In a recently updated support document, Apple has indicated that its new MagSafe Charger will be limited to 12W peak power delivery when used with the upcoming iPhone 12 mini, compared to up to 15W for all other iPhone 12 models.
Apple says the iPhone 12 mini can achieve this 12W with a USB-C Power Delivery power adapter that is at or above 9V/2.03A. However, the support document notes that power delivered to any iPhone 12 model at any moment will vary depending on various factors, including temperature and system activity.
For other iPhone 12 models, peak 15W power can be achieved with a USB-C Power Delivery power adapter at or above 9V/2.22A or 9V/2.56A, according to Apple.
The support document also notes that when Lightning accessories such as EarPods are connected to any iPhone 12 model, the MagSafe Charger is limited to 7.5W charging to comply with regulatory standards.
Apple says the MagSafe Charger should be connected to a power source before placing an iPhone on it, as this allows the charger to verify that it is safe to deliver maximum power. If you place your iPhone on the MagSafe Charger before plugging it in, simply remove your iPhone, wait three seconds, and then put it back on to resume maximum power delivery.
MagSafe is a new feature on all iPhone 12 models that allows for magnetic accessories to be attached to the back of the devices, including Apple's MagSafe Charger for more precise wireless charging. The MagSafe Charger is available now for $39, while the iPhone 12 mini will be available to pre-order starting this Friday, November 6.
The first hands-on video and images of Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro leather cases have been shared online by German site Macerkopf.
The video and images were reportedly sent to Macerkopf by a reader who obtained a selection of cases early. One case for each of the three device sizes, encompassing the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 mini, are shown in Black and Saddle Brown.
The cases appear to be mostly similar to Apple's leather cases from previous years, with metal buttons and a soft-touch interior, but with the exception of a ring on the inside of the case to indicate MagSafe's array of magnets. The leather cases also seem to fully cover the bottom of the device like Apple's new silicone cases for added protection.
Although Apple's clear and silicone cases for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have been on sale for some time, the leather cases have not yet been made available to customers.
Apple's full selection of leather cases with MagSafe for the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available from this Friday, alongside pre-orders of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Christopher Walken has been cast in a lead role in upcoming Apple thriller series "Severance," reports Deadline.
Image via Deadline
The 77-year-old Oscar-winning actor will star alongside Patricia Arquette and Adam Scott, who has taken on another lead role in the series. Other actors already on board include Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower and John Turturro.
"Severance" has been described as a workplace thriller set at a company called Lumen Industries that's aiming to take work-life balance to a new level. Walken will play Burt, the department Head of Optics and Design at Lumen Industries, while Scott will play Mark, an employee with a dark past, and Arquette will play Mark's boss.
"Severance" is being directed and produced by Ben Stiller, and was created by Dan Erickson. It comes from Endeavor Content, a company also producing current Apple TV+ shows "See" and "Truth Be Told."
Apple has yet to announce a launch date for "Severance," but it has been ordered straight-to-series with a 10-episode first season.
Apple's unreleased MagSafe Duo Charger has passed Korea's National Radio Research Agency (NRRA) compliance test, a possible indication that the wireless charging pad is almost ready for shipment.
Apple announced the MagSafe Duo during its iPhone 12 launch event in October. The charging accessory is vaguely reminiscent of Apple's canceled AirPower charging mat, featuring space to charge both an iPhone 12 and Apple Watch (but not AirPods) at the same time.
Apple hasn't provided specific availability or price details for the charging pad, and it's not yet listed on Apple's online store. Apple's iPhone 12 press release simply says that it will be arriving at a "later date."
However, we still have pre-orders to come for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max starting on Friday, November 6, and there is one more Apple event this year on November 10, when Apple is expected to announce its first Apple Silicon powered Macs, so it's not unreasonable to suppose we could see the MagSafe Duo launch around one of these dates, too.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new and improved way to manage storage in the app, helping users identify, select and bulk delete GIFs, photos, and videos that may be filling up their phone.
The new tool groups together large files and media that has been forwarded many times, sorting files by size in descending order, and providing a way to preview files before deleting them. Users can also see a preview of media before selecting one or multiple files to delete.
The new storage management interface is rolling out globally this week. Users will be able to navigate to the new tool by going to Settings -> Data and Storage Usage -> Manage Storage.
