Apple today shared a "first look featurette" video highlighting the second season of popular Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind," which is set to have new episodes premiere on Friday, February 19.
Created by Ronald D. Moore, "For All Mankind" is a sci-fi series that imagines what the world might have been like if the global space race had never ended and the space program had remained a U.S. priority.
The second season of "For All Mankind" picks up in 1983, a decade after the first season. At the height of the Cold War, tensions between the United States and USSR are at their peak. Reagan is president and the US and USSR are fighting over the resources available on the moon.
Season two of the space drama picks up a decade later in 1983. It's the height of the Cold War and tensions between the United States and the USSR are at their peak. Ronald Reagan is president and the greater ambitions of science and space exploration are at threat of being squandered as the US and Soviets go head-to-head to control sites rich in resources on the moon. The Department of Defense has moved into Mission Control, and the militarization of NASA becomes central to several characters' stories: some fight it, some use it as an opportunity to advance their own interests, and some find themselves at the height of a conflict that may lead to nuclear war.
"For All Mankind" stars Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Shantel VanSanten, Sarah Jones, and Jodi Balfour.
Apple today informed developers about some upcoming pricing changes for apps and in-app purchases in Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Germany, and South Korea, with Apple introducing a new VAT in some countries and adjusting pricing in others.
Apple says that when taxes or foreign exchange rates change, prices on the App Store in certain regions and some proceeds need to be adjusted. In Zimbabwe and Cameroon, proceeds will be adjusted and proceeds will be calculated based on the tax-exclusive price.
Cameroon - New value-added tax of 19.25%
Zimbabwe - New value-added tax of 14.5%
In Germany and South Korea, prices of apps and in-app purchases are increasing, but auto-renewable subscription prices will remain the same.
Germany - Value-added tax rate reversion to 19% after temporary decrease to 16%. App Store pricing will not change.
South Korea - Prices of alternative tiers for apps and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) will be adjusted to allow for additional locally relevant pricing conventions.
When the changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps for developers will be updated, and app pricing can be changed any time using App Store Connect. Full pricing changes are available on Apple's site. [PDF]
Designer Antonio De Rosa has created 3D renders of Apple's long-rumored mixed-reality headset based on recent reports about the device, giving the first photorealistic look at the mysterious Apple device.
De Rosa tentatively titles Apple's mixed-reality headset device the "Apple View," but there has been no evidence that this is the company's chosen moniker. What Apple may call the device remains pure speculation. Nevertheless, in terms of design, the render appears to have carefully considered many of the points put forwards by recent reports about the device, which have proliferated in recent months as it edges closer to production.
The main inspiration for the render is clearly the basic sketch provided by The Information, which said that it had seen internal Apple images of a "late-stage prototype" late last year. If the images seen by The Information are correct, De Rosa's renders may offer the most reliable look yet at the design of Apple's mixed-reality headset.
The Information described the headset's design as a "sleek, curved visor attached to the face by a mesh material and swappable headbands." The report claimed that the headbands will be offered in a variety of colors, which De Rosa has rendered. A headband containing batteries to extend the headset's battery life, as well as one with speakers for Spatial Audio from AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, are also believed to be undergoing tests.
The Information also said that Apple's headset will be equipped with more than a dozen cameras and JP Morgan has speculated that the device will include various LiDAR scanners, much like the iPad Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro. De Rosa appears to have included these in his render.
While these cameras and scanners are believed to be used to track users' hand movements, one of the main features of the headset is understood to be the ability to pass video of the real world through the visor and display it to the user, creating a "mixed-reality effect." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman described the headset as follows:
As a mostly virtual reality device, it will display an all-encompassing 3-D digital environment for gaming, watching video and communicating. AR functionality, the ability to overlay images and information over a view of the real world, will be more limited.
The headset is said to contain two ultra-high-resolution 8K displays and advanced eye-tracking technology. Since the device is too compact to allow users to wear glasses, Bloomberg explained that Apple has developed a system in which custom prescription lenses can be inserted into the headset over the displays.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuohas said that Apple will reveal an augmented reality device this year, and according to JP Morgan, the device will launch in the first quarter of 2022. The headset is expected to be priced around $3,000, competing with the likes of Microsoft's HoloLens 2, which costs $3,500.
