MacRumors

Apple today released watchOS 7.3.1 with a fix for an issue that can cause the Apple Watch Series 5 and SE not to charge after entering Power Reserve mode.

In a support document, Apple outlines the issue, which affected "a very small number of customers." Apple says that these people saw a problem with charging after the Apple Watch went into Power Reserve mode.

While watchOS 7.3.1 will fix the issue for customers who haven't previously experienced it, those who already had the problem may need to get support from Apple. Apple says to check if an Apple Watch is affected by the bug, users should place the watch on a charger and then wait for at least 30 minutes.

If the Apple Watch won't charge after the 30 minute time period, customers should contact Apple Support to set up a mail-in repair, which will be done free of charge by Apple.

Apple today released watchOS 7.3.1, a minor update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September. watchOS 7.3.1 comes a couple of weeks after the release of watchOS 7.3.

‌‌The watchOS 7.3.1 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. Today's update is only available for the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch SE, so other Apple Watch models will not have an update available.

According to Apple's release notes, the watchOS 7.3.1 update introduces a fix for an issue that prevented some Apple Watch Series 5 and SE models from charging after entering Power Reserve mode.

watchOS 7.3, the prior update, brought a Time to Walk feature for Apple Fitness+, expanded ECG functionality to new countries like Japan, and added a new Unity watch face. Apple is also working on watchOS 7.4, a major update that allows the Apple Watch to be used to unlock an ‌iPhone‌ when wearing a mask.

Over the weekend, the DisplayLink Manager app was updated with native support for Macs with the M1 chip, additional Retina resolutions for 4K displays, and a fix for an issue where screen tearing may occur in some high-load cases.

DisplayLink Manager provides a convenient way to enable your DisplayLink dock, adapter, or monitor on macOS. The app combines DisplayLink's latest driver with features that streamline the setup of mutliple displays with up to 4K resolution. Version 1.3 of the app can be downloaded from the DisplayLink website, and requires macOS Big Sur 11.2 or any version of macOS Catalina, according to the release notes.

DisplayLink adapters have proven popular with M1 Macs, as they allow for multiple external displays to be connected. Officially, Apple says M1 Macs only support one external display (excluding the Mac mini, which can support a second display via HDMI).

France is pushing for changes to the EU's upcoming regulations on big tech companies, including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, that would make it easier for governments to penalize bad behavior and widen controls on content, according to a new report by the Financial Times.

The Digital Services Act, presented in December 2020, is designed to tackle illegal online content in the European Union by obliging big tech companies to quickly remove it, or face hefty fines.

France now wants to change the Digital Services Act by allowing every individual EU member state to have the right to fine big tech companies and force them to remove content on their platforms. Currently, only EU countries where tech companies are headquartered can enforce the EU's laws.

For example, Apple, Google, and Facebook have European headquarters in the Republic of Ireland. This means that, as it stands, only Ireland can sanction these companies or make requests for the removal of content. France's proposition would give all 27 EU member states the ability to punish or control big tech companies in the exact same way Ireland can.

There is, however, concern among EU officials that the French proposals would erode the EU's precious single market. The single market is an agreement designed to make it easy for people, goods, services, and money to move between EU member states, as though it is a single country. Under France's plans, big tech companies would be subject to 27 authorities, instead of just one.

France is also pushing for other changes to the Digital Services Act that would allow it to "include other types of problematic content," including "harmful content and disinformation," broadening the parameters of the "illegal content" that the Digital Services Act is proposing to control.

The Digital Services Act comes hand-in-hand with the Digital Markets Act, which demands that big tech companies share metrics with competitors, ensure that all apps are uninstallable, and do not preference their own apps and services. Companies that fail to do so may face large fines, as high as ten percent of the company's worldwide annual turnover, or even forced disinvestment.

Apple has already gone some way to meeting the rules set out in the Digital Markets Act. For example, as of iOS 10, Apple has allowed users to uninstall default apps. Likewise, last year, Apple adjusted its App Store search algorithm so that fewer of its own apps appear at the top of search results. Nevertheless, Apple will be equally obligated to meet the demands of the legislation, including sharing its internal metrics and data, when the act comes into law.

