MacRumors

Yesterday, frequent leaker Jon Prosser claimed that Apple was targeting 9:00 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow, September 8, for a press release launch of new products. Prosser had previously said that new iPad and Apple Watch models were planned to launch during the week of September 7, so those appeared to be the products we should be expecting to see.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman cast some doubt on the rumor, however, suggesting that any news tomorrow morning would "more likely" be an announcement about a virtual media event to unveil the next iPhone and Apple Watch.

With less than twelve hours to go until the rumored press release time, Prosser is doubling down on his claim, saying that his sources "are not budging or changing their mind" and that new iPad Air and Apple Watch models are expected to debut tomorrow.

Supporting his case, Prosser pointed out earlier today that many Apple Watch Series 5 models are listed as currently unavailable in Apple's online store, with the assumption being that Apple has been depleting its stock of the current models in advance of an imminent update.

We've been watching Apple Watch Series 5 stock levels over the past few weeks and have seen a number of them going out of stock, and the number of affected models does appear to be increasing, but it's hard to say whether they point toward an imminent launch as soon as tomorrow or perhaps within the next month.

Apple has struggled with supplies of a number of its products over the past six months, thanks to the global health crisis impacting not only production at times but also consumer demand for certain product lines.

Given the unlikelihood of an in-person media event to introduce new hardware and Apple's admission that new iPhones will launch "a few weeks later" than usual, we're in uncharted waters and not entirely sure how Apple will roll out the numerous new products that appear to be on the verge of launching. So stay tuned tomorrow morning, and we'll see whether Apple has anything to announce.

Apple today announced that its new Marina Bay Sands retail store in Singapore will open at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, with Apple calling it the company's "most ambitious retail project."

The Marina Bay Sands store appears to float on Marina Bay and its all-glass dome assembled using 114 pieces of glass is a one-of-a-kind construction.

Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, an oculus located at the apex of the dome provides a flooding ray of light that travels through the space. The interior of the glass is lined with custom baffles, each uniquely shaped to counter sun angles and provide a nighttime lighting effect. With trees lining the interior of the dome, the green garden city of Singapore flows into the store, providing additional shading and soft shadows through the foliage.

The store, which will be staffed by 148 employees who collectively speak over 23 languages, includes not only the usual product display areas and massive video wall anchoring The Forum, but also Apple's first underwater Boardroom for business meetings, training, and private events.

Apple Marina Bay Sands is the company's third retail store in Singapore, and opening-day visits will be by reservation only with reservations made through the store web page.

Apple has hired Tim Connolly, a Hollywood executive with experience at Disney, Hulu, and Quibi, for Apple TV, according to The Telegraph.

Connolly was vice-president of digital distribution and new product development at Disney. He was one of the most senior executives at streaming startup Quibi, running partnerships and advertising, but he vacated the role before the video service launched earlier this year. Connolly also helped to launch Hulu's live TV service, which involved striking deals with other major networks. Similarly, he oversaw a deal between Spotify and Hulu to bundle their services.

Connolly's exact role at Apple is as yet unknown, but it seems likely that he will be involved in brokering deals for ‌Apple TV‌'s Channels feature. The ‌Apple TV‌ app allows users to buy and watch third-party streaming services directly within the app, but support has been limited thus far. Apple began selling subscriptions to combined services last month, with a bundle including CBS All Access and Showtime, for an overall lower price of $9.99. This move and the hiring of Connolly may indicate that Apple is planning to launch more similar bundles and bolster ‌Apple TV‌ Channels.

Given Connolly's experience in bundling services, it is also possible that he is involved in launching Apple's upcoming "Apple One" subscription service bundles. The series of bundles would allow customers to subscribe to several Apple digital services, such as Apple Music and ‌Apple TV‌+, together. This is expected to result in a lower monthly price than when the services are subscribed to individually.

Apple did not respond to The Telegraph's request for comment. Connolly's arrival at Apple is yet another indication that the company is heavily investing in its TV and subscription service enterprises.