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN Business, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, says that his company spent months preparing its lawsuit against Apple, which is internally codenamed "Project Liberty."
Epic launched an all-out assault against Apple after it removed Fortnite from the App Store in August after the app implemented a direct payment method for in-app purchases. App Store policy requires all apps to use its own system for in-app purchases which gives Apple a 30% commission for all purchases made. Epic's refusal to comply with the policy resulted in the app getting kicked from the platform.
Sweeney says in his interview that Epic "spent months" developing and preparing its lawsuit against Apple, which was notably launched and announced publicly within hours of Fortnite's removal from the App Store.
Internally, Epic calls the lawsuit "Project Liberty," clearly echoing the idea that the lawsuit is meant to open up Apple's platforms further for smaller developers, hence providing them "liberty". Despite the focus of the lawsuit being the App Store's 30% commission policy, Sweeney says it actually comes down to the idea that he believes open platforms are "the key to free markets and the future of computing".
Developers have been questioning whether the 30% commission is a fair price for developers to pay back to Apple, given, for example, that Epic Games made $1.3 billion from Fortnite in-game purchases in 2020.
Epic Games had a valuation of $17.3 billion at the end of last year, and on the financial front, Sweeney says Epic has "the financial independence" to conduct its suit against Apple and Google, largely thanks to the fact that Epic Games is not a publicly listed company.
When pressed for specifics on how much its lawsuit against Apple was costing Epic, Sweeney refused to reply, simply saying it is consuming "lots and lots" of time from company leadership. It's clear, however, that with millions of Apple users unable to play Fortnite on their devices, the company is likely experiencing some financial struggle given iOS users have generated more than $1.2 billion in revenue for Epic since it launched on the platform, according to Sensor Tower data cited by CNN Business.
All in all, however, Sweeney says the struggles are worth it due to the fear that the future of platforms such as the App Store will be completely dominated by platform owners like Apple, and have no other developers on them.
"[The companies] will just do that industry by industry and app category by app category until they've gobbled up everything that matters. And who will be left?" said Sweeney. "A million indie developers who collectively together make a small percentage of revenues on the app store because these businesses are too small to be attractive to steal."
Lastly, Sweeney addresses controversial comments he made in November in which he stated that the fight for civil rights and Epic's fight for platform "liberty" are similar. The comments caused widespread backlash, and in response, Sweeney says he believes "it's perfectly healthy" to draw similarities between "vital causes in the history of the world" and the fight on app platforms.
"The point is if you really want to make a difference, you have to buck the system," Sweeney said in response to the criticism. "I think there's a lot we can learn from any of the past struggles in humanity and I think it's perfectly healthy to apply struggles from vital causes in the history of the world to struggles over smaller issues like software platforms."
Most recently, Epic Games filed a complaint against Apple in the UK, claiming that Apple's removal of Fortnite from the App Store was "unlawful" and seeking for the app to be reinstated. The UK complaint followed in the footsteps of Epic's agreements in the United State and Australia. In all countries, Epic says it's not asking for damages from Apple and is simply seeking "fair access and competition that will benefit all consumers". Both companies are preparing to face off in court in July of this year.
Today we're tracking a few deals, including sales on USB-C hubs from Hyper, the first notable discount on Apple's MagSafe Charger, AirPods Pro, Apple Watch Series 6, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Hyper
Hyper is discounting a wide variety of USB-C hubs and accessories that pair perfectly with the newest MacBook Pro models. Sales on these devices are hitting at $20 off across the board, although the HyperDrive 4-in-1 USB-C Hub is seeing only a $10 discount.
Hyper's hubs plug into one (or both) of the MacBook Pro's USB-C ports, providing extra ports like HDMI, microSD, USB-A, and more. There are also options that connect to the iPad Pro and provide similar port additions, and even include a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Apple launched the MagSafe Charger last year alongside the new iPhone 12 line of smartphones. The device is a wireless charger that aligns perfectly with the latest iPhones, but it'll still work with iPhone 8 and later devices.
Today on Amazon we're seeing one of the first discounts on the accessory, priced at $34.00, down from $39.00.
