system in a job listing before later removing it. There's a possibility that tvOS will be renamed to homeOS, given that tvOS is the operating system that runs on both the Apple TV and the HomePod. It's also possible that the "homeOS" mention was just a mistake on Apple's part.
MacRumors Coverage
Apple plans to live stream the WWDC keynote on its website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
We'll also have in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements throughout the rest of the week and going forward as we test the new software.
Apple will use the data collected to improve its Maps app and expand its Look Around feature beyond the five countries where it is currently supported, including parts of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan. Introduced in iOS 13, Look Around is similar to Google's Street View, providing a street-level view of a location with high-resolution 3D imagery that can be zoomed and panned.
In areas where Look Around is available, a binoculars icon appears in the top-right corner of the Maps app. Tapping that icon opens a street-level view in a card overlay at the top of the screen, which can then be expanded to a full-screen view. Look Around also appears in the search results for a supported city, below the Flyover and Directions buttons.
Apple Maps vehicles have also surveyed all or parts of the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, Singapore, and select other countries since data collection began in 2015. In some areas where streets are not easily accessible, Apple employees collect data using portable systems, such as a backpack with LiDAR equipment.
Apple says it is committed to protecting the public's privacy while conducting these surveys. For example, Apple blurs out faces and license plates in street-level imagery that is made available through the Look Around feature.
iFixit has started one of its traditional teardowns on the 12.9-inch M1iPad Pro, which began arriving to customers on its May 21 launch date. iFixit's teardown delves into the new "XDR" mini-LED display, which is one of the iPad's major new features.
The M1 iPad Pro features new 5G antennas at the sides to enable 5G connectivity, and there's a 10566 mAh (40.33Wh) battery inside.
As for the display, it's slightly thicker than the Liquid Retina display from the prior-generation iPad Pro (0.5mm), and "quite a bit heavier." Unlike a traditional LED display, the mini-LED display in the iPad Pro features a giant grid of tiny LEDs that introduce the contrast and quality improvements seen in the 2021 iPad Pro.
There are 2,596 local dimming zones in the M1 iPad Pro, and each one is a square with four tiny LEDs inside. The non-XDR iPad display, meanwhile, uses a single strip of LEDs along one side, so this inside look at the display gives a great explainer on what's different between the 2020 iPad Pro and the 2021 12.9-inch version.
iFixit shared a YouTube video opening up the iPad Pro, and the full teardown with photos, writeup, and repairability score isn't yet available, but it should be coming in the future.
The Sensibo Pure air purifier was today updated with HomeKit compatibility, making it one of the few air purifiers on the market able to integrate with HomeKit.
HomeKit allows you to control the Sensibo Pure through the Home app, and it enables Siri commands for checking air quality, turning the air purifier on and off, and more.
It also enables automations, so the Sensibo Pure can be used in tandem with other HomeKit accessories. Sensibo says that the air purifier can be paired with the HomeKit-compatible Sensibo Air AC controller and Ecobee thermostat to improve air circulation to boost purification.
The Sensibo Pure is advertised as featuring a triple-level filtration system with technology that monitors indoor and outdoor air quality to increase airflow through air conditioners and central systems.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Typecase to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Typecase Touch keyboard designed for one of Apple's iPads.
Typecase makes a range of different keyboard options, and the Typecase Touch offers a full keyboard and a trackpad at an affordable price. Priced at $60 to $80 and available from Amazon, the Typecase Touch is available for the low-cost 10.2-inch iPad, the 10.9-inch iPad Air, the prior-generation 9.7-inch iPad Air, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, the 11-inch iPad Pro models, and the 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The Typecase Touch is a case and keyboard combo so the iPad fits into a protective hardshell case that then connects to the keyboard. The case offers full iPad protection from scratches and drops, plus it has an auto sleep/wake feature when the keyboard case is opened or closed, and there's a holder for the Apple Pencil.
Size wise, the Typecase Touch measures in at 0.5 inches and it weighs 1.4 pounds. There's a built-in 2.4-inch precision trackpad that is compatible with all iPad models running the latest version of iPadOS, and it supports all of the gestures that are supported by Apple's more expensive Magic Keyboard. There also are left and right click buttons for quick and easy navigation.
The laptop-style keyboard offers a standard 78-key layout with 0.8mm travel and laser etched letters that never fade. There's support for iPadOS shortcuts for accessing the home screen, controlling brightness, and controlling media playback.
A built-in 10-color RGB backlight lights up the keys, and it can be adjusted to your preferences with three brightness modes. The Typecase itself is also available in multiple color options like blue, black, purple, and gold.
