MacRumors

A case accessory from Cyrill, a sub-brand of Spigen, for Apple's long-rumored AirTags has been listed online for pre-order with a shipping date of "late October."

The storefront listing, spotted by iMore, is for a case accessory titled "Basic Leather - Black" and said to be "for AirTag." Listings for the same product in alternate colors have also been added to Amazon. The accessory is priced at $19.99 and the page lists a number of product features:

• Stylish and classy vegan leather strap case perfect accessory for minimalist
• Firm button clasp keeps your AirTag securely
• Hang your AirTag on your bag, key, wallets, clutches with stylish gold clip-on carabiner
• Wireless charging compatible.
• CYRILL Basic Leather strap case for Apple AirTag (2020)

The most interesting tidbit is the mention of wireless charging for AirTags. This supports previous suggestions that AirTags may charge wirelessly or even on the back of an iPhone, rather than use a replaceable CR2032 battery.

The AirTags' 2020 model year is an obvious error, as the product has yet to be released in early 2021. However, this may add credence to the rumor that AirTags were originally planned to launch in 2020 before being delayed until March 2021. Indeed, the "late October" note on the listing could be referring to October 2020, rather than October 2021, if it is as outdated as the model year suggests.

While it is difficult to learn much new information about the design of AirTags from the product listing, the images seem to meet the speculation of previous rumors that the AirTags will feature a slim disc-like design and a white front. The leather portion of the accessory also seems to be very similar to leaked images of an alleged Apple-designed AirTag keychain accessory from last year.

This is not the first time that third-party AirTags accessories have come to light. Earlier this month, images of Nomad's AirTags Keychain and AirTags Glasses Holder accessories leaked online. Apple does not generally provide accessory makers with product specifications or details ahead of launch, so the product renders that Spigen and Nomad created are more likely based on rumors and not representative of the final AirTags design.

AirTags are expected to work similarly to other item trackers such as Tile, allowing users to attach them to various items like cameras, wallets, keys, glasses, and more, to be able to locate them if they are misplaced. Rumors indicate AirTags will feature a built-in U1 ultra wideband chip for accurate indoor positioning information that will also allow for augmented reality-based tracking functionality.

There have been signs of AirTags since iOS 13, and despite a multitude of rumors suggesting Apple was heading for a 2020 launch, the elusive product has yet to emerge. Earlier this month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will release AirTags at some point in 2021, though he did not provide more specific information.

Today marks the 11th anniversary of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiling the original iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

"iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price," said Jobs, in a press release on January 27, 2010. "iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."

The original iPad featured a 9.7-inch display, a single-core Apple A4 chip, up to 64GB of storage, 256MB of RAM, up to 10 hours of battery life, a 30-pin dock connector, and a headphone jack. Notably, the original iPad did not have any cameras. Pricing started at $499 for the Wi-Fi model and $629 for the cellular model in the United States.

We've recapped some of the bigger milestones in iPad history below:

• March 2011: iPad 2 unveiled with thinner and lighter design, dual-core A5 chip, front and rear cameras, and new white color option
• March 2012: Third-generation iPad introduced with a Retina display, 4G LTE support, and 1080p video recording
• October 2012: Fourth-generation iPad switched to a Lightning connector
• October 2012: iPad mini introduced with a smaller 7.9-inch display
• October 2013: iPad Air unveiled with a 64-bit A7 chip, thinner and lighter design, and slimmer bezels
• October 2014: iPad Air 2 ushered in Touch ID and a fully-laminated Retina display
• September 2015: iPad Pro introduced with a large 12.9-inch Retina display, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support, A9X chip, and four speakers
• March 2017: Fifth-generation iPad introduced as an entry-level device with a $329 starting price and the same 9.7-inch display size as the original iPad
• June 2017: Second-generation iPad Pro gained a ProMotion refresh rate up to 120Hz
• October 2018: Third-generation iPad Pro marked a major redesign with slimmer bezels, Face ID, and a USB-C connector
• September 2019: Seventh-generation iPad went from a 9.7-inch to 10.2-inch display and gained full-sized Smart Keyboard support
• March 2020: Fourth-generation iPad Pro gained a LiDAR Scanner for AR
• September 2020: Fourth-generation iPad Air redesigned to look like iPad Pro

Looking ahead, rumors suggest that Apple plans to release a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display, support for faster 5G networks, and a faster A14X chip in the first half of 2021. A larger 8.4-inch iPad mini and a new 10.2-inch iPad with slimmer bezels like the third-generation iPad Air are also rumored to launch this year.