Although this is just a $5 discount, Apple's first party accessories typically don't see steep markdowns this early in their lifespan.
Apple Watch Series 6
Next, you can get the (Product)RED 40mm GPS Apple Watch Series 6 for $339.00, down from $399.00. The Space Gray and Blue color options are slightly higher at $349.00, but all are in stock and ready to ship today.
This is $10 off from the lowest price that we've ever tracked for this model of the Apple Watch Series 6, so it's a solid deal if you're shopping for the wearable in February. In regards to 44mm GPS models, you'll find about $49 off the Blue and (Product)RED color options.
Magic Keyboard
Lastly, Amazon is still discounting a few of Apple's keyboards for the iPad Pro and iPad Air, with the best sale centering on the Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro at $199.00, down from $299.00. This is still the lowest price we've ever tracked for this Magic Keyboard, which can also be used with the fourth generation iPad Air.
You can also get the Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but this discount isn't quite as steep. It's priced at $329.70, down from $349.00. Both versions of the Magic Keyboard provide a full keyboard with a trackpad, backlit keys, and a new floating cantilever design that lets you adjust the iPad Pro to find the best viewing angle.
For even more deals related to the iPad, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Additionally, our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
A security researcher was able to breach the internal systems of over 35 major companies, including Apple, Microsoft, and PayPal, using a software supply chain attack (via Bleeping Computer).
Security researcher Alex Birsan was able to exploit a unique design flaw in some open-source ecosystems called "dependency confusion" to attack the systems of companies such as Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, Shopify, Netflix, Yelp, Tesla, and Uber.
The attack involved uploading malware to open source repositories including PyPI, npm, and RubyGems, which were then automatically distributed downstream into the various companies' internal applications. Victims automatically received the malicious packages, with no social engineering or trojans required.
Birsan was able to create counterfeit projects using the same names on open-source repositories, each containing a disclaimer message, and found that applications would automatically pull public dependency packages, without needing any action from the developer. In some cases, such as with PyPI packages, any package with a higher version would be prioritized regardless of wherever it was located. This enabled Birsan to successfully attack the software supply chain of multiple companies.
Upon verifying that his component had successfully infiltrated the corporate network, Birsan reported his findings to the company in question, and some rewarded him with a bug bounty. Microsoft awarded him its highest bug bounty amount of $40,000 and released a white paper on this security issue, while Apple told BleepingComputer that Birsan will receive a reward via the Apple Security Bounty program for responsibly disclosing the issue. Birsan has now earned over $130,000 through bug bounty programs and pre-approved penetration testing arrangements.
Ohio State University today announced that it is opening its Swift Coding and App Development program to the public, giving anyone the chance to learn and code for the App Store.
In a press release (via CNET), the university says that more than 3,000 students, faculty, and alumni have joined the program since it launched slightly more than one year ago, and that now anyone can join the courses online from anywhere in the world.
The university offers four separate self-paced courses that make use of Apple's open-source programing language Swift, Apple's coding curriculum, and Xcode to develop apps for Apple platforms. The two final courses yet have to be detailed, but the first course with two modules, called "Swift Coding and App Development," costs $350 for the estimated 180 hours of work, and has the following description:
From the basics of Swift and Xcode to the coding communities that surround you, this Level 1 course will provide you the foundational knowledge to start building and creating apps. Debugging, problem-solving, basic interface design and connections to external fields will also be covered.
Once completing what Ohio State has to offer, participants can go on to obtain Apple's App Development with Swift certification. Ohio State director of learning programs and Digital Flagship Cory Tressler says that app coding and development serves as a foundation for future learning and innovation in the digital world, emphasizing the ability for anyone regardless of background to learn to code.
"This coding and app development certificate program allows anyone, regardless of their background or prior knowledge with coding, the opportunity to learn a tangible, applicable digital skill that will not only provide them immediate skills to utilize and explore, but also a foundation for future learning, innovation and creativity in the digital world."
Ohio State is one of many universities and colleges offering lessons and courses based on Apple's programming language and platform. As developers serve as the bedrock for Apple's product experience, Apple often works closely on updating its curriculum to ensure the next generation of developers are learning and getting ready to develop apps. More details about Ohio State courses can be found on Ohio State's course catalog.