In recent weeks, France's minister for the digital economy, Cedric O, has met with senior EU officials, including the European commissioner in charge of the upcoming big tech regulations, Thierry Breton, to make the case for these significant changes to the Digital Services Act.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Microsoft has begun testing its game streaming service, xCloud, on the web via a browser for iOS and iPadOS, and on PC via Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, The Verge reports.

Microsoft's xCloud service allows subscribers to play games by streaming them from the cloud, instead of having to download the entire game locally on-device. Apple and Microsoft had a brief moment of contention in August of last year as App Store policy restricts services like xCloud from being available on the platform. Apple updated its policy to allow xCloud onto the platform, but it would require Microsoft to submit each game available on the service individually to the ‌App Store‌, and each would have to be vetted against the platform's guidelines.

Microsoft blasted the rules as a "bad experience for customers," and as a result, said it would push xCloud to iOS and iPadOS users via the browser on Safari. Screenshots provided to The Verge only show an xCloud experience via the browser on desktop, but the experience on iOS and iPadOS will likely be the same. Users will be able to select a game and play it directly within their browser, although the exact resolution the game will be streamed at is as yet unknown. Typically, services like these will automatically adapt the resolution to meet your specific network capability.

At launch, xCloud will only support browsers built on Chromium like Edge and Chrome on the PC, but The Verge's Senior Editor Tom Warren says that he expects support for Safari to be added following internal testing. With testing underway, there's no set timeframe when a public launch will take place, but The Verge guesses that a release is "getting very close."

Apple Music subscribers can now listen to their "Replay 2021" playlist as of today. This playlist ranks all of the music you've been listening to on ‌Apple Music‌ from 1 to 100, with your most-streamed songs ranked at the top of the list.

Just like last year's Replay playlist, Replay 2021 will update every week on Sunday, constantly changing as you listen to more songs on ‌Apple Music‌. By the end of the year, you'll have an overall snapshot of the tracks you listened to the most in 2021.

The Replay 2021 playlist can be found at the bottom of the Listen Now tab in ‌Apple Music‌, as well as on Apple Music for the web. If you head to the web version, you'll also get a few more pieces of data like most streamed artists and albums, as well as detailed play counts and hours listened data.

As of now, this secondary information is still reflecting 2020 streaming stats. Apple still hasn't made this information available directly in the ‌Apple Music‌ app.

‌Apple Music‌ Replay is Apple's version of Spotify Wrapped, but there are differences. Spotify Wrapped doesn't track songs throughout the year, but it's far more popular when it's shared in December thanks to easily shareable infographics generated by Spotify based on each user's listening habits.

While ‌Apple Music‌ Replay is available year-round, the playlist doesn't tend to change much once you get far enough into the year, and Apple still hasn't provided a year-end recap that its subscribers can post to social media platforms.

Head to the ‌Apple Music‌ app or Apple Music on the web to add the Replay 2021 playlist to your library.

Apple is expected to retain its smallest 5.4-inch iPhone model size in its forthcoming ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup, despite a barrage of recent reports suggesting lackluster iPhone 12 mini sales.

2021 began with a report suggesting Apple's ‌iPhone 12 mini‌, which is the smallest ‌iPhone‌ that has been released since the 2016 ‌iPhone‌ SE, was not selling as well as Apple hoped, making up just 6% of ‌iPhone‌ 12 sales in the U.S. in October and November, according to data gathered by Consumer Intelligence Research.

Later in January, a Morgan Stanley investment note claimed Apple had cut production of the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ by two million units to create more manufacturing capacity for the more popular ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro.

That was quickly followed by a Taiwanese report citing supply chain sources that appeared to corroborate this narrative, suggesting that strong demand for ‌‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro‌ models in China had led Apple to strengthen its supply of the more expensive devices in response.

Come February, Counterpoint Research weighed in with its own analysis which continued the same theme, claiming that the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ accounted for only 5% of all ‌iPhone‌ 12 sales in the U.S. in the first half of January.

