MacRumors

Apple's virtual "Time Flies" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with Apple expected to debut new Apple Watch and iPad models, but it appears we may not see the iPhone 12 until next month.

While we're not expecting to see new iPhones today, Apple's software updates for its various platforms are likely nearly ready for launch, so we may be hearing more about them today. Check out our what to expect guide for more details on other announcements we could see, including "Apple One" subscription service bundles and some wildcard possibilities like AirTags item trackers.

Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across its platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

Live blog transcript ahead...

8:51 am: We're a little over an hour away from the start of the event, and Apple's online store has been down for several hours now. New Apple Watch and ‌iPad‌ models are expected to be the main attraction today, but we'll likely see some other announcements. With no media in attendance, today's event is likely to be a pre-recorded affair from various settings at Apple Park, similar to the WWDC keynote back in June.

9:54 am: With five minutes to go, the stream is live on Apple.com and there are more than 350,000 people standing by for the YouTube stream to start.

9:59 am: The YouTube stream is now live as well, with more than 450,000 viewers: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=b13xnFp_LJs

10:00 am: Indistinct bell-type music is playing. It is now 10AM, and we're off!

10:02 am: Apple CEO Tim Cook is welcoming everyone in a pre-recorded greeting from ‌Apple Park‌.

10:02 am: "We know that life won't always be like this and we're all looking forward to better days."

10:02 am: Focusing on two products playing integral roles in people's lives: Apple Watch and ‌iPad‌

10:03 am: Today, it's incredible what Apple Watch enables you to do right from your wrist.

10:04 am: Now talking about stories from actual Apple Watch users who had their lives changed by the Watch.

10:05 am: Hearing directly from Apple Watch users, now. "Dear Apple, my name is Kate..."

10:05 am: Kate's Apple Watch talks to her insulin pack, allowing her to focus on competing in track and field instead of finger pricks and other tests.

10:06 am: Another user who saw an "increased heart rate" alert, and rushed to the hospital as he was having cardiac arrest. "I'm thankful for that device that saved me."

10:07 am: Mount Sinai launched "Warrior Watch" study, to study the impact of COVID on the psychological well-being of front-line health care workers, especially their mental health. Singapore will offer incentives to citizens to use Apple Watch to stay healthy and active.

10:08 am: "This year, we're going to take it even further."

10:08 am: Flying to the Steve Jobs theater to hear Apple COO Jeff Williams talk more about Apple Watch.

10:09 am: Talking about measuring VO2 Max levels, and how Watch OS 7 can measure VO2 Max. Coming later this year, you can receive warnings for low VO2 max levels.

10:10 am: Showing new Apple Watch Series 6.

10:10 am: New blue aluminum case, updated classic gold stainless steel. Graphite stainless steel. Apple Watch Product Red.

10:10 am: New health sensor on-board which allows for measuring Blood Oxygen.

10:12 am: With Apple Watch Series 6, you can measure your blood oxygen right from your wrist. Advanced algorithms measure the color of your blood to measure Blood O2. Takes a measurement manually in 15 seconds, plus periodic background readings, including while you sleep.

10:12 am: Sumbul Ahmad Desai, MD, an Apple executive, talking about the health tools in the Apple Watch and the benefits of measuring Blood Oxygen.

10:14 am: Three new Health Research studies using Blood O2, including studying asthma, heart failure, and flu/covid studies.

10:14 am: "We're so excited to bring this important new health capability to our users."

10:14 am: New, sixth-generation S6 system-in-package. Up to 20% faster than previous generation.

10:15 am: Series 6 has 2.5x brighter outdoor always-on display. And always-on altimeter.

10:16 am: Now discussing new Watch faces.

10:18 am: Watch faces have always been a great way to personalize your Apple Watch. But so are watch bands. Now there's a "Solo Loop" watch band.

10:18 am: No clasp, no buckle, no overlapping buckle, just one continuous piece made from custom liquid silicone. Stretchable to slip on and off. Durable and swim proof. Available in a range of sizes to find the best fit. Seven colors.

10:19 am: "So comfortable, we did another version called the braided solo loop." Recycled yarn, available in five colors. New take on leather band with new leather link. Updates to Apple Watch Nike with new colors, and a new Hermes band.

10:19 am: Two additional things to make Apple Watch available to new people. New way for families to use Apple Watch.