Cook said that Apple Park is "like working in a national park," with a design that "brings the outside in and the inside out."
"You would see people riding bikes from one meeting to another," said Cook, referring to the typical Apple Park workday prior to the pandemic. "You would see people running. It's a two-and-a-half-mile track around the place, so put in a couple of laps and you've got a good workout for the day."
"We all know intuitively, and now with research, that physical activity is a key part of longevity and quality of life," Cook added, reiterating that Apple's greatest contribution to mankind will likely be in the health and wellness space.
The interview builds on Cook's appearance on an Outside magazine podcast episode last month, where he discussed similar topics. On that podcast, Cook teased that Apple is testing "mind blowing" capabilities for the Apple Watch, although not everything will see the light of day. "Think about the amount of sensors in your car," said Cook, adding "and arguably, your body is much more important than your car."
Apple has gradually expanded the health features available on the Apple Watch over the years to include heart rate tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications, the ECG app, blood oxygen measuring, fall detection, and more. Rumors suggest that Apple is also aiming to add non-invasive blood glucose monitoring to the next Apple Watch.
Google today announced that "Google News Showcase," a new style of displaying the news within the Google and Google News mobile apps and website, has launched in the UK and Argentina, following an Australian rollout last week.
Google says News Showcase offers participating publishers the chance to provide more context for stories such as through bullet points and timelines, and it has plans for supporting audio, video, and "daily briefings" in the future, directly within the Google and Google News apps on iOS and Android.
In Argentina, Google says it has partnered with 40 publishers including Clarin, La Nación, Perfil, Crónica, Cronista, El Economista, Diario Río Negro, El Día, La Gaceta, and El Litoral. In the UK, Google has inked deals with The Financial Times, The Telegraph, Reuters, and more than 120 other publishers to offer this new panel experience to users.
Google announced News Showcase in October of last year with a commitment to invest $1 billion in partnerships with publishers and "the future of news." Google describes News Showcase as a way for users to get more insight into stories and "helps publishers develop deeper relationships with their audiences."
As part of the partnership and investment with publishers, Google says users will be able to view "select" paywall content, but doesn't specify what it means by "select." In general, the overall approach from Google bears some resemblances to Apple's own Apple News+ service.
Apple, like Google, has signed partnerships with some of the world's largest publishers to offer subscribers otherwise-paywalled articles within the Apple News app. Unlike Apple News+ however, Google is not offering users all of a publisher's paywalled content, and while News Showcase remains free, Apple News+ comes with a $9.99 monthly price tag.
Google says that its approach to news curation is different than others because it "leans on the editorial choices individual publishers make about which stories to show readers and how to present them." Apple has faced criticism for its approach to Apple News+ largely from The New York Times, which pulled out of the service entirely last year, because Apple's service does not "align with its strategy of building direct relationships with paying readers."
Google News Showcase is now available in more than a dozen countries including Germany, Brazil, Canada, and France, with 450 partnered publications, and is available via the Google News app, Google app, and the Google News website.
YouTube's website appears to support picture-in-picture (PiP) again in the latest iOS 14.5 beta for iPhone, although how long it will continue to work for is anybody's guess.
Tests show it works in Safari as well as third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox by expanding a video to play fullscreen, and then tapping the small picture-in-picture icon in the top-left of the interface.
Then you can minimize the browser and use other apps while continuing to watch the video in a frame that can be moved around the screen or slid out of sight if you just want to listen to the audio.
Apple added PiP support to the iPhone with the release of iOS 14, which allowed users to watch videos on YouTube's website as well as on a host of other websites in the miniaturized format.
Following the release of iOS 14 in September, YouTube moved quickly to nix the ability to watch videos in PiP mode on its website unless the user logged in with a YouTube Premium subscription. In early October, however, YouTube mysteriously restored PiP support for videos on its website.
Then, only days later, support once again vanished.
In the latest iOS 14.5 beta, Picture in Picture mode is working again on YouTube’s website, in not just Safari, but in every browser I have on my iPhone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/pP8cRsO3xU
— Tim Hardwick (@waxeditorial) February 10, 2021
It's not clear what has caused YouTube website PiP support to be reinstated in the latest iOS 14.5 beta, but it's likely that changes in Apple's system-level code has broken whatever method YouTube implemented on its website to make the feature non-functional.
