MacRumors

Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 14 to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the first beta following the WWDC keynote.

iOS 14 Beta
Registered developers can download the beta over the air after installing the proper profile from the Apple Developer Center.

iOS 14 introduces a redesigned Home Screen that supports widgets for the first time, plus widgets have been redesigned and can now be customized in three sizes through the new widgets gallery.

ios14homescreenwidgets
An App Library shows all of the apps installed on an iPhone in one place, both in an icon view and in an alphabetical list. With all of the apps in the App Library, app icons and ‌Home Screen‌ pages can be hidden for a cleaner look.

applibraryios14
Incoming phone calls and FaceTime calls no longer take up the entire ‌iPhone‌/iPad display, and Siri requests have also been minimized so summoning ‌Siri‌ doesn't monopolize the screen. ‌Siri‌ is smarter in iOS 14 and can send audio messages, and dictation can now run on device.

A Picture in Picture mode allows users to watch videos or use ‌FaceTime‌ while using other apps,

App Clips lets users take advantage of some app features without needing to download a full app, useful for quick actions like purchasing a coffee, making a restaurant reservation, or renting a scooter, where downloading an entire app would be a hassle. App Clips can be scanned from QR codes, NFC tags, or Apple-designed App Clip Codes, plus they can be shared in Messages or accessed from Safari.

In the Messages app you can now pin important conversations, use @mentions in group chats, and take advantage of inline replies to keep multi-person conversations better organized. There are new Memoji options and group chats can be assigned icons with photos, emoji, or Memoji.

messages ios 14
The Health app supports the Apple Watch's new Sleep Tracking feature and there's a Health Checklist for managing health settings, and in the Weather app, there's more info on precipitation and severe weather events.

Cycling directions are available in the Maps app with directions incorporating elevation, how busy a street is, and stairs, plus for those who own electric vehicles, there are options for routes with EV charging stops.

Digital Car Keys let an ‌iPhone‌ be used in lieu of a physical key, a feature that's coming soon to BMWs, and CarPlay now lets users set wallpapers.

A new translate app provides text and voice translations to and from 11 languages, and there are tons of new privacy protections. Developers need to get user permission before accessing devices on a local network, limiting access to photos, and providing apps with approximate locations instead of exact locations.

ios14translateapp
Safari has a Privacy Report that lets you know which websites have trackers, and there are new icons on the Home screen that let you know when an app is using a camera or microphone. Third-party browser and mail apps can be set as default for the first time, and Apple added new AirPods capabilities.

For the ‌iPad‌, the Apple Pencil can now be used in any text field, with handwritten text converted automatically to typed text thanks to the new Scribble feature.

There are tons more features in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, so make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup and our iPadOS 14 roundup for a full list of everything new. We'll also be highlighting all of the features tweaks and changes made in beta 2 in a separate article that's coming soon.

Only registered developers can download the iOS and ‌iPadOS 14‌ betas at this time, but Apple plans to provide a public beta for public beta testers in July. Beta testing for ‌iOS 14‌ will last for several months, with the update set to be released in September 2020.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Apple today seeded the second beta of macOS Big Sur to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the first beta following the Worldwide Developers Conference.

macOS BS Beta 1
The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

As with all of the new betas, Apple recommends not installing ‌macOS Big Sur‌ on a primary machine because it is early release software and could have major bugs.

macOS Big Sur brings a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds.

Everything feels fresh but familiar, with a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.

The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on.

Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.

Tabs have been redesigned, there's a built-in language translation feature, and Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.

Messages is now more similar to the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.

Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.

Photos has a better Retouch tool, Apple Music's For You section has been replaced with a Listen Now section, HomeKit Secure Video cameras support Face Recognition and Activity zones, and Siri can answer a wider range of questions than before.

As of macOS Big Sur beta 2, Apple Pay support is available for Mac Catalyst apps. Developers will now be able to easily get ‌Apple Pay‌ up and running in Mac Catalyst apps. From the iOS 14 release notes: "‌Apple Pay‌ support is now available to Mac Catalyst apps. Two methods have been added to existing delegate protocols. No changes are required for iPad apps, but one or both of these methods must be implemented when building for Catalyst."

In the future, the macOS Big Sur App Store will help users better understand privacy practices with clear info on the information that an app collects, and after installing macOS Big Sur, you'll see faster updates that begin in the background and then finish more quickly to make it easier to keep your Mac up to date.

