Google is reportedly testing a dark mode for its desktop web search site, following a trend of introducing darker user interfaces across its mobile apps.
Image via 9to5Google
Apple introduced Dark Mode in macOS Mojave and iOS 13, and support for the system-wide option is now a staple feature of most third-party apps on both mobile and desktop.
For example, Google has added belated support for Dark Mode to its Gmail and Search apps, but it looks like Google for desktop web could be on its way, too.
According to 9to5Google, the tech giant is performing A/B testing of a dark interface for desktop-based browser searches for a random selection of users.
Instead of the traditional plain white background, users are seeing a dark grey color on the Google search page, with results appearing in lighter text. Black text is now gray, while a different shade of blue is being used for page names/links.
Other affected page elements include the Google logo altered to match the background, and the search filters like Images and News, which are now blue.
It's not clear how long Google plans to test the feature before rolling it out to all users, but if it's anything like how long it took to bring Dark Mode to Gmail, it could be a while yet.
In the meantime, users who want to try a web browsing experience that's easier on the eyes should check out the browser extension Dark Reader, available for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
An Apple TV+ series chronicling the rise of controversial blogging network Gawker Media was reportedly canned after Tim Cook learned about the project and intervened, according to a new report.
Earlier this year, Vanity Fair claimed Apple was in the early stages of developing a series about Gawker. Called "Scraper," the series was reportedly pitched by two former Gawker staffers, Max Read and Cord Jefferson.
According to a New York Times report on Sunday, however, Apple scrapped the show after Cook heard about its development. Sources told the publication that Cook was "surprised" to learn Apple was making the show and emailed an Apple executive to express his "distinctly negative view" towards the project.
Mr. Cook, according to two people briefed on the email, was surprised to learn that his company was making a show about Gawker, which had humiliated the company at various times and famously outed him, back in 2008, as gay. He expressed a distinctly negative view toward Gawker, the people said. Apple proceeded to kill the project. And now, the show is back on the market and the executive who brought it in, Layne Eskridge, has left the company. Gawker, it seems, is making trouble again.
As the report notes, Apple had a fraught relationship with the now-defunct media company. Notably in 2010, it was Gawker-owned Gizmodo that got its hands on an iPhone 4 prototype that had been accidentally left in a bar by an Apple employee.
This isn't the first time we've heard about Apple executives influencing Apple TV+ content development. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported that Cook killed off a Dr Dre biopic "Vital Signs" after being troubled by the show's scenes depicting drawn guns, sex, and drug use.
In addition, Sunday's NYT report claims that Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP for internet software and services, has informed Apple TV+ partners that "the two things we will never do are hard-core nudity and China."
As the report notes, Apple has explained its "corporate red lines" to creators before. As early as 2018, when Apple's original programming production got underway, company executives reportedly gave guidance to some show creators to "avoid portraying China in a bad light."
The full report about the Gawker show development and Tim Cook's intervention is available to read at The New York Times.
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.
Workers reportedly went on the rampage at an iPhone production plant in India on Sunday and caused widespread damage to the Wistron-run factory over claims of unpaid wages.
Video posted on social media showed smashed CCTV cameras and glass panels, broken lights and upturned vehicles at Wistron's manufacturing facility in Bangalore. According to the Times of India, many of the 2,000 employees leaving at the end of their Friday-night shift were involved in the violence.
Disgruntled staff claimed that they have not been fully paid for four months and are being forced to do extra shifts. One worker alleged an engineering graduate was promised Rs 21,000 ($285) per month, but instead they initially got Rs 16,000 ($217), which had been reduced down to Rs 12,000 ($163) in the last three months. Non-engineering graduates' monthly salary was said to have been reduced to Rs 8,000 ($108).
According to a worker who spoke to the Times, employees had started discussing their salaries and some alleged that they had received as low as Rs 500 ($7) in their bank accounts. The anger had turned into violence by the time the shift ended.
