Apple today seeded the fourth public betas of upcoming iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 updates to its public beta testing group, one week after releasing the third betas and a day after providing the fourth betas to developers.
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS 14.2 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website on an iOS device.
Apple in iOS and iPadOS 14.2 is adding new Emoji 13 emoji characters, with options that include smiling face with tear, ninja, pinched fingers, anatomical heart, black cat, mammoth, polar bear, dodo, fly, bell pepper, tamale, bubble tea, potted plant, piñata, plunger, wand, feather, hut, and more, with a full list available here.
iOS 14.2 introduces a new Music Recognition control for the Control Center, deepening the integration of the Apple-owned Shazam app in the iOS operating system. Music Recognition lets you discover music playing around you and it can recognize music playing in apps even when you're wearing AirPods.
The Shazam Music Recognition feature can be added to Control Center through the Control Center options in the Settings app. To use the feature, open up Control Center and then tap on the Shazam icon to initiate a single recognition.
The update brings a redesigned Now Playing widget for the Control Center that lists recently played albums that you might want to listen to when you have no music playing. There's also a redesigned interface for AirPlay, making it easier to play music across multiple AirPlay 2-enabled devices in the home.
For those who have low vision, Apple added a "People Detection" feature in the Magnifier app that uses the camera to let iPhone users know how far away other people are, which can be useful for social distancing purposes.
For Apple Card users, the iOS 14.2 update adds a yearly spending history option so Apple Card holders can see how much they've spent in the current calendar year and how much Daily Cash they've earned. Prior to iOS 14.2, Apple Card offered spending activity information in a weekly or monthly summary.
As for smaller but interesting tweaks, iOS 14.2 brings a new icon for the Apple Watch app, with the watch now sporting one of Apple's new Solo Loop bands.
The fourth beta released for developers yesterday confirmed that there are several new wallpapers in the update, which work in both light and dark modes.
For info on all of the new features that were introduced with the initial iOS 14 update, make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are set to be delivered to customers this Friday, but there are already a few out in the wild. Leaker DuanRui this morning shared a video featuring a short teardown of the new iPhone 12, giving us a quick look at the internals.
In the video, the iPhone 12 is taken apart component by component, with comparisons to corresponding iPhone 11 parts provided. The new iPhone 12 has an L-shaped logic board, which we initially saw in a leak in May. The iPhone 12 logic board isn't identical to the leaked logic board, so that leaked version is likely from another one of the iPhone 12 models.
The logic board is longer than the logic board that was used in the iPhone 11, and it has the aforementioned L design rather than just a straight design.
There's a 2,815mAh battery in the iPhone 12, which was seen in Brazilian regulatory filings last week. Comparatively, the iPhone 11 has a higher capacity 3,110mAh battery. Apple lists similar battery lengths for both iPhone models, though, due to efficiency improvements introduced through the A14.
Smaller batteries may have been included because Apple may have needed extra space for the 5G components in this year's iPhones, but there have already been some concerning early tests about faster than normal battery drain when using 5G networks. That's not necessarily a surprise because it's well known that 5G drains battery faster, but it's something iPhone 12 and 12 Pro users should be aware of.
The Taptic Engine, which provides haptic feedback, is a good deal smaller in the iPhone 12, and the teardown also shows off that magnetic ring that works with MagSafe accessories.
There are also comparisons between other components such as the display, dual-lens camera setup, flash, and more, which those interested can see in the video.
With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple allowed users to select third-party apps as the default email app and browser. Last month, a widespread bug reverted these settings to Apple's default apps whenever a user's device was rebooted.
Although that bug was fixed, a new bug in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 is now afflicting the selection of third-party email apps and browsers. It appears that whenever a selected third-party app is updated, the default app selection for email app or browser is reset to Apple's Mail or Safari.
The Verge has now confirmed that whenever you update your chosen default app via the App Store in iOS 14.1, it gets removed from the default app slot.
Users should be aware that they will need to re-select their preferences every time a third-party mail app or browser that has been set as default is updated. You may wish to avoid updating your preferred third-party browser or mail app until it is convenient to reselect the default in settings, or until Apple has released a fix.
The likes of Chrome, Edge, DuckDuckGo, and Firefox can be set as default browsers, while Gmail, Spark, and Microsoft Outlook can be set as default Mail apps, among others. Users who prefer an alternative to Safari or Apple's native Mail app can choose an alternative and it should be opened automatically whenever the system requires it, providing the app has not recently been updated, that is.