10:20 am: Apple Watch needs to pair with an ‌iPhone‌ currently, but now Family Setup allows users to pair watches for children or older members of household who might not have their own iPhones.

10:20 am: Parents can specify who kids can call, and set up automatic location notifications.

10:21 am: "Schooltime Mode" sets up Do Not Disturb with restricted interaction and a special watch face.

10:21 am: Cellular model of Series 4 and later with a number of carriers and regions, with more coming.

10:22 am: New Apple Watch model that combines Series 6 design with more affordable price. Apple Watch SE.

10:23 am: Uses largest 44mm Watch display. S5 chip (from last year). Cellular and non-cellular models available. ‌Family Setup‌ with Cellular model. SE has same accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter as Series 6. Supports fall detection.

10:23 am: SE starts at $279, with 24-month Apple Card financing available.

10:23 am: Series 6 starts at $399. Series 3 sticks around starting at $199.

10:25 am: Now talking about the recyclability of Apple Watch and Apple's pledge to stay carbon neutral.

10:26 am: "Removing the USB power adapter from Apple Watch."

10:27 am: Order today, available starting this Friday.

10:27 am: Showing a new video.

10:29 am: "The future of health is on your wrist." A great ad. Hard to describe. Just go watch it!

10:29 am: "We've been working on something to motivate you even more on your fitness journey."

10:30 am: One of the most popular apps is the Workout app.

10:30 am: Creating amazing workouts with incredible music delivered by the world's best trainers. The first fitness service built around Apple Watch.

10:30 am: Fitness+

10:30 am: Any screen, anywhere, any time. Metrics on-screen powered by the watch. Ten workouts.

10:31 am: Set workout, trainer, time, music.

10:32 am: Apple Fitness+, powered by Apple Watch "in really cool ways." Apple Watch owners love seeing metrics on their wrist during a workout. Sensors show heart rate, calories, pace and distance. That data helps keep you motivated and on track. Fitness+ chooses workout from catalog of videos on ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Apple TV. Starts correct video in Apple Watch workout app. Sends metrics to screen you're viewing the workout on.

10:33 am: When trainer reminds you to check heart rate, the numbers get larger. In a tough interval, you see a countdown timer to motivate. Activity ring progress in the corner. If you close your rings, it'll show it in real time on the screen. When workout is over, comprehensive summary.

10:33 am: Fitness+ launching with most popular workout types. Yoga, Cycling, Dance, Treadmill Walk and Treadmill Run, Strength, Core, HITT, Rowing, and Mindful Cooldowns.

10:33 am: Any brand of equipment or no equipment at all.

10:34 am: Flexibility to do workout you love where you want and when you want. Each week, trainer team will deliver wide variety of workouts from the Fitness+ studio. Fresh new workouts every week across a range of times and instructors. Best music to keep motivated, regardless of musical taste.

10:35 am: If you're an Apple Music subscriber, can save playlists from Fitness+ to ‌Apple Music‌. Beginner program built-in for new exercisers.

10:36 am: We think Fitness+ will take your workouts to the next level with convenience, expert coaching, and inspiration. "We've designed Fitness+ with privacy in mind." $9.99/month or $79.99/year. Share with family members. Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, US, UK available before the end of the year. Get 3 months free with an Apple Watch purchase.

10:37 am: Now talking about Apple's service offerings. Launching ‌Apple One‌, including all Apple's services in one plan.

10:38 am: iCloud, ‌Apple Music‌, ‌Apple TV‌+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+

10:38 am: Find the One plan that's right for you. Individual for $14.95 for ‌Apple Music‌, TV+, Arcade, 50GB of ‌iCloud‌

Family for $19.95/month includes 200GB of ‌iCloud‌.

Premier for $29.95/month, with 2TB of ‌iCloud‌ plus Music, TV+, Arcade, News+ and Fitness+

10:39 am: Now talking about ‌iPad‌.

10:40 am: Ten years since the first ‌iPad‌ shipped.

10:40 am: Sold more than 500,000,000 iPads.

10:40 am: 53% of ‌iPad‌ buyers are new to ‌iPad‌. #1 in customer satisfaction for ten straight years.

10:40 am: "This is a big year for ‌iPad‌." Earlier this year, we made some great updates to iPad Pro.

10:41 am: Today, we're updating the rest of the full-size ‌iPad‌ lineup.

10:41 am: Taking design and cranking up performance with ‌iPad‌ 8th Generation.

