MacRumors

Apple today seeded the third betas of new iOS and iPadOS 14.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the second iOS and iPadOS 14.6 updates.

iOS and iPadOS 14.6 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.

iOS and iPadOS 14.6 appear to be more minor changes focusing on under-the-hood bug performance improvements and bug fixes for issues that weren't able to be addressed in iOS 14.5. For AirTags, the beta adds a new feature that allows an email address to be entered as a contact method for Lost Mode instead of a phone number. In iOS 14.5, there is no option to use an email, with Apple only allowing for a phone number.

The update also lays the groundwork for Apple Card Family, a feature that Apple introduced at its April event. ‌Apple Card‌ Family allows spouses to share a single ‌Apple Card‌ account, with each person serving as a co-owner to build credit.

‌Apple Card‌ Family also lets parents share an ‌Apple Card‌ with their children for making purchases, with optional spending limits and parental controls to help children learn smart financial habits. All spending by the family is tracked with a single monthly bill, and up to five people over 13 can be added to an ‌Apple Card‌ account for sharing purposes.

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta approximately a week after the release of the second beta.

To install the ‌watchOS 7.5 beta, developers need to download the proper configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 7.5 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌Apple Watch‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

We don't yet know what's included in watchOS 7.5, but it could include bug fixes for issues that aren't included in the watchOS 7.4 update. There were no new features discovered in the second beta, but we'll update this article should we find anything new in the third beta.

Independent technicians have reportedly been able to use leaked MacBook schematics to aid repairs (via Vice).

Last month, Apple supplier Quanta Computer was hit with an attack by the ransomware group known as "REvil," leading to a large quantity of internal Apple documents about both released and unreleased devices being exposed. The leaked PDFs, available on a number of forums and online marketplaces, have apparently helped technicians understand how some MacBook components fit together.

Repair advocate and owner of the Rossmann Repair Group, Louis Rossmann, told Vice:

Our business relies on stuff like this leaking. This is going to help me recover someone's data. Someone is going to get their data back today because of this.

You can't go to Apple and say "I will give you $800,000 to give me this data." When we fix the board, most of the time we preserve the data.

I'm not saying I'm in favor of people hacking into computers to get this information. I would prefer to get this by going to Apple and giving them $1,000 every year to get this information.

Although basic repairs, such as battery replacements, are possible with guides and tools from the likes of iFixit, logic board repairs are considerably more complex and can involve minute adjustments to circuitry and chips, and often risk data loss. Such repairs also have very little margin for error.

Apple does not provide detailed repair manuals and schematics for its hardware, forcing third-party repair technicians to look elsewhere. Simple trial and error can help repair technicians understand how a device's circuitry works, but can be very time-consuming and risk the complete breakage of multiple components.

Reverse-engineered blueprints put together by third parties are often shared online, but the REvil leak has presented a new opportunity for technicians to get specific information to help the repair process.

Apple recently released a redesigned Siri Remote with a physical clickpad, but if you have an original Siri Remote laying around that you still plan on using, you may be interested in getting an AirTag case for the remote.

PrintSpired Designs has capitalized on the opportunity with a new 3D printed, made-to-order AirTag case for the original Siri Remote. The remote slides into the top side of the case, while an AirTag can be placed into an opening on the bottom, allowing the location of the remote to be tracked in the Find My app on Apple devices.

As a 3D printed case, the design of the remote is bound to look a little rough around the edges, but PrintSpired Designs says the remote fits snugly and securely and that the AirTag satisfyingly clicks into place on the bottom. The case is printed with hard PLA plastic, with black, white, or glow-in-the-dark versions to choose from. There is a cutout for a Lightning cable to be connected for charging without removing the case.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, due to the orientation of the AirTag in the case, the loudness of the built-in speaker may be reduced.

The case is priced at $12.99 on the PrintSpired Designs website, or you can buy the STL file for $1.99 and 3D print your own.

As part of its continued push to expand the availability of features to more locations worldwide, Apple has begun to survey Hong Kong for Apple Maps' "Look Around" feature, which offers users a 360-degree immersive panoramic look of a city or location.

Apple says that it is surveying all of Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong islands, Kowloon, New Territories, and the Macao Bridge. Image collection started this month and is expected to continue until July.