After the news that France would be the only territory to continue to include EarPods with the iPhone, it seems that Apple is not packing the earbuds within the iPhone's box (via iGeneration).
The French iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro does not have a different retail box to accommodate EarPods, meaning that all iPhone boxes are consistent worldwide. Since the new iPhone boxes are slimmer without a tray for EarPods or a power adapter below the iPhone, in France the EarPods are in the bottom of a separate box that is large enough to also contain the standard iPhone's box. The additional box appears to be much larger than the new, slimmed-down iPhone boxes.
Apple is continuing to include EarPods with iPhones in France due to legal obligations. French law demands that manufacturers provide a hands-free accessory with smartphones due to concerns about the effect of electromagnetic waves on the brains.
In addition to the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, the iPhone 11, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE no longer include EarPods outside of France.
Apple's website encourages customers to use their existing Apple power adapter and headphones or buy these accessories separately, and Apple has now lowered the price of its EarPods with a Lightning connector from $29 to $19.
Apple touted the environmental benefits of no longer including EarPods or a power adapter with iPhones, noting that the move reduces carbon emissions and avoids the mining and use of rare-earth elements. iPhone 12 models also ship in a thinner box as a result, with Apple claiming that it can fit 70 percent more iPhone boxes on a single pallet during shipping.
Last month, Apple introduced a new iPad Air with a larger 10.9-inch edge-to-edge display, a faster A14 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, and Touch ID built into the power button. The new iPad Air begins arriving to customers on Friday, and ahead of time, reviews of the device have now been shared by various media outlets and YouTube channels.
The new iPad Air via The Verge
Most reviews agree that the new iPad Air is the best tablet for the average customer, as it now has a similar design and features as the iPad Pro, despite starting at a lower price of $599, albeit with only 64GB of storage. iPad Pro models start at $799 with 128GB of storage.
If you're looking to get an iPad right now and can afford it, the new $599 iPad Air is the best tablet for most people. Apple has taken the design from the more expensive iPad Pro and brought it down to a more reasonable price point. It's $100 more than it was last year, but in return this year's iPad Air has a bigger, better screen and a faster (and very intriguing) processor.
With so few differences between the iPad Air and the Pro, I'm forced to reconsider who the Air is for. Last year it was the perfect just-right tablet: it offered more features than the basic entry-level model, but was still more attainable than the premium Pro line. It was the best tablet for most people. This year, I would upgrade Air to the best tablet for almost everyone, and I'd even argue it's Apple's best high-end tablet. That is, until Apple upgrades the Pro with a new chip and more advanced display tech, which is almost certainly will.
The iPad Air is a remarkably capable device that offers many features of more expensive models for a lower price.
Though it's fair to point out that the price isn’t that much lower. The iPad Air starts at $599, meaning it's $200 less than the base-model iPad Pro. However, that iPad Air model only has 64 GB of storage. If you choose the only other storage option, a model with 256GB of storage, you'll pay $749—which is $150 less than a comparably equipped iPad Pro, and only $50 less than the base-model 128GB iPad Pro.
The iPad Air raises the baseline for what we should expect from iPad as a portable, versatile computer for everyone. If you're looking for an 11" tablet and think you can live without ProMotion and larger storage options, this is the iPad I recommend.
The $799-and-up Pro is arguably the "better" tablet. It has Face ID, four speakers versus the Air's two, its screen is brighter, it has more cameras, plus a Lidar scanner for depth mapping and a higher refresh rate capable of smoother scrolling and gaming. There's also a thousand-dollar Pro with a bigger 13-inch screen.
But I didn't find myself missing the Pro's features. The biggest difference is the price: Starting at $599, the iPad Air is essentially a budget Pro.
For reviewer comments on some of the specific features that are or are not included on the new iPad Air, read on below:
Touch ID
Viticci says the new Touch ID sensor in the power button is "fast and reliable" and easily recognized his fingerprints in nearly any orientation, regardless of how the fingerprint was originally registered. He did have trouble getting it to recognize his index fingerprints with the iPad held upside down, but that may have been an issue with awkward finger placement.
He also says the power button's longer size, glossy finish, and more prominent bump compared to the power button on the iPad Pro make it easier to find by feel.