10:41 am: A12 Bionic chip.

10:42 am: 40% faster CPU and 2x faster graphics.

10:42 am: 2x faster than the top-selling Windows laptop, and 3x faster than top selling Android tablet, 6x faster than top-selling Chromebook.

10:43 am: Neural Engine.

10:43 am: ‌iPad‌ 8th Gen supports full-size Smart Keyboard plus existing other third-party keyboards, as well as Apple Pencil.

10:44 am: Showing off ‌iPad‌ OS 14, which we saw earlier this year.

10:46 am: New ‌iPad‌ starts at $329, or $299 for education customers.

10:46 am: Order today, available starting Friday.

10:47 am: iPad Air, next.

10:47 am: All-new, completely redesigned ‌iPad Air‌.

10:47 am: All-screen ‌iPad‌ Pro-esque design.

10:48 am: Thin and light enclosure with narrow border design.

10:49 am: Five colors, including new Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.

10:49 am: Liquid Retina display in same footprint with 10.9-inch screen. 2360x1640. 3.8M pixels.

10:49 am: Full lamination, True Tone, antireflective coating, P3 wide color.

10:49 am: Touch ID integrated into top button.

10:50 am: Same performance, ease-of-use, and security.

10:50 am: Touch top button to unlock the device, log in to apps, or use Apple Pay.

10:50 am: New chip for ‌iPad Air‌, the A14 Bionic.

10:51 am: Build chips with industry-leading performance, powerful custom technologies, and efficient use of energy.

10:51 am: First in the industry to use 5nm process technology.

10:51 am: Dimensions of transistors are measured in atoms. 11.8 billion transistors.

10:52 am: 40% faster CPU compared to previous ‌iPad Air‌.

10:52 am: Maximum performance at lowest power. Industry-leading peak performance when it's needed.

10:53 am: 2x faster graphics performance than comparably priced Windows notebook.

10:53 am: Faster neural engine to improve machine learning performance by 2x.

10:55 am: Talking about new apps that take advantage of the new hardware.

10:55 am: Djay Pro AI lets users "scratch" in the air, using the front-facing camera to allow DJs to virtually play records.

10:56 am: "We can build intelligent features into the app. The possibilities are just endless with this."

10:57 am: USB-C comes to ‌iPad Air‌.

10:57 am: Front 7MP FaceTime HD. Rear 12MP camera.

10:57 am: Redesigned speaker with stereo audio in landscape mode.

10:59 am: Showing a product video illustrating all the technologies they just mentioned.

11:00 am: Starts at $599, available next month.

11:00 am: Talking up the environmentally friendly design and packaging.

11:01 am: "What a great day of announcements." Major OS updates coming tomorrow.

11:02 am: iOS 14, ‌iPad‌ OS 14, Watch OS 7, and tvOS 14.

11:02 am: Products will ship with these OS updates.

11:03 am: The event is wrapped, thanks for joining us!

Apple has ended its credit card partnership with British bank Barclays, according to Bloomberg, on the same day as the company's virtual "Time Flies" event.

For many years, Barclays issued an "Apple Rewards Visa" with special financing rates for qualifying Apple purchases, but this offer has now been discontinued. Apple has advised its retail employees that existing cardholders can continue using the card as a normal credit card, according to today's report.

Apple now offers interest-free financing on iPhones, iPads, Macs and several other products through its own Apple Card, although only in the United States. There are some hints that the Apple Card may be released in other countries soon.

After failing to appear before British lawmakers, Apple has been accused of not taking its environmental obligations seriously enough, particularly on e-waste, reports Bloomberg.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked to appear before the Environmental Audit Select Committee of the House of Commons, but failed to respond before a September 4 deadline. Apple was previously asked to put forward a representative to speak on its behalf in July, but it canceled at short notice.

The committee mainly examines how government department policies and programs affect both the environment and sustainable development, and was specifically looking into Apple's actions to combat electronic waste.

Apple's "unwillingness to answer my committee's questions has led us to believe its environmental obligations are not taken seriously enough," said Chairman Philip Dunne in a statement, despite the fact that the company "appears to have a positive story to tell regarding its efforts on climate change."

With more than two billion iPhones sold, Dunne said that Apple's answers about the steps it is taking to minimize its environmental footprint are crucial. An excessive number of electronic devices are too difficult or expensive to repair, creating a "throwaway society for electronics," he said. Apple did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment.