Apple executive emails revealed in the Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit highlight how the company came to its conclusion to take a 30% cut on all App Store transactions in a way that ensured it wasn't "leaving money on the table."

One email thread from 2011, spotted by The Verge, features Apple services chief Eddy Cue discussing the commission that the company should charge providers for content subscriptions accessed via Apple TV (an ‌App Store‌ on the set-top box didn't exist at the time.) Apple execs considered charging a 40% one-time cut, a 30% one-time cut, a 30% ongoing fee, or individualized deals with different providers.

Apple's team eventually decided to require the same 30% fees as it does on the iTunes Store and the ‌App Store‌. Another email also discusses how Apple should negotiate referrals, where ‌Apple TV‌ apps link out to a provider's website for customers to subscribe directly to the service.

One executive said they wanted to ensure they protected the 30% fee that had long been enshrined in the ‌App Store‌, but stated they would remain open to other deal structures.

"I don't want to do any deals where we get less than 30%. That is what it is on the app store and we can't be making a different deal here. If that is not possible than I want a one-time bounty but we need to very careful here so this doesn't spillover to the app store," one exec wrote. (The emails are threaded such that it's hard to tell who is replying to whom.)

Overall, the email thread appears to suggest that discussions evolved extemporaneously amongst Apple executives when it came to provider fees during the early development of the ‌Apple TV‌ platform, with maximum profit the main concern.

Amid increasing scrutiny over its ‌App Store‌ practices, Apple in November announced the Small Business Program, which saw ‌‌App Store‌‌ fees slashed to just 15% for developers earning under one million dollars per calendar year. The ‌‌App Store‌‌ commission remains at 30% for developers making over one million dollars per year.

The program has since received praise from many developers, but some larger developers including Epic Games criticized the move, saying it undermines the ‌‌App Store‌‌'s rules. ‌Epic Games‌ is ineligible for the reduced commission since it exceeds the $1 million earnings threshold. Apple said the program will benefit the "vast majority" of ‌App Store‌ developers.

Apple's market share in India increased from 2% to 4% in the quarter that ended in December, based on data collated by research firms Counterpoint and Cybermedia.

As reported by TechCrunch, Apple shipped more than 1.5 million iPhone units in India in the quarter, up 100% year-on-year, making this its best quarter in the country to date.

According to the data, Apple managed to double its market share thanks to improved sales of the ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ 12, and the 2020 iPhone SE. Overall, Apple shipped more than 3.2 million ‌iPhone‌ units in India in 2020, up 60% year-on-year.

The results follow several recent moves by Apple in the country, including the launch of a regional online store in September 2020 and a Diwali promotion in October that offered free AirPods with every ‌iPhone‌ 11 purchase.

Apple has historically struggled to be competitive in what is the world's second largest smartphone market, in part due to the premium price tags of its ‌iPhone‌ models versus the low cost of rival handsets from the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo that have swamped the market.

However, Apple has taken advantage of the Indian government's Made in India initiative to increase its regional manufacturing base, which has allowed it to save import duty costs and pass on the savings to customers by reducing prices on older generation ‌iPhone‌ models.

Local production of newer ‌iPhone‌ models is next on Apple's agenda, and Apple supplier Wistron recently began trial production of the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ at a new facility near Bengaluru, with full production set to begin in mid-2021. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ would be the seventh ‌iPhone‌ model to be manufactured in India, but the first high-end device to do so.

Apple is also planning to open retail stores in India in the near future, all of which suggests its strategy in the country is headed in the right direction. Apple is due to report its earnings on Wednesday, so expect India to be a highlight.

Apple in the iOS 14.4 update released today introduced a feature that sends a warning notification when the camera on an Phone 12 model is unable to be verified as a new, genuine Apple camera.

To accompany that warning, Apple has shared a support document that highlights the importance of getting an iPhone repaired by a trained technician using genuine Apple parts, with warnings on what can happen when a non-Apple camera is used.

Apple says that if an ‌iPhone‌ camera needs replacement, it's important to use a certified technician because repairs done by non-certified technicians could result in improper function or issues with image quality. Safety is also a concern, according to Apple, as improper repairs could potentially leave loose parts that could lead to battery damage.