From a merely tactile standpoint, the longer shape and bump help in identifying the button by feel: on the 11” iPad Pro, I often find myself sliding my index finger up and down for a second to make sure I’m clicking the top button; on the iPad Air, the different texture, shape, and bump make the button impossible to miss at first touch.
Snell found that the fingerprint registration process requires a little more effort than on Home button Touch ID implementations, due to the narrower sensor.
Apple has done a good job of adapting this technology for this particular device. When training Touch ID to accept a finger, a user needs a bit more finger movement in order to scan the entire finger surface area, and Apple’s software does a good job at encouraging this. Also, once you scan the first finger, Apple’s software encourages you to scan a second finger on the other hand—I scanned both of my index fingers—in order to prevent having to flip the iPad over every time you need to unlock it.
Display
One of the most significant compromises on the iPad Air compared to the iPad Pro is the display, as while they both offer a "Liquid Retina" LCD, the iPad Air lacks 120Hz ProMotion and is a bit dimmer (500 nits vs. 600 nits for the iPad Pro). Still, reviewers found the iPad Air's display to be quite good, as noted by Wollman:
I don’t have much to complain about after using the tablet for nearly a week. I typed, browsed the web, streamed movies, scrolled through my Photos library. Everything looked sharp and punchy, but never oversaturated. The anti-reflective coating also meant I had some wide viewing angles.
Wollman did note that it's a shame Apple hasn't brought OLED display technology to the iPad yet, and while there are rumors of mini-LED iPad Pro models coming soon that will offer many of the same advantages of OLED, it will undoubtedly be a pricey high-end technology that will take time before it trickles down to more mainstream devices like the iPad Air.
Storage
Bohn lamented that the base iPad Air model comes with just 64GB of storage and that the only other available option is a big step up to 256GB at a $150 price premium.
My biggest complaint is about storage. The base $599 model has 64GB, which is a good enough amount today but may feel cramped over time. That’s not the complaint, though. The complaint is that there’s no 128GB option — to get more storage you have to spend $150 more for 256GB. At $749, you’re just $50 away from the 128GB 11-inch iPad Pro and you may as well just get that one. (Come to think of it, that’s maybe not an accident.)
With the iPad Air starting price already having increased by $100 over the previous generation, the price gap to the iPad Pro certainly closes substantially if you need more than 64GB of onboard storage.
A14 Chip
Even though the iPad Air is a cheaper device than the iPad Pro, it has a newer chip in the form of the A14, compared to the A12Z in the latest iPad Pro. Benchmark testing found that the iPad Air registers faster single-core scores than the iPad Pro, but that multi-core and graphics benchmarks are fairly similar between the two devices, with the iPad Pro pulling ahead on some more intensive tasks thanks to its pro-focused optimizations. According to Bohn:
My advice: if you know exactly why you need a more powerful GPU or CPU on an iPad, wait for the next iPad Pro to get this new A14 chip or something like it.
If all you care about is that the iPad Air is fast and that it will let you do both iPad things and lots of real-work things, then yes: it can do that.
Apple's embargo has lifted on reviews for the new iPad Air ahead of its launch on Friday. In addition to our more detailed review roundup, we've shared a handful of unboxing videos and first impressions of the device below.
The new iPad Air via Karl Conrad
The new iPad Air features a larger 10.9-inch edge-to-edge display, a faster A14 Bionic chip, and a USB-C port instead of Lightning. It is also the first Apple device to feature Touch ID built into the power button. Pricing starts at $599 for Wi-Fi models, while cellular models start at $729, with 64GB and 256GB storage capacities available.
With its slimmer bezels, the new iPad Air looks very similar to the iPad Pro. The device is offered in five finishes: space gray, silver, rose gold, green, and sky blue.
Videos
The new iPad Air will begin arriving to customers Friday.
Today we're tracking a collection of deals on the newest models of Apple's iPad Pro, in both 11-inch and 12.9-inch options. A few of these deals offer lowest-ever prices on the iPad Pro, starting at $749.99 for the 11-inch iPad Pro in 128GB Wi-Fi, which is a match of the previous low price on this model.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Sale prices on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro start at $939.92 in 128GB Wi-Fi. This sale is another lowest-ever price for the iPad Pro, and it's beating the sale price seen at B&H Photo and other retailers, which are currently discounting the iPad Pro to about $949.00.