Apple says that privacy remains a core attribute to its efforts to survey any location or city, including Hong Kong. For example, Apple automatically blurs faces and vehicle license plates that may have appeared in its images. However, users can also request that other personal information or property that may have been caught on camera be blurred before publication on ‌Apple Maps‌.

Apple today announced it is awarding its longtime iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch glass supplier Corning an additional $45 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund, building on its $200 million award in 2017 and $250 million award in 2019.

The combined $495 million investment will support Corning's ongoing research and development into "state-of-the-art glass processes, which led to the creation of Ceramic Shield, a new material that is tougher than any smartphone glass."

Apple COO Jeff Williams:

"Apple and Corning have a long history of working together to accomplish the impossible," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "From the very first iPhone glass, to the revolutionary Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 12 lineup, our collaboration has changed the landscape of smartphone cover design and durability. Ceramic Shield is a prime example of the technologies that are possible when deep innovation meets the power of American manufacturing. We're so proud to work alongside Corning, whose 170-year-old legacy is a testament to the ingenuity of the US workforce."

With support from Apple's Advanced Manufacturing Fund, experts at both companies worked together to develop a new glass-ceramic, which gets its strength from nano-ceramic crystals, produced in Corning’s plant in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, the facility where every generation of ‌iPhone‌ glass has been made.

The new material was enabled by a high-temperature crystallization step which forms nano-crystals within the glass matrix. Those specialized crystals are kept small enough that the material is transparent. The resulting material makes up the revolutionary Ceramic Shield, which Apple used to fashion the new front cover featured on iPhone in the iPhone 12 lineup. Prior to Ceramic Shield, embedded crystals have traditionally affected the material's transparency, a crucial factor for the front cover of iPhone because so many features, including the display, the camera, and sensors for Face ID, need optical clarity to function.

Established in 2017, Apple's Advanced Manufacturing Fund was designed to "foster and support the innovative production and high-skill jobs that will help fuel a new era of technology-driven manufacturing" in the United States, according to Apple.

Awards from the $5 billion fund have led to breakthrough innovations, from supporting the development of advanced laser technology in Texas, to accelerating the supply of Covid-19 sample collection kits for US hospitals, and more.

The inevitable race to hack Apple's AirTag item tracker has reportedly been won by a German security researcher, who managed to break into the device's microcontroller and successfully modify its firmware.

Thomas Roth, aka Stack Smashing, shared his achievement in a tweet and explained that re-flashing the device's microcontroller had enabled him to change the URL for Lost Mode, so that it opens his personal website on a nearby iPhone or other NFC-enabled device instead of directly linking to an official Find My web address.

Managing to break into the microcontroller is a crucial hurdle to overcome to if the aim is to further manipulate the device's hardware. As The 8-Bit notes:

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit (IC) used for controlling devices usually via a microprocessing unit, memory, and other peripherals. According to AllAboutCircuits, "these devices are optimized for embedded applications that require both processing functionality and agile, responsive interaction with digital, analog, or electromechanical components."

Roth also shared a video comparing a normal ‌AirTag‌ to his modified device.

How the hack might be exploited in the wild is unclear at this time, but the fact that it can be done may open up avenues for the jailbreaking community to customize the device in ways Apple didn't intend. On a darker note, it could also present opportunities for bad actors to modify the ‌AirTag‌ software for the purposes of phishing and more.

That's assuming Apple isn't able to remotely block such a modified ‌AirTag‌ from communicating with the ‌Find My‌ network. Alternately, Apple might be able to lock down the firmware in a future ‌AirTag‌ software update. Watch this space.

Apple plans to adopt its own custom-designed 5G baseband chip starting with the 2023 iPhones, meaning it'll no longer need to rely on Qualcomm to supply the 5G cellular modem for the iPhone, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in an investors note obtained by MacRumors.

According to Kuo, Apple plans to include its own custom-designed 5G baseband chip starting with the launch of the 2023 iPhones "at the earliest." Apple currently relies on Qualcomm for its 5G iPhone modems and is expected to continue its reliance until it diverts to its own chip. When the diversion occurs, Qualcomm will be forced to enter new markets to compensate for the loss of orders from Apple.

We predict that the iPhone will adopt Apple's own design 5G baseband chips in 2023 at the earliest. As Android sales in the high-end 5G phone market are sluggish, Qualcomm will be forced to compete for more orders in the low-end market to compensate for Apple's order loss. When the supply constraints improve, MediaTek and Qualcomm will have less bargaining power over brands, resulting in significantly higher competitive pressure in the mid-to low- end market.