For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 7 to developers, the newest version of the watchOS software designed to run on the Apple Watch. The second beta comes two weeks after Apple released the first beta following WWDC.

watchOS Beta
To install the beta, you will 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. It would be wise to install the beta on a secondary device rather than a primary device as this is an early version of the watchOS software that could have bugs that still need to be addressed.

watchOS 7 brings a new watch face sharing feature that lets you share your watch faces with others through Messages or Mail, the App Store, through websites, or through social Media.

There are new Chronograph Pro watch faces, as well as a filters option for the Photos face and rich complications for the X-Large face. Developers can now offer more than one complication per app, and Apple has introduced new complications for Shortcuts, Moon phases, the World Clock, and more.

‌watchOS 7‌ introduces a new Sleep Tracking feature for the first time that uses the ‌Apple Watch‌'s accelerometer to detect small movements associated with breathing when asleep. The feature provides information on sleep duration and offers a Wind Down feature for helping users get ready for bed to increase sleep times.

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Putting the Apple Watch in Sleep Mode turns on Do Not Disturb and automatically darkens the watch screen while you're sleeping, while an alarm feature uses haptic feedback or gentle sounds to wake you up with a greeting and a weather report.

In addition to Sleep Tracking, Apple also added a new handwashing tracking feature to help people wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. There's a 20-second countdown timer that comes up whenever the ‌Apple Watch‌ detects handwashing motions and sounds. The Health app will also show the frequency and duration of the user's handwashing.

Additional details on everything new in watchOS 7 can be found in our watchOS 7 roundup. ‌watchOS 7‌ is only available to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to offer a watchOS 7 public beta this month.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 14 update to developers for testing purposes. Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 14 beta comes two weeks after the release of the first beta.

tvOS Beta
Registered developers can download the tvOS 14 beta onto the ‌Apple TV‌ through a profile installed using Xcode.

tvOS 14 adds a Picture in Picture mode, a feature that lets you watch movies or TV shows, in a small window in the corner of the screen while you do something else on the ‌Apple TV‌.

There's also a new Home app for the ‌Apple TV‌ in tvOS 14, which allows HomeKit-connected devices to be controlled right from the TV. There's an option to view HomeKit camera feeds on the larger screen of the television or in Picture in Picture mode so you can keep an eye on your house at all times.

Apple Arcade on ‌Apple TV‌ now supports multiple users, so each tvOS user can keep track of their individual game levels, leaderboards, and invitations. Additional gaming controllers are supported, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controllers, and ‌Apple TV‌ games can now take advantage of haptic feedback and other features built into controllers.

There's a new option to manually choose a screensaver category in tvOS 14, and for those who watch YouTube, tvOS 14 supports watching YouTube videos in 4K for the first time.

For more on tvOS 14, make sure to check out our roundup. tvOS 14 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to make a public beta available later this month.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Starting with the iPhone 12 later this year, Apple has been rumored to be omitting the EarPods and power adapter that have traditionally been included in the box, an effort that would save Apple money, reduce e-waste, and cut down on packaging size as Apple would rely on most users already having their own earphones and a plethora of power adapters.

iphone 12 box insert render
Ran Avni of popular ‌iPhone‌ 3D concept channel ConceptsiPhone has shared a new rendering from a "really reliable source" that is claimed to be a box insert for the ‌iPhone‌ 12.

The insert exhibits a very thin profile with a circular area that would be for a USB-C to Lightning cable and a square area that could be for paperwork and the traditional stickers that come with Apple products, as it looks too thin to house EarPods. A thin depression around the entire insert is likely where the ‌iPhone‌ itself would sit.

Apple typically makes nearly its entire product packaging out of recycled paper products, with the ‌iPhone‌ box inserts firmly glued into the outer retail boxes. The rendering of this insert looks more like plastic, which would be unusual in a modern Apple retail box, but it could simply be due to the rendering process not accurately representing the molded paper products.

We're a little skeptical of the veracity of this for now, but if true, it would be a strong piece of evidence that Apple is indeed planning to not include EarPods or a power adapter with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and demonstrates how much thinner the overall ‌iPhone‌ box could be without those items included.