1/4 #Violence at @Apple#iPhone production plant run by Taiwan-based #Wistron Corp at Narasapura near #Bengaluru in India Nearly 2,000 employees, alleged not been paid, went on a rampage destroying the company’s furniture, assembly units and even attempted to set fire to vehicles pic.twitter.com/qtlHyJiRAh
— Crisbin Joseph Mathew (@CrisbinJoseph) December 12, 2020
According to BBC News, Apple partner Wistron told AFP news agency that "the incident was caused by people of unknown identities from outside who intruded into and damaged its facility with unclear intentions."
Wistron employs about 15,000 workers at the factory, according to local media, with most contracted via recruitment firms. Indian police reportedly arrested over 100 staff as a result of the rampage. Wistron said it would resume operations as soon as possible.
Bangalore is the capital of southern Karnataka state and is India's technology hub.
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.
Apple last week announced the AirPods Max, the first Apple-branded over-ear headphones. Now, AirPods Max preorders are beginning to ship to customers around the world ahead of the December 15 launch date.
Although several orders for the headphones are still in the "Processing" or "Preparing to Ship" stages, one MacRumors reader has shared a screenshot of an AirPods Max order marked as "Shipped" on Apple's online store.
Priced at $549, AirPods Max have a mesh headband with a stainless steel frame that connects to memory foam ear cups. The headphones offer several features including high-fidelity audio, Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, and spatial audio. Many reviewers have been impressed by the sound quality of the headphones.
AirPods Max will be available starting on December 15 in the United States and over 25 markets worldwide, according to Apple. Delivery estimates for all five AirPods Max colors have already slipped into 2021 on Apple.com, suggesting that either Apple is facing supply constraints or demand for the headphones is quite high.
Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphone lineup is set to be released in 2021, and a new video shared on YouTube compares an alleged Samsung Galaxy S21+ with an iPhone 12 Pro.
The back of the iPhone 12 Pro features precision-milled matte glass, while the back of the alleged Galaxy S21+ seems to be constructed from a plastic-like material. Additionally, the three distinct cameras of the Galaxy S21+ appear to be arranged vertically, whereas the cameras of the iPhone 12 Pro are arranged in a triangular-shaped array. The individual cameras themselves look to be approximately the same size in both smartphones.
On the front of the Galaxy S21+, the bezels seem to have decreased in size. Similar to the current Galaxy S20 lineup, the smartphone appears to maintain the current hole-punch selfie camera centered in the top portion of the display.
Another difference between the two smartphones will be their respective chips, as Apple has fitted the latest iPhone 12 models with its own A14 Bionic chip. Samsung is rumored to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 chips in its new smartphones depending on the region, according to PhoneArena.
When first announced that the iPhone 12 lineup and other iPhone models wouldn't ship with a power adapter and headphones, Samsung mocked Apple on its social channels by pointing out that the Samsung Galaxy smartphones continue to ship with a power adapter. However, recent reports have said that Samsung may too remove the power adapter and headphones from its smartphones beginning with the Galaxy S21 lineup.
Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri and former Chief Design Officer Jony Ive are reportedly candidates to be Ferrari's next CEO, reports Reuters, citing Italian media.
Former Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri departed the company last week citing personal reasons, and potential successors have since emerged, among those reportedly being Maestri and Ive. Additionally, former Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao was allegedly in the running for the position, but Reuters says a source close to Colao has called the claim "groundless."
It remains to be seen if Maestri or Ive would be interested in pursuing such a position. Maestri has held the position of Apple's CFO since 2014 and previously served as the company's Corporate Controller. Ive left Apple in 2019 to form an independent design company named LoveFrom, and Apple said it would remain one of Ive's primary clients.