If that's the case, there's good reason to believe that YouTube will move to disable the support yet again.
YouTube's native app has never supported PiP for any of its users even though iOS 14 has offered the capability for some time. There have been reports that YouTube has been testing this feature, but there have been no announcements.
Apple has apologized to the developer of an app meant to promote the Indigenous language Sm'algyax after he was falsely accused of dishonest and fraudulent acts, and as a result, had the app removed from the App Store.
Brendan Eshom, a member of the Ts'msyen First Nation community, developed and published "Sm'algyax Word" on both Google Play and the App Store this past July. The app serves as a dictionary for phrases and words from Sm'algyaxm archived from FirstVoices.com, and at its core is meant to preserve the language for generations to come.
However, the app was unexpectedly removed from the App Store when it acquired around 600 downloads, pushing it to the top charts in the Education category. Eshom says that he received an automated email from Apple informing him that his developer account would be terminated due to "dishonest and fraudulent" acts that go against Apple's terms and conditions.
Eshom told Global News that it's "definitely concerning when Apple is accusing you of committing fraud" and said that he attempted to reach out to Apple for an explanation for his termination, but his attempts were unsuccessful. The freshmen college student ultimately decided to contact Consumer Matter, a segment from Global News in which companies and corporations are pressed for answers, to try and get Apple to respond to the situation.
Apple responded in a statement to Consumer Matters, explaining that the termination of Eshom's developer account was a mistake and that his app about the Sm'algyax language showcased "how technology can be used to bridge cultural understanding." Apple goes on to apologize to Eshom and promises to improve its processes to ensure it does not happen again.
Maintaining the integrity of the App Store is a responsibility we take seriously to ensure the safety of our customers and give every developer a platform to share their brightest ideas with the world. Unfortunately, this developer's app, which is a great example of how technology can be used to bridge cultural understanding, was mistakenly removed from the App Store.
We regret this error and apologize to Mr. Eshom for the inconvenience this caused him. We have since reinstated his developer account and app, and will continue our efforts to improve our processes to ensure this does not happen again.
Just this week new questions started to circulate following the revelation that scam apps on the App Store continue to enjoy millions in revenue. Apple states that apps that attempt to trick users or engage in "scam practices" will be removed from the App Store, however many still remain.
The contrast between Eshom's case, where a completely innocent app was removed from the App Store, and the case of scam apps roaming rogue on the platform highlights recent concerns that Apple's losing grip with implementing and maintaining an effective moderation policy.
A new study by Mount Sinai researchers has found that an Apple Watch can effectively predict a positive COVID-19 diagnosis up to a week before current PCR-based nasal swab tests (via TechCrunch).
Published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical Internet Research, the "Warrior Watch Study" involved several hundred Mount Sinai healthcare workers using a dedicated Apple Watch and iPhone app for personal health data monitoring and collection.
All participants were also required to fill out a daily survey over several months to provide direct feedback about potential coronavirus symptoms and other factors, including stress.
The data collection ran from April through September, and the main point of focus for researchers was heart rate variability (HRV), a key indicator of strain on the nervous system. This data point was combined with reported symptoms associated with the disease, such as fever, aches, dry cough, and loss of taste and smell.
The Warrior Watch Study was not only able to predict infections up to a week before tests provided confirmed diagnoses, but also revealed that participants' HRV patterns normalized fairly quickly after their diagnosis, returning to normal roughly one to two weeks following their positive tests.
The researchers hope that the results can help anticipate outcomes and remotely isolate individuals from others who are at risk, without having to perform a physical exam or administer a swab test, preventing potential spread before someone is highly contagious.
According to TechCrunch, the study will in future expand in order to look at what other wearables can reveal about the impact of COVID-19 on the health of health care workers, including how things like sleep and physical activity may relate to the disease.
In related research that is ongoing, Apple is currently partnering with investigators at the Seattle Flu Study and faculty at the University of Washington's School of Medicine to explore how changes in blood oxygen and heart rate can be early signals of the onset of influenza and COVID-19.