In March, Barclays analysts reported that Apple will include its own custom-designed 5G modem starting with the 2023 iPhone. Apple's development of its own modem, which reportedly began in early 2020, has been widely reported.

Apple-designed modems can be expected to offer faster speeds, improved latency, among other benefits compared to Qualcomm or Intel modems, which powered earlier generation iPhones.

In 2019, Apple purchased the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business, a move that helped fuel the development of Apple's own in-house modem. Apple said at the time that the purchase will "help expedite our development on future products and allow Apple to further differentiate moving forward."

Zoom, a hallmark platform used by millions during the global health crisis, has been given access to a special iPadOS API that allows the app to use the iPad camera while the app is in use in Split View multitasking mode.

This case of special treatment was first brought to attention by app developer Jeremy Provost, who, in a blog post, explains that Zoom uses a special API that allows the app to continue using and accessing the ‌iPad‌ camera while the app is being used in Split View mode.

Zoom can do this thanks to an "entitlement," which grants developers the ability to execute a particular capability with an API. As Provost notes, Apple publicly documents the ability for developers to apply for several different entitlements, such as ones related to CarPlay, HomeKit, and more. However, the special API that Zoom has been given is not offered to other developers by Apple, nor is its existence acknowledged by the company itself.

On the Zoom Developer Forum, a staff member for the video conferencing platform had confirmed earlier in February that Zoom has access to the "com.apple.developer.avfoundation.multitasking-camera-access," or ‌iPad‌ Camera Multitasking entitlement.

For obvious reasons, this ability is useful when users may want to reference and use a separate app during a video conferencing call. Without this special API, if a user puts a video conferencing app into Split view mode, the video call would go dark as the app cannot access the ‌iPad‌ camera when multitasking.

The new revelation comes at a troubling time for the Cupertino tech giant. The company is currently embroiled in a mammoth legal battle with game developer Epic Games, which accuses it of holding unfair, and anti-competitive control over the App Store and the distribution of apps on iOS devices.

The trial between the two titans began on May 3, and ever since, evidence, including email correspondence between Apple executives and employees, has revealed that Apple has previously granted certain developers, such as Hulu, access to APIs unavailable to other developers. Apple contuines to pledge that it treats all developers the same and offers everyone a "level playing field."

We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this post if we hear back.

While we wait for the newly introduced iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV models to launch later this month, this week saw the kickoff of the big Epic Games v. Apple trial, with lots of juicy tidbits coming out as the two sides make their arguments.

This week also saw some rumors about a Hi-Fi tier for Apple Music, more biometric sensing capabilities for Apple Watch, and timing for the next-generation iPad mini launch. We also saw people digging into Apple's new AirTags, including the discovery of a hidden "developer mode" in the Precision Finding feature. Read on for details on these stories and more!

Epic Games vs. Apple Trial Over App Store Policies Begins

The highly-anticipated Epic Games vs. Apple bench trial kicked off this week in California court, with lawyers for both companies presenting their cases before District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

Epic Games has attempted to paint the App Store as anti-competitive and monopolistic, noting that developers are forced to use Apple's in-app purchase system, and thus pay Apple a 30% commission on sales. The company behind the popular battle royale game Fortnite believes Apple should allow both third-party app stores and direct payment systems in apps.

Epic Games described the App Store as a "walled garden" and presented emails from current and former Apple executives like Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller, and Eddy Cue in an attempt to prove this claim.

Apple has argued that a single, curated App Store is necessary to protect the security, privacy, reliability, and quality that customers have come to expect from the company. Apple also argued that Epic Games has benefitted from the App Store ecosystem for over a decade.

"Epic wants us to be Android, but we don't want to be," said Apple lawyer Karen Dunn, referring to the ability to sideload apps outside of the Google Play store. "Our consumers don't want that either," she added.

Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store in August 2020 after Epic Games introduced a direct payment option in the app, in defiance of the App Store rules. Epic Games then filed an orchestrated lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior.

The trial is set to last three weeks and will include testimony from Apple executives like CEO Tim Cook.

Apple Rumored to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and Apple Music Hi-Fi in 'Coming Weeks'

While it has only been a few weeks since Apple hosted its Spring Loaded event, a new rumor from music industry website Hits Daily Double suggests that third-generation AirPods could be introduced alongside a new Apple Music Hi-Fi tier in the "coming weeks."