It's not uncommon for Apple executives to be named as potential candidates for a CEO position. Johny Srouji, Apple's chipmaking chief, was reportedly on Intel's list of candidates for its CEO position in 2019. The position was ultimately filled by Bob Swan.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today delivered a brief speech during the 2020 Climate Ambition Summit, stressing that leaders of nations and companies around the world have a "burden to act" to address climate change during this "moment of historic urgency." The summit is co-hosted by the United Nations, United Kingdom, and France.
In his prepared remarks, Cook highlighted Apple's environmental initiatives, including its global facilities being powered by 100% renewable energy and its ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain and product usage by 2030.
Cook's full speech:
Thank you to all of the advocates and leaders joining us today. This is an important gathering, and we at Apple don't take our presence in this group lightly. We wear it as a badge of duty. At this moment of historic urgency, every leader of nations, of companies, and of communities has a particular burden to act. This year, Apple has accelerated our progress. We became carbon neutral for our worldwide corporate emissions. Already, we're helping 95 of our suppliers transition to 100% renewable energy, a number we continue to grow. We've unveiled a plan, unrivalled in its ambition, to achieve carbon neutrality for our entire supply chain and product usage by 2030 — 20 years before the goal set by the United Nations. We see every part of our device lifecycle, from design, to manufacturing, to durability and repair, to recycling, as an opportunity for environmental innovation, moving us towards our goal of a closed-loop supply chain. The choice between the bottom line and the future of our planet is a false one, and each new green innovation offers the proof. This is no time for changes of the margins. Together, we can transition to a carbon-neutral economy and usher in a new era of inclusive opportunity. This is a moment for ambition, cooperation, and leadership. We at Apple are proud to be your partner, and we call on companies and governments around the world to do all we can to make 2021 the year we turn the corner for good.
Last month, the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee said tech companies like Apple are contributing to e-waste by making their products difficult to repair, and charging expensive repair fees. The committee added that the current business model for electronics is "reliant on continuous consumption, a throwaway culture and short-lived products," and called on tech companies to embrace environmentally-friendly business models.
In a statement, Apple said that it was "surprised and disappointed" with the Environmental Audit Committee's report, arguing that it "does not reflect any of Apple's efforts to conserve resources and protect the planet we all share."
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.
While the iPhone 12 lineup launched later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today forecasted that mass production of so-called iPhone 13 models with a new A15 chip will revert back to Apple's usual timeframe.
In a typical year, Apple begins mass production of iPhones in the early summer, but reports indicated that mass production of iPhone 12 models did not begin until September, leading Apple to postpone its usual iPhone event in September until October for the first time since 2011. iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models launched on October 23, followed by the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max on November 13.
Kuo also dismissed concerns that Apple supplier TSMC's capacity utilization rate for A14 chips is set to drop from 100% to 80% in the first quarter of 2021, noting that this is largely due to seasonality factors. The analyst said iPhone demand remains strong, particularly for iPhone 12 Pro models, which have faced some camera-related component shortages contributing to extended shipping estimates on Apple.com.
With mass production of iPhone 13 models expected to follow a more typical schedule next year, it is certainly possible that the devices could be unveiled in September again as usual, but nothing is for certain amid the global health crisis.
The Apple product launches just keep on coming, with Apple this week introducing AirPods Max, the premium over-ear headphones that were rumored over the past few months under the "AirPods Studio" name.
We also learned this week that Apple's Fitness+ subscription service will be launching on Monday, December 14 alongside the release of iOS 14.3 and related operating system updates, while we heard a bit more about Apple's ambitions for future Mac chips based on Apple silicon. Check out the details on those stories and more below!
Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549
Key features of the AirPods Max include high-fidelity audio powered by an Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup, spatial audio, active noise cancellation, and adaptive EQ. Design wise, the headphones have magnetically-attachable memory foam ear cushions, stainless steel telescoping arms, and a headband with a "breathable knit mesh" that distributes weight to reduce on-head pressure, according to Apple.
Similar to the Apple Watch, AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown on one ear cup for precise volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri voice control. There's also a noise control button for switching between active noise cancellation and transparency mode, which lets some outside sound in so you can interact naturally with your surroundings.