Italy's antitrust regulator has today opened another inquiry into Apple for allegedly improper commercial practices with regards to cloud computing services (via Reuters).

The investigation will also look into the practices of Google and Dropbox, in addition to Apple. The L'Autorit Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) did not release further information or state how long the investigation would take, and Apple has yet to comment on the matter.

"The proceedings relate to alleged improper commercial practices and the possible inclusion of unfair clauses in contract conditions," the AGCM said in a statement.

The investigation is the third by the AGCM into Apple. In July, the AGCM began scrutinizing Apple and Amazon over allegations that the two companies blocked the sale of Apple and Beats devices to resellers in order to stifle competition. Each investigation is separate and managed irrespective of other ongoing investigations.

A previous AGCM probe looked into the company for iPhone battery slowdowns, which the antitrust watchdog said was a form of planned obsolescence. It subsequently demanded a 10 million euro fine from Apple as a sanction.

After LG disappointed swathes of customers by saying it had "no plans" to bring promised AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to select 2018 TVs, the company has now renewed its pledge to do so by the end of the year.

Today's announcement was made by LG UK's official Twitter account, the very same account that last month told its customers that ‌AirPlay‌ 2 and ‌HomeKit‌ would not be coming to its pre-2019 TVs, despite previously giving customers assurances that they would do so this year.

The original tweet has since been deleted, and it's not clear whether this latest u-turn is the result of poor communication within the company or a reaction to the outpouring of negative customer comments that its earlier statement elicited. Either way, owners of 2018 LG smart TVs that have LCD models with "SK" or "UK" in the name or OLED models with "B8" through "Z8" in the name are likely to welcome the development.

‌AirPlay‌‌ 2 support will enable users of the above TV models to stream videos, music, podcasts, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their LG smart TV, with no Apple TV necessary. With ‌‌HomeKit‌‌ support, they will be able to control their TV's power, volume, source, and more using Siri or the Home app on ‌‌iPhone‌‌, ‌‌iPad‌‌, and Mac.

LG today also officially announced worldwide support for Apple's TV app on select LG 2018 OLED and Super UHD TVs, with support for UHD TV models to follow. The announcement follows scattered reports last month that the ‌Apple TV‌ app had begun showing up for some users.

Apple is set to debut four new OLED iPhones in 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7-inch sizes before the year is out. Rumors suggest the 6.7-inch iPhone and one 6.1-inch model will be higher-end devices with triple-lens cameras, while the 5.4-inch device and the other 6.1-inch model will be more affordable lower-end iPhones with dual-lens cameras.

Owing to development and production delays, Apple is rumored to be staggering its ‌iPhone‌ launches this year, although we're still seeing conflicting rumors about the order in which the devices will be released.

DigiTimes has previously suggested the two 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12 models could come out first in October, with the 6.7 and 5.4-inch models to follow, and in a new report out today, the Taiwanese industry publication has reiterated that claim, based on the shipment timing of substrate-like printed circuit boards for the devices.

The new iPhone lineup may arrive in two stages, with two 6.1-inch models in the first and another two 6.7- and 5.4-inch devices in the second, said the sources, noting that shipments of SLP mainboards for the 6.1-inch models were kicked off in July and those for the 6.7- and 5.4-inch ones began in the second half of August.

Bloomberg has also reported that Apple will stagger its iPhone launches in 2020. However, it expects Apple to launch the more affordable 5.4 and 6.1-inch devices first, with the more expensive 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch "Pro" devices to follow.

Meanwhile, leaker Jon Prosser claims the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models will be introduced at an event set to take place during the week of October 12, with the lower-cost ‌iPhone‌ 12 models expected to be available for pre-order shortly after the event. Prosser says the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro models won't be available until November.

Regardless of the order in which Apple releases its ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, an official announcement about the devices could be just around the corner. Prosser believes an iPad and Apple Watch press release is due as soon as this Tuesday, but well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman thinks it's likely to be an announcement of a virtual ‌iPhone‌/Apple Watch event in September.