Related Forum: iPhone

With just two months to go until the usual timeframe for Apple's iPhone launch events, Apple is cutting back on maximum trade-in values of previous-generation iPhones for those looking to upgrade to a new model.

iphone trade jul2020
Maximum values on more recent models have dropped by $30–$50, while older models have generally dropped by $5–$20 with a few models seeing no change in value.

  • ‌iPhone‌ XS Max: $500 to $450 (down $50)
  • ‌iPhone‌ XS: $420 to $370 (down $50)
  • ‌iPhone‌ XR: $300 to $270 (down $30)
  • ‌iPhone‌ X: $320 to $280 (down $40)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus: $250 to $220 (down $30)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8: $170 (no change)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus: $150 to $130 (down $20)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 7: $120 to $110 (down $10)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 6s Plus: $100 (no change)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 6s: $80 to $70 (down $10)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 6 Plus: $50 to $45 (down $5)
  • ‌iPhone‌ 6: $30 (no change)
  • iPhone SE (1st generation): $30 (no change)

iphone 11 479 trade
Apple uses a trade-in of an ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus as its benchmark for advertising the net cost of the ‌iPhone‌ 11 on the front page of its website. As a result, the $30 decrease in value of the ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus has increased Apple's advertised net price of the cheapest ‌iPhone‌ 11 models from $449 to $479. The ‌iPhone‌ 11 starts at $699 without trade-in.

Apple Music will receive a number of design changes in iOS 14, including a new "Listen Now" tab, improved search, and Autoplay. Another small design update is larger playlist artwork, and today Benjamin Mayo with 9to5Mac shared how some of these designs now include animated art.

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On the new Listen Now tab, a "Top Picks" section includes oversized icons for playlists, radio stations, albums, and more, all of which ‌Apple Music‌ thinks you'll like. This week on the iOS 14 developer beta, some of these playlists have now received animated artwork, which you can see in the video below.

This appears to mainly be focused on Apple's own curated playlists, like "Party Starters," as well as your personally curated Mixes. The animations are short and appear similar to live wallpapers on iOS, showcasing brief and colorful sequences that apparently loop infinitely.

Besides ‌Apple Music‌, there will be numerous changes in iOS 14. You can read up on all of the updates that have been announced and discovered in our full iOS 14 roundup.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Amazon's discount on the Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) remains ongoing this week, with the smartwatch available for $169.00, down from $199.00. This version of the Apple Watch typically sees discounts to around $179, so Amazon's sale is about $10 below the previous sale price and among the best online right now.

watch series 3 amazonNote: 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.

This sale is focused on the 38mm GPS version of the Apple Watch Series 3, available in space gray aluminum with a black sport band. Although this is a previous-generation model, the Series 3 model has many useful features like an optical heart sensor, activity tracking, swimproof design, and more.

You can also purchase the 42mm GPS model for $199.00, down from $229.00, another $30 sale that's only available in the space gray aluminum colorway. When these devices launched in 2017, prices for GPS models started at $329.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup. If you're looking for AirPods to pair with a new Apple Watch while working out, we track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, Apple Deals
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Logitech today announced a new mouse and keyboard built for Macs, called the Logitech MX Master 3 and Logitech MX Keys for Mac. These new accessories are updates that have been optimized specifically for Apple's MacBook and iMac computers.

logitech new stuff
The Logitech MX Keys for Mac ($99.99) supports a tactile keyboard with smart backlighting that automatically adjusts to ambient lighting conditions. It comes equipped with USB-C to USB-C charging, lasts 10 days on one charge (up to five months with backlighting turned off) and allows users to move from a MacBook to an iPhone or iPad with ease.

Similarly, the Logitech MX Master 3 Wireless Mouse ($99.99) includes MagSpeed scrolling and a handcrafted comfortable shape. The mouse has a Darkfield 4000dpi sensor to track virtually any surface, including on glass, and includes a rechargeable battery lasting up to 70 days.

Lastly, Logitech is also launching a new multi-device Bluetooth keyboard called the Logitech K380 ($39.99), aimed at iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. This keyboard is lightweight and includes a space-saving design for typing while on-the-go, and comes in Rose and Off-White color options.

logitech new ipad keyboard
All of these accessories are now available in the United States on Logitech's website, as well as on Best Buy and Amazon. A global launch is set for August.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Logitech. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Amazon has returned the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case to their lowest price of $149.98 today, down from Apple's price of $199.00. This accessory is the model that launched in 2019 and includes a Wireless Charging Case that is compatible with Qi-enabled mats.