AirPods Max feature up to 20 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation and spatial audio enabled, and they come with a carrying case called the "Smart Case" that puts the headphones in an ultra-low power state that helps to preserve battery charge when not in use.
Priced at $549, the AirPods Max are significantly more expensive than some other popular over-ear headphones, including Sony's WH-1000XM4, which are currently priced as low as $278. AirPods Max can be ordered now, with availability starting December 15, but the headphones are already backordered until March on Apple.com. There are five color options, including silver, space gray, green, sky blue, and pink.
AirPods Max Unboxing Videos: 'More Than Good Enough to Compete With Other High-End Headphones'
While more time is needed for in-depth reviews and comparisons, The Verge's Nilay Patel said AirPods Max sound "more than good enough to compete with other high-end headphones." Likewise, CNET's David Carnoy believes AirPods Max "raise the noise-canceling bar," edging out both Sony's WH-1000XM4 and Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 in his testing.
AirPods Max come with a magnetic carrying case called the "Smart Case," which puts the headphones in an ultra-low power state to preserve battery charge when not in use, according to Apple. The case has already become the butt of a joke on social media, and many of the first impressions articles shared so far agreed that the case looks rather peculiar.
More detailed reviews of the AirPods Max will be available following their launch on December 15, so stay tuned for more coverage.
Apple Fitness+ will provide users with access to a library of workout videos related to strength, yoga, dance, running, walking, cycling, rowing, and more, with new content delivered each week from a team of trainers hired by Apple. Fitness+ integrates personal metrics such as heart rate from the Apple Watch to motivate users, animating them on the screen during key moments in the workout.
Fitness+ requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later. The workout videos can be watched on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
Priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, Fitness+ will automatically appear as a new tab in the Fitness app on iPhone, while iPad users will be able to download the Fitness app from the App Store. On the Apple TV, the Fitness app will automatically appear once users upgrade to tvOS 14.3.
Next-Generation Apple Silicon Chips for Macs Could Include 16- and 32-Core Options
Last month, Apple released its first Macs with its custom-designed M1 chip, including a new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Ian King, Apple is working on several successors to the M1 chip for new MacBook Pro and iMac models next year, including designs with as many as 16 power cores and four efficiency cores. And for a future Mac Pro planned for launch by 2022, Apple is said to be testing a chip design with as many as 32 high-performance cores.
Apple is also said to be working on ambitious graphics chips that will feature between 16 and 128 cores depending on the Mac model. These chips could be introduced in late 2021 or potentially 2022.
Useful macOS Big Sur Features You Might Not Know
macOS Big Sur has been out for about a month now, but macOS releases never get quite as much attention as iOS releases, so there may still be some features that you're not aware of. In our latest YouTube video, we rounded up some useful but lesser known macOS Big Sur tips that are worth checking out on the Mac.
One example is drag-and-drop menu bar icons. If you open up the Control Center on macOS Big Sur, you can click and drag on any of the options to add it to the menu bar. So if you want Do Not Disturb to have a one-click menu bar toggle, just drag it to the menu bar from Control Center. This works for music playback controls, AirDrop, Do Not Disturb, and more.
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.
Apple this week updated its Apple Pay page in Mexico to make it clear that the payment service will not be launching in the country until 2021. The website now says "Disponible en el 2021," which means available in 2021.
Signs of Apple Pay in Mexico first surfaced in March 2020 when some iPhone users in Mexico were able to add their Banregio cards to the Wallet app after changing their region to the United States, suggesting Apple Pay support was in the works.
Apple in October 2020 added an Apple Pay page to its Mexico website, and the addition of Apple Pay details is usually a sign of an imminent launch. It's not clear if there has been some kind of delay, but prior to now, the page only said "Coming Soon" with no specific release date listed.