Hi-Fi or high-fidelity audio would result in improved sound quality for songs/albums. The report claimed that the new Hi-Fi tier will be priced at the same $9.99 per month rate as Apple Music's individual plan, suggesting that high-fidelity content may be made available to existing subscribers at no additional charge.

Lending credence to this rumor, MacRumors contributor Steve Moser discovered references to Hi-Fi support in the iOS 14.6 beta.

As for the third-generation AirPods, they are expected to have a similar design language as the AirPods Pro, but without Active Noise Cancellation. The new AirPods could be announced in a press release soon, or held for the WWDC 2021 keynote on June 7.

AirTag Precision Finding Has a Hidden 'Developer Mode'

Apple's new AirTag item tracking accessory is equipped with a U1 chip for Ultra Wideband spatial awareness, enabling a handy Precision Finding feature on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models.

Precision Finding provides users with the exact distance and direction to their AirTag with an on-screen arrow in the Find My app, with a combination of sound, haptics, and visual feedback helping them find the AirTag.

Interestingly, an AirTag user has inadvertently discovered the existence of a hidden "developer mode" in the Precision Finding interface. The overlay, which appears after tapping an item's name four times in the Precision Finding interface, displays real-time diagnostic and technical information about the feature's operation, including accelerometer and gyroscope coordinates, haptic feedback, screen resolution, tracking animations, and more.

Keep in mind that there does not appear to be an easy way to reset the settings that appear after you customize them.

Prosser: Next MacBook Air Could Come in Colors Similar to iMac

Leaker Jon Prosser was the first to claim that the iMac would come in an array of colors, and he now says we may see Apple make a similar move with the next MacBook Air.

While his source was "very cryptic" in making reference to a blue MacBook, the source suggested that this would be for Apple's consumer notebook lineup, pointing to this being a MacBook Air rather than a MacBook Pro.

Apple Watch Likely to Gain Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Blood Alcohol Monitoring

Apple Watch continues to involve into an all-in-one health tool on the wrist, with features like heart rate tracking, the ECG app, and blood oxygen monitoring — and this might just be the beginning.

The Telegraph this week reported that Apple is the largest customer of the British electronics startup Rockley Photonics, which has developed non-invasive optical sensors for detecting multiple blood-related health metrics, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels.

Rockley's sensors beam infrared light through a user's skin, much like the existing sensors on the back of the Apple Watch for detecting heart rate and blood oxygen levels, so it's possible that more blood-related health features could be coming to future Apple Watch models.

In a December 2020 interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the Apple Watch is still in the "early innings," noting that the company is testing "mind blowing" capabilities in its labs. "Think about the amount of sensors in your car," said Cook, adding "and arguably, your body is much more important than your car."

Samsung Expected to Supply 120Hz Displays for iPhone 13 Pro Models

Apple's upcoming iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models are widely rumored to feature OLED displays with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in content and scrolling appearing smoother.

Korean website The Elec this week reported that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of the 120Hz displays, with LG seemingly out of the running.

120Hz support will be made possible by Apple adopting low-power LTPO display technology, according to previous reports. LTPO technology would result in a more power-efficient backplane, allowing for a 120Hz refresh rate without a significant impact on battery life.

Similar to recent Apple Watch models, LTPO could also enable iPhone 13 Pro models to have an always-on display with the clock visible.

iPad Mini 6 Delayed Until Second Half of 2021

Apple is rumored to be working on a new iPad mini with slimmer bezels, allowing for a larger 8.4-inch display, but the device might launch later than expected.

In a research note this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo briefly mentioned that the new iPad mini will launch in the second half of 2021. Earlier rumors had suggested the device might launch this spring.

The sixth-generation iPad mini is expected to have a similar design as the third-generation iPad Air, including a Touch ID home button and a Lightning connector, and the device will likely get a faster chip too. The current iPad mini launched in March 2019 and features a 7.9-inch display, A12 Bionic chip, and support for the original Apple Pencil.

Kuo also said Apple plans to launch an 8-inch foldable iPhone in 2023, competing with the likes of Samsung and Huawei.

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Amazon today announced that it is teaming up with Tile to add Amazon Sidewalk integration to Tile's Bluetooth trackers. Amazon Sidewalk, for those unfamiliar, is a network of Amazon Bluetooth devices that's designed to improve the connectivity of devices like the Ring and Amazon Echo.