A few reasons have been offered for the poor ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ sales, despite broad satisfaction reported by owners of the smaller device. One is that Apple's smallest ‌iPhone‌ 12 model was launched to target the U.S. and European markets, but the global health crisis has impacted sales in these territories, leading to a slowdown in ‌‌iPhone 12 mini‌‌ orders.

The theory goes that with people staying at home a lot more during lockdown, smartphone users are consuming more content on their device and therefore want bigger screens to enjoy it. A consequence is that users don't have as much opportunity to appreciate the convenience of having a smaller phone in their pocket while out and about.

Meanwhile, though China has not been as severely impacted by the health crisis in recent months compared to these parts of the world, the East Asian market has historically favored larger form factor devices, which has put ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ at a disadvantage in those regions from the get-go.

Another possible factor is the continuing availability of lower-cost models like the $399 ‌‌iPhone‌ SE‌, $499 ‌iPhone‌ XR, and $599 ‌‌iPhone‌ 11‌, which may have ultimately limited the appeal of the more expensive ‌‌iPhone 12 mini‌‌, which is priced at $699.

Despite these variables – along with a recent claim by JPMorgan Chase that Apple plans to discontinue ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ production in the second quarter of 2021 – it is understood that Apple has not given up on the 5.4-inch model yet, and is broadly expected to include the form factor in its ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup, likely to be launched in the fall.

This belief is reflected in the earliest reports of the ‌iPhone‌ 13 series, all of which underlined that Apple would follow the same four-model lineup as the ‌iPhone‌ 12 in the same three sizes. Indeed, Apple will have had its ‌iPhone‌ 13 production and supply chain operation planned out well in advance, and if the above reasons for poor ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ sales are on the mark, Apple may well be expecting an upturn in demand for the smaller size in its target markets, as vaccination programs roll out and lockdowns ease over the course of the year.

As recently as this past weekend, hit-and-miss Apple leaker Jon Prosser claimed that the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini will indeed materialize later this year, with the accompanying claim that there will be no new "2021" ‌iPhone‌ SE, of which the current model may have cannibalized some ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ sales.

All in all, despite the early doom and gloom, "mini" fans still have reason to be cheerful as we move through the year and approach the next launch of a new series of Apple smartphones.

This year's iPhone 13 lineup will include an always-on display with a 120Hz refresh rate, improved camera capabilities for astrophotography, stronger MagSafe magnets, and a finer matte finish on the back, according to leaker Max Weinbach (via YouTube channel EverythingApplePro).

Weinbach is a well-known leaker who has shared information via the YouTube channel in the past regarding the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, some of which came true. Regardless, take the following with a grain of salt. According to his sources, Apple is planning to include an always-on display in the ‌iPhone‌ 13 series, with the technology being similar to the always-on display in the Apple Watch Series 5 and later.

Always-on displays are typical in most flagship Android smartphones, and the technology allows users to see information on their screen at all times without having to power on or unlock the device. Ever since the iPhone X, which was the first ‌iPhone‌ to feature an OLED display, many have speculated Apple will bring this feature to ‌iPhone‌ users.

OLED displays use less power than LCD displays, since each pixel is individually controlled, unlike LCD panels which use backlights to light up all of the pixels, even to show a small piece of information on the screen. With OLED displays, Apple is able to only light up the pixels needed to show users the time, battery, or some form of indicator for app notifications, without using a significant amount of battery power.

Weinbach claims that the always-on display will look like a "toned down Lock screen," where the clock and battery charge are always visible, and past notifications are shown through "a bar and icons." When users receive a notification, the notification will "pop up normally except that the screen will not entirely light up." Instead, "it will display it just like you're used to right now, except dimmed down and only temporarily," according to the leaker.

The leaker also "confirms" that a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate is happening on the 2021 Pro ‌iPhone‌ models, a feature that was widely rumored to appear on the ‌iPhone‌ 12. An always-on and ProMotion display would not require a change in physical design, and Weinbach reports there will indeed be no change to the actual chassis on the ‌iPhone‌ 13 family compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup. The only potential hardware change will be a matte back with a "grippier, more comfortable" feeling, similar to the finishing on the back of the Google Pixel series.