A non-genuine camera component can lead to compatibility or performance issues, with Apple warning of several potential things that could go wrong.

• Camera does not focus correctly or images are not sharp
• When using Portrait mode, the subject might not be in focus or only partially in focus
• A 3rd-party app that uses the camera might freeze or quit unexpectedly
• Real-time preview in 3rd-party apps might appear blank or might get stuck

The non-genuine camera notifications that Apple introduced in iOS 14 will show up on an ‌iPhone‌ 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, or 12 mini if one of these devices is repaired with a non-Apple camera component.

If such a repair is done, users will see a warning under Settings > General > About that says "Unable to verify this ‌iPhone‌ has a genuine Apple camera." The warning will also show up on the Lock screen for the first four days after a repair, and in the Settings app for 15 days.

Apple's warning will not affect the ability to use the ‌iPhone‌ or to access the camera, and the ‌iPhone‌ will remain fully functional.

Apple recommends that those in need of camera repairs get the ‌iPhone‌ camera replaced at an Apple Store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or through Apple's mail-in support. Independent Repair Providers are also able to offer genuine camera repair parts for out-of-warranty replacements.

This is not the first time that Apple has introduced warnings when repairs are made to an ‌iPhone‌ using non-genuine parts. There are similar warnings that show up when a non-verified display is used for a repair, and when a repair facility uses a non-genuine ‌iPhone‌ battery.

Apple today sent out email invitations to developers inviting them to join various events focused on specific iOS, iPadOS, and macOS features like widgets and App Clips.

A widget-centric event called "Building Great Widget Experiences" is set to take place on February 1, 2021, and will provide developers with opportunities to learn new techniques for creating useful widgets for their apps.

We'd like you to join us for Building Great Widget Experiences on Monday, February 1, 2021. This event will be conducted online.

Useful and delightful, widgets let you elevate key content from your app and display it where users can see it at a glance on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They can also help users personalize their Home screens in unique ways. Join us for an in-depth look at building great widget experiences.

There's a separate event on Monday, February 15 titled "Bring Your iPad App to Mac," and another event called "Building Great App Clip Experiences" that's focused on the App Clips feature introduced in iOS 14.

Developers who have been invited to these sessions are able to ask Apple employees questions, much like the online events that Apple held last year for WWDC.

Apple occasionally hosts these special session events focused on different iOS and macOS features. Last year, for example, Apple hosted an event focused on accessibility features.

Apple today released iOS 14.4 and the HomePod 14.4 software, with these two updates introducing improved Handoff functionality between the HomePod mini and the iPhone 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models. In our latest YouTube video, we tested out the new functionality to see just how it works.

The ‌HomePod mini‌, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models, and the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models all have Apple's U1 Ultra Wideband chip, which allows the devices to more precisely locate and keep track of one another thanks to much improved indoor positioning and location capabilities.

When introducing the ‌HomePod mini‌ with U1 chip back in October, Apple explained that it would be used for more advanced Handoff features, with that technology now available. The HomePod and ‌HomePod mini‌ have always been capable of transferring songs from the ‌iPhone‌ to the ‌HomePod‌ and vice versa, but now the ‌HomePod mini‌ does it just a bit better.

If you're listening to a song on your ‌iPhone‌ 11 or ‌iPhone‌ 12 and bring the phone near the ‌HomePod mini‌, there are now visual, audio, and haptic effects when the song transfers. As the ‌iPhone‌ gets closer to the ‌HomePod mini‌'s location, it begins a soft haptic touch rhythm that gets faster and faster as the ‌iPhone‌ continues to approach the ‌HomePod mini‌. Eventually, the song transfer interface options up, and the song transitions from the ‌iPhone‌ to the mini.

Transferring a song is quicker and more reliable with these visual and haptic-based transfer cues, and there are some other useful changes enabled by the U1 chip too. When an ‌iPhone‌ is held near a ‌HomePod mini‌, you'll see personalized listening suggestions and song recommendations.

More notably, when you hold an ‌iPhone‌ next to the ‌HomePod mini‌ the ‌iPhone‌ will display playback controls that you can access without unlocking your phone, giving you a quicker way to manually control content playing on the ‌HomePod mini‌.

This new U1 chip functionality is limited to the ‌HomePod mini‌ because the standard ‌HomePod‌ does not have a U1 chip inside it. Using this feature also requires an ‌iPhone‌ with a U1 chip, and that's limited to ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models.