In a related development that could also bear on storage, WhatsApp is reportedly bringing a disappearing messages feature to the popular chat platform soon. According to WABetaInfo, the feature will allow users to set all new messages in a chat to expire after seven days.
Alongside the MagSafe cases and the MagSafe Charger that Apple introduced with the iPhone 12, there's also a Leather Wallet that has magnets at the back so it can attach right to an iPhone as an add-on accessory. Leather Wallets became available for purchase over the weekend, so we picked one up to see if it's a worthwhile alternative to a traditional wallet.
Design wise, the $59 iPhone Leather Wallet comes in a soft European leather that's available in Baltic Blue, California Poppy (a deep yellow color with a bit of orange), Saddle Brown, and Black. It's lightweight, compact, and minimal, and it looks great on the back of an iPhone.
You can fit somewhere around two to three cards in the Leather Wallet, and it's best not to attempt to add in more because leather is known for stretching and wearing. At the back of the Leather Wallet, there's a little cutout for the thumb that's meant to make it simple to slide a card out, but it takes some time to master the gesture due to the fit of the cards inside.
A three card capacity may work for some people, but for those who have multiple credit cards plus a driver's license or ID, the Leather Wallet might not be ideal. The Leather Wallet can attach directly to an iPhone 12 or to a MagSafe case, and it displays a little animation on the iPhone's screen to let you know when it's connected.
When it comes to magnet strength, the magnet in the Leather Wallet is strong enough to adhere to the case and remain in place when shaking the iPhone vigorously, but we're skeptical that it's going to stay in place during routine daily use.
If you tap the Leather Wallet a few times, it pops right off, but the biggest issue is how it interacts with pockets. When tucking the iPhone with Leather Wallet into a pocket, care needs to be used. If you don't align it right, there's a chance the iPhone could go in the pocket while the Wallet slides right off, and the same goes for taking it out.
The magnetic connection isn't strong enough to adhere the Leather Wallet solidly to the iPhone when the force of a pocket is involved, and if you're not careful, you could have a mishap where the Wallet comes off during regular use. Your cards are going to be more secure if you're not planning to pocket your iPhone, but if you do plan to get the Leather Wallet and use it as normal, grip the wallet and the phone tightly when inserting and removing it from pockets to make sure the Wallet doesn't detach accidentally.
Those who have more than three cards that are carried regularly or those who want the freedom to use a wallet without having to be concerned about attachment issues should probably opt out of the Leather Wallet, but it has the potential to be a useful accessory for those who are careful and those who prefer a minimal look and wallet experience.
Prior to the launch of the HomePod mini, Pandora today updated its app designed for iOS devices to add in HomePod integration. HomePod support for Pandora was a feature that Apple promised would come in software updates this fall, right alongside iOS 14.
With the Pandora HomePod integration, HomePod owners (and future HomePod mini owners) can ask Siri to play content directly from Pandora as an alternative to Apple Music. Prior to iOS 14, HomePod was designed to work only with Apple Music, and third-party music services needed to be streamed to HomePod using AirPlay.
According to Pandora, HomePod integration requires the latest version of the Pandora app. Once it's installed, open the Pandora app on an iPhone or an iPad, and then select Profile > Settings > Connect With HomePod > Use in Home to get it working. Music can be requested from Pandora by adding "on Pandora" to any Siri request for a song.
Apple also allows third-party music services to be set as the default service instead of Apple Music. Pandora can be added as the default music app by opening up the Home app on the iPhone, tapping on the Home icon, selecting Home Settings, tapping on your avatar and then tapping to set the default service to Pandora. Other music services like Spotify will also likely implement HomePod support in the future now that Apple allows it.
Apple's iPhone 12 models have a built-in ring of "MagSafe" magnets that make them compatible with magnetic accessories like cases, chargers, and wallets. Apple makes MagSafe accessories, but third-party companies are also able to design MagSafe products.
As highlighted on Twitter, Apple has an Accessory Design Guideline [PDF] that goes into great detail on the kinds of magnets accessory makers can use, the orientation, and other design specifics Apple is requiring.
Cases that have a MagSafe magnet, for example, must enclose the device, have a maximum thickness of 2.1mm, and must firmly attach to the device without relying on the magnets, which means no magnetic snap-on cases that won't otherwise stay attached to the iPhone.