Internally, ‌MagSafe‌ will be getting "considerably" stronger, according to the leak. The ‌iPhone‌ 12 features ‌MagSafe‌ on the back that allows users to magnetically attach different accessories and offers an alternative way to charge the device, but the magnets have been criticized by some for being weak. Apple is looking to alleviate those concerns by adding stronger magnets, according to Weinbach, although the addition is not expected to be the sole reason for a rumored increase in device thickness. As for the cameras, Weinbach reports that Apple is increasing its efforts in astrophotography.

Astrophotography, the photography of astronomy, typically requires complicated camera setups to proficiently capture the nighttime's dark sky. The integration of the ability into the ‌iPhone‌ is expected to be seamless, with the leak claiming the ‌iPhone‌ will automatically switch to the mode when it registers a user pointing to the sky. The mode will allow the phone to detect different artifacts such as the moon and stars and adjusts settings such as exposure accordingly. Corroborating Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the leak says the ultra-wide camera across the entire lineup will be getting an improved sensor and lens.

The newest information from the leak points toward the ability to take portrait videos on this year's ‌iPhone‌. Users have been able to take portrait photos since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus, but it has remained entirely limited to still photos. Portrait mode adds a depth feel to your photos, blurring the background and keeping the center subject fully in focus. With videos, the task becomes much harder since the subject is actively moving, making it harder to add a depth effect in real-time.

The new information joins an already long list of features we're expecting for the 2021 ‌iPhone‌. A Bloomberg report suggests that the biggest headlining feature of the lineup will be the reintroduction of Touch ID on the iPhone. According to that report, Apple is testing burying the Touch ID sensor below the display, allowing users to unlock their device if Face ID is deemed unusable, such as when you're wearing a mask. Unlike the ‌iPhone‌ 12 which saw delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 is expected to launch on time in September.

An online auction to sell off a rare employment questionnaire filled out by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs opens later this month.

Jobs filled out the application in 1973, just after dropping out of Reed College, where he attended school for approximately six months and then audited classes for another year and a half.

On the document, Jobs lists "english lit" as his major, and Reed College as his address. He lists "Computer" and "Calculator" as skills, along with "Design" and "Tech," and says that he has special abilities that include "Electronics" and digital "Tech or Design Engineer."

A year later Jobs joined Atari as a technician, where he worked with Steve Wozniak before they founded Apple in 1976.

It was previously sold at auction in 2018 for over $175,000.

The online auction is being hosted by Charterfields, on the instructions of Begbies Traynor and Inquesta, liquidators of Sourcechain Technologies Limited. It kicks off on February 24 and will end on March 24.

Apple is expected to partner with a third-party car maker to build its rumored self-driving car with reports surfacing in January suggesting that Apple was eyeing Hyundai to be the official partner for Apple Car. Subsequent reports suggest Apple is actively pursuing all of its options and talking to a number of different manufacturers.

In the latest round of speculation, Apple reportedly approached Nissan in the last few months about a potential partnership for a self-driving car, according to a paywalled Financial Times report. The report states that negotiations between the two companies were "brief" and that discussions did not make their way to higher executive or leadership levels in either company due to disagreements over the specifics of the Apple Car.

It's worth noting that an older report by Nikkei Asia cited Nissan as one of at least six Japanese automakers that Apple is eyeing for the Apple Car. The report didn't, however, provide specific details as to the progress of any talks, or if Apple is ultimately siding with one carmaker over the others.

Nissan and Apple reportedly clashed over how a partnership would actually play out. Nissan reportedly was concerned that a deal with Apple would downgrade Nissan to simply a "hardware supplier." The Apple Car is expected to be fully branded by Apple, including Apple software and design. While Apple holds the in-house ability to design its own software and hardware, it's not positioned to build the actual hardware at a mass scale, which is why a partnership is considered to be a hallmark of the project itself.