In February, Apple was fined 25 million euros by a French consumer fraud group and 10 million euros by Italy's antitrust authority for intentionally slowing down some iPhone models via a software update, which could negatively incentivize users to upgrade a newer device. Apple has strongly refuted accusations of planned obsolescence in the past.

Earlier this year, Apple committed to becoming carbon neutral across its entire business and manufacturing supply chain by 2030. This month, Apple announced it will construct two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines near Esbjerg in Denmark, in an expansion of its investment in renewable energy.

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.

Adobe today announced the launch of new updates for its Premiere Pro and After Effects Creative Cloud apps, which are designed for video editing professionals and graphic artists. This year's updates are focused on simplifying and streamlining streaming video workflows as people continue to work from home.

A new Scene Edit Detection feature in Premiere Pro is aimed at providing editors a way to find cuts in previously edited video more quickly, using Adobe Sensei machine learning technology. Scene Edit Detection introduces cuts and markers that let effects be applied to individual shots so previously rendered content can be re-edited in a hassle-free way.

A Quick Export feature (available through the Premiere Pro public beta testing function), provides quick access to the most popular and frequently used export settings in Premiere Pro. The Quick Edit settings can be accessed from the header bar.

HDR for Broadcasters is designed to let Premiere Pro users produce programming in Rec2100 HLG HDR with automatic color correction, HDR scope support, color space overrides for incorrect metadata, and full color management for Apple ProRes and Sony XAVC Intra formats.

ProRes multicam performance has been updated and can support 2x more streams, and faster effects scanning for VST3 and Audio Unit Plugins offer faster launch times for users who use third-party audio plugins.

As for After Effects, Adobe is introducing several new public beta features that are available to those running the beta version of the software.

3D Transform Gizmos guides for scale, position, and rotating layers so it's easier to tell how far a layer or object has been moved and the degree of rotation. There is an option to switch between different gizmo modes to focus on a single task and make adjustments more efficiently.

Adobe redesigned the camera navigation tools to make it easier to navigate 3D spaces, and a new default scene camera streamlines the scene setup process with multiple cameras that highlight different viewpoints and orbit and pan around objects with keyboard shortcuts.

The new Premiere Pro and After Effects updates can be downloaded today using the Creative Cloud desktop application. Adobe's full Creative Cloud plans, which cover the complete range of Adobe CC software, start at $52.99 per month.

Apple's online store is down in anticipation of its "Time Flies" event later on Tuesday, strongly suggesting products will be available to pre-order or order immediately after the event.

The placeholder says "We're making updates to the Apple store. Check back soon."

Apple's "Time Flies" event will be a virtual media event, where the company is expected to unveil new Apple Watch and iPad models. Rumors suggest we will not see the iPhone 12 at this event, with Apple instead waiting perhaps until October to take the wraps off of its next flagship iPhones.

Apple's media event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and you can tune in on Apple's event page, on Apple's YouTube channel, or through the TV app on Apple's various platforms. Stay up to date on all the latest news and developments right here on MacRumors!

Ahead of Apple's "Time Flies" virtual event on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has been sharing some last-minute thoughts via Twitter on the new product announcements that he expects to see later today, with a particular emphasis on new Apple Watch models.

Gurman has already said his broad expectations for Tuesday's event are a focus on a new Apple Watch Series 6 and iPad Air, with Apple likely to introduce its rumored iPhone 12 at a later event in October.

As for Apple Watch, Gurman has tempered expectations for the Apple Watch Series 6, saying that he "wouldn't look for a ton new" besides blood oxygen monitoring and a faster processor. We already know sleep tracking will be included in watchOS 7, but whether that will be twinned with better battery life or a fast-charge capability is still speculation at this point.

Moving on, Gurman personally believes a new lower-end Apple Watch model also rumored to be announced today will be called "Apple Watch SE," which is the same branding that proven leaker Evan Blass used in his latest tweet about what to expect from Apple at the upcoming event.

Both the Apple Watch Series 6 and ‌Apple Watch SE‌ are expected to come in the same 40mm and 44mm sizes, with the SE model said to be the same as the current Series 5 in terms of design and internal specifications, according to Gurman. Blass predicts both models will also come in both LTE and Wi-Fi versions.

As for the new ‌iPad Air‌ model expected to be introduced, Gurman says it features a similar all-screen design as the iPad Pro but will lack the ProMotion display and won't feature Apple's latest A-series processor.