There's no word yet on which banks will support Apple Pay as the page says it will be compatible with "credit and debit cards of the most important payment networks, issued by various banks." The page also features American Express, Visa, and Mastercard logos.
When Apple Pay launches in Mexico, it will be the second Latin American country to support the service. Apple Pay launched in Brazil in 2018, but it has not yet expanded to other countries in Latin America.
Apple maintains a complete list of the countries where Apple Pay is available on its support site, and we have an Apple Pay roundup with everything you need to know about Apple's payments service.
Microsoft today announced the first preview of x64 emulation for Arm PCs, with the feature now available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. That means Windows users who have Arm PCs like the Surface Pro X can now install apps that have not been ported to Arm64.
When we first launched Windows 10 on ARM in late 2017, the long tail of apps customers needed were dominated by 32-bit-only x86 applications, so we focused our efforts on building an x86 emulator that could run the broad ecosystem of Windows apps seamlessly and transparently. Over time, the ecosystem has moved more toward 64-bit-only x64 apps and we've heard the feedback that customers would like to see those x64 apps running on ARM64. That's why we are working on expanding the capability of our emulation to include x64 applications and sharing this first preview to gather feedback.
Microsoft says that while it is expanding the capabilities of its emulator, it recommends that developers implement native Arm support for the best possible app experience.
In the new preview, Windows users can install x64 apps from the Microsoft Store or from other locations, with Microsoft highlighting the availability of x64-only apps like Autodesk Sketchbook and games like Rocket League. Other apps will benefit from being run as 64-bit instead of 32-bit, such as Chrome.
Microsoft says that the new emulation feature is still in the early stages of testing and will continue to improve in compatibility and performance over time, and some of the apps that are run in emulation may not work initially.
Users who are expecting a smooth emulation experience should not get their hopes up because as The Verge points out, Microsoft's prior emulation work has not been fantastic, with apps loading and running slowly.
Microsoft has not been able to match Apple's work with Rosetta 2, which is designed to allow M1 Mac users to run Intel-based apps on their machines. Rosetta 2 has proven to be streamlined and speedy, with none of the emulation complaints that Microsoft has faced.
Though an Arm version of Windows is available for PCs, Windows is not compatible with Apple's M1 Macs due to licensing issues. Microsoft only provides Windows 10 on Arm to PC manufacturers to preinstall on their hardware and does not offer a consumer version.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Arlo to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Arlo Pro 3 camera system that comes with two cameras and an Arlo SmartHub base station.
Priced at $499.99 for the two camera kit, the Arlo Pro 3 includes two wire-free cameras that can be placed anywhere inside or outside the home, both of which are controlled by the HomeKit-connected hub. More cameras can be added in the future for a whole-home security system, and setup is as simple and straightforward as any other HomeKit product.
The Arlo Pro 3 features a 2K ultra high definition resolution with a wide 160-degree viewing angle that allows for full visibility of an entire room or outdoor area. The camera has a six month battery life so there's no need to charge it regularly.
There's an integrated spotlight that you can set to come on to scare off would-be intruders, along with a loud siren sound. Both of these features can be set to be activated with motion or manually. You can also talk to people through the camera using two-way audio capabilities.
For when it's dark, there's a built-in night mode that displays full color night vision, a useful feature as many other similar cameras have a night mode that's just black and white. The Arlo Pro 3 cameras can be mounted anywhere with a magnetic mount, and there's also an included weatherproof magnetic charging cable. The weather-resistant camera design allows the Arlo Pro 3 to withstand heat, cold, rain, and sunlight.
The Arlo cameras come with a three free month Arlo Smart trial, which provides personalized notifications, advanced people detection, cloud activity zones, and offers a 30-day recording history. Arlo's plans start at $2.99 per month for a single camera.
We have an Arlo Pro 3 setup with two cameras to give away to a MacRumors reader. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (December 11) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 18. The winner will be chosen randomly on December 18 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Apple today shared a new trailer for the second season of Apple TV+ show "Dickinson," which is set to premiere on Friday, January 8.