For further details on what features to expect in Apple's upcoming ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, be sure to check out our dedicated guide.

Apple's ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications on the Apple Watch Series 4 and 5 have received domestic approval and certification from Japan's medical authorities, indicating that both features should go live in the country very soon.

The approval was confirmed by the Japanese Association for the Advancement of Medical Equipment (JAAME) on Friday, September 4, and subsequently reported by tech blog iPhone Mania today. An imminent update to Apple's watchOS will likely turn on the features for existing Apple Watch owners.

As a result of the approval, the Ochanomizu Department of Cardiology has begun moving forward with its Apple Watch Outpatient program, which will help registered patients use devices to help them record suspected arrhythmia attacks and submit them for further detailed examination.

‌Apple Watch‌ Series 4 and 5 users can generate an ECG waveform in just 30 seconds by placing their finger on the Digital Crown. The idea is that you can take this information to your doctor, if the results are abnormal, and use it as a basis to discover if you have any larger issues at hand.

Apple routinely has to gain approval from government health agencies before marketing the ‌Apple Watch‌'s ECG feature in different countries. Apple won U.S. FDA clearance to promote the function when the ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 4 launched in 2018.

Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) updated its list of registered foreign manufacturers to include Apple as a "certified entity" in June.

In this week's App Recap, we've highlighted finance app "Buddy," productivity app "MindNode," and productivity app "Study Bunny" as three apps that are worth checking out.

Apps to Check Out

• Buddy - Easy Budgeting (iOS, Subscription) - Buddy is an app that can help users set up a budget and keep track of expenses. The app's overview page provides a clear breakdown of all expenses over a month against an income value. Users can break up spending budgets into various categories to track how much spending occurs in each, and all transaction data can be conveniently exported in a CSV file. The app is free to download, and users can subscribe to the app's premium plan to create an unlimited number of budgets and categories, share transactions and budgeting data with others, export transactions, and more. Buddy's premium plan is available in monthly, quarterly, and yearly subscription options priced at $4.99, $11.99, and $34.99 respectively.
• MindNode - Mind Map (iOS & Mac, Subscription) - MindNode is an app that can be used to capture all aspects of an idea in a simple manner. The app allows several forms of content to be added on a branch of the map including text, drawings, links, and more. To help organize an idea, users can easily tag, detach, connect, reconnect, and move branches around the map. Maps can also be converted into an indented list in just a tap, which is a great way to see an outlined, high-level view of an idea. Although the app is free to download, certain features like Themes, Visual Tags, and Focus Mode are limited to subscribers of MindNode Plus, which is available in both monthly and yearly options priced at $2.49 and $19.99 respectively. There's also a two week trial available for new subscribers.
• Study Bunny: Focus Timer (iOS, Free) - Study Bunny can help users focus through a timer that tracks both work and break minutes. Upon completing a period of work, coins are obtained that can be used to purchase in-app content like sounds, custom backgrounds, and more. If the work timer is paused for more than seven minutes, however, coins will be lost, so users are incentivized to continue working. Additionally, the app tracks the length of study periods and displays daily work totals in weekly and monthly charts within the analytics menu. Study Bunny also lets users create flashcards and to-do lists to further help bolster productivity.

Are you using a great new app we've missed? Let us know in the comments and we'll check it out for next week's App Recap. Are you a developer of a unique app you'd like us to consider? Send us a message through our tip line at the top of the page and we'll check it out.

Apple is reportedly planning a press release for this Tuesday to announce new iPad and Apple Watch models, according to prolific leaker Jon Prosser.

Prosser explains that Apple has a press release scheduled for Tuesday, September 8 at 9:00 EST, but notes that it is not "locked in" until the day itself. Prosser has also said that he will offer an update if and when one is available.

Prosser has previously said that new Apple Watch and ‌iPad‌ models would arrive via press release in the week of September 7. This alleged Tuesday press release would seem to be for those products.

