MacRumors

Ahead of the release of the M1 Macs, Apple provided developers with a Developer Transition Kit that included a Mac mini equipped with an A12Z Bionic chip first used in the iPad Pro, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port.

These DTKs were offered up on a temporary basis to developers who paid $500 for access, and were aimed at giving developers a way to create Universal apps to prepare for the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips.

Apple is now asking developers to return their Developer Transition Kits in exchange for a one-time use code that will provide a $200 discount on an ‌M1‌ Mac.

Thank you for participating in the Universal App Quick Start Program and your continued commitment to building great apps for Mac. Response to the new Macs has been incredible, and we love the fantastic experiences developers like you have already created for Mac users.

Now that the new MacBook Air, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro powered by M1 are available, it'll soon be time to return the Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that was sent to you as part of the program. Please locate the original packaging for use in returning the DTK. We'll email you in a few weeks with instructions for returning the DTK.

In appreciation of your participation in the program and to help with your continued development of Universal apps, you'll receive a one-time use code for 200 USD to use toward the purchase of a Mac with M1, upon confirmed return of the DTK. Until your program membership expires one year after your membership start date, you'll have continued access to other program benefits such as Technical Support incidents and private discussion forums.

Apple first sent out Developer Transition Kits at the end of June, so developers have had them on hand for the last seven months. Developers were meant to have a year with the DTK for app development purposes, but other benefits that include a private discussion forum and technical support will continue to be available for the full 12 month period.

Some developers are unhappy with Apple's compensation given the initial $500 price of the DTK program and the bugs that were experienced that made using the DTK difficult. The last time Apple had a similar program for the transition from PowerPC to Intel chips, Apple provided developers with the first Intel-based Mac for free.

The $200 credit can be used for any Mac, and the $699 ‌Mac mini‌ would be the cheapest option available to developers who want to pick up a new ‌M1‌ Mac for continued development. The credit must be used by the end of May.

The first Apple Car that's released will not be designed to operate with a driver, according to a report from CNBC that cites multiple unnamed sources with knowledge of Apple's plans. "These will be autonomous, electric vehicles designed to operate without a driver and focused on the last mile," said one of the people.

CNBC speculates that the initial Apple Cars could be designed for food delivery operations and firms that incorporate robotaxis. Self-driving robotaxis are available in China, and in the United States, companies like Waymo have tested public robotaxi programs. Many vehicle manufacturers working on autonomous technology are also planning for robotaxi services.

The tidbit about Apple's aim to produce a driverless car comes in a wider report that suggests Apple is close to finalizing an Apple Car deal with Hyundai affiliate Kia, which echoes several other reports suggesting a deal is brewing between Hyundai and Apple.

CNBC suggests that the Apple Car will be manufactured at the Kia assembly plant in West Point, Georgia under the terms of the agreement. No deal has yet been reached, however, and Apple could decide to work with another automaker entirely or choose a secondary partner to work with alongside Hyundai.

According to CNBC's sources, Apple has decided to pursue a partnership with Hyundai-Kia because the deal gives Apple access to an established automaker with the capability to produce vehicles in North America. Hyundai-Kia is also willing to give Apple control over both the Apple Car software and the hardware, with Apple planning for a full Apple-branded vehicle and not a Kia model that includes Apple software.

Hyundai-Kia executives believe that working with Apple will allow them to accelerate their own autonomous and electric vehicle plans.

Apple is said to be aiming to have the Apple Car in production in 2024, though it's possible that timeline will be delayed as work on the Apple Car is still in the early stages. Bloomberg recently said it would be five to seven years before an Apple Car is ready to launch, while Apple analyst Ming-Chu Kuo said this week that he expects to see the Apple Car in 2025 at the earliest.

YouTube is planning to stop supporting its YouTube app on the third-generation Apple TV models, where YouTube has long been available as a channel option.

A 9to5Mac reader received a message about the upcoming app discontinuation, which is set to take place in March.

Starting early March, the YouTube app will no longer be available on Apple TV (3rd generation). You can still watch YouTube on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, iPhone, or iPad. With AirPlay, you can also stream YouTube from your iOS device directly to any Apple TV (3rd generation or later).

Third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ owners will no longer be able to watch YouTube directly on the ‌Apple TV‌ after the app goes defunct, but YouTube content can be AirPlayed to the ‌Apple TV‌ from an iPhone or iPad, a method that is less convenient.