During an earnings presentation, Nissan's COO Ashwani Gupta stated that Nissan is open to partnerships, but only if the opposite party adapts to Nissan's services, not vice versa. The COO said that Nissan has its own customer base to satisfy and that it will not "change the way" it makes cars.

Earlier in the year following reports of a potential tie-up with Apple, Hyundai's shares surged by more than 25% but remained volatile after negotiations came to a standstill. Attempting to avoid from a similar scenario, Nissan quickly and unequivocally confirmed in a statement that it's "not in talks" with Apple but remains open to working with other companies.

Apple remains a tightly secretive company that rarely confirms the existence of unreleased products and projects. The statement by Hyundai earlier in the year confirming it's in negotiations with the tech giant undoubtedly upset Apple executives as it was seen as a confirmation that Apple is pursuing a partnership for a potential self-driving car. The statement was quickly reworded to remove mention of Apple, and soon after, talks between the two came to a screeching halt.

Despite the plentiful number of reports about Apple's self-driving car, sources suggest that we won't be seeing it on the road until at least 2026. Bloomberg reports that the Apple Car is "nowhere near production stage," and that a release is at least half a decade away. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most reputable analysts for Apple, still believes that despite Hyundai's mishap, Apple will ultimately side with the carmaker as the official partner for its self-driving car ambitions.

Apple is widely rumored to be working on a self-driving car, internally codenamed "Project Titan." Apple reportedly began work on the project in 2014, and years later, the rumor mill is in full swing speculating on when Apple will debut its self-driving technology. Speculation has become so rampant that potential competitors to an Apple Car are already weighing its potential threat to the overall car industry.

As reported by Reuters today, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said that he's "not afraid" of an ‌Apple Car‌ and that Apple will not be able to overtake the $2 trillion automobile industry overnight. In typical Apple fashion, the company has not confirmed it's working on a self-driving car, but Diess believes that the rumors and reports are "logical." Apple has expertise in battery technology, software, and design, and it can easily utilize all of its proficiency in those areas to create an automobile, the CEO was quoted as saying.

Similar remarks can be traced back to 2006, one year prior to the launch of the iPhone, when the CEO of Palm, which at the time was one of the leading smartphone makers, stated that Apple would not "just figure this out," referring to smartphones. In the years that followed, however, the ‌iPhone‌ would captivate the market, eventually leading it to $65 billion in revenue for a single quarter.

Volkswagen, based in Germany, is one of the largest car manufacturers in Europe and around the world, giving it a significant position in the industry. Diess said he is not concerned that Apple joining the market would disrupt Volkswagen's dominance, saying that despite Apple's expertise in all of the technology needed to create a car, his company is still "not afraid" and that Apple "will not manage" to disrupt the market overnight.

Until this year, very little was known about how Apple would go about building an actual self-driving car. Apple uses third-party suppliers such as TSMC and Foxconn to build current products like the ‌iPhone‌ and Mac, but none of its current suppliers are fully positioned to build an automobile. On that front, Apple is expected to partner with an already well-known and established car maker to fulfill its self-driving car ambitions.

In early January, reports began to surface that Apple was close to inking a deal with Hyundai, after the automaker released a statement confirming that it was in talks with the tech giant. The statement was quickly revoked and reworded to exclude mentions of Apple, and it has since been reported that talks between Hyundai and Apple have ground to a halt.

Multiple sources have suggested different timeframes for the launch of the Apple Car, with the earliest reports suggesting a release as early as 2024. Bloomberg, however, believes that the car is "nowhere near production stage" and that a release is at least five to seven years away.

Today only, Apple Watch owners can complete a new Apple Watch activity challenge in celebration of Heart Month, which is aimed at promoting cardiovascular health.

The challenge, which is listed in the Fitness app on the iPhone, tasks users with earning 60 minutes on their Exercise ring.

Show your heart some love. Get this award by earning 60 minutes on your Exercise ring this Valentine's Day, February 14.

Completing the challenge will award users with a unique badge viewable in both the Summary tab of the Fitness app on ‌iPhone‌ and the Awards section of the Activity app on Apple Watch.