There are seven use modes thanks to the Typecase's 360-degree hinge, which is able to rotate and pivot. The Typecase can be used to transform the iPad into a laptop, folded back flat for tablet mode, propped open in a drawing mode, angled for video watching or FaceTiming, and more. The Typecase Touch connects to an iPad over Bluetooth and it has a built-in battery that lasts for up to 90 days before needing to be recharged.
We have 10 Typecase iPad keyboards to give away to MacRumors readers, with each winner able to choose the keyboard appropriate for their device and their preferred color. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (June 4) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 11. The winners will be chosen randomly on June 11 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
iOS 14 is now installed on 90 percent of iPhones that were introduced in the last four years, according to updated iOS 14 adoption rate numbers shared by Apple.
Eight percent of iPhones introduced in the last four years run iOS 13, while two percent continue to run an earlier version of iOS.
85 percent of all iPhones (including those older than four years) are running iOS 14, with eight percent still on iOS 13 and seven percent running an earlier version of iOS. This category includes devices that are not able to run iOS 14.
As for iPadOS, 91 percent of all iPads introduced in the last four years are running iPadOS 14, and 79 percent of all devices have the iOS 14 update installed. As with iPhones, iPads in the "all devices" category may not be able to run iOS 14, and indeed, 12 percent of tablets in this category have iOS 12 or earlier installed while nine percent run iOS 13.
Apple previously shared updated iOS 14 installation numbers in February. At that time, 86 percent of iPhones introduced in the last four years had iOS 14 installed, and 80 percent of all iPhones ran iOS 14, so iOS 14 adoption rates have seen decent growth with the release of iOS 14.5.
The updated iOS 14 adoption numbers come just ahead of the 32nd annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which will see the debut of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Apple's focus will shift from iOS 14 to iOS 15 following WWDC, as the company will be refining and updating the new operating system ahead of its fall launch.
We're just three days away from Apple's annual developers conference, WWDC, but rumors are still divided as to whether new MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon will be announced at Apple's opening keynote on Monday.
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty weighed in on the matter in a research note shared with MacRumors today, claiming it's "likely" that Apple will announce at least one new MacBook model powered by Apple silicon at WWDC.
"In the last 12 months, Apple has introduced not only new Macs (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13", and the Mac Mini) with M1, but also a high end 12.9" iPad Pro with the M1 chip," wrote Huberty. "We expect this momentum to continue into WWDC 2021, and based on our checks, we believe it's likely Apple launches a new MacBook featuring in-house designed silicon."
Huberty said there is potential for the new MacBook to feature the so-called "M2" chip, and if so, she assumes that shipments to customers would begin in the second half of 2021. This notebook would very likely be a new high-end MacBook Pro, with Apple rumored to be planning redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but Huberty did not specify.
One possibility is that the new MacBook Pro models will be announced at WWDC, but not ship until several weeks later. This would be in line with the new iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV models, which did not begin arriving to customers until May 21, just over one month after being announced at Apple's Spring Loaded event on April 20.
The new MacBook Pro models are each expected to feature a brighter mini-LED display, an improved iteration of the M1 chip, and a new design with a flatter top and bottom. The notebooks are also expected to regain some ports that Apple removed from the MacBook Pro in 2016, including an HDMI port, SD card slot, and a magnetic charging port. Rumors also suggest the Touch Bar will be retired in favor of physical Fn keys.
Amazon and B&H Photo today have every color of Apple's AirPods Max headphones priced at $519.99, down from $549.00. For many colors of the AirPods Max, this is the best price that we've ever tracked across all Apple retailers.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
On Amazon, all models of the AirPods Max are in stock and ready to ship today, and they're all sold directly by Amazon. B&H Photo is offering free expedited shipping for most orders in the United States, and its sale prices will end on June 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones. You can also keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple has today announced "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?," a new documentary that takes a look at the origins of Peanuts and its creator Charles M. Schulz.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? celebrates Schulz and the global popularity of Peanuts using an interweaved animated story that follows Charlie Brown as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? comes from Imagine Documentaries and is narrated by Lupita Nyong'o. The special is set to feature interviews with friends, family, cartoonists, and notable fans of the iconic comic strip to create a portrait of the creator of Peanuts and his legacy. Jean Schulz, Drew Barrymore, Al Roker, Kevin Smith, Paul Feig, Noah Schnapp, and more will participate in the documentary.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? debuts exclusively on Apple TV+ on June 25.
The Great Courses Signature Collection is the latest video subscription service to be made available through Apple TV Channels.
Previously only available through Amazon and Roku, The Great Courses Signature Collection offers access to over 200 of The Great Courses' latest video courses taught by leading U.S. professors. Categories include history, better living, science and mathematics, and literature and learning.