Apple's own iPhone 12 ad has a scene where a case appears to "click" on using the MagSafe magnets, but first and third-party cases in reality don't work that way, and Apple doesn't intend them to.
The design document is extensive and has specific placement, dimension, and polarity instructions so that all MagSafe accessories can magnetically self align "within a 1.55mm radial maximum. Cases with magnet arrays must not interfere with either wireless charging or magnetic stripe cards in an attached iPhone Leather Wallet, and Apple has special testing protocols for vendors to use.
There are also recommended magnet array vendors and requirements for the magnets used, with Apple requiring them to be N45SH NdFeB with a 7 μm - 13 μm NiCuNi plating finish. Magnetic force required to dislodge a MagSafe accessory has specific guidelines. Apple says a case attached to an iPhone 12 should take a minimum of 800 gf (gram force) to dislodge and a maximum of 1100 gf.
Accessory makers that want to have a label that denotes their accessory as a MagSafe-capable device must comply with Apple's guidelines. Those interested in reading more on Apple's guidelines can check out the full PDF document.
As part of the transition to Apple Silicon, Apple is designing a new Mac Pro that has a smaller form factor, reports Bloomberg. The new Mac Pro is said to have a design that looks like the current design, but in a more compact enclosure that's "about half the size."
It is not known if the new Mac Pro will replace the current model or will be sold alongside the current Mac Pro, which was introduced last year. From Bloomberg:
Apple engineers are currently developing a new Mac Pro that looks like the current design at about half the size. It's unclear if that Mac will replace the current Mac Pro or if it's an additional model. Apple's chip designs could help the company reduce the size of its computers due to increased power efficiency, but the current Mac Pro is large, in part, to fit components like additional storage drives and graphics chips.
The new Mac Pro is not set to come out in 2020 and will presumably be released in 2021 or 2022. Apple is planning to move all of its Macs to Apple Silicon chips instead of Intel chips, but the company expects that process to take two years.
Next week's event is expected to see Apple unveil a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and 13-inch MacBook Air, all of which will be equipped with Apple Silicon chips.
Next week's Apple event will see Apple introduce three new Macs with Apple Silicon processors, including a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a 13-inch MacBook Air.
The updated info on which Macs we can expect to see at the event comes direct from Bloomberg, with sources listed as "people familiar with the matter."
Aside from the transition to Apple Silicon chips, the new Macs will not feature significant design changes, with Apple continuing to use the same MacBook form factor. Rumors suggest Apple is working on redesigned versions of the MacBook Pro that will come in 14.1 and 16.1-inch sizes with mini-LED displays, but those machines will not be ready until 2021.
Apple's new Macs will feature 5-nanometer chips that are based on the A14 in the iPhone 12 models, bringing power efficiency and performance improvements. Apple plans to transition the entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon, but the process will take around two years.
While the notebooks will be the first to get refreshed, Apple is working on a redesigned iMac with an Apple Silicon chip and a new, smaller Mac Pro model.
Apple's event is set to kick off on Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event, and we'll also have coverage here at MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter.
Update:Bloomberg updated its original article and has clarified that the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are further along in production than the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and that "at least those two laptops" will be shown off at the event. It's possible, then, that we'll see just the smaller notebooks with no mention of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but there's still a chance we'll see all three.
Apple in March purchased popular iOS weather app Dark Sky, and has begun integrating the Dark Sky features into iOS with the release of iOS 14. The Dark Sky app, priced at $3.99, continues to be available, and today Apple released an update for the app.
Dark Sky version 6.8.5 features a new extra large watch complication to be used with watchOS 7, and it includes improved location search with more suggested and relevant results to make it easier to find just what you're looking for.
There's also a new location icon to indicate when Precise Location has been disabled in the iOS 14 Privacy settings, and there's a fix for an issue that could cause a duplicate forecast page after moving it from Recent Searches to Saved.
Apple in iOS 14 introduced real-time minute-by-minute precipitation readings for the Weather app, which is something that Dark Sky specializes in. The Weather app also now supports severe weather events and provides details on when there will be a significant shift in weather coming up.
Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro could be some of the first Macs to get Apple Silicon chips with Apple perhaps announcing new versions of these machines at the Apple event set to take place in November.