For his part, Blass reckons the forth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ will have an A14 processor and USB-C connectivity, but he also predicts Apple will unveil an eighth-generation iPad with an A12X chip and a Lightning port.

Lastly, Gurman reiterates his expectation for Apple One service bundles to be announced on Tuesday, along with a new Apple fitness service, but a new Apple TV model remains delayed. Gurman has not mentioned any specific announcement date for Apple's rumored Tile-like AirTags accessory, unlike hit-and-miss leaker Jon Prosser, who believes an announcement is "likely" to come on Tuesday.

The release of new iPads and Apple Watch models corresponds with the rollout of iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and watchOS 7 software updates, which are expected to have their official public release this month.

Apple is trying out a new retail store experience that puts express pickup of online orders and Genius Bar appointments front and center, while keeping customer and staff safety paramount during the ongoing global health crisis.

Dubbed "Apple Express," the temporary retail format for brick-and-mortar stores is being trialed at Apple Burlingame in California. The location has an interior storefront hub with a partition at the entrance that includes serving counters with perspex window shielding, central display cases with popular accessories for purchase, and a surrounding wall that screens off the shop floor proper.

Black spots on the floor in front of the temporary facade indicate where visiting customers should stand in order to observe social distancing measures. Based on the pictures, the system allows one customer at a time to come up to each serving window, while customers with pre-booked appointments can queue up outside.

Customers are required to have their appointment-assigned QR code and government-issued ID ready as they wait for the next available Apple representative, while another sign displays QR codes that link to Apple's support app and official website.

It's not clear if Apple plans to expand the "Apple Express" retail system shown here to other stores within California or to other U.S. states, but if the trial proves successful we could well see it rolled out across the country as the U.S. continues to grapple with the pandemic.

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.

Last month, VMware announced the next major version of its virtualization software for Mac, Fusion 12, and as of today, the update is now available.

As we noted last month, Fusion 12 includes a number of updates and improvements, such as eGPU compatibility, support for container-based applications built with Kubernetes, DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1 support, improved security for the sandbox rendering engine, improved accessibility controls, and more.

Fusion 12 has also been optimized for macOS Big Sur, with both host and guest support for Apple's upcoming release. On systems running macOS Catalina, Fusion 12 will continue to run with kernel extensions as it has in the past, but on macOS Big Sur, Fusion will take advantage of Apple's APIs to run virtual machines and containers.

With the launch of Fusion 12, VMware is also restructuring its licensing to bring it in line with Workstation 16, Fusion's sister software for Windows and Linux. The basic level of Fusion is now known as Fusion 12 Player and is free for personal use for the first time. A commercial license is priced at $149, with a $79 upgrade license available. Discounted education pricing will also be available, although many of those users will qualify for free personal licensing.

Fusion 12 Pro, aimed at developers and IT professionals rather than typical consumer and business users, offers some additional features and a license to run on up to three machines. Notably, this is a cross-platform license that allows for any combination of three machines using Fusion 12 or Workstation 16 across Mac, Windows, and Linux. Fusion 12 Pro is priced at $199, or $99 as an upgrade.

In order to keep up with Apple's advancing technologies, Fusion 12 requires macOS Catalina or Big Sur. For users with systems still on macOS Mojave, a Fusion 12 license key will be valid to activate Fusion 11.5.6 on those machines.

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

As Apple prepares to unveil its new iPhone 12 lineup next month, Microsoft has launched the $1,400 Surface Duo, a foldable smartphone that offers two displays and is quite different from anything Apple has to offer.

We've checked out a few foldable smartphones like Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, so we thought we'd also take a look at the Surface Duo because foldable smartphones offer interesting new technology that we might eventually see from Apple.

Unlike the Galaxy Fold that offers a single foldable display with the display technology covering the hinge, Microsoft has embraced the foldable design with two separate screens connected by a visible hinge, which is smart because Microsoft's Surface Duo isn't going to have the durability and creasing issues that have been seen with Samsung's devices.

The Surface Duo is well built and a lot of attention was paid to the design of the hinge, which is no surprise given the price point. The Surface Duo and the hinge in particular feel high quality, and this is a foldable smartphone that resembles a premium, futuristic device. Even with two 5.6-inch screens (8.1 inches combined), the Surface Duo is surprisingly thin, but it's the hinge that stands out.