Apple today released iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, and along with a handful of minor new features, the software introduces security fixes for three vulnerabilities that may have been used in the wild.

According to a security support document shared by Apple, there were kernel and WebKit vulnerabilities affecting all iPhones and iPads running iOS or iPadOS 14. The kernel vulnerability could allow a malicious application to elevate privileges, and Apple says it is aware of a report that the issue may have been actively exploited.

Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: A malicious application may be able to elevate privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Description: A race condition was addressed with improved locking.
CVE-2021-1782: an anonymous researcher

Apple also says a WebKit issue that allowed for a remote attacker to cause arbitrary code execution may have been actively exploited.

Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: A remote attacker may be able to cause arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions.
CVE-2021-1871: an anonymous researcher
CVE-2021-1870: an anonymous researcher

There is no other information available at this time, but Apple's support document says that additional information will be "available soon."

Given that significant vulnerabilities are patched in the iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 updates, those running iOS 14 should update as soon as possible.

Streaming media platform Plex today announced the launch of a new Plex Arcade feature that makes dozens of retro games available to stream from Plex.

Retro arcade games can be played on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Chrome, and Android devices. Setup requires a Plex Media server on Windows or macOS, and any Bluetooth or USB game controller is compatible. Plex says that it recommends a Sony DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller for the best performance.

For the new gaming feature, Plex has partnered with Parsec to ensure low-latency streaming and Atari, to provide classic gaming titles like Centipede, Lunar Lander, Food Fight, Desert Falcon, Missile Command, Gravitar, and more.

Along with these built-in games, Plex Arcade supports user-owned ROMs and has metadata for a wide range of retro cartridge based systems like Atari, Sega, Nintendo, and Arcade, with support for more titles coming in the future.

Plex Arcade is priced at $2.99 per month for those that are Plex Pass subscribers, and $4.99 per month for those that do not have a Plex Pass. Plex Passes cost $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year, but a lifetime pass is also available for $119.99. Plex is also offering a seven day free trial for those who want to test the service before subscribing.

Plex has an FAQ with additional information about Plex Arcade.

Tapbots today launched the newest version of the Tweetbot Twitter client, introducing a subscription-based payment requirement and a few new design tweaks and features.

The update adds support for Twitter's V2 API, adding interface options for polls and cards for the first time, and it tweaks the timeline view and adds support for more tweet data. There are new "@" and "#" buttons when composing a tweet, plus there are new app icon options and more UI themes.

With the API changes, there are no longer options for URL shortening and image/video upload options, and Chrome and Firefox are browser options when opening links. Going forward, Tweetbot will be able to adopt all of the features that Twitter makes available with its V2 API, so it should no longer lag as far behind the official Twitter app when it comes to functionality.

Tweetbot 6 is now a subscription-based app and will require a $0.99 per month or $5.99 per year subscription fee to unlock the app's full functionality. Multiple accounts, advanced filtering options, and push notifications are premium features that will be available with a subscription. The free version of the app is read-only and will not support tweeting.

Tweetbot 6 can be downloaded from the App Store for free, but an in-app subscription will be necessary to access full functionality. [Direct Link]

Apple plans to release its first iPhones with Wi-Fi 6E support in 2021, according to Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O'Malley.

In a research note shared with MacRumors today, the analysts wrote that investor sentiment surrounding Apple supplier Skyworks has become "too negative" given that the semiconductor company will apparently be supplying various components for this year's "iPhone 13" models, including Wi-Fi 6E power amplifiers.

The analysts said chipmaker Broadcom also stands to benefit from both Apple and Samsung adopting Wi-Fi 6E this year. Earlier this month, Samsung introduced its new Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone with Wi-Fi 6E support based on a Broadcom chip.

This more concrete information comes after the Barclays analysts said iPhone 13 models "may" support Wi-Fi 6E last month.

Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6 GHz band. The additional spectrum will provide a lot more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference for devices that support Wi-Fi 6E.

Earlier this year, the FCC adopted rules that make 1,200 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use in the United States, paving the way for the rollout of devices supporting Wi-Fi 6E in the country.

Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 lineups support the standard, non-6 GHz version of Wi-Fi 6, as does the second-generation iPhone SE.

Apple is expected to unveil its iPhone 13 lineup in September.