Well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuoback in July suggested that Apple would release new 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon chips before the end of the year, with those machines positioned to transition over to Apple Silicon first.
Today, shortly after Apple's event announcements went out, leaker L0vetodream shared a tweet that says "13 inch x 2," with no other contextual information, but it can be interpreted as meaning Apple plans to announce two 13-inch Apple Silicon Macs at the event. The tweet alone doesn't mean much, but paired with the earlier and more extensive information from Kuo, it gives us a bit of insight into what we might expect to see announced next Tuesday.
Back in July, Kuo clarified that Apple is working on updated 14.1- and 16.1-inch MacBook Pro models that have a redesigned form factor and a mini-LED display, but he said that he does not expect these machines to launch until the second or third quarter of 2021.
There were some earlier rumors of a 24-inch iMac and speculation that it could launch before the end of the year, but L0vetodream's tweet mentions no desktop model and rumors from the Chinese supply chain last week suggested that a new iMac won't launch until the first half of 2021.
Kuo initially thought the iMac and the redesigned MacBook Pro models would launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 or early 2021, but it looks like the more exciting launch with Macs that have significant design changes will come next year.
Apple Silicon Macs will be equipped with Apple's A-series chips, with the first Apple Silicon chips built on the 5-nanometer process. Apple Silicon chips will bring notable speed and efficiency improvements, along with support for universal apps able to run across all of Apple's devices. Apple plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon, a process that the company expects will take about two years.
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 7.1 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing the watchOS 7 update.
To install the watchOS 7.1 beta, developers need to download the proper configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 7 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.
To update to the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.
The watchOS 7.1 update introduces new hearing health protections, with the watch able to send a notification when music is too loud and could damage hearing. It also brings the ECG app to South Korea and Russia. Apple's full release notes are below:
watchOS 7.1 contains new features, improvements, and bug fixes. - Adds the ability to be notified when your headphone audio level could impact your hearing - Adds support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in the Republic of Korea and Russia - Adds support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in the Republic of Korea and Russia - Resolves an issue that prevented some users from unlocking a Mac with Apple Watch - Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 owners.
watchOS 7.1, like watchOS 7, is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and later.
Apple today seeded release candidate version of an upcoming tvOS 14.2 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing the tvOS 14 update.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 14.2 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates other than new releases are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. No new features or major changes were discovered in the first two betas of tvOS 14.2.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
With pre-orders for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max scheduled to take place this Friday, Apple today began offering pre-approval for the new iPhone models for iPhone Upgrade Program members.
Existing and new iPhone Upgrade Program members can use the Apple Store app on the iPhone to go through all of the pre-approval steps to get ready to purchase one of the new iPhones on November 6.
Apple's pre-approval process is designed to make it simple and quick for iPhone Upgrade Program members to purchase their new iPhones right when pre-orders become available. Those who are part of the iPhone Upgrade Program can select their preferred iPhone, confirm their carrier, and get loan approval ahead of time, cutting down on the steps needed to make a purchase on launch date.
iPhone Upgrade Program pricing on the iPhone 12 mini starts at $29.12 per month and pricing on the iPhone 12 Pro Max starts at $45.79 per month.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 6, with the first orders set to arrive to customers on Friday, November 13. Those who want an iPhone 12 Pro Max or iPhone 12 mini should order as soon as possible when pre-orders go live as supplies could be limited.
Apple today announced a third fall 2020 event, which is set to be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. As with the September and October events that saw the debut of new Apple Watches, iPhones, and other products, the November event will be digital only, with Apple likely providing pre-taped segments for each new product that will be announced.
Apple has already announced a new fourth-generation iPad Air, eighth-generation iPad, Apple Watch Series 6, and iPhone 12 lineup, the November event is expected to be a Mac-centric event with Apple introducing the first Apple Silicon Mac. We've got a quick overview of what to expect below.
Apple Silicon Mac
Apple has promised the first Apple Silicon Mac with an Arm-based chip is coming before the end of 2020, and it looks like the November event will be all about Apple Silicon Macs.
Apple first announced its work on Apple Silicon chips back in June, and we've heard little since then. Apple Silicon chips are similar to the A-series chips used in Apple's iPhones and iPads, with the chips designed in-house by Apple and manufactured by TSMC.