Microsoft did a solid job with the build quality of the Surface Duo, but the device's design is the best part about it because the software doesn't measure up. Microsoft uses Google-designed Android software, and the lack of integration between hardware and software hinder the user experience and it feels unfinished.

The Surface Duo is running a Microsoft-skinned version of Android 10. It offers the Android 10 features and some add-ons designed by Microsoft for the dual screen, but the operating system doesn't feel optimized for this two screen form factor. Microsoft and Google can improve the software over time with updates, of course, but at release, it's not ideal.

Despite the poor software, the Surface Duo offers some notable usage benefits when it comes to productivity. Specific apps can be set up to launch at the same time with App Groups, so you can pair up OneNote and Outlook, a web browser and YouTube, and so on, which is ideal for multitasking, though some apps can also be opened across both screens for doing things like writing an email on one screen while also browsing through your inbox on the other. This feature isn't optimized for all apps though, which is a major downside.

There are several Surface Duo usage modes. Book mode, as the name suggests, is when both screens are opened up like a book. Single Screen Mode lets one of the screens be flipped behind the other for a more traditional smartphone feel, while Compose Mode lets the Surface Duo be flipped into a laptop-like clamshell orientation. There's also a tent mode with the two sides positioned down into a tent shape for watching media content.

For most usage, the Single Screen Mode that has one display stacked on top of the other feels most comfortable because most people aren't going to want to take a photo or chat with someone using a book-like form factor, but it can be useful to have the option to fold out another screen to get work done.

When it comes to specs, the Surface Duo is running year-old tech with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip, and it's limited to an 11-megapixel camera that's just not impressive when every other smartphone manufacturer is focusing on camera quality. It also has thick bezels that smartphone makers are moving away from, which is worth noting.

Overall, the Surface Duo brings innovation in the smartphone space and we're interested to see where Microsoft's technology goes in the future, but given the $1,400 price point, the software issues, and the overall usability, this is not a device that's suitable for most people and not one that we'd recommend.

There have been some rumors suggesting Apple is exploring a foldable iPhone, and Apple has filed a few patents for foldable smartphone technology, but it's still unclear if this is technology that's going to stick around and if an Apple foldable ‌iPhone‌ will ever come out of the prototyping stage. We don't know when Apple might release a foldable ‌iPhone‌ if one is indeed in the works, but it's definitely not coming in the immediate future.

The new 3A283 firmware that Apple released for the AirPods Pro today appears to introduce support for Spatial Audio, a new feature coming to the higher-end AirPods with iOS 14.

Multiple reports on Twitter and the MacRumors forums indicate that the firmware update adds a "Spatial Audio" option to the Control Center, which can be activated to enable the feature. Note that using Spatial Audio requires the iOS 14 update to be installed.

Early reports from the MacRumors forums suggest Spatial Audio is functional and working with Apple TV+ content. Several people who have tested the feature have been impressed, calling the audio "immersive," "mind-blowing" and "trippy." From a MacRumors reader with Spatial Audio working:

Just tried out spatial audio on my iPad. Very cool! The illusion of the audio coming from the iPad is so convincing that I actually thought at first that the sound was coming from my iPad’s speakers. Had to take an AirPod out of my ear to confirm I was really hearing it from the AirPods themselves. I would really like to learn more about whatever dark magic Apple is using to pull off this illusion!

Introduced at WWDC and coming in iOS 14, Spatial Audio brings movie theater-like sound to the earbuds. Spatial audio uses dynamic head tracking to create immersive sound anywhere in space by applying directional audio filters and subtle frequency adjustments.

Spatial audio uses the gyroscope and accelerometer in the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and iPhone to track the motion of your head and your ‌iPhone‌'s position, comparing the motion data, and then remapping the sound field so that it stays anchored to your device even as your head moves.

Today's update also appears to enable the feature that allows for automatic switching between devices, which is available for AirPods and ‌AirPods Pro‌. Automatic switching will connect the AirPods to any Apple device signed associated with your iCloud when you activate audio on that device and are actively using it.

Apple today released new 3A283 firmware updates for the second-generation AirPods and the AirPods Pro. The second-generation AirPods are being updated from the 2D15 firmware they were previously running, while the AirPods Pros are being updated from the 2D27 firmware they had installed previously.