Previous independent Apple Watch studies have shown that the smartwatch's heart sensors may be able to detect early signs of diabetes and provide early warning signs of atrial fibrillation.
Apple has partnered with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to develop "ultra-advanced" micro OLED displays at a secret facility in Taiwan, reports Nikkei. The micro OLED displays will be used in "upcoming augmented reality devices."
Micro OLED displays are built directly on to chip wafers rather than a glass substrate, which results in displays that are thinner, smaller, and more power efficient. These slimmer micro OLED displays are ideal for smaller devices like the smart glasses that Apple is rumored to be working on.
Development on micro OLED displays is said to be in the trial production stage and it will be several years before Apple and TSMC are ready for mass production, which would make these displays appropriate for the Apple Glasses rumored to be launching sometime around 2023. The displays that are in the works right now are said to be less than one inch in size, which is where TSMC's expertise comes in handy.
Apple already partners with TSMC on all of the A-series chips used in the iPhone and iPad and the new M1 Apple silicon chips that are used in Apple's Mac lineup.
"Panel players are good at making screens bigger and bigger, but when it comes to thin and light devices like AR glasses, you need a very small screen," said a source who has direct information on the micro OLED R&D project. "Apple is partnering with TSMC to develop the technology because the chipmaker's expertise is making things ultra-small and good, while Apple is also leveraging panel experts' know-how on display technologies."
In addition to working on micro OLED displays in factories located in Taiwan, Apple is also exploring microLED technology, with trial production lines in place for both display types. A June 2020 report suggested Apple had invested $330 million in a Taiwanese factory developing microLED displays for Apple Watch, iPads, and MacBooks alongside supplier Epistar.
MicroLED, a technology separate from micro OLED, uses components that are smaller than those used in traditional LED lighting. These displays do not require backlight modules so they can be thinner, plus they offer high color contrast and can be used to make foldable or curved screens.
According to Nikkei, Apple has several unmarked white laboratory buildings in Longtan Science Park in Taiwan focusing on new display technologies, with the location within walking distance of TSMC's chip-packing and testing plant. Apple has been hiring veterans from display maker AU Optoelectronics to work on micro OLED, and employees are subject to strict non-disclosure agreements that forbid them from "even meeting with friends or acquaintances working in the tech industry."
Apple's investments in both micro OLED and microLED are said to be aimed at reducing its dependence on Samsung Electronics in the future. Samsung is Apple's main supplier for the OLED displays used in current iPhones.
Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 to address an issue that may prevent the battery from charging in some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models, and the company has since shared a new support document with more details.
Apple says a "very small number of customers" with 2016 and 2017 models of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro have experienced an issue with the battery not charging past 1%. The battery health status on affected notebooks will indicate "Service Recommended." To identify your Mac model, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and click on About This Mac. The following models may be impacted by this issue:
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports) - MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports) - MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) - MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) - MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) - MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
If your MacBook Pro exhibits this behavior, Apple says to contact the company for a battery replacement, free of charge. Apple says it will examine the notebook prior to service to verify that it is eligible for the free replacement.
If your MacBook Pro has not exhibited this issue, updating to macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 as soon as possible is still highly recommended as a precaution. There is also a macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Supplemental Update that prevents the issue.
macOS Big Sur users can determine if their battery needs service by opening the System Preferences app, clicking Battery, selecting Battery in the sidebar, and clicking Battery Health. On macOS Catalina or earlier, users can hold the Option key and click the battery icon in the menu bar to reveal the battery status menu.
Prepear, a recipe and meal-planning app, has agreed to change its pear logo to settle an ongoing trademark dispute with Apple, Prepear's co-founder today confirmed to iPhone in Canada. Apple in August opposed Prepear's trademark application, claiming that the company's pear-shaped logo was too similar to Apple's own logo.
Though Prepear's logo has a pear shape instead of an Apple shape, Apple seems to have taken offense to the right angle of Prepear's leaf in the original logo. The new logo features a leaf that's angled differently, a small change that Apple apparently feels makes it different enough from the famous Apple logo. Prepear's app icon has also been tweaked.