Tile will now be joining Amazon Sidewalk, and through this integration, Amazon Echo and Ring devices will be able to extend Tile's network coverage to help Tile users locate their lost items.

Tile users will also get the benefit of Amazon Alexa, and those with Alexa-enabled devices can say "Alexa, find my [item]" to have their Tile device start ringing. Multiple in-home Echo devices will allow misplaced items to be found faster around the house, and Tile CEO CJ Prober says the technology will also be useful outside the home.

"Tile helps millions of people every day find their things, and we're always looking for opportunities to enhance the finding experience for our customers. To that end, working with Amazon to extend our finding network by securely connecting to Amazon Sidewalk devices like Echo smart speakers was an obvious choice," said CJ Prober, CEO of Tile. "Amazon Sidewalk will strengthen Tile's finding power for our devices and Find with Tile device partners that leverage our finding technology, making it even easier to find lost or misplaced keys, wallets, or other Tiled items both inside and outside the home."

With Amazon Sidewalk, Tile will be able to better compete against AirTags, which are able to take advantage of the Find My network. The ‌Find My‌ network uses hundreds of millions of Apple devices to help locate lost AirTags, allowing them to be found when not in Bluetooth range of an owner's device.

Tile has a similar feature called the Tile Network that takes advantage of other Tile users who have a Tile app, but there are nowhere near as many Tile users out in the wild as there are Apple users, which gave Apple a significant edge. There are, however, tons of Ring and Amazon Echo devices to bolster Tile's network, though people are not carrying these devices with them so it's still more limited than the ‌Find My‌ network.

Tile will join Amazon Sidewalk starting on June 14.

Back in 2015, a malware-infected version of Xcode began circulating in China, and malware-ridden "XcodeGhost" apps made their way into Apple's App Store and past the ‌App Store‌ review team.

There were more than 50 known infected iOS apps at the time, including major apps like WeChat, NetEase, and Didi Taxi, with up to 500 million iOS users potentially impacted. It's been a long time since the XcodeGhost attack, but Apple's trial with Epic is surfacing new details.

Trial documents highlighted by Motherboard indicate that a total of 128 million users downloaded apps with the XcodeGhost malware, including 18 million users in the United States.

XcodeGhost was one of the biggest attacks against iPhone users to date due to the number of ‌iPhone‌ users that were impacted. The 128 million impacted users got malware from downloads of more than 2,500 affected apps.

Based on emails shared in the trial, Apple worked to determine the impact of the attack and how to best notify those who downloaded infected apps. "Due to the large number of customers potentially affected, do we want to send an email to all of them?" Apple's ‌App Store‌ vice president Matt Fischer asked.

Apple did ultimately inform users that downloaded XcodeGhost apps, and also published a list of the top 25 most popular apps that were compromised. Apple removed all of the infected apps from the ‌App Store‌, and provided information to developers to help them validate Xcode going forward.

XcodeGhost was a widespread attack, but it was not effective or dangerous. At the time, Apple said that it had no information to suggest that the malware was ever used for any malicious purpose nor that sensitive personal data was stolen, but it did collect app bundle identifiers, network details, and device names and types.

Apple's AirTags do not come with a hole or any kind of attachment method, and short of drilling your own, you're going to need some kind of keyring, adhesive mount, or holder to attach the AirTag to various items.

In this guide, we've rounded up a list of useful third-party AirTags accessories that you might want to check out.

Apple

Apple makes its own series of AirTag cases, which are available in either silicone or leather and are priced at $29 to $39, plus there are several high-end Hermès ‌AirTag‌ holders priced starting at $299.

Belkin Secure Holder

Available as a Key Ring or a Strap, the $12.95 Belkin Secure Holder is designed to keep an ‌AirTag‌ in place and attached to an item of your choice. It features a twist-and-lock closure with raised edges to keep the ‌AirTag‌ from getting scratched, and it comes in white, pink, black, and blue.

Belkin's Secure Holders can be purchased from Belkin directly or from Apple.

Moment AirTag Mounts

Moment has a range of AirTag Mounts available that house an ‌AirTag‌ and are able to stick on various items. Moment says that you can stick an ‌AirTag‌ mount in bags, on clothes, or on the bottom of different devices, and with the adhesive stick method, AirTags can be hidden from thieves.