Apple does not provide details on what's included in refreshed firmware so we don't know what's included, but we are awaiting new firmware to support iOS 14 features such as automatic device switching and spatial audio for the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

There's no standard way to upgrade the firmware of the ‌AirPods, with the new firmware installed over-the-air while the AirPods are connected to an iOS device. Putting the ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌ in the case, connecting the ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌ to a power source, and then pairing the ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

You can check your ‌AirPods or ‌AirPods Pro‌‌ firmware by following these steps:

• Connect your AirPods or ‌AirPods Pro‌ to your iOS device.
• Open the Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap About.
• Tap ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌.
• Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."

It has been several months since Apple released new firmware updates for the AirPods and the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌ firmware updates often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and feature tweaks, and if we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll add new details to this article.

iPhone 12 models will not support a 120Hz refresh rate due to battery life considerations, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Kuo expects the feature to debut on 2021 iPhones with lower-power LTPO display technology.

In a research note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo added that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 will feature a slightly narrower notch to adequately display information in the top-left and top-right corners like the time and signal strength. The rest of the lineup, including two 6.1-inch models and one 6.7-inch model, is said to have the same notch size as iPhone 11 models.

The entire iPhone 12 lineup will support 5G, according to Kuo, with two versions of each model set to be available. This will include both sub-6GHz-only and sub-6GHz-plus-mmWave versions of the 5.4-inch iPhone 12, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max, with shipments of the sub-6GHz-only versions beginning first.

Kuo expects tomorrow's Apple event to be focused on new Apple Watch and iPad Air models. He expects the new Apple Watch models to have a similar form factor as the Series 5, with a key new feature being blood oxygen sensing. Kuo believes the Apple Watch will not receive a significant redesign until the second half of 2021 at the earliest.

In line with previous rumors, Kuo said that the new iPad Air will feature Touch ID integrated into a side power button, which will apparently pave the way for an "all-screen" design like the iPad Pro. Kuo expects more new iPad models to adopt this feature starting in 2021.

Mixed-record leaker Jon Prosser has today revealed supposedly design-accurate renders of Apple's long-awaited AirTags, via a new video on YouTube channel Front Page Tech.

Apple has been believed to be working on a Tile-like Bluetooth tracking device that is designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets for tracking purposes, letting users locate them directly in the Find My app.

Prosser's 3D renders have apparently been closely based on videos and images of "actual AirTags." He claims to have not posted the original videos to protect his supply-chain sources.

There is no logo on the front of the device, and all product information is etched into a polished silver metal disc on the rear. The final product is reportedly "just a tad larger than a bottle cap." The design is not far from the design envisioned by many concept artists.

The device has no mounting system built-in. Prosser says that a "keychain that has a little leather pouch on it that you can just slip your AirTag into" will be sold separately. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has similarly said in the past that AirTags will be available with a small leather case.

Prosser went on to say that the ultra-wideband U1 chip will facilitate much of the ‌AirTag‌'s functionality, and it will be coming to "most if not all of their products in the future," with the plan seemingly being to make the U1 chip "part of their entire ecosystem." The U1 chip premiered in iPhone 11 models last year, but beyond improved AirDrop, much of its utility has yet to be realized.

Prosser stated that it is "likely" that AirTags will be unveiled alongside the HomePod mini tomorrow. Both products are "technically ready," and "in terms of production schedule, they are done, and could possibly be announced." Previous leaks have suggested that AirTags are already in full production, so an announcement tomorrow does not seem to be out of the question. Prosser said he did not have information about retail pricing.

He also reinforced claims that the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and AirPods Studio will not appear at Apple's event tomorrow, with the focus instead residing on the Apple Watch Series 6, iPad Air 4, and iPad 8.

Last week, Prosser leaked a range of information about Apple's expected lower-cost Apple Watch, which is also alleged to arrive at Apple's event tomorrow.

It is worth noting that Prosser inaccurately claimed that new Apple Watch and ‌iPad‌ models would be announced via press release on Tuesday of last week, but on other occasions, he has shared accurate information about Apple's product release plans.

Prosser said he plans to make similar renders to show off the design of AirPods Studio in the immediate future.

Accessory brand Hyper today announced the official launch of its new 18-port HyperDrive GEN2 18-port hub, which joins the recently released 12-port and 6-port versions.

The new GEN2 HyperDrive USB-C hubs offer twice the speed of Hyper's previous-generation hubs, with 4K 60Hz display compatibility, 10 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speeds, 300 MB/s MicroSD/SD 4.0 slots, and up to 100W power delivery to a host computer.