11-Inch iPad Pro
128GB Wi-Fi - $749.99, down from $799.00 ($49 off)
256GB Wi-Fi - $844.92, down from $899.00 ($54 off)
512GB Wi-Fi - $1,029.92, down from $1,099.00 ($69 off)
1TB Wi-Fi - $1,219.92, down from $1,299.00 ($79 off)
12.9-Inch iPad Pro
128GB Wi-Fi - $939.92, down from $999.00 ($59 off)
256GB Wi-Fi - $1,039.93, down from $1,099.00 ($59 off)
512GB Wi-Fi - $1,229.00, down from $1,299.00 ($70 off)
1TB Wi-Fi - $1,424.05, down from $1,499.00 ($75 off, price seen at checkout)
Apple updated the iPad Pro line in March of this year, including a faster A12Z Bionic chip, a new 10MP Ultra Wide camera, a LiDAR depth scanner to improve augmented reality experiences, and more. For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Travel photographer Austin Mann usually performs an in-depth review of new iPhone models to test their camera performance in real-world scenarios. To test Apple's new iPhone 12 Pro, Mann traveled to Glacier National Park, Montana.
Mann focused on some of the biggest camera upgrades with the iPhone 12 Pro, including the upgraded Wide lens, Ultra Wide Night mode, and LiDAR autofocus, across a range of conditions and environments.
The upgraded 26mm Wide angle lens with a f/1.6 aperture performed better in low light, according to Mann. In a 30-second exposure shot with almost no visible light (above), he found that Night mode and the Wide lens worked extremely well together.
When investigating the new seven-element Wide lens for better edge-to-edge sharpness, Mann shot images with lots of detail in the corners of the frame, but did not see better results than on the iPhone 11 Pro.
On the other hand, Mann observed that Night mode on the Ultra Wide lens significantly improved low-light performance. Where the iPhone 11 Pro's Ultra Wide lens produced a mostly black frame that was full of noise, the iPhone 12 Pro delivered an immeasurably improved clear image.
He found that the low-light improvements to the Ultra Wide also made indoors photography with the lens much more viable and crisp.
Mann noted reasonable improvements with Smart HDR 3, but the more striking difference was seen in taking portraits with Night mode. After sunset with very little available light, the computational improvements of better OIS, faster ISO, and LiDAR, allowed the portrait to remain surprisingly color accurate and sharp.
Mann found that the LiDAR Scanner significantly improved low-light portraits, with the focus locking to the subject's face and creating an accurate depth map where needed.
Elsewhere, Mann praised a range of minor software improvements. In particular, he appreciated that it is now possible to lock exposure adjustment without it reverting to auto mode every time a picture is captured or when switching between lenses. This allows the iPhone 12 Pro to behave much more like a manual camera.
See Mann's full report for more images and additional information about the technical capabilities of the iPhone 12 Pro's camera setup.
After the first reviews for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro emerged yesterday, a new report by Tom's Guide reveals the extent of battery life reductions when using 5G.
The report outlines a test wherein the iPhone surfs the web continuously at 150 nits of screen brightness, launching a new site every 30 seconds until the battery drains. Interestingly, the test was run on an iPhone 12 and 12 Pro both over 4G and 5G.
Using 5G, the iPhone 12 lasted just eight hours and 25 minutes, while the iPhone 12 Pro lasted nine hours and six minutes. When using 4G, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro perform better enduring for ten hours and 23 minutes and 11 hours and 24 minutes, respectively. This means that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro's battery life drains around 20 percent faster when using 5G in this artificial benchmark.
The same test on the iPhone 11 in 2019 yielded a result of 11 hours and 16 minutes over 4G, and the iPhone 11 Pro achieved ten hours and 24 minutes.
Tom's Guide reports that this falls short of the battery life of 5G Android phones under the same test:
Compared to the Android competition, Apple's new phones are a step behind those devices on our best phone battery life list, especially over 5G networks.
The battery capacities across the iPhone 12 lineup are believed to have been reduced this year, and while it was known that 5G would likely drain battery life, the extent of which was unknown.
The battery results may have been behind Apple's move to include a "Smart Data mode" with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, which selectively turns off 5G at times when it may not be needed. For example, when streaming music with the screen turned off, Smart Data mode reportedly turns off 5G and favors 4G instead.
However, users can go further and manually turn off 5G to boost battery life on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. In settings, users can choose from "5G On," "5G Auto," which seems to be Apple's Smart Data mode, and "LTE."