Activity Challenges are often tied to special occasions or holidays throughout the year, including Earth Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year's. Earlier in February, Apple kicked off a Unity challenge in celebration of black history, tasking users to close their Move rings seven times in a row during the month.

With the launch of iOS 14.4, Apple added a new feature for the HomePod mini that's designed to provide haptic feedback when your iPhone 11 or 12 is near the speaker to facilitate the simpler handing off of songs from one device to another.

When moving your ‌iPhone‌ closer to a ‌HomePod mini‌ after installing the iOS 14.4 update, the ‌iPhone‌ vibrates quicker and quicker as it gets closer to the speaker, and ‌HomePod mini‌ controls pop up on the screen. If you happen to keep your ‌HomePod mini‌ on a desk or another location where it's often close to your ‌iPhone‌, the proximity notifications can get frustrating fast.

If you've run into this problem and want the popups and vibrations to stop, follow these directions:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on "General."
3. Tap on "AirPlay & Handoff."
4. Toggle off "Transfer to HomePod."

With this feature, your ‌iPhone‌ will no longer attempt to transfer music or media to your ‌HomePod mini‌ when it's near the speaker, preventing the haptic feedback and song transfer interface from showing up. The haptic vibrations and transfer features are limited to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, but the option can also be disabled on other iPhones to prevent the standard transfer interface from coming up.

This week saw another good mix of news and rumors, led by the discovery that Apple Maps is going to be gaining Waze-like features for crowdsourcing accidents, hazards, and speed checks.

Intel is also generating some headlines for a new ad campaign and questionable benchmark data aiming targeting Apple's latest M1 Macs, while the long-rumored Apple Car remains in the news with Hyundai/Kia apparently having shot itself in the foot by previously acknowledging it was in talks with Apple to produce the vehicle. Read for details on these stories and more from the past week!

Apple Maps Adds Waze-Like Features in iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which are still in beta, are shaping up to be major software updates for the iPhone and iPad. We already highlighted several new features last week, such as the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch while wearing a mask, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, and AirPlay 2 streaming for Apple Fitness+ workouts, and we've since learned that the update adds new Waze-like features to Apple Maps for crowdsourced accidents, speed traps, and road hazards.

Starting with iOS 14.5, Siri also remembers which streaming music service a user chooses, allowing for third-party services like Spotify to be set as default rather than Apple Music — here's how. This functionality doesn't appear to be working perfectly yet for all users on the beta.

Last, it appears that YouTube's mobile website is once again working with "Picture in Picture" mode on the iOS 14.5 beta. Apple has indicated that iOS 14.5 should launch to the public in "early spring," which likely means some time around late March.

Intel Downplays Apple's M1 Chip With 'Carefully Crafted' Benchmarks

Three months after the launch of Apple's rave-reviewed M1 Macs, Intel has fired back with benchmarks and a new ad campaign, but there are some asterisks involved.

For one, Intel chose some very specific benchmark tasks to demonstrate that Windows laptops powered by its latest 11th Generation Core processors are superior to Macs with Apple's custom M1 chip, such as exporting a PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file.

Intel also used different processor SKUs depending on the test, and switched from the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air for the battery life test, so there are lots of inconsistencies throughout the slideshow.

"Inconsistent test platforms, shifting arguments, omitted data, and the not-so-faint whiff of desperation," said Apple columnist Jason Snell, writing for Six Colors. "Today's M1 processor is a low-end chip for low-end systems, so Intel only has a small window to compare itself favorably to these systems before higher-end Apple silicon Macs ship and make its job that much harder."

Apple Offering Free Battery Replacements for 2016-2017 MacBook Pros That Can't Charge Past 1%

Apple this week 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.

Apple says a "very small number of customers" have experienced an issue with the battery not charging past 1%, and it is offering these customers free battery replacements. Our article provides steps on how to identify your Mac model to see if it is eligible.

If your MacBook Pro has not exhibited this issue, updating to macOS 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 addresses the issue.