AirPods Discount DealsNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Amazon introduced this price point back in April, and the sale has come and gone over the past few months. If you've been on the hunt for the AirPods in 2020, this is definitely the best entry price for a new version of Apple's AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.

Sales have also hit the AirPods Pro, which are available for $219.99, down from $249.00 at Verizon. This remains the lowest we've ever tracked for a new version of the AirPods Pro, and the best online among trusted Apple resellers.

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.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

macOS 11 Big Sur is the next major release of Apple's operating system for Mac, and following its preview at WWDC, one of the biggest discussions has revolved around the all-new user interface redesign.

Andrew Denty
Developers are still learning what the impact the new UI will have on their apps, and with that in mind, app designer Andrew Denty has compiled an extensive visual comparison of the user interface changes between macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur.

All of the screenshots are taken on a default install of macOS and the Catalina version is always on the left. I made a conscious effort not to resize any windows or change any default settings. I haven't captured everything, but it is a good taste of the changes so far.

The side-by-side comparisons cover changes to Finder, Preview, System Preferences, the menu bar, Notification Center, Safari, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, Photos, Apple Music, Podcasts, and many other native apps.

Andrew Denty
Overall, Denty's takeaway is that the UI differences in Big Sur aren't as dramatic as he first thought, consisting of a "largely incremental set of changes to make macOS feel more coherent with iOS and iPad OS."

That said, he thinks Apple "still has a vast amount of work to do to perfect the new macOS UI" before it exits the beta, and he hopes to see more consistency in the launch experience of apps, as well as more visual separation in elements like status bars and path bars, which he admits "look a little unloved" and don't yet feel properly integrated.


Big Sur is available for developers at the current time, but Apple also plans to make a beta available for public beta testers in July, followed by an official release in the fall. What are your thoughts on the redesigned UI? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to check out our Big Sur roundup for an extensive look at all the new features.

Related Forums: macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur

Apple and Samsung partnered to launch an Apple Music app for Samsung smart TVs in April, and from today the app also supports real-time lyrics (via Macerkopf.de).

Samsung Apple Music 1
Real-time lyrics lets ‌‌Apple Music‌‌ listeners view song lyrics in a karaoke-style while songs are playing, allowing them to sing along to the music. ‌Apple Music‌ synchronous lyrics are available for Samsung Smart TV models from 2018 to 2020.

Samsung was first to feature ‌Apple Music‌ on a smart TV, and the app looks similar to the Apple TV version of ‌‌Apple Music‌‌.

Many of Samsung's recent smart TVs also support the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ app, which offers access to ‌‌Apple TV‌‌+, ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ channels, and movie and TV show rentals and purchases.

Samsung Smart TV owners can download ‌Apple Music‌ from the Samsung Smart TV App Store, log in to an existing account with their Apple ID, or start the subscription process directly from their TV.

Samsung Smart TV owners can also trial ‌Apple Music‌ for three months for free, with subscription plans available for individuals, families or students.

Google has updated its Gmail app for iPad to add long-awaited Split View support, meaning the app can now be used in Apple's multitasking split screen mode alongside another app.

Gmail Multitasking
Google announced the introduction of Split View support in a blog post, saying the feature is available now to all users.

When using an iPad, you're now able to multitask with Gmail and other iOS applications. You can use Gmail and Google Calendar at the same time with Split View to check your schedule before replying to an email to confirm a meeting time. Or, you can easily drag and drop pictures from Google Photos into an email without leaving Gmail.

Before you attempt to use Split View, make sure multitasking is enabled on your ‌iPad‌: Launch the Settings app, go to Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking and select Allow Multiple Apps.

To use Split View when the Gmail app is open, bring up the Dock with a short swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then touch and hold another app icon and drag it up, over to the left or right edge of the screen, then release your finger.

Gmail can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Gmail

Apple's third-generation AirPods will adopt a compact system-in-package (SiP) solution similar to AirPods Pro, according to the latest research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

AirPods3
Apple is expected to launch new entry-level AirPods with a form factor design similar to ‌AirPods Pro‌ in the first half of 2021, and Kuo's latest note advances his earlier prediction by underlining the need for SiP technology to integrate the earbuds' audio features into the smaller casing. Introduced in 2019, ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature a different in-ear design to AirPods, with shorter stems below the ear.