This discontinuation is applicable only to the third-generation Apple TVs, as YouTube stopped supporting the second-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models back in 2015. The fourth and fifth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models are not impacted as these models have access to the tvOS App Store, which is not available on the third-generation ‌Apple TV‌.

Some macOS Big Sur users who are running the 11.1 and recently released 11.2 update have been experiencing ongoing issues with external displays, based on multiple reports on the MacRumors forum, Apple Support Communities, Twitter, and Reddit.

There are at least two separate issues at play, but both are related to external display connections. The problems appear to have started with the macOS Big Sur 11.1 update, and the 11.2 update has not provided a fix and in some cases, has worsened the issue.

The first issue causes USB-C ports to fail to recognize external monitors, rendering external displays unusable and unable to connect. This appears to be affecting both DisplayPort and HDMI displays connected directly and through hubs and adapters.

We saw this issue firsthand after upgrading a MacBook Pro to macOS Big Sur 11.2, with the update preventing an external monitor from connecting with USB-C, and there are several other complaints from affected users. From Reddit:

Upgrading to 11.2 broke my second external monitor connection.
Primary monitor LG Ultrafine 4k (Mac version) connected via Thunderbolt.
Secondary monitor (same model) connected via HDMI->DisplayPort adapter (BENFEI), then DisplayPort->USB-C cable no longer works after updating (worked fine on 11.1 before updating).
macOS appears to recognize the monitor and resolution, as it is shown in display settings, and Apple Support was able to remove into my computer and see both screens. It's almost as if the signal for the monitor to turn on is not being sent.

The second issue results in resolution issues with external displays unable to work at a full 4K 60Hz resolution, instead locked at 30Hz. In some cases, a 4K monitor is only recognized as a 1080p monitor.

It appears that many of those affected with display issues have a 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, but there are also reports of other Macs with the same connectivity problems. There does not appear to be a reliable, widespread and tested fix or workaround at this time.

Mac users did not experience these problems in the initial release of macOS Big Sur 11.0.1, and it appears that the macOS Big Sur 11.3 update released yesterday also does not address the problem, but there is still some time for Apple to work in a fix before the 11.3 software sees a public release.

Samsung in January debuted its latest flagship smartphone lineup, which includes the Galaxy S21 Ultra, a direct competitor to the iPhone 12 Pro Max that Apple introduced in October. In our latest YouTube video, we pitted the two smartphones against one another for a blind camera comparison.

In the video up above and the photos in this article, we've labeled images with an "A" or a "B," with each letter corresponding to a different smartphone. All of the images are straight from the camera with no editing.

The idea is to look at the images and decide which aesthetic you prefer before we unveil which camera is which, so for the full experience, it's worth watching our video, but we'll also share the results at the very bottom of this article.

We've compared several different camera modes like Portrait mode and Night mode, along with the different lens options ranging from ultra wide angle to telephoto. When considering the photos, check out elements like color temperature differences, highlights and whether there are blown out (overly bright) areas, sharpness of the subject in Portrait photos, and for video, stabilization and shakiness.

Both the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ and Galaxy S21 Ultra have fantastic camera hardware and are capable of capturing great images in most lighting conditions, so most of the time, choosing a winner just comes down to your personal preferences.

Since we're not doing a traditional comparison between these two smartphones, there are a few Galaxy S21 features that are worth highlighting. Samsung used to limit its stylus, the S-Pen, to Note models, but this year, the S-Pen is compatible with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and it's useful for taking notes, drawing, signing documents, and more.

There's also a reverse wireless charging feature for charging up headphones or another smartphone, and an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is actually something that we might see Apple adopt in the future.

As for the camera, there are four lenses including ultra wide (12MP), wide (108MP w/ laser autofocus), and dual telephoto lenses (both 10MP). Camera functionality is similar to the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ for the most part, but Samsung does have Space Zoom, which is a 100x digital + optical zoom option. Space Zoom was available last year, but this year it's been improved. The ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ has no equivalent feature and can't zoom in as far.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra also has a shorter minimal focusing distance, allowing it to be used for close-up macro shots, something the iPhone 12 models aren't able to do.

Coming back to the photo comparison test, if you're wondering which photos are which, there's an answer below the break.

➜ Click here to read rest of article...

Apple today expanded its "Look Around" feature for Apple Maps to San Diego, California and Portland, Oregon, according to ‌Apple Maps‌ expert Justin O'Beirne.