Buyer's Guide: Don't Buy a MacBook Pro Now

If you have been thinking about purchasing a new MacBook Pro soon, let this serve as a reminder that now might not be the best time to do so.

In recent weeks, reputable sources like TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman have claimed that some significant changes are coming to the MacBook Pro this year, such as the return of MagSafe charging and more ports, including an SD card reader.

Kuo and Gurman also said that Apple plans to replace the controversial Touch Bar with a physical row of Fn keys, and a modest redesign is expected with flatter edges on the top and bottom of the MacBook Pro. Other expectations include a brighter display and next-generation Apple silicon.

If you do buy a MacBook Pro now, we recommend choosing the lowest-end 13-inch model, which already uses Apple silicon. Otherwise, waiting for the rumored 14-inch and 16-inch models later this year is a wise choice.

Bookmark the MacRumors Buyer's Guide for more purchase recommendations!

Hyundai and Kia Now Say They Aren't in Discussions to Develop Apple Car

Following weeks of rampant "Apple Car" rumors, Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia in regulatory filings this week said they are not (or at least no longer) in discussions with Apple to cooperate on development of a self-driving electric vehicle.

Hyundai last month confirmed that Apple was in discussions with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai. However, the automaker walked back the statement just hours later, and merely said that it had "received requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding development of autonomous EVs."

Bloomberg reported that talks between Apple and Hyundai had "paused recently," adding that Hyundai's original statement and the subsequent reports "upset Apple," a company known for its culture of secrecy.

Apple is still believed to be considering partnerships with other automakers, such as Nissan, Honda, and Mazda. In any case, it is widely believed that the Apple Car is still several years away from becoming a reality.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple and Facebook have been in a very public spat over the course of the last few months as Apple dials up its pro-privacy stance. The two companies have long had tension, but more recently, Facebook is taking shots at an upcoming iOS and iPadOS feature that will require apps and data companies such as Facebook to ask for users' permission before tracking them across other sites and websites.

While for the most part, the war of words between the tech titans has remained professional, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook have also shared a barrage of attacks toward each other. During a 2018 interview in the midst of Facebook's notorious Cambridge Analytica scandal, Cook was asked how he would lead Apple if it were to face a similar crisis. Cook responded by ruling the hypothetical situation out of the question, saying Apple would not be in the situation Facebook was in, thanks to its differing stance on privacy and user data. Zuckerberg shot back, calling Cook's comments on TV "extremely glib" and "not at all aligned with the truth."

Zuckerberg, outraged by Cook's comments and public influence on Facebook's reputation, reportedly told internal aides and team members that Facebook needs to "inflict pain" on Apple, according to sources who spoke on anonymity to The Wall Street Journal. Last month, during the company's earnings call, Zuckerberg called Apple an increasingly bigger threat to Facebook and accused the Cupertino tech giant of using its platforms to interfere with how Facebook operates its own apps.

The day after the public comments, Cook responded indirectly in a speech during the Computers, Privacy, and Data Protection conference where he condemned Facebook and implied that its business model of maximizing engagement leads to division and violence. During the same speech, Cook censured Facebook's potential role in the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, blaming the social media company's algorithms for spreading conspiracy theories.

In December, Facebook ran full-page ads attacking Apple's up-and-coming App Tracking Transparency (ATT) requirement that will force apps to ask for users' permission before tracking them across apps and the internet. Facebook is attacking Apple from the standpoint that ATT will hurt small businesses that rely on personalized ads derived from effective tracking. In response, Cook directly weighed in on Twitter, stating that Apple simply wants to give users a choice about whether they wish to be tracked or not.

Despite the personal jabs and attacks, in a statement given to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook spokeswoman Dani Lever refuted the idea that the tension between the companies is personal, suggesting instead that it was "about the future of the free internet." Facebook states that choosing between tracking users for personalized ads and protecting their privacy is a "false-trade off," claiming that it believes it can provide both. The spokeswoman reiterated past remarks by Facebook stating that Apple's privacy features are not meant to preserve user privacy, but are instead about increasing profit, and that Facebook will join others to highlight Apple's "self-preferencing, anticompetitive behavior."