Short form video streaming service Quibi today introduced an Apple TV app, allowing Quibi content to be watched on the Apple TV for the first time.
Quibi launched earlier this year in April with a smartphone-focused platform that had content meant to be viewed in a mobile-only format, but that has not proven particularly popular. Quibi is struggling, and is aiming to get more viewers by expanding to additional platforms.
Prior to launch, Quibi spent more than $1 billion creating original content, developing shows that are meant to be watched in short 5 to 10 minute snippets. Quibi has garnered around 400,000 to 500,000 subscribers who pay $4.99 to $7.99 per month for the service, but Quibi initially believed it would get 7.4 million subscribers within a year.
Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg has been attempting to sell Quibi, but tech executives including Apple's Eddy Cue, Facebook, WarnerMedia, and others have turned him down. Rumors now suggest Katzenberg may be planning to shut down the company,
Apple recently pulled the "Apple TV Remote" app from the App Store, which was designed to let users control their Apple TVs from their iPhones or iPads with a touch-based remote interface.
It's not quite clear when Apple nixed the app, but it was quietly removed and clicking on the prior link for the app confirms that it is no longer available. 9to5Mac discovered that Apple has also removed references to the Apple TV Remote app, suggesting that it has been discontinued. The Apple Remote support article, for example, references only the Apple TV Remote in Control Center.
The Apple TV Remote app has received few updates in recent years and as of iOS 12, there's been Remote app functionality baked into the Control Center, which can be accessed more quickly than with the dedicated Remote app. The Remote app was likely deemed unnecessary with the more simple Control Center option available.
Apple's new iPhone 12 Pro Max is equipped with a 3,687 mAh battery, which is around 7% less capacity than the 3,969 mAh battery in the iPhone 11 Pro Max, according to a regulatory filing published by TENAA, the Chinese equivalent of the FCC.
Despite having a smaller battery, Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same battery life as the iPhone 11 Pro Max, with both devices providing up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 80 hours of audio playback.
Apple never discloses battery capacities or RAM on its iPhone tech spec pages, but teardowns of the new devices should confirm these details in the coming days.
The United States Justice Department today filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, claiming the Mountain View-based company has used anticompetitive and exclusionary practices in the search and advertising markets to maintain an unlawful monopoly.
"Today, millions of Americans rely on the Internet and online platforms for their daily lives. Competition in this industry is vitally important, which is why today's challenge against Google -- the gatekeeper of the Internet -- for violating antitrust laws is a monumental case both for the Department of Justice and for the American people," said Attorney General William Barr. "Since my confirmation, I have prioritized the Department's review of online market-leading platforms to ensure that our technology industries remain competitive. This lawsuit strikes at the heart of Google's grip over the internet for millions of American consumers, advertisers, small businesses and entrepreneurs beholden to an unlawful monopolist."
The lawsuit [PDF], which is also backed by Attorneys General in 11 states, calls Google the "monopoly gatekeeper" to the internet for billions of users and advertisers around the world. Google has accounted for almost 90 percent of all search queries in the United States, and has allegedly used "anticompetitive tactics" such as exclusionary agreements to maintain its monopolies in search and search advertising.
One of the main complaints against Google is its deal with Apple that allows Google to be the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser and other search tools, a privilege that Google pays billions for. Google's agreement with Apple "gives Google the coveted, default position on all significant search access points" for Apple devices.
Though there is an option to change the search engine, the DoJ says that "few people do" making Google the "de facto exclusive general search engine."
Google's agreement with Apple is apparently so valuable to Google that it considers losing the default status on iPhones and other Apple products as a "Code Red" scenario. In 2019, almost 50 percent of Google search traffic originated on Apple devices.
Under the current agreement between Apple and Google, which has a multi-year term, Apple must make Google's search engine the default for Safari, and use Google for Siri and Spotlight in response to general search queries. In exchange for this privileged access to Apple's massive consumer base, Google pays Apple billions of dollars in advertising revenue each year, with public estimates ranging around $8-12 billion. The revenues Google shares with Apple make up approximately 15-20 percent of Apple's worldwide net income. [...]
Thus, Google views the prospect of losing default status on Apple devices as a "Code Red" scenario. In short, Google pays Apple billions to be the default search provider, in part, because Google knows the agreement increases the company's valuable scale; this simultaneously denies that scale to rivals.