Following the initial trademark opposition, Super Healthy Kids, Prepear's parent company, launched a petition in an attempt to persuade Apple to drop its opposition targeting a small business that was trying to protect its logo, and that petition gained over 250,000 signatures. Apple was also widely derided by media sites and fans for going after Prepear's logo.
Back in December, filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board requested that the trial proceedings be suspended for 30 days as Prepear and Apple were "actively engaged in negotiations for the settlement" of the matter.
Prepear's CEO says that the trademark issue has now been "amicably resolved" and that Prepear is happy with the outcome.
The iOS 14.5 beta, available to developers and public beta testers, adds a new Apple Maps feature that lets you report accidents, hazards, and speed checks along your route when getting directions.
When you input an address, select a route, and then choose "Go," Siri lets you know that you can report accidents or hazards that you see along the way.
If you swipe up on the Apple Maps interface where maps details are available, you can tap on a "Report" button that lets you flag an accident, a hazard, or a speed check, similar to other mapping apps like Waze. Tapping automatically flags your location with no confirmation window, so it shouldn't be used except in a valid situation.
You can also say "Hey Siri, there's an accident" and Siri will send in a report to Apple Maps, and presumably, if enough people file reports, an accident site will show up in the maps app through the crowdsourcing. This is available in the United States in a test capacity at the current time, and it's not yet clear if it's also showing up in other countries.
This also works in CarPlay, as noted on the MacRumors forums by MozMan68, with the reporting interface available on the CarPlay screen.
Note that Siri will inform you about the new accident reporting functionality the first time that you seek directions after upgrading to iOS 14.5, but the feature is not mentioned after that. There is no similar accident reporting functionality available in iOS 14.4, and it also does not appear to be showing up for all iOS 14.5 users at this time based on reports from Reddit, so there is likely a server side element.
Satechi today announced the launch of a new USB-C Watch AirPods Charger, which is a 2-in-1 accessory that's able to charge the AirPods and the Apple Watch.
Available exclusively from Apple for $49.95, the Satechi USB-C Watch AirPods Charger has a dual-sided design. On one side, there's an Apple Watch charging puck, and on the other side, there's a Qi-based wireless charging surface that works with the AirPods.
The USB-C Watch AirPods Charger can be plugged into a MacBook, iPad, or USB-C power adapter, and then the dual-sided design can charge the Apple Watch or AirPods depending on the accessory's orientation.
Made from aluminum and designed to match Apple devices, the charger has a small footprint and it's perfect for tucking into a backpack or bag while on the go. It can be purchased from the online Apple Store as of today.
Twitter today shared its fourth quarter earnings results and provided some details on expected expenses and revenue in 2021. As noted by CNBC, Twitter believes that Apple's upcoming App Tracking Transparency requirements will have a "modest impact" on revenue.
Looking ahead, Twitter said it expects revenue to grow faster than expenses in 2021, assuming the pandemic continues to improve and taking into account an expected "modest impact" from Apple's upcoming privacy changes to iOS 14. However, the company warned it expects headcount growth of more than 20% this year, with overall expenses increasing more than 25%.
Starting with the launch of iOS and iPadOS 14.5, app developers are required to get permission from users before tracking them using an advertising identifier called the IDFA. Many developers and ad agencies that rely on ad revenue and ad tracking are worried that the change will impact income, as most people are not expected to agree to be tracked.
Twitter did not go into detail beyond suggesting the change will have a modest impact on revenue in 2021, but Facebook has been fighting heavily against Apple's planned changes. Facebook has taken out newspaper ads, written blogs, and tried to convince people that Apple is going to kill small businesses by implementing the more stringent privacy controls.
Snap has also claimed that Apple's opt-in ad tracking measures will present a "risk" to advertiser demand, but Snap Chief Business Officer Jeremi Gorman recently said that Snap admires Apple's privacy tweaks and is "well prepared to guide advertisers through the iOS changes."
Twitter, Facebook, Snap, and other app developers will need to comply with Apple's ad tracking consent guidelines starting when iOS 14.5 launches, with the update expected to come in the early spring. Under the terms of the new rules, when a person declines to be tracked, apps are also restricted from using alternative methods to track the user across apps and websites.
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