In "Dickinson," Hailee Steinfeld plays famous American poet Emily Dickinson and the show uses humor to explore the constraints of society, gender, and family from Dickinson's perspective.
The second season will see Dickinson pulled from her quiet literary life and thrust into the public eye as she gets her work published.
"Dickinson" was one of the first Apple TV+ shows to premiere, launching when the service first debuted. It will also be one of the first shows to get a second season, and it's already been renewed for a third season.
Caviar, a Russian company known for creating extravagant and expensive replacement casings for iPhones, has revealed a new customized iPhone 12 Pro that uses a fragment of the original Apple I's circuitry.
The custom iPhone 12 Pro is styled as a homage to the original Apple I, which was the first computer to be made by Apple. The custom casing features a back panel made of wood that resembles that used on the Apple I, a glossy titanium miniature monitor and keyboard buttons, Apple lettering in the style of the original, and most importantly, an exclusive fragment of the Apple I's circuitry.
Only 63 Apple I computers have been confirmed to still exist, and they have been known to fetch around $400,000 at auction. One of these has been cut up into pieces to make the Caviar Apple I iPhone 12 Pro.
The Apple I was released in 1976. Each was hand-built by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The computer was unique because, unlike other machines sold at the time, all users required was a keyboard and a television set to use it. Many of the originals were destroyed by Apple when users traded them in for Apple IIs, contributing to their rarity today.
Only nine copies of the custom iPhone 12 Pro will be created, and there is a variant for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with options available for storage. Prices start at $9,990 for the base configuration.
Yesterday, Caviar launched a custom iPhone 12 Pro in the style of the iPhone 4, with a fragment of Steve Jobs' famous turtleneck embedded in the Apple logo.
Update: A new video from YouTube channel Computer Clan has made the case that the Caviar Apple I iPhone 12 Pro uses a fake piece of an Apple I computer, contrary to what Caviar advertises.
Raising the question of "why would you destroy such a rare and valuable piece of computer history just to make an iPhone case," the video highlights Caviar's pricing inconsistency for the Apple I themed-iPhone 12 Pro. This is because the value of an Apple I motherboard far surpasses the cost of the nine Caviar iPhones that are going on sale, meaning that each would have to be sold at a major loss.
Caviar's product photos, which appear to be GCI renderings, are also inconsistent between Caviar's video and its webpage.
The photo of the Apple I board on the Caviar website has no components soldered to it, which is extremely unusual. Some of the images were also found to be an edited copy of a picture of a replica Apple I motherboard from eBay.
Computer Clan has set out its intention to investigate further by attempting to obtain a piece of the Apple I computer from Caviar to verify its authenticity.
Aira this week announced that it has received a strategic investment from automotive supplier Motherson to help bring its FreePower wireless charging technology to automakers. The companies aim to jointly develop, manufacture, and supply automotive-grade FreePower wireless charging modules for seamless integration into vehicle interiors.
Unlike traditional wireless charging mats, which require devices to be precisely aligned in order to charge, FreePower allows for full surface charging from corner to corner. The proprietary technology can accommodate different surface sizes and any number of Qi-enabled devices, including the latest iPhones and AirPods with a wireless charging case. One exception is the Apple Watch, which does not work with standard Qi chargers.
Aira envisions a vehicle with a large wireless charging surface spanning the center console, on which Qi-enabled devices could be placed to charge, with total freedom of movement. The exact implementation would likely be up to automakers, as some might want to incorporate cupholders and other features alongside the charging surface.
In September, accessory maker Nomad released the Base Station Pro wireless charging mat as the first product with FreePower integration. Priced at $199.95, the Base Station Pro has 18 charging coils that allow for three Qi-enabled devices to be charged at once, regardless of their position on the mat. This solution is similar to what Apple aimed to achieve with its canceled AirPower mat, although it lacks support for the Apple Watch.