Although new Apple Watch models would likely be the expected Series 6, Prosser did not state which ‌iPad‌ would be arriving. In recent months there has been some conflation about leaks regarding the low-cost ‌iPad‌ and iPad Air 4. It has also been suggested that updated iPad Pro models may arrive this month, so it is difficult to know exactly which ‌iPad‌ models are expected.

The release of multiple Apple products appears to be imminent. At the end of last month, Apple registered eight Apple Watches and seven iPads in Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) filings, and various leaks such as an alleged instruction manual and design schematics have come to light. Similar EEC filings have preceded the launch of new Apple products on numerous occasions, including multiple ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌, ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌, ‌iPhone‌, Mac, ‌Apple Watch‌, and AirPods models.

The EEC filings effectively confirm that new Apple Watches and at least two different models of ‌iPad‌ will be released very soon, so Prosser's claim that a Tuesday press release will see announcements of these products is not unfounded. Prosser has also correctly predicted some of Apple's launch plans in the past.

Update: Mark Gurman believes that the Tuesday announcement may only be for the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ event rather than any new product releases:

Just a week after Apple terminated Epic Games' developer account, Epic has filed for a preliminary injunction that would both allow Fortnite back on the App Store and restore access to its developer account.

In the filing, Epic Games says it was willing to challenge Apple "because it was the right thing to do" and "it was better positioned than many other companies to weather the storm." Epic describes Apple as a "monopolist" who maintains its dominant position by "explicitly prohibiting any competitive entry" to both app distribution and in-app payment processing markets.

Epic mentions that it's "likely to suffer irreparable harm" if Fortnite is not made available on the ‌App Store‌ and that "the balance of harms tips strongly in Epic’s favor," citing that daily iOS active users have already declined by over 60% since the app's initial removal from the ‌App Store‌.

Fortnite introduced a direct payment option in mid-August that skirted Apple's in-app purchase system by allowing payments directly to ‌Epic Games‌. Apple shortly after pulled the app from the ‌App Store for disregarding ‌App Store‌ policies‌, which has lead to a lawsuit from Epic and a quickly escalating legal fight between the two companies.

Epic has refused to back down from the direct purchase option added to Fortnite, and Apple won't allow the app in the ‌‌App Store‌‌ while the direct payment option remains. Apple told Epic that it's ready to "welcome Fortnite back onto iOS" if Epic removes the direct payment option and returned to the status quo while the legal battle plays out in court, but Epic has refused.

The preliminary injunction was filed on Friday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the hearing will take place on September 28.

All of the iPhones in Apple's iPhone 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineups feature Qualcomm modems that support 5G, but potential buyers need to know that not all 5G networks are equal. There's the super fast mmWave (millimeter wave) 5G and the slower but more widespread Sub-6GHz 5G.

In the United States, all of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 models support both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G connectivity, but mmWave technology is not available worldwide. The 2022 iPhone SE is also limited to sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. This guide highlights the differences between mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G to give you an overview of how 5G works on the ‌iPhone‌.

mmWave vs. Sub6GHz Explained

5G is fifth-generation cellular wireless, succeeding the 4G LTE networks that have been in use since 2010. There are two kinds of 5G networks: mmWave, which is the super-fast 5G that most people are talking about when they talk about 5G speed improvements, and sub-6GHz, the 5G that most people are going to experience for the time being.

Smartphones transmit voice and data over the air using electromagnetic radio frequencies, with these frequencies organized into different frequency bands. Some of these bands have more capacity than others and are able to deliver information faster, which is the case with mmWave.

mmWave refers to higher frequency radio bands ranging from 24GHz to 40GHz, and Sub-6GHz refers to mid and low-frequency bands under 6GHz. Low-frequency bands are under 1GHz, while mid-bands range from 3.4GHz to 6GHz and are not considered "mmWave."

mmWave 5G networks are ultra-fast, but they're also ultra-short range. To use mmWave technology, you need to be within about a block of a 5G tower, which isn't feasible in suburban and rural areas. mmWave spectrum is also blocked and obscured by doors, windows, trees, and walls, further limiting its available range, and because it requires so many towers for coverage, it's expensive for carriers to deploy.