The lawsuit also accuses Google of entering into agreements that forbid preinstallation of competing search engines, requiring preinstallation of search apps in prime locations on mobile devices, and using "monopoly profits" to "buy preferential treatment" for the Google search engine on devices, web browsers, and other search access points.
Google's behavior allegedly makes it harder for "innovative new companies" to "develop, compete, and discipline Google's behavior," which has had an impact on competition and consumers. With the lawsuit, the DoJ is aiming to put an end to Google's anticompetitive conduct and "restore competition" for consumers, advertisers, and companies reliant on the internet economy.
In response to the lawsuit, Google said that the DoJ's position is "deeply flawed" and that people use Google "because they choose to, not because they're forced to, or because they can't find alternatives."
Google says that the lawsuit will do nothing to help consumers and would artificially prop up "lower quality search alternatives," along with raising phone prices and making it more difficult for people to "get the search services they want to use."
Specific to Apple, Google says that Apple uses Google Search as the default for its devices because "they say Google is 'the best.'" Google also points out that Bing and Yahoo pay Apple to be featured on Apple devices, and that it's "simple" to change iPhone settings and swap out the search engine choice through Safari preferences.
Google says that it is confident that a court will conclude that the lawsuit "doesn't square" with the facts or the law, and that while it plays out, Google will remain focused on delivering free services that "help Americans every day."
Amazon today announced that its Luna cloud-based gaming service is available in the United States as part of an early access test, with Luna able to be used on Macs, PCs, Fire TV, and iOS devices through web apps.
Amazon is not able to develop a native app for the iPhone because of Apple's restrictions that would require each cloud-based streaming game to be submitted to the App Store separately, a barrier that has also prevented Microsoft's xCloud and Google's Stadia from being brought to the iPhone and the iPad. Given this restriction, Amazon is using a web-based interface on the iPhone and iPad.
Amazon is providing invitations for a small number of customers in the United States, who will be able to test the service and will have an option to buy the $50 Luna controller that goes along with it.
Games can be streamed on two devices at a time at 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, though Amazon says 4K support is coming in the future. A high-speed internet connection and compatible game controller (Luna, Xbox One, or DualShock 4) or mouse and keyboard are required.
The Luna streaming game service is priced at $5.99 per month and provides access to 50 games through the Luna+ Game Channel. Early access testers can get a free seven day trial, but after that, must pay the $5.99 per month fee. An Ubisoft Channel that's coming soon will include Ubisoft titles like "Assassin's Creed Valhalla."
With early testers, Amazon says that it will be seeking feedback from streamers and players of all kinds to help build out the service. Those who want to sign up for early access can do so on the Luna website.
Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are launching this Friday, and ahead of that release date, Apple is shipping out various accessories like the MagSafe charger and MagSafe cases. Yesterday we took a look at the MagSafe charger, and today our MagSafe case came in the mail, so we thought we'd take another look at the charger to see how it works with the case and just how strong the case magnets are.
Design wise, the new Apple Silicone Case with built-in MagSafe compatibility is similar to any other Apple Silicone case designed for past iPhones, but there is a little circle inside the case that lets you know there's a magnet ring built in. The case slips on and off the iPhone easily, and it's made from the same silicone material as previous iPhone cases.
We looked at an OtterBox MagSafe case yesterday and weren't super impressed with the design because the magnets were just glued into the back of the case and covered with a bit of plastic, but Apple's design has the magnets built into the silicone of the case for a nicer finished look.
The magnets in the OtterBox case were strong enough for everyday use but not super strong, and while we thought Apple's magnets might be stronger, that's not the case. The magnets in the Apple Silicone case are about the same strength as the magnets in the OtterBox case, and if you watch the video up above, you can see them in action.
We don't have an iPhone 12, and the iPhone 12 has its own magnets and is a key part of how these cases and attachments work, so keep that in mind when watching our video. iPhone 12 reviews came out today, though, giving us an idea of how strong the magnets are. Some reviewers ended up being unimpressed with the magnets for use with accessories like the Wallet that Apple makes.
Apple’s MagSafe Charger is surprisingly large. The connection is decent. Not strong enough to prevent a fall off a nightstand though. pic.twitter.com/rEP5OdptaQ
— Neil Cybart (@neilcybart) October 20, 2020
MKBHD, for example, used the Wallet accessory from Apple with the iPhone 12 and when he put the phone and wallet combo in his pocket, the wallet attachment fell right off, which is not ideal given that what's generally kept in a wallet is important.