Apple Silicon chips will bring improved performance and more efficient Macs that have a deeper integration between hardware and software, allowing for things like universal apps that run on all Apple devices.
There's no clear word yet on which Mac will be the first to get an Apple Silicon chip, but rumors suggest Apple is working on a new MacBook Air or a revived 12-inch MacBook, so the lower-cost MacBook line could see an update first. There are also rumors of a new 14-inch MacBook and a 24-inch iMac, so these are possible candidates as well.
We could get just a single Mac or multiple Macs could be refreshed with Apple Silicon at the same time.
Other Possibilities
This event will likely be held primarily to introduce the first Apple Silicon Mac (or Macs), but there are still some other products that are on the horizon that could see a launch at the November event.
AirPods Studio
Apple is developing high-end over-ear headphones that are a part of the AirPods family, offering an over-ear alternative to the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. Rumors suggest the AirPods Studio will cost $349 and will offer Active Noise Cancellation and a retro-style design.
A leaked image allegedly featuring the AirPods Studio
Rumors initially suggested AirPods Studio would launch before the end of the year, but Bloombergrecently said there have been development issues, so it's now unclear if we're still on track to get them in 2020.
AirTags
AirTags are Apple's long-rumored Bluetooth trackers that can attach to items like wallets and keys, letting them be tracked right in the Find My app alongside iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
We've been expecting AirTags for quite some time now and we could finally see them in November, but there's also a chance that Apple is holding off until next year.
Event Coverage
Apple plans to stream the Mac event live on its Events website, on YouTube, and on the Apple TV app when it kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. For those unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage both on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
AR Event Accompaniment
As with Apple's prior two events, Apple has created an augmented reality teaser for the Apple event, which can be viewed by visiting the event page on an iOS device. This month's event features a black Apple logo that opens and closes like a MacBook with a glowing rainbow background.
This is super cool. The Apple event logo in AR resembles opening and closing a MacBook.
A new MacBook powered by Apple Silicon is coming. pic.twitter.com/R6pIpJTWPC
— Neil Cybart (@neilcybart) November 2, 2020
Moment, known for its lineup of camera lenses and accessories for Apple's iPhones, today announced the launch of a new series of MagSafe cases and mounts designed for the iPhone 12 models.
The MagSafe-compatible iPhone cases from Moment are designed to be thin and light with a soft touch texture. There's a wrist strap connection at the bottom and an included lens mount to make the case and the iPhone 12 compatible with M-series lenses. Two models are available, including a thinner version and a more rugged protective model that better protects the bottom of the phone.
Along with cases, Moment is introducing Tripod Mounts that attach magnetically using what it says is a proprietary magnet that is stronger than standard accessories. It works with standard 1/4"-20 tripods or handles and a Pro version includes a cold shoe arm.
There's a Multi Threaded Mount with extra strong magnets and five female threads on the front to allow the iPhone to connect to tripods, rig mounts, ball heads, and other photography equipment, while a Cold Shoe Mount lets you mount a light or a microphone.
For use in the car, there's a Car Vent Mount that has the same strong magnetic connection and that attaches to the car's air vents using a rubberized fit attachment, and for use at home, there's a wall mount that includes a strong magnet on one side and 3M adhesive on the other so the iPhone can be attached to anything.
Microsoft today announced that the Apple TV app will be available on the new Xbox Series X and Series S on November 10, the day the consoles launch. The app will also be released for the previous-generation Xbox One console.
The Apple TV app will allow Xbox users to stream content from subscription-based Apple TV+, Apple TV Channels like AMC+ and CBS All Access, and the iTunes Store, as well as existing content in their iTunes libraries.
From the press release:
When our all-new Xbox family of consoles launch worldwide on November 10, you'll have more than just the entertainment apps you enjoy today on Xbox One. We're excited to share that the Apple TV app is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 10.
The Apple TV app gives you access to thousands of shows and movies from one convenient location, allowing you to enjoy Apple TV+, Apple TV channels, brand-new and popular movies, and personalized entertainment recommendations.
Update - November 9: The Apple TV app is now available on Xbox, one day early, according to a tweet from The Verge's Tom Warren spotted by Apple Terminal.