Apple declined to comment on the report.

Facebook is reportedly planning to take its disapproval with Apple to court, as it's allegedly been preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against the Cupertino-based tech company over its "unfair" approach to privacy with ATT and iMessage. As part of its lawsuit, Facebook is considering partnering with other companies such as Epic Games, which is already embroiled in a massive legal battle with Apple, to propel its antitrust case forward. Facebook may, however, scrap its plans to bring forward any form of legal action against Apple.

Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who leads the Republicans' effort in the Senate antitrust subcommittee, told The ‌Wall Street Journal‌ that the feud between Apple and Facebook sits at the "nexus of privacy and antitrust," and that he doesn't want to "impose regulation that just ends up protecting incumbents and entrenching monopolies."

Apple has committed to launching ATT with iOS and iPadOS 14.5 in the "early spring" and Facebook has seemingly admitted defeat in its failed attempt to stop the new requirement from going into action. Apps have the freedom to customize the prompt that users will receive asking for their permission to be tracked across other apps and the web, and screenshots of Facebook's prompt for its iOS app show that it pleads with users to opt in to tracking in order to receive "a better ads experience."

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CBS has begun reminding subscribers to its CBS All Access streaming service on Apple TV that its rebranding to Paramount+ will launch on March 4.

CBS All Access, which is available as an individual ‌Apple TV‌ Channels subscription, appears to have rolled out its ad awareness campaign on the streaming service in the last day or two.

CBS All Access is becoming Paramount+ on March 4, but as a CBS All Access subscriber, you don't have to do a thing. You'll have full access to Paramount+ via your existing Apple TV Channels subscription.

Meet you on the mount, March 4.

The rebrand will be accompanied by new titles from other ViacomCBS-owned channels including Paramount, CBS, MTV, and BET.

Original content intended to lure new subscribers and retain existing ones include The Offer, a 10-episode scripted mini-series about the making of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, a new version of MTV's Behind The Music, and a renewal of The Game.

What the ad campaign doesn't mention is that come March 4, the service will no longer be awailable to subscribers who use a third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ to access it, as third-party developers slowly end support for the eight-year-old device.

• How to Subscribe to Apple TV Channels Using the Apple TV App

Earlier this week, subscribers using third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models started seeing a prompt when they opened the CBS All Access app that their access would end next month.

The new Paramount+ app will not be available on the second and third-generation ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ models, but it will be watchable on the fourth and fifth-generation ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ models. It will also be available on iPhone and iPad, which means third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ owners will at least be able to AirPlay it to their older set-top box.

Third-generation ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ users who are looking to upgrade to a newer model may want to hold off for the time being as Apple is rumored to be introducing a new ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ set-top box at some point this year. The fifth-generation ‌‌Apple TV‌‌, which is the current newest version, was released in 2017.

(Thanks, Michael!)

Google today finally updated its YouTube iOS app for the first time in over two months, becoming one of the highest-profile Google apps to see an update since early December when Apple began requiring that developers disclose privacy practices for each of their apps in order to have their updates approved.

Most of Google's apps have yet to be updated since the requirement went into effect, even though Google said in early January that it would be adding privacy data for its apps within the following week or so.

Google had actually already added privacy information for the YouTube app prior to today's update, as noted earlier this month by Apple Terminal. Still, it's notable that the app itself has seen its first update since December 7, as Google has typically pushed updates for the YouTube app every week or two.

Many other major Google apps like Google, Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Meet have still not been updated and do not have privacy information displayed on their App Store listings. Google-owned Waze did finally update its iOS app a few days ago, adding privacy information as part of the update as required by Apple.

Google has denied that it is holding back iOS app updates in order to delay revealing its privacy practices, but many users have found that hard to believe considering the sudden slowing of app updates coinciding with Apple's disclosure deadline and continued updates for Google's various Android apps.

Earlier this week, the Gmail iOS app even began displaying "out of date" warnings when trying to add a new account, even though there is no new version of the app available and there have been no updates to the Gmail iOS app since December 1.