First introduced in iOS 13, Look Around is designed to provide 3D street-level imagery in major cities, much like Google's Street View.

At launch, Look Around was limited to a handful of cities, but it is now available in more than 20 cities and regions worldwide, with Apple regularly expanding the feature to new areas.

Apple maintains a list of areas where Look Around is supported on its website, with availability in cities like New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and more. Apple does not update the site on a regular basis, and a more complete look is available through Justin O'Beirne's tracking efforts.

Apple's last Look Around update was in December, with the feature expanding to Denver, Detroit, Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale.

Several of Apple's services are experiencing an outage at the current time, with Apple noting service interrupts for iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, ‌iCloud‌ Notes, ‌iCloud‌ Storage Upgrades, and Photos on its System Status page.

The issue has been ongoing since approximately 10:13 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple says that users may be unable to use these services during the outage, so features like ‌iCloud‌ Backup and ‌iCloud‌ photo storage may not be working at this time.

There's no word on when these problems will be resolved, but we'll update this article when everything is back up and running. Earlier today, services like the App Store, Apple Music, and iTunes Store, also saw an outage that has since been addressed.

Update: The problem has also expanded to ‌iCloud‌ Storage, Calendar, Mail, Keychain, and Bookmarks.

Update 2: According to Apple's System Status page, all of the issues have now been fixed and Apple's service are back up and running.

Back in 2016 when the Apple Watch was still a relatively new device, Swiss watch maker H. Moser & Cie came out with a high-end mechanical Apple Watch clone called the Swiss Alp Watch, featuring a rectangular watch face with curved, round edges, a crown at the side, and Apple Watch style lugs.

H. Moser & Cie today debuted a followup to the original Swiss Alp Watch, introducing the $30,800 Swiss Alp Watch "Final Upgrade," which the company says is the "climax to the Swiss Alp Watch saga."

Featuring the same rectangular design as the Apple Watch and the original Swiss Alp Watch, the Final Upgrade was created after an H. Moser & Cie customer suggested the design. The DLC steel case features a Vantablack dial, and for those unfamiliar with Vantablack, it is considered one of the darkest known substances, absorbing up to 99.965 percent of visible light.

Instead of a traditional seconds hand, the Final Upgrade features an Apple Watch-style loading symbol, which is of course poking fun at the Apple Watch. H. Moser plays on the theme of simplicity and "less is more" in its marketing materials.

"No updates required, no lousy autonomy, no unnecessary features, no annoying notifications, just the only reminder you ever really need: To disconnect from all the noise and cherish each and every moment," reads a description of the watch.

The loading wheel, or "shaded disc made of of openings" is meant to "serve as a reminder that the here and now is all that matters."

The Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade is entirely mechanical with 100% Swiss Manufacture movement and a 96 hour power reserve. H. Moser & Cie has created just 50 of the Final Upgrade watches, with more information available on the company's website.

CalDigit today introduced a new "Element Hub" dock, equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and four USB-A ports for connecting external displays, storage drives, and other peripherals to devices like a MacBook Pro or iPad Pro. For data transfer, the Thunderbolt 4 ports provide speeds up to 40Gb/s, while the USB-A ports can reach up to 10Gb/s.

Given that Thunderbolt 4 shares the same connector design as USB-C, and is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3, the dock can be used with many MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad Pro models released in recent years, as well as the fourth-generation iPad Air. The dock has pass-through charging, providing a fixed 30W for the MacBook Air, a fixed 60W for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and up to 45W for the iPad Pro.

Included in the box with the Element Hub is a 150W power supply, a 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable, and two rubber feet.

The dock is available to pre-order for a discounted price of $139.99 (regular price $179.99) on CalDigit's website, and will begin shipping later this month in the United States. The dock is also available to pre-order in the UK, and will begin shipping in March.

OWC also introduced a Thunderbolt 4 dock last month that may be worth checking out for customers who are considering purchasing one. Priced at $249, that dock is equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card slot, and a combo 3.5mm audio in/out, with up to 90W pass-through charging.

A sudo bug that can grant an attacker root access has been discovered to affect macOS Big Sur (via ZDNet).

The security vulnerability, identified last week as "CVE-2021-3156" by the Qualys Security Team, affects sudo, which is a program that allows users to run commands with the security privileges of another user, such as an administrator. The bug triggers a "heap overflow" in sudo that changes the current user's privileges to enable root-level access. This can give an attacker access to the entire system. An attacker would need to gain low-level access to a system first to be able to exploit the bug, such as via planted malware.