Based on the so-called "AirPods 3" arriving in the first half of next year, Kuo believes current-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ part suppliers should see component shipments grow an estimated 50 percent to 100 percent year over year. The existing second-generation AirPods are expected to be discontinued when the new models are launched.

Amkor, JCET and Huanxu Electronics are in line to supply the SiP components, while Shin Zu Shing is expected to supply the AirPods case hinge, said Kuo.

Overall AirPods shipments are projected to slow in 2021, with growth expected at 28 percent year on year, compared to an expected 65.1 percent growth year on year in 2020, which Kuo believes will be stimulated by Apple's decision to sell the "iPhone 12" without wired EarPods included in the box.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Apple CEO Tim Cook will participate in an antitrust hearing held by the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee on Monday, July 27 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Judiciary Committee announced today. The hearing is part of an ongoing U.S. antitrust investigation that involves competition in digital markets.

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The hearing, labeled "Online Platforms and Market Power, Part 6: Examining the Dominance of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple," will also include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. There will be a live stream of the questioning available on YouTube.

Since the antitrust investigation launched last year, the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee has been investigating tech companies. Apple's App Store policies have been under scrutiny, and Apple has been questioned about the removal of certain apps, how search ranking results are determined, how the in-app purchase mechanism works, whether apps are allowed include in-app links to non-Apple payment systems, and Apple's policies on setting non-Apple apps as default.

Ahead of the hearing the committee has been soliciting opinions from ‌App Store‌ developers and there has been a recent focus on the 30 percent cut that Apple takes from in-app subscription purchases. Cook is likely to be questioned about Apple's ‌App Store‌ policies, including the subscription-based rules that have recently made headlines.

In a statement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler and Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline said that it is essential to hear testimony from the CEOs of the four tech companies in the antitrust investigation.

"Since last June, the Subcommittee has been investigating the dominance of a small number of digital platforms and the adequacy of existing antitrust laws and enforcement. Given the central role these corporations play in the lives of the American people, it is critical that their CEOs are forthcoming. As we have said from the start, their testimony is essential for us to complete this investigation."

The investigation into Apple's ‌‌App Store‌‌ practices is in the early stages as the Justice Department is focusing resources on a separate investigation into Google's dominance in digital advertising, but the committee's goal with the hearing is to generate a report with recommendations on legislative action.

Apple is assessing a new Hong Kong security law that makes "subversion" of the government illegal and raises concerns about the criminalization of protests, reports Bloomberg.

AppleLogoHK
China last week implemented legislation allowing local authorities to supervise and regulate internet access in Hong Kong. The new measures criminalize acts that were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law, such as the ongoing protests.

In a statement, Apple said that it already requires content requests from local law enforcement authorities to be submitted through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the U.S. and Hong Kong. Apple also says that it has not received requests for Hong Kong user data since the law went into effect last week, though it is under assessment.

"Apple has always required that all content requests from local law enforcement authorities be submitted through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in place between the United States and Hong Kong," the company said. Under that process, "the U.S. Department of Justice reviews Hong Kong authorities' requests for legal conformance."

Earlier today, tech companies that include WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter said they would pause the processing of requests for user data from Hong Kong law enforcement agencies due to the implementation of the new security law.

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.

Ireland today released "COVID Tracker Ireland," a COVID-19 contact tracing app that takes advantage of Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API.

irelandexposurenotification
The app, which is opt in, says that users will be alerted if they come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Those exposed will be able to track their symptoms, get advice on what to do, and choose to anonymously warn others they've been in contact with.

The app downloads a list of anonymous IDs every two hours from those who have contracted coronavirus, letting users in Ireland get alerts as soon as possible. Alerts will be triggered if a user has been within two meters of a person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, so long as both parties have the COVID app installed.

Alerts will advise people who have been exposed to coronavirus to limit their movements and get tested. The app will not inform users who they came into contact with during the exposure notification nor the place where it happened.

According to the app's release notes, Ireland is employing a three prong approach to exposure notification, which includes contact tracing for identifying those who have been in close contact with a person that has coronavirus, COVID check-in for those with coronavirus to share their symptoms and how they feel, and updates and information such as the latest facts and figures on coronavirus in Ireland.

As with all apps that use the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API, usage is opt-in and privacy is a focus. Even after opting in, choosing to share a coronavirus diagnosis is also optional. All data collected is stored on the device itself, and name, location, and movements are not tracked.