Because of its limited range, accessing mmWave spectrum has only become possible over the course of the last few years due to technological advancements like Massive MIMO, adaptable beamforming, and miniaturization of complex antenna processing functions, and mmWave is still nascent technology that's in the process of being adopted.

mmWave's limitations make it best suited for dense, urban areas, or specific targeted spots like airports or concerts. In rural and suburban areas, mmWave technology is not practical because it doesn't have enough range, which is where the Sub-6GHz networks come in. Sub-6GHz 5G is faster than 4G, but it doesn't offer the blazing-fast speeds that you can get with mmWave. Since it has a longer range and can better penetrate objects, it's much more affordable for carriers to implement.

It's worth noting that mmWave 5G offers greater bandwidth, relieving network congestion. In crowded areas, LTE speeds can slow because of the number of devices connecting, while mmWave technology is able to handle a greater number of connections without significant speed drops. For that reason, you may see mmWave set up in crowded areas where network congestion is a problem, such as at sporting events, airports, concerts, and other locations where many people gather, as well as in urban areas.

With an ‌iPhone‌ that supports both mmWave and Sub-6GHz, you can take advantage of lightning-quick 5G speeds where mmWave technology is available, while other 5G coverage is similar to the more modern LTE networks. With an ‌iPhone‌ that only has Sub-6GHz, you can use the most widely available 5G networks, but are blocked off from the faster mmWave that might be available in cities.

Over time, low-band and mid-band 5G speeds should get much quicker just like LTE did as it evolved, but those incredibly fast speeds that people expect from 5G are mmWave speeds and are much more limited in availability.

Speed Differences

mmWave spectrum can deliver theoretical speeds as high as 5Gb/s, which is much, much faster than the speeds achievable with LTE connectivity.

In practice, early mmWave networks have been delivering speeds that max out at around 2Gb/s, but as we found when we tested Verizon's mmWave network with a Samsung smartphone in Chicago in mid-2019, speeds vary drastically based on your position and proximity to the nearest 5G tower.

LTE networks are much slower. In fact, Tom's Guide recently looked at LTE speeds and saw top download speeds of 53Mb/s on Verizon, but most carriers were closer to 35Mb/s.

Sub-6GHz networks fall somewhere in between mmWave and LTE speeds. Sprint's Sub-6GHz network (which is now T-Mobile's), for example, has seen maximum speeds of about 200Mb/s. A good LTE connection can hit those speeds, but realistically, Sub-6GHz 5G is faster than most people will see with LTE, though not reaching those incredible speeds possible with mmWave.

OpenSignal in August 2020 analyzed real-world 5G speeds in multiple countries (using smartphones that currently support 5G), and the speed results for the United States might be surprising to those who are expecting major speed gains from 5G. Average download speeds on 5GHz networks were around 50.9Mb/s, compared to 28.9 Mb/s on LTE, and that's because most of the coverage in the U.S. is Sub-6GHz at this time.

Other countries have more advanced 5G networks and can provide some insight into the speed improvements we could realistically see within the next few years. On average, OpenSignal found 5G connectivity to be between 1.4x and 14.3x faster than 4G, but this data does not separate mmWave 5G from Sub-6GHz 5G.

One other interesting metric OpenSignal noted was time connected to 5G networks. In the United States, smartphone owners with devices that support 5G spent just 19.3 percent of the time connected to 5G networks because of their limited availability.

mmWave Availability

In the United States, AT&T and Verizon have implemented mmWave support, but it's still available in a limited capacity. It's in select major cities and not even citywide - it's typically limited to select neighborhoods.

With Sub-6GHz, it's already more widespread with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile rolling out lower-spectrum and mid-band 5G networks that are available to many more customers.

Which iPhones Support mmWave?

All ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 models in the United States support mmWave 5G networks. Outside of the United States, only sub-6GHz 5G networks are supported.

Do I Need the mmWave 5G Connectivity?

In a nutshell, no, most people don't need mmWave connectivity, nor will most people even access to it on a regular basis for the next several years to come.

Full mmWave 5G connectivity is still in the process of rolling out, and it continues to be limited in scope. It's only available in major cities in the United States, and in most of those major cities, it's not available everywhere and is in select areas.

The transition from 4G to 5G started in 2019 and there's still a ways to go, so most people are going to be able to get by without mmWave speeds. To know whether mmWave technology is worth it for you personally, it's a good idea to look up your carrier and see if mmWave spectrum has even rolled out where you live.

5G information for the major carriers in the United States is linked below so you can see the coverage for your particular carrier in your area.

• Verizon
• AT&T
• T-Mobile

If you don't spend a lot of time in one of the specific neighborhoods in one of the cities where your carrier offers 5G technology, you're not going to benefit from mmWave speeds and purchasing a mmWave ‌iPhone‌ should not be a major concern at this time. If you do live in a major urban area with a lot of mmWave 5G towers, you could see benefits from an ‌iPhone‌ that supports the faster technology.

Carriers are, of course, going to continue building out their mmWave networks and in a few years it could be much more widespread, which is a consideration for those who take future-proofing into account when making an ‌iPhone‌ purchase. But even years from now, mmWave is still likely to be limited in scope and available only in more urban areas and Sub-6GHz is the 5G most people will know and connect to.

Keep in mind that some carriers are charging more for 5G right now. Verizon, for example, is pricing 5G plans $10 higher than comparative 4G unlimited plans. AT&T and T-Mobile aren't charging higher prices yet, but that could change as 5G further expands.

Apple's Future 5G Plans

Apple is working on creating its own modem chips that are designed in-house, much like the Apple silicon and A-series chips, which will allow the company to reduce its reliance on modem chip vendors.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple could transition to its own 5G modems as early as 2023. Once Apple comes out with its own modem designs, it will no longer need Qualcomm. 2023 is the "earliest" date, however, so the timeline could change.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about mmWave vs. Sub-6GHz 5G connectivity or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here. If you want to know more about Apple's 5G iPhone plans, make sure to check out our 5G iPhone guide.

Normally we'd be zeroed in on Apple's annual iPhone event at this time, but with things still up in the air this year, rumors are flying fast and furious about what new products will be launching and when we'll see them.

It certainly looks like Apple has a long list of products that could launch before the end of the year, so check out our video above and read on below for all of the latest rumors!

Report: iPhone 12, Apple Watch Series 6, iPad Air, Smaller HomePod, and Over-Ear AirPods Launching This Fall

The calendar has turned to September, which means new Apple products should be on the horizon! While the exact timing of announcements might end up being different than usual due to the pandemic, new products expected at some point this fall include iPhone 12 and Apple Watch Series 6 models, a 10.8-inch iPad Air with an edge-to-edge display like the iPad Pro, a smaller HomePod, over-ear AirPods headphones, and potentially even a new Apple TV and item tracking AirTags.

Japanese blog Mac Otakara this week reported that Apple plans to introduce the iPhone 12 and Apple Watch Series 6 models at a (presumably virtual) event in the second half of October. This rumor is supported by a reliable leaker who said Series 6 models won't be announced in September.

iPhone 12 Pro Expected to Come in 'Dark Blue' Color Option

A pair of reports this week claimed that Apple plans to make its iPhone 12 Pro models available in an all-new Dark Blue color that would replace the Midnight Green finish offered for iPhone 11 Pro models.

As with the latest iPad Pro, iPhone 12 Pro models are expected to feature a flat-edged stainless steel frame, while sticking with frosted glass on the back. As seen in leaked photos this week, the devices are also expected to feature a LiDAR Scanner next to the triple-lens rear camera system, which should pave the way for improved augmented reality experiences within supported apps.