Apple today released a new 14.4 software update for the HomePod, with the update coming over a month after the 14.3 software release that brought performance improvements and bug fixes.

Today's update introduces new U1 Ultra Wide band functionality between the HomePod mini and devices that have a U1 chip like the iPhone 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models.

Software version 14.4 includes bug fixes and the following new features with an Ultra Wideband (U1) equipped iPhone.
- Hand off music with visual, audible, and haptic effects from iPhone to HomePod mini
- Get personalized listening suggestions on iPhone when it is next to HomePod mini
- Media controls automatically appear without having to unlock iPhone when it is close to HomePod mini

The update adds visual, audio, and haptic effects when songs are transferred from a ‌‌HomePod mini‌‌ to a U1-enabled ‌iPhone‌ 11 or ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌. When an ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌ is near the ‌‌‌HomePod mini‌‌‌ it begins a soft haptic touch rhythm that gets faster and faster as the ‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌ gets closer until the interface to transfer a song between the ‌‌‌‌HomePod mini‌‌‌‌ and the ‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌ opens.

This functionality will make handoff quicker and more reliable on a ‌‌‌‌HomePod mini‌‌‌‌ and an ‌‌‌iPhone‌ 11‌‌ or ‌‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌‌, all of which are equipped with U1 chips that let the devices better understand where they are in relation to one another.

The update also adds personalized listening suggestions on ‌iPhone‌ when it is next to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and it causes media controls to automatically appear without having to unlock the ‌iPhone‌ when it is nearby the ‌HomePod mini‌.

U1 chip functionality is unique to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and is not available on the standard ‌HomePod‌ because the ‌HomePod‌ does not have a U1 chip inside.

Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 14 operating system that was initially released in September. iOS and iPadOS 14.4 come more than a month after the release of iOS and iPadOS 14.3, updates that brought new emojis, Intercom support, and more.

The iOS and iPadOS 14.4 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

iOS 14.4 allows the camera to recognize smaller QR codes, and there's a feature for specifying a device type for third-party Bluetooth-connected audio devices so that Headphone Audio Level measurements can be taken correctly.

The update also provides notifications for when the camera on an iPhone is unable to be verified as a new, genuine Apple camera in the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, which would be applicable only to repairs.

There are several bug fixes for issues that include image artifacts appearing in HDR photos taken with ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, problems with the Fitness widget not updating correctly, and a bug that could cause typing to be delayed and word suggestions not to appear when using the keyboard.

Apple's full release notes for the update are below:

iOS 14.4 includes the following improvements for your iPhone:
- Smaller QR codes can be recognized by Camera
- Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications
- Notifications for when the camera on your iPhone is unable to be verified as a new, genuine Apple camera in iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max

This release also fixes the following issues:
- Image artifacts could appear in HDR photos taken with iPhone 12 Pro
- Fitness widget may not display updated Activity data
- Typing may be delayed and word suggestions may not appear in the keyboard
- The keyboard may not come up in the correct language in Messages
- Audio stories from the News app in CarPlay may not resume after being paused for spoken directions or Siri
- Enabling Switch Control in Accessibility may prevent phone calls from being answered from the Lock Screen

Though not mentioned in the release notes, there's a "Time to Walk" feature for Apple Fitness+ users on Apple Watch, which lets them listen to inspiring stories while out for a walk.

When paired with a HomePod mini and the HomePod 14.4 software update, iOS 14.4 introduces new U1 Ultra Wideband functionality between the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and 12 models with a U1 chip. The U1 chip improves handoff with visual, audible, and haptic effects when transferring songs from the ‌iPhone‌ to the ‌HomePod mini‌.

The ‌iPhone‌ will provide personalized listening suggestions when next to a ‌HomePod mini‌, and media controls for the ‌HomePod mini‌ will automatically appear without having to unlock the ‌iPhone‌. These features are limited to the ‌HomePod mini‌ as the ‌HomePod‌ does not have a U1 chip, and an ‌iPhone‌ 11 or 12 is required.

For more on the iOS 14 operating system, we have a complete iOS 14 roundup that goes through all of the features that Apple has introduced since iOS 13.