In a statement to Ireland's The Journal, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the app could be a "really powerful part of the toolkit" for fighting coronavirus.

"It allows every single person to play an extra part. It will allow us to get on with contact tracing in a matter of hours, it will allow people who have the app to completely control their own data, there will be no centralisation of data," Donnolly said.

"The people themselves can choose if they want to anonymously share with close contacts that they have tested positive. It's a very, very powerful tool. We'll be getting into more of the detail tomorrow and we'll be really encouraging as many people as possible to download and use it."

Along with Ireland, several other countries have released apps that use Apple and Google's ‌Exposure Notification‌ API, including Switzerland, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, while other countries, such as the UK, have apps in the works.

The UK did not originally plan to use Apple and Google's solution, but in mid-June, the National Health Service said that it would adopt the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API after all.

Ahead of the launch of new iPhones we often see dummy models created based on leaked schematics and specifications, with those models designed to let case makers create cases for the new devices ahead of their release. We got our hands on a set of dummy models that represent the iPhone 12 lineup, giving us our first close look at the ‌iPhone‌ 4-style design and the different size options.


Dummy models like these often turn out to be accurate, and given that these line up with the glut of rumors that we've had about the 2020 iPhones so far, the dummies are likely to represent what we can expect to see this fall in terms of size and overall body design.

iphone12dummycameras
Apple is rumored to be releasing four iPhones in 2020: a 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. The two "Pro" devices in 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes will be higher-end, more expensive devices, while the 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ and other 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be more affordable similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 11.

iphone12dummyflatedges
All of the 2020 iPhones are expected to feature a new design that more closely resembles the ‌iPhone‌ 4 or the iPad Pro with a square-edged frame and a front and back glass body, which can be seen in the dummy models. It's a clean, sturdy design that will be a welcome departure from the rounded corners we've had for iPhones since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 6.

2020seiphone12dummy

‌iPhone‌ 12 dummy on right, 2020 iPhone SE on left

The 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be the smallest ‌iPhone‌ that Apple has released since the original ‌iPhone SE‌. It's bigger than the original ‌iPhone SE‌, but with its all-display design, it's smaller than the 4.7-inch 2020 ‌iPhone SE‌ and of course much smaller than the 5.8-inch ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro.

iphonese2020iphonedummy2020se

Original ‌iPhone SE‌ on left, ‌iPhone‌ 12 dummy in middle, 2020 ‌iPhone SE‌ on right

Though smaller than the 4.7-inch ‌iPhone‌, it has a larger display because Apple is doing away with the bezels and the Touch ID Home button. All iPhones in 2020 will have full-screen OLED displays with Face ID and minimal bezels.

The 6.1-inch dummy model is larger than the 5.8-inch ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, as is expected, and it is similar in size to the ‌iPhone‌ 11, which was also a 6.1-inch device. Size wise, it's not too far off from existing iPhones, but the feel of the phone in the hand is different because of those flat edges.

The 6.7-inch model is the largest ‌iPhone‌ that Apple has ever released, and it's noticeably bigger than the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max. For those who prefer larger displays, the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be appealing.

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‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ dummy

Apple's two lower-end ‌iPhone‌ models (5.4 and 6.1-inch) are expected to have dual-lens camera setups, while the higher-end models will have triple-lens cameras. There are also rumors that the Pro models could feature the same LiDAR Scanner introduced in the ‌iPad Pro‌.

That LiDAR Scanner is not pictured in these dummy models, and that's because these are designed for case makers. Case makers care about the size of the rear camera bump, but what's in that bump doesn't matter to them.

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‌iPhone‌ 12 dummies next to ‌iPad Pro‌ camera setup

For that reason, these camera setups are not likely to accurately represent the actual camera modules added in the 2020 iPhones. The same goes for the front-facing camera setup. There have been rumors that the notch will be smaller and that the notch is the same size on these dummies is not necessarily an indication that those rumors are untrue.

There's one other major design change worth noting. There's a new cutout area underneath the power button on some of the dummy models, which is believed to be necessary for the 5G antenna on the devices. All of the 2020 iPhones are expected to support 5G speeds.

For more on what to expect in the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup, including more detailed rumors on colors, camera setups, features, and accessories, make sure to check out our iPhone 12 roundup.

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