Apple introduced the Channels feature in early 2019, providing a way for Apple TV users to subscribe to standalone services directly in the TV app. There is a growing selection of Channels available, including CBS All Access, Showtime, Epix, Starz, Cinemax, AMC+, and more.
The Great Courses Signature Collection is available now in the U.S. via the Apple TV app, Amazon Prime Video, and Roku for $7.99 per month. There is also a seven-day free trial available to try the service out.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that Apple Music integration is coming to its MBUX infotainment system, starting with C-Class, S-Class, and EQS models.
Apple Music will integrate directly into Mercedes-Benz's MBUX infotainment system. Users simply need to link their online "Mercedes me" account to their vehicle, and then Apple Music subscribers will have access to its full library of more than 75 million songs, curated playlists, radio stations, and more.
Drivers can make requests using the "Hey Mercedes" voice command or tap on the display to play songs, albums, playlists, or radio stations.
Apple Music integration will be available in MBUX to new C-Class and S-Class owners starting this month, and to EQS owners later this summer. Existing C-Class and S-Class owners with the latest generation of MBUX will also be able to get Apple Music integration via an over-the-air update later this year.
Mercedes-Benz follows other automakers such as Porsche in adding Apple Music integration, totally separate to Apple CarPlay, directly in vehicle infotainment systems. Other new Apple-integrated features, such as time-synced lyrics and Apple Podcasts, also began to emerge on vehicles late last year.
The long-rumored and highly anticipated redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple silicon will enter its phase of mass production in the first quarter of next year, according to industry sources cited in a paywalled DigiTimes report.
According to the report, the smaller 14-inch MacBook Pro will enter "volume production" in the fourth quarter of this year, while the larger 16-inch model is aimed at the first quarter of next year. However, despite mass production for the laptops starting later in the year and next year, DigiTimes still reports that Apple will announce them in the second half of 2021.
Apple plans to release two miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro products - a 14-inch and a 16-inch - in the second half of 2021, noted the sources.
Judging from the supply of miniLED backlighting applications, volume production of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is likely to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the 16-inch model will start in the first quarter of 2022, said the sources.
The scenario described by DigiTimes is reminiscent of the launch of the new M1iPad Pro. The new iPad was announced in April but didn't begin shipping until the second half of May. Even then supply continues to remains tight, with some customers having to wait until July.
Bloomberg'sMark Gurman has previously noted that Apple could be planning to announce the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro as soon as early this summer. Apple will be holding its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, and ahead of the conference, some tenuous reports have suggested the MacBook Pros could be announced; however, those claims have yet to be backed up by reliable sources.
Android users, later this year, will have the ability to opt-out of tracking across apps on Android devices, limiting the ability for apps to access their unique advertising ID, Google announced in a support page update (via Bloomberg).
The new change, in theory, is similar to Apple's recently launched ATT, or App Tracking Transparency framework; however, it differs in direct implementation. On iOS 14.5 or later, when users first open an app, a prompt is shown with the options "Ask App not to track" or "Allow." According to Google, users won't see a pop-up for each app, nor will they have granular controls over each individual app's ability to access their IDFA.
Instead, according to the support document, a new toggle within Android settings will let users opt-out completely of all tracking, for all apps.
As part of Google Play services update in late 2021, the advertising ID will be removed when a user opts out of personalization using advertising ID in Android Settings. Any attempts to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier
Initial reports suggested that Google was hesitant to implement a framework similar to Apple's due to concerns over the impact it would have on its advertising business. In the weeks and months leading up to Apple's ATT launch, which was first previewed at the company's developers conference last year, Facebook and other companies voiced concerns that the new privacy-focused change would hurt their bottom line.
Google says the new change, which will come as part of an update to its Google Play services, will be rolled out in phases starting later this year and "will expand to affect apps running on devices that support Google Play in early 2022."
Apple is continuing to work on a future wireless charger that would function similarly to the now-abandoned AirPower, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In a report outlining Apple's wireless charging ambitions, Gurman says that Apple is "still exploring" a wireless charger that would charge multiple devices like an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.
Apple first announced the AirPower in September 2017 alongside the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X, and said that the charging product would launch sometime in 2018. No AirPower materialized in 2018 and after months of rumors of development issues, Apple canceled the project in March 2019.
The AirPower failed because Apple engineers were unable to solve multiple bugs affecting the device, including interference problems and issues with overheating. In 2020 alongside the iPhone 12, Apple instead unveiled MagSafe, a magnetic wireless charging alternative.
Since the AirPower was canceled, there have been persistent rumors that Apple is still working on some kind of charging mat, but most have been nebulous. Gurman's report is the clearest hint we've had yet that some kind of AirPower-like device could still come out in the future.