There's a Fabric Mount, a Hard Shell Mount, and a Curved Surface Mount with prices ranging from $14.99 to $19.99.

Nomad Leather Keychain, Loops, and Glasses Strap

Nomad debuted its Leather Keychain well ahead of the launch of the AirTags, but it's now officially available for purchase. Priced at $30, it comes in either black or brown and houses a single ‌AirTag‌. It can be attached to bags or other items, plus Nomad is also offering a $30 Glasses Strap with built-in ‌AirTag‌ holder for keeping track of your sunglasses.

Nomad also makes a series of Leather Loop AirTag holders that are some of the most minimal ‌AirTag‌ holders we've seen. The Leather Loops attach to an ‌AirTag‌ using an adhesive to keep them in place, with the Leather Loops priced at $25.

Spigen AirTag Cases

Spigen has a couple of ‌AirTag‌ case options available, including the Valentinus and the Rugged Armor, both of which are available for $24.99. The Valentinus is a traditional keyring-style case that houses the ‌AirTag‌, while the Rugged Armor has a carabiner and a more durable design.

dbrand Grip Cases

dbrand has a series of Grip Cases available for AirTags in a variety of colors. Each grip fits over the ‌AirTag‌ and adds a skin and an attachment point to place it on bags and other items. The Grip Cases are priced at $19.95 each.

ElevationLab TagVault

The ElevationLab TagVault is a heavy duty AirTags case that offers total protection and waterproofing for an ‌AirTag‌. It comes apart in two pieces, allowing an ‌AirTag‌ to be fit in the middle before screwing back together. The TagVault features a minimal design and is designed for situations where the ‌AirTag‌ might experience damage and wear such as on a keyring. TagVault is priced at $12.95 for one and $29.95 for three.

Cyrill Vegan Leather Key Ring for AirTags

Spigen's sister brand Cyrill has an AirTag key ring case made from a vegan leather, which is available in black or stone starting at $17. The ‌AirTag‌ snaps into place and then the key ring portion attaches to your keys, a backpack, or other items.

Cyrill Shine Clear AirTag Case

Cyrill also makes the ‌AirTag‌ Case Shine, which is made from a clear TPU material that's available with no tint, a rose tint with glitter, or a clear color with glitter. These ‌AirTag‌ cases have an easy-open ring at the top, and they're some of our favorites for quality, ease of use, and functionality. Cyrill's Shine ‌AirTag‌ cases are available for $20.

Silicone AirTags Case with Adhesive

You're going to find endless affordable ‌AirTag‌ housing options on Amazon from vendors in China and other countries, but there are a few unique options worth noting. The Silicone Case is a soft silicone casing that you slide your ‌AirTag‌ into, and then the back has an adhesive so you can attach it to various items like your phone. Something like this might be a good option if you want to attach an ‌AirTag‌ to the Apple TV remote or another item that stays primarily in the house. It's priced at $3, and the vendor says the adhesive is reusable.

AirTag Skins

If you want to add some flair to your AirTags or prevent them from getting scratched, you can find a series of custom skin options on Etsy. Skins are priced at right around $5 each.

Wairco AirTag Snap Case

Priced at $19, the Wairco Snap Case is an ‌AirTag‌ case that's designed to snap onto clothing. Wairco says that it can be fastened to a t-shirt, inside of a pants pocket, or the lining of a purse, backpack, or jacket. Wairco designed the case to track kids, pets, and elderly people, but it's worth noting that Apple does not recommend tracking people, instead recommending an Apple Watch with Family Setup for this purpose.

WaterField Designs AirTag Keychain and Luggage Tag

WaterField Designs has developed a Leather AirTag Keychain that houses the ‌AirTag‌ inside, with a series of perforations included to allow sound to pass through.

There's also a Leather AirTag Luggage Tag that's designed for use with suitcases and other bags. The Luggage Tag accommodates an ‌AirTag‌ and a business card with contact details. WaterField Designs' ‌AirTag‌ Keychain is priced at $25, while the Luggage Tag is priced at $49.

Saddleback Leather AirTag Cases

Saddleback Leather Co. makes a range of various AirTag cases and keyrings, all of which are made from high-quality leather. Saddleback Leather Co. has multiple designed available, along with four leather color options. There are simple circle-shaped cases and more elaborate cases that include mini pouches, a bull design, a koala design, and more. Prices range from $19 to $24.