Sudo is part of many Unix-like systems, including macOS, but it was initially unknown if the vulnerability affected Mac machines since it was only tested by Qualys on Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora. Security researcher Matthew Hickey has now confirmed that the most recent version of macOS, macOS Big Sur 11.2 can be subject to the sudo attack.

Last week, there was speculation that the macOS Big Sur 11.2 update may address the sudo vulnerability, though it was not definitively known at the time if the bug would affect macOS. While it was found that sudo was left unchanged in macOS Big Sur 11.2, it is now clear that macOS is affected by the exploit.

With some minor modifications, Hickey found that the sudo bug could be used to grant attackers access to macOS root accounts, and the discovery has now been verified by Carnegie Mellon University vulnerability analyst Will Dormann.

Apple has reportedly been notified of the CVE-2021-3156 vulnerability, and due to the severity of the issue, a patch will likely be released soon.

First introduced during CES 2021 last month, Kensington's new StudioDock docking station for the iPad Pro and fourth-generation iPad Air is now available to pre-order. Pricing starts at $379.99, and pre-orders are estimated to begin shipping in March.

12.9-inch iPad Pro, 11-inch iPad Pro, and 10.9-inch iPad Air models can be magnetically attached to the dock and charged with 37.5W USB-C Power Delivery. The dock can be rotated to use the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode.

A recipient of a CES 2021 Innovation Award, the StudioDock greatly expands an iPad's connectivity options, with three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card reader, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The dock also has built-in iPhone and AirPods wireless charging, and an optional Apple Watch charger that connects to the dock will be available later this year.

For the StudioDock's complete specifications, visit the Kensington website.

(Thanks, Liam!)

Apple's rumored virtual reality (VR) headset may be released as soon as the first quarter of 2022, according to JP Morgan analysis seen by China Times.

The report, spotted by iMore, explains that the "industrial design of Apple's headset will be close to that of other brands of VR headsets." The headset is said to feature six lenses and an optical LiDAR scanner to map the wearer's environment.

Most of the components for the headset will reportedly be manufactured starting in the fourth quarter of 2021. JP Morgan revealed some of Apple's suppliers for the device, such as TSMC for the device's processor, Largan and Genius Electronic Optical for the camera lenses, and Pegatron for assembly. The report also notes that the headset's supply chain is heavily concentrated in Taiwan.

JP Morgan believes that Apple's VR headset will be targeted at the top end of the consumer market, with pricing being "more expensive than VR headsets currently on the market." This is apparently explained by the cost of the device's materials, which "alone may exceed $500." This mirrors Mark Gurman's recent report that stated Apple's VR headset "will be far more expensive than those from rivals" and "on par with other pricey Apple products, such as the $5,999 Mac Pro desktop computer."

Gurman also said that "Apple has planned to launch the product as soon as 2022," which aligns with JP Morgan's first quarter of 2022 prediction.

Separately, JP Morgan also provided some information about Apple's rumored augmented reality (AR) glasses project. Due to the "extremely difficult supply chain management and industrial design specifications," JP Morgan predicts that Apple's glasses are unlikely to launch within the next 12 to 18 months, and that Apple is conscious to make the device "light, beautiful, easy to wear, and able to withstand long-term use." The need for prescription lenses and customization may also be hampering the move toward mass production.

Rumors surrounding Apple's VR headset and AR glasses have been increasing in recent months, with one of the devices said to be moving into the "second phase of development." Bloomberg recently clarified that Apple is planning to launch a virtual reality headset as a "pricey, niche precursor" to a more ambitious AR glasses product that is set to follow at a later date. Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this month that Apple will unveil an unspecified augmented reality device at some point in 2021.

Update: Citing industry sources, DigiTimes is now reporting that Pegatron and Quanta Computer are vying for final assembly orders from Apple for its AR glasses product. Foxconn has reportedly obtained orders for component assembly.

Most recent rumors have centered on Apple's VR headset, which is thought to be much closer to production than its AR glasses, so it is possible that DigiTimes has conflated the two products. Regardless, in view of recent reports, it seems that Apple is focusing on establishing suppliers for its unreleased VR and AR hardware, which suggests that development on the products is continuing at pace.