While all iPhone 12 models are expected to feature OLED displays and 5G support, a report this week claimed that only the highest-end 6.7-inch model might get the fastest version of 5G known as mmWave.

iOS 13.7 Released With 'Exposure Notifications Express'

Apple this week released iOS 13.7 with support for a new feature called "Exposure Notifications Express," which allows users to enable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications without downloading their public health authority's app in participating regions.

Apple said that Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. will soon be adopting Exposure Notifications Express, and more U.S. states could follow in the future. Keep in mind that the Exposure Notifications system as a whole still functions on an opt-in basis, with a toggle switch located in the Settings app.

Apple this week also seeded the seventh developer betas of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 (we've rounded up everything new), watchOS 7, and tvOS 14, as well as the sixth beta of macOS Big Sur.

Super-Lightweight 12-Inch MacBook With Apple Silicon Rumored to Launch This Year

During its WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced that it will be switching to its own custom-designed processors for Macs starting later this year. These machines will be known as Apple Silicon Macs.

The China Times this week reported that one of the first Apple Silicon Macs will be a lightweight 12-inch MacBook with an A14X chip and up to 20 hours of battery life. The report claims the notebook will launch by the end of 2020.

The same report also mentioned that Apple is developing its own custom GPUs for at least some Apple Silicon Macs, supposedly including a new iMac that will launch in the second half of 2021. Apple said that it expects to finish transitioning its entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon within around two years.

Apple Watch Series 6 Rumors: Blood Oxygen Tracking, Performance Improvements, Faster Wi-Fi, and More

While the Apple Watch Series 5 was a relatively minor refresh, this year's Series 6 models could pack several new features, such as blood oxygen monitoring and faster Wi-Fi and cellular speeds.

We've put together a video with everything you can expect from Apple Watch Series 6 models, and for more details, make sure to check out our roundup.

Apple's AirTags Rumored for October Launch: Here's What to Expect

Apple is working on a Tile-like Bluetooth tracking device that's designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets. Called AirTags, these item trackers will let you keep an eye on your possessions right in the Find My app.

‌AirTags‌ are perhaps one of Apple's worst-kept secrets because we've been seeing signs of them in various versions of iOS since early 2019, but it looks like ‌AirTags‌ may finally be ready to launch, coming alongside new iPhones this fall, so we took a look at what we know so far about them.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

iOS 14's biggest changes focus on the Home Screen, the App Library, redesigned compact interface for phone calls and Siri, Picture in Picture, the Translate app, and updated privacy protections, but Apple also improved many of its existing apps to add new features and functionality.

The Photos and Camera apps didn't get new designs, but received some notable changes like captions, navigation improvements, new shortcuts for capturing images, and more, with all of the new additions to the two apps outlined in the guide below.

Camera Performance and Shooting Speed

Apple in iOS 14 added speed and efficiency improvements to the Camera app. You can capture photos up to 90 percent faster, at up to four frames per second. The time it takes to get your first shot after opening the app is now 25 percent faster, and capturing portraits is 15 percent faster shot to shot.

There's also a new "Prioritize Faster Shooting" toggle in the Camera section of the Settings app that adapts image quality when rapidly pressing the shutter so you can make sure you're not missing a shot due to processing times.

Expanded QuickTake Video Support

QuickTake in iOS 14 is now available on the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. Previously, it was limited to the ‌iPhone‌ 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and SE (2020). QuickTake lets you hold down on the shutter button when in photo mode to capture a video without having to swipe over to video mode.

• iOS 14: How to Quickly Shoot Video Using QuickTake on iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max

Volume Up/Down Burst Mode and QuickTake

It's long been possible to press the volume buttons to snap a photo when the Camera app is open, but this shortcut functionality is expanded in iOS 14. If you long press on the Volume Up button you can take a series of photos in quick succession, which is known as Burst Mode.

If you press and hold the Volume Down button you can activate QuickTake to capture video without having to take the time to