No timeframe was offered for when we might see the first vehicles with support for FreePower. Aira also wants to expand the technology to furniture like desks and nightstands, as well as restaurants, airports, hotels, and more.
Meross makes a range of HomeKit-compatible smart home devices for multiple regions around the world. The Meross Smart Power Strip and Smart Plug are some of the company's most popular products and both work with Apple HomeKit.
Meross's smart plugs are among the more affordable HomeKit-compatible devices on the market, and the company offers the option to buy them in cheaper multi-packs for your smart home setup. Meross also offers a smart power strip with four USB ports and HomeKit control for each individual plug on the strip.
Although my Meross devices were for UK power outlets, the company also sells its smart plug and smart power strip with the correct pins for the U.S., EU, Australia, and France.
Unboxing
Both devices were boxed and presented as well as you'd expect for a smart home device. Meross seems to have taken some packaging cues from Apple and used a very similar matte white cardboard to many Apple products.
Design and Build
The Meross smart plug is housed in a matte white plastic shell, with a large, flush button on the top. In spite of its lower price point, the Meross smart plug is actually smaller and slightly slimmer than other leading smart plugs such as those offered by Elgato Eve.
However, the plug feels hollow and much lighter than other smart plugs that I have used. While weight and feel in the hand is hardly important for a stationary smart home device, it is worth noting that this does make it feel somewhat cheap.
The smart power strip has a matte finish on the top, a beveled edge, and glossy plastic around the sides. Each plug is surrounded by a recess to highlight it. Although any power strip can scarcely be described as good-looking, the Meross power strip looks like a slightly more thoughtfully-designed item.
Rubberized feet on the bottom keep the strip in place when it is flat on the floor, but there are also four screw-holes if you want to wall-mount it, as is common for surge protectors and power strips.
The smart power strip feels markedly higher quality than the smart plug, even if it does also feel too hollow, but this is perhaps to be expected in light of its higher price tag. Neither is particularly impressive when it comes to design or build quality, but as items that users will generally want to keep out of sight, this is hardly very important.
Features
Both devices work over Wi-Fi, but unlike many other smart home devices, such as Philips Hue smart lighting, there is no need to use a central hub connected to the router.
Both devices make use of LEDs to indicate their status. The smart plug has a bright LED under the power button, which shows a green or orange Meross logo when illuminated, depending on whether it is powered on or connecting. However, the plastic is so thin on the smart plug that it leaks out much of the light elsewhere, which diminishes the look.
The smart power strip has many more LEDs than the smart plug: one for each of the power outlets, including the USB ports, and one on the power button. The light leak issue is virtually negligible on this device, and the small, bright LEDs are an excellent indicator of status. I can see exactly which outlets are switched on from across the room.
The power strip also has four 4.0A standard USB ports on its left-hand side, as well as the four main power outlets, for charging devices. I personally would have preferred USB-C ports and the ability to charge at faster speeds, but in addition to the other four power outlets, the USB ports are a good addition to the product and have already come in handy. The power strip seems ideal for adding an entire desk's worth of devices and chargers to HomeKit.
The devices can be manually controlled by clicking their power button, just in case you do not have a controller device nearby or your Wi-Fi is down. The single button on the power strip activates or deactivates all of the outlets at once, and there is no manual option to control each outlet individually. Considering users will likely seldom use the manual controls, turning on and off all of the outlets at once seems fair in this instance.
When powered up, the plugs offer a loud click noise. While I appreciated the click to confirm that it was now powered, I can also see that this may be a nuisance to users who might want things to power on or off quietly, such as during the night.
Setup
Although Meross does have its own app, it is not necessary to use it at all if you pair the devices using HomeKit. In theory, you need only open the Home app on your iPhone, tap Add Accessory, and scan the code on the device.