The GEN2 hubs raised over $1.5 million through crowdfunding earlier this year, but they are all now available for general purchase with the 6-port version priced at $99.99, the 12-port version at $149.99, and the new 18-port version at $199.99.

The 18-port version includes two USB-A 10 Gbps ports, one USB-A port with 18W QuickCharge support, two USB 2.0 ports, one USB-C 10 Gbps port, a USB-C Power Delivery port with 100W charging power for connecting to the host computer, two 4K 60Hz HDR HDMI ports, one DisplayPort 4K 60Hz port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, SD and Micro SD UHS-II card readers, digital coaxial and optical Toslink audio, a 3.5mm audio jack, a VGA port, and a DC power port for driving the hub.

All three of the HyperDrive GEN2 hubs are available now through HyperShop and other retailers such as B&H Photo.

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Apple is set to host a virtual event on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, and ahead of time, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has outlined his expectations for new product announcements both tomorrow and in the months to follow.

Gurman, who has a very strong track record, reiterated that this Tuesday's event will be focused on the introduction of new Apple Watch Series 6 and iPad Air models, adding that Apple does not plan to introduce its rumored iPhone 12 lineup until October.

In line with rumors, the report claims that Apple Watch Series 6 models will come in the same 40mm and 44mm size options as Series 5 models, with the addition of blood oxygen (spO2) monitoring as the health features of the device continue to expand. A new lower-end Apple Watch model will also be announced at the event, according to Gurman.

Gurman also expects a new iPad Air model to be introduced with a similar all-screen design as the iPad Pro. As a mid-range device, the new iPad Air will apparently not feature Apple's latest A-series processor or a ProMotion display.

The report adds that the first Apple Silicon Macs with custom processors will be unveiled by November, in line with Apple's promise of an announcement by the end of the year. Apple's rumored over-ear headphones and AirTags item trackers could follow as soon as the end of this year, and a smaller HomePod also remains in the pipeline, according to Gurman.

Amid reports Monday morning that Oracle has won the battle with Microsoft to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations, China's state-run English TV channel is claiming that no sale with any U.S. buyer will go ahead (via Reuters).

ByteDance will not sell TikTok's U.S. operations to Oracle Corp ORCL.N or Microsoft Corp MSFT.O and will not give the source code for the video platform to any U.S. buyers, China's state-run English television channel CGTN reported on Monday, citing sources.

People familiar with the matter told Reuters that ByteDance abandoned the sale of TikTok in the United States and decided to pursue a partnership with Oracle in hopes of avoiding a U.S. ban while appeasing the Chinese government.

ByteDance declined to comment on CGTN’s report.

A source also told the South China Morning Post that the tech upstart has decided not to sell or transfer the source code behind its popular video app.

The development follows a report from The Wall Street Journal on Sunday evening that claimed database software and cloud systems giant Oracle had closed the deal moments after Microsoft announced it had been rejected. The deal reportedly stopped short of an outright acquisition of all assets and intellectual property, with TikTok considering Oracle as a "trusted tech partner" instead.

In a blog post following the news, Microsoft wrote:

"ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok's US operations to Microsoft. We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users while protecting national security interests. To do this, we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, privacy, online safety, and combatting disinformation, and we made these principles clear in our August statement. We look forward to seeing how the service evolves in these important areas."

Microsoft was originally regarded as the frontrunner in acquisition talks with TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, and provided a formal proposal that would have involved the purchase of TikTok's operations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bloomberg on Monday cited sources claiming that terms being discussed between ByteDance and Oracle were "still evolving," but that one of the options being explored could see Oracle take a stake in a newly formed U.S. business while serving as TikTok's U.S. technology partner and housing the video app's data in Oracle's cloud servers.

Offers from both parties reportedly valued the U.S. business at about $25 billion, but that was said to be before Chinese officials weighed in with new rules imposing limits on technology exports.

Any deal would still need to be reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a U.S. government group chaired by the Treasury Secretary that studies corporate mergers for national security reasons.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in mid-August demanding that ByteDance sell its U.S. operations within 90 days. Trump required ByteDance to announce its plan for the sale of TikTok in the U.S. by September 20 and complete a deal by November 12. The U.S. government will ban the Chinese video app by September 29 on national security grounds if it fails to submit its plan. TikTok unsuccessfully sued against the ban order in late August.

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