Oobipet

Oobipet offers two different AirTags accessories designed for pets. There's the Collar Keeper that attaches directly to a collar, and the Dog Tag, which is designed to attach to a ring on the collar. Both are priced at $20.

Speck

Speck has a range of colorful AirTag holders that include the Presidio SiliLoop, the Presidio SiliRing, the Presidio Carabiner, and the Luggage Tag Pro. Pricing starts at $14.95.

The SiliLoop and SiliRing are made from a silicone material and are ideal for attaching to backpacks, purses, key rings, and luggage. The Presidio SiliRing is a higher-end ‌AirTag‌ holder that's made from polished aluminum, and the Luggage Tag Pro is designed to look like a luggage tag with a secure holder for the ‌AirTag‌.

Native Union

Native Union's Curve AirTag Loops are slender, simple, and attractive, adding little bulk to the ‌AirTag‌. There's an easy-to-use loop and lock design, and the ‌AirTag‌ fits snugly in the ‌AirTag‌ holder. The Curve ‌AirTag‌ Loop is made from a matte silicone material that feels nice in the hand, and it comes in four colors. A single ‌AirTag‌ Loop costs $10, while a four-pack costs $30.

Guide Feedback

Have other suggestions of great AirTags cases that we should add to the guide? Send us an email here.

The ongoing Epic Games v. Apple trial continues to provide insight into Apple's App Store processes, with documents today offering up details on the number of apps submitted to the ‌App Store‌ and rejected by Apple's review processes.

Apple received an average of five million app submissions per year between 2017 and 2019, and between 33 and 35 percent of apps submitted were rejected by Apple's review team. On average, there were 1.7 million apps rejected per year, though the rejection rate was closer to 40 percent in 2020 based on trial testimony.

Apple's documentation suggests that the ‌App Store‌ sees 100,000 ‌App Store‌ submissions per week, which are dealt with by 500 human experts that Apple has on hand. Prior to getting to a human review, apps are analyzed by Apple-designed tools to check for malware and policy violations.

A testing tool called Mercury runs through static and dynamic analysis processes, with the tool allowing Apple to see inside apps to check for hidden code or abuse, and there are other review tools that Apple has nicknamed "Magellan" and "Columbus." After automated testing, apps receive human oversight.

Dynamic testing includes everything from battery usage to file system access and privacy requests to access device hardware like the camera and microphone, while static analysis checks app size, entitlements, in-app purchases, keywords, descriptions, and more.

In 2015, Apple discussed acquiring SourceDNA, a company that made a tool to allow companies to see the code inside apps. Apple did end up purchasing the company and using its engineers to design a new tool for app oversight.

Interestingly, Apple documents depict the workstation of one of its human reviewers, featuring a desktop with an iMac, MacBook Pro, multiple iOS devices, several displays, game controllers, and more.

Apple marketing director Trystan Kosmynka was questioned for most of the morning, and Epic lawyers visited a favorite talking point - ‌App Store‌ mistakes. Kosmynka was grilled about some of the apps that slip through the review process, such as an app about school shooting that he said in an email he was "dumbfounded" had been missed.

On this topic, Kosmynka was asked if the app review process is unnecessary because of the mistakes that are sometimes made, but said that all it means is that Apple has to "continuously be better." He said that Apple works diligently to close loopholes, and that without app review, iOS would be a "free for all" that would be "incredibly dangerous to customers, to kids."

The Epic vs. Apple trial will continue for another two weeks, with the first week set to wrap up today. Apple CEO Tim Cook and other executives are expected to testify during the third week.

Apple has hired Stella Low as its new vice president of worldwide corporate communications, reports BuzzFeed News. Low was the former communications chief at Cisco, and will report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The role that Low is taking on at Apple has been empty for the last two years after PR chief Steve Dowling departed the company. Apple Fellow Phil Schiller has been handling the PR team since Dowling left, so Low's hiring will free up more of his time.

In a statement, Apple said that Low brings "remarkable experience and leadership" to Apple.

Stella brings her remarkable experience and leadership to Apple's world-class communications teams. Apple has an important story to tell -- from the transformative products and services we make, to the positive impacts we have on our communities and the world -- and Stella is a great leader to help us write the next chapter.

Prior to working with Cisco, Low has also run communication teams at Unisys and Dell. She is joining the company amid a fierce legal battle with Epic Games and with Apple facing regulatory issues over the App Store in multiple countries.