Apple today released watchOS 7.3, the third major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September. watchOS 7.3 comes more than a month after watchOS 7.2, an update that brought support for Apple Fitness+

‌‌The watchOS 7.3 update‌‌ can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌.

watchOS 7.3 adds a "Time to Walk" feature for Apple Fitness+ subscribers, adding an audio experience in the Workout app where those who are doing a walking workout can listen to inspiring stories during their walks. Time to Walk offers stories from music artists, athletes, and other influential people that Apple Watch owners and Apple Fitness+ subscribers can listen to while walking.

Each episode is 25 to 40 minutes in length and features guests like country music star Dolly Parton, musician Shawn Mendes, actress Uzo Aduba, and NBA player Draymond Green. Speakers share "lessons learned, meaningful memories, thoughts on purpose and gratitude, moments of levity, and other thought-provoking topics." Time to Walk is available to Apple Fitness+ subscribers. Apple technically released Time to Walk ahead of watchOS 7.3, but it is listed in the release notes for the update and is considered a watchOS 7.3 addition.

With the watchOS 7.3 update, ECG functionality is expanding to Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, and Thailand, while irregular heart rhythm notifications are coming to Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The update adds a new Unity Watch Face inspired by the colors of the Pan-African flag (black, red, and green), with shapes that change throughout the day with movement. The face also features black, red, green, and yellow color options along with a black/gray color option.

watchOS 7.3 also includes a bug fix for an issue that could cause the Control Center and Notification Center to become unresponsive when Zoom is enabled, with full release notes below:

watchOS 7.3 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

- Unity watch face--inspired by the colors of the Pan-African Flag, the shapes change throughout the day as you move creating a face that's unique to you
- Time to Walk for Apple Fitness+ subscribers--an audio experience in the Workout app where guests share inspiring stories as you walk
- ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, and Thailand
- Irregular heart rhythm notifications in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand
- Fix for an issue where Control Center and Notification Center may be unresponsive when Zoom is enabled

For more on everything that's included in the watchOS 7 operating system, we have a dedicated watchOS 7 roundup.

Apple plans to release second-generation AirPods Pro within the first half of 2021, according to unnamed industry sources cited by Taiwanese publication DigiTimes in a report focused on flash memory supplier Winbond.

From the report:

Winbond is also expected to be among the NOR flash suppliers for Apple's next-generation AirPods Pro slated for launch later in the first half of this year, the sources indicated. The Taiwan-based chipmaker will be running its NOR flash production lines at nearly full capacity utilization during the six-month period.

This follows a report from Japanese blog Mac Otakara that claimed the new AirPods Pro will be released in April alongside a third-generation iPhone SE. That report did not offer any details about the new AirPods Pro beyond claiming that the wireless charging case will have slightly tweaked dimensions compared to the original.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the stem that sticks out from the bottom of the earphones, but it's unclear if Apple will achieve this feat. Gurman said Apple had a design in testing with a rounder shape that fills more of the ear, similar to Google's Pixel Buds or Samsung's Galaxy Buds. That report likewise mentioned a 2021 release date.

• AirPods Pro 2: Everything We Know So Far

Introduced in November 2019, the current AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips included in the box, along with shorter stems below the ear. AirPods Pro have several upgraded features over regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance.

Previous rumors have suggested that Apple also plans to update the standard AirPods in the first half of 2021 with a similar design as the AirPods Pro, but without active noise cancellation, allowing for a lower price point. The current lineup includes the standard AirPods with either a wired charging case for $159 or a wireless charging case for $199, and the AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case for $249.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak at the EU Computers, Privacy, and Data Protection (CPDP) conference later this week (via Macerkopf).

CPDP is a Brussels-based non-profit platform founded in 2007 by a group of European universities. The conference offers an insight into legal, regulatory, academic, and technological development in privacy and data protection, and seeks to discuss emerging issues and trends. This year, the conference has moved online and is being sponsored by Apple.

Cook's speech is reportedly set to focus on "enforcement of rights in a changing world," as part of the topic "a way to strengthen user selection and strengthen user trust in advertising." Apple's Senior Director for Privacy, Jane Horvath, is also due to speak.

Other guests include New Zealand Privacy Commissioner John Edwards, Vice President of the European Parliament Marcel Kolaja, Policy Director of Privacy International Lucy Purdon, and Mozilla's Chief Security Officer, Marshall Erwin.

The conference takes place on Thursday, January 28. Cook's speech will be streamed live on the CPDP Conferences YouTube channel and is due to start at 5:15 p.m. CET (11:15 a.m. ET and 8:15 a.m. PT).