In addition to a wireless charger that's similar to the AirPower, Apple is also said to be "internally investigating" alternative wireless charging methods that can work over greater distances. Work on long range charging is in the early stages, though, and it's likely to be several years before we see any kind of new long-range wireless charging technology from Apple.
Apple is working on a revamped version of the iPad mini that will feature the first design update the smaller-sized tablet has seen in six years, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The updated iPad mini will feature narrower screen bezels, with Apple also testing a design that does away with the Home button. We've heard several prior rumors about Apple's work on a new version of the iPad mini, which could feature a display that measures in at 8.5 to 9 inches, a notable increase from the current 7.9-inch display.
Images of an iPad mini dummy model even leaked earlier this year, though it is not clear if that dummy model was accurate as it did feature a Home button.
In addition to a new iPad mini, Apple is also working on a thinner version of the low-cost entry-level iPad that's aimed at students, with both the iPad mini and the new low-cost iPad planned for "as early as the end of this year."
Bloomberg's report also highlighted a new iPad Pro coming in 2022 that could feature MagSafe wireless charging capabilities as well as the ability to reverse charge other wireless devices.
Apple is developing a new iPad Pro that will feature wireless charging capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The upcoming iPad Pro will debut in 2022, following the updated M1 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that launched in May 2021.
For the new iPad Pro, Apple is testing a glass back instead of an aluminum enclosure, which would allow for the wireless charging capabilities. Apple first implemented wireless charging with the glass-backed iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in 2017, and every flagship iPhone since then has supported wireless charging.
Current iPads still charge over USB-C or Lightning, but enabling wireless charging would bring the iPhone and iPad closer in functionality. Work on the new iPad Pro is still in the early stages, and Bloomberg warns that Apple's plans could change or be canceled before next year.
Most wireless chargers are sized for the iPhone, so a wireless charging feature for the iPad might require specialized charging options, but Apple is rumored to be planning to use MagSafe if it does indeed opt for wireless charging for the iPad Pro. Wireless charging will likely be slower than charging through the USB-C/Thunderbolt port, which is expected.
Apple is also working on reverse wireless charging for the new iPad Pro, which would allow users to charge their iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories by laying them on the back of the iPad. There were rumors that the iPhone 11 would feature bilateral wireless charging, but it didn't ultimately happen. Bloomberg says that Apple did indeed explore the feature for the iPhone, however.
Along with MagSafe charging for the iPad and reverse wireless charging capabilities, Apple is still working on a future wireless charging solution that works similarly to the abandoned AirPower charger, but it's not clear if and when such a product might launch. For further in the future, Apple is investigating long-range wireless charging methods that work at greater distances than a standard inductive charging solution.
Apple's 32nd Worldwide Developers Conference will be a digital-only event much like WWDC 2020, with developers worldwide able to participate for free. WWDC is aimed at and designed for developers who create apps for Apple's platforms, but Apple always holds a keynote event that's of interest to the general public.
Apple's keynote event will take place on Monday, June 7, and it will provide us with our first look at new software that's coming this fall. Apple will unveil iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and possibly new MacBook Pro models.
You can watch Apple's WWDC 2021 Keynote live as it happens using one of the methods outlined in our guide. The stream for the event starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. For reference, here's when the event will begin based on other time zones in the United States and around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona -- 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas -- 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa -- 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia -- 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey -- 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia -- 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
Watch the Keynote on YouTube
Watching the WWDC keynote on YouTube may be one of the quickest and easiest ways to catch the event because YouTube is generally available on most devices, including TV sets and consoles.
The YouTube live stream above will be accessible on June 7 when the event kicks off.
Watch the Keynote on Mac, iPhone or iPad
You can watch the WWDC keynote on any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using Apple's native Safari browser. iOS devices must be running iOS 10 or later, and Macs need to be running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later to access the stream.
You can watch the WWDC keynote via Apple's TV app on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, with the link in the TV app becoming available a few days before the event begins.
Open the TV app on your chosen device.
Scroll down the Watch Now category and select WWDC 2021. Alternatively, type "WWDC" into the Search field and select WWDC 2021 from the results.
Click Play.
The app may tell you to tune in at your local time to watch the event live prior to when the WWDC keynote begins.
Watch the Keynote on a Windows PC
If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can still watch the WWDC 2021 keynote on a PC running Windows 10. Open Microsoft Edge browser and follow this link to the WWDC 2021 Livestream.
While Apple offers no guarantees, other platforms may also be able to access the WWDC 2021 keynote using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC codecs/extensions must be installed).
Watch in the Apple Developer App or Developer Website
For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, so make sure to follow.
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