However, I had some major issues setting up both Meross devices. For reasons still unbeknownst to me, the devices repeatedly failed to connect with the Home app. After a lengthy back-and-forth with Meross support to troubleshoot the problem, I finally managed to get the devices working correctly with the Home app.
I was advised to set about a long list of complex and largely unintelligible troubleshooting operations, including toggling MAC address filtering on my router, using a different iPhone, and logging out of iCloud, among other steps. The only way I could successfully pair the devices, in the end, was by completely disabling my router's firewall and the 5GHz portion of the network. Although the devices are now working seamlessly, I must say that this was the most irksome, difficult, and invasive HomeKit pairing process that I have ever experienced. Someone with less technical know-how would have found this troubleshooting process, simply to get the devices paired, almost impossible.
HomeKit Support
Once the devices were finally paired, they provided a consistent and reliable connection to the Home app. Unlike some of the other HomeKit devices I use, the Meross offerings were unfailingly connected to my network. I have yet to experience a "no response" alert and they are seamlessly quick to react to commands.
Better still, I was pleased to see that the smart power strip offered individual control over each of its power outlets, including the USB ports. This allows for precise control over each of the outlets, and it is possible to rename and change the icon for each one in the Home app. Integration with this lesser-known Home app functionality is exactly what one would want from a smart home strip.
The Bottom Line
The fact that Meross's devices work without an individual app or a central hub makes the experience more seamless than many other HomeKit devices, and I cannot fault the consistency of the connection.
However, there is no doubt that the unorthodox, insecure, and demanding pairing process made it a frustrating and time-consuming experience. I do not believe it is a reasonable expectation of consumers to toggle dozens of setting on their phone, or worse still, their router, simply to pair a basic smart home device. Had I not been reviewing the devices, I likely would have given up before getting them to work. Sadly, I do not seem to be alone in experiencing these issues, according to a plethora of Amazon reviews.
That said, not everyone will have this bad experience, and the majority of reviewers on Amazon seem to be contented with their pairing process. Furthermore, Meross support was nothing if not inventive in presenting solutions to my issue. It's only a shame it took hours to troubleshoot the problems, which on balance, really does not seem worth it for these devices.
The Meross smart plug works as well as one would expect for what it is. For users setting about larger HomeKit setups, the ability to batch-purchase these outlets at a cost-effective price point may present an attractive option. The Meross smart power strip is a more impressive piece of kit. The individual control of the outlets through the Home app offers extraordinary versatility. Overall, providing you can get them working in the first place, the Meross smart plug and smart power strip make a valuable addition to any HomeKit setup.
Amazon today has returned the AirPods with Charging Case down to $109.99, from $159.00, following a discount of $18.99 applied at checkout. We previously saw this pair of AirPods go to $99 over Black Friday, and this subsequent deal appeared shortly thereafter.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
While not the deepest discount, it's now likely the best price you'll find on the AirPods before Christmas. Stock won't arrive until December 21, but Amazon is still guaranteeing Christmas delivery if ordered soon. You can also lock in the $109.99 sale price if you order today.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Apple Music includes new animated album artwork in the latest beta versions of iOS 14.3 and macOS 11.1, indicating that the feature will likely come to subscribers of the streaming service next week.
Apple Music gained animated playlist artwork with the release of iOS 14, but it looks like Apple is now extending the feature to select album covers in iOS 14.3, too.
Animated album art in Apple Music has been spotted by a Redditor on albums including "12 Questions" by Future Utopia, "Detroit 2" by Big Sean, and Pearl Jam's "Gigaton."
The animations are short and appear similar to live wallpapers on iOS, showcasing brief and colorful sequences that apparently loop infinitely.
As noted by 9to5Mac, on iPhone the animated artwork takes up half of the screen, but they're the same size as regular album artwork on iPad and Mac.
Apart from all being new releases, it's not clear what Apple's selection criteria is for adding the animations to albums, but more are likely to be introduced when iOS 14.3 is released to the public on Monday.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