Apple-owned Shazam version 14.4 was released today, and the latest update to the music recognition app brings a new widget to the iPhone Home Screen, where users can see their recent song history at a glance.

The Shazam widget is available in three sizes: The smallest square widget displays the last track that you've discovered with Shazam; the larger oblong widget shows the last three tracks found with the most recent prominently displayed along the top; and the largest square widget shows the last four tracks, with the most recent similarly headlining above the previous three songs.

• iOS 14: How to Use Home Screen Widgets

In addition, all the widget types include a Shazam button in the upper right corner that when tapped will automatically start listening for any music that's currently being played in the environment.

Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and has been gradually bringing the app into closer alignment with ‌Apple Music‌ ever since, offering trials to the streaming service through the app and the ability to sync Shazams directly to Apple Music. The app recently surpassed 200 million monthly active users worldwide.

• How to Link Shazam to Your Spotify Account

Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free, and it can be accessed through the Control Center on ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, through ‌Siri‌ commands, or on the Mac. Shazam is also available on Android devices and select features can be accessed on the web.

Apple has received trademark approval for Apple Cash and Apple Card from the Government of Canada, suggesting the services might one day launch in the country.

According to trademark database notes discovered by the tech website iPhone in Canada, Apple applied for the trademarks in July 2019, and recent action history shows that both were approved on January 25, 2021.

Apple released ‌Apple Card‌ in the United States in August 2019, but it remains the only country in which the service is available. The credit card is linked to Apple Pay and built right into the Wallet app. Apple partnered with Goldman Sachs for the card, which is optimized for ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ but still works like a traditional credit card for transactions.

In 2017, Apple enabled person-to-person ‌Apple Pay‌ payments through the Messages app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. Using Apple Cash, users can send money to friends or family – but again, only in the United States.

It's uncertain whether the trademark approvals point to an imminent launch in Canada, since the services are likely to face several financial regulatory hurdles that diverge from country to country, but they at least offer a positive sign that it could happen one day. Apple has also already been granted trademarks on the terms in numerous other countries where it has yet to launch.

In related news, code recently discovered in iOS 14.5 suggests that Apple is planning to introduce a new ‌Apple Card‌ feature that will allow for multiple people to use the same ‌Apple Card‌ account.

Currently, ‌‌Apple Card‌‌ usage is tied to an individual and there is no option to share an account with another person. In future, ‌‌Apple Card‌‌ account holders should be able to invite family members to use their ‌‌Apple Card‌‌ account, with family spending available for viewing in the Wallet app.

Apple Korea's correction scheme to spend 100 billion won ($89.7 million) to support consumers and small-sized businesses has been accepted by the country's antitrust watchdog, following a years-long investigation into the company's unfair market practices (via The Korea Herald).

Apple has been under investigation in Korea since 2016 over unfair iPhone contracts that required local carriers to pay advertising and repair costs, with the Korean Federal Trade Commission conducting raids in June 2016 and November 2017.

The Korean FTC initially looked into imposing penalties on Apple Korea and held several plenary sessions to discuss the issue. Instead, Apple suggested a voluntary correction scheme to conclude the case, and the FTC agreed to review the proposal last year. Today's report confirms that the watchdog has now accepted the plan under its Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act.

Under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, companies that are accused of antitrust activities are allowed to state a correction scheme. Should the FTC view the suggested corrective measures as reasonable, it is to close the case without judging the illegality of the case.

The related clause was introduced in 2011 in order to add speed to pending cases and to provide tangible remedies to consumers, instead of holding on to legal means.

The plan consists of Apple spending 40 billion won on the construction of an R&D center for local small-sized businesses involved in smartphone manufacturing, with 25 billion going into offering consumers 10% discounts in ‌iPhone‌ repairs and warranties.

Another 25 billion won will be used to establish an education center for training ICT developers, while the remaining 10 billion won will go toward supporting digital education in schools and public facilities.

"We are pleased this process has reached a conclusion and look forward to expanding and accelerating our existing commitments here with these new investments that will benefit local suppliers and manufacturers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and education," Apple said in a statement.

"This broad range of initiatives will strengthen innovation and economic opportunity across Korea. We look forward to sharing more details on these plans in the months to come."

The FTC will appoint an accounting firm to review Apple's implementation of the plan on a half-year basis over the next three years. If Apple Korea doesn't follow through on its commitment, the company could face an enforcement penalty of 2 million won per day and have the correction scheme declared invalid.