Magnet strength isn't as important when it comes to the MagSafe charger because it's mainly meant for charger alignment, but for an accessory like a wallet, it needs to be solidly stuck in place. More testing is required, but early impressions suggest iPhone 12 buyers should use caution with the Wallet option.
If you missed our dedicated MagSafe charger video yesterday, make sure to check that out too if you want a better look at the MagSafe design.
We'll have an iPhone 12 and 12 Pro to test out on Friday with both the MagSafe charger and the MagSafe cases, so tune in to MacRumors later in the week to see both of these accessories in more detail alongside the new iPhone models.
iOS and iPadOS 14.2 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.
Apple in iOS and iPadOS 14.2 is adding new Emoji 13 emoji characters, with options that include smiling face with tear, ninja, pinched fingers, anatomical heart, black cat, mammoth, polar bear, dodo, fly, bell pepper, tamale, bubble tea, potted plant, piñata, plunger, wand, feather, hut, and more, with a full list available here.
The iOS 14.2 update also brings a new Music Recognition control for the Control Center, which enhances the integration of the Apple-owned Shazam app in the iOS operating system. Music Recognition lets you discover music playing around you and it can recognize music playing in apps even when you're wearing AirPods.
The Shazam Music Recognition feature can be added to Control Center through the Control Center options in the Settings app. To use the feature, open up Control Center and then tap on the Shazam icon to initiate a single recognition. While Apple devices have been able to use Shazam through Siri or the Shazam app for some time, the Control Center option makes it easier to get to the music recognition tool.
The new update also includes a redesigned Now Playing widget for the Control Center, which lists recently played albums that you might want to tap into and listen to when you have no music playing. There's also a redesigned interface for AirPlay, making it easier to play music across multiple AirPlay 2-enabled devices in the home.
For those who have low vision, Apple added a "People Detection" feature in the Magnifier app that uses the camera to let iPhone users know how far away other people are, which can be useful for social distancing purposes.
For the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, Apple tweaked the design slightly, updating the watch with one of the new Solo Loop Apple Watch bands.
For Apple Card users, the iOS 14.2 update adds a yearly spending history option so Apple Card holders can see how much they've spent in the current calendar year and how much Daily Cash they've earned. Prior to iOS 14.2, Apple Card offered spending activity information in a weekly or monthly summary.
With the HomePod 14.2 software, the iOS 14.2 update introduces the Intercom feature that turns HomePod, HomePod mini, and other devices into intercoms that can be used throughout the household.
Intercom lets family members communicate with one another in the home by sending and receiving spoken messages through HomePod speakers or through iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay. Intercom can be activated by saying "Hey Siri, Intercom" to activate it, followed by a message. Intercom can even be used when people are away from home.
You can choose specific HomePods or devices in the home to send a message to everyone in the household or send a reply to an Intercom message sent by someone else. On devices like iPhone and iPad, Intercom messages are shown as notifications with the option to listen to an audio message.
There's no word on when the iOS 14.2 update will see a public launch, but Apple could be planning to release it after the debut of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which are expected to be available on November 13.
Update: iOS 14.2 beta 4 introduces new wallpaper options, with both photorealistic and drawn art available. Each wallpaper has a light mode and a dark mode option. The wallpapers can be seen and downloaded here.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 14.2 update to developers for testing purposes, a week after seeding the third 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.
Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have no visible regulatory symbols in the United States, as the U.S. allows this information to be relegated to the Settings app on the devices thanks to the E-Label Act passed in 2014.
That's not the case in Europe, where regulatory approvals are required to be visible on the device itself. Apple has in the past put the necessary symbols on the back of the iPhone, but this year, the European models have regulatory info laser etched on the bottom right side of the device.
The etching includes the "CE" symbol, which is a marking that means it conforms with the health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. Most products sold in Europe are required to meet the legal requirements for the CE marking, and are required display it.
So it seems the iPhone 12 in Europe has these ugly marking on the side now?! Canceling my order. pic.twitter.com/QenzPYnHqu
— Jesper van Haaren (@jhaaren) October 16, 2020
Some iPhone buyers in Europe may not be happy with the CE mark engraved on the side of the new devices as it is more visible in some ways than the engraving on the back, but a case will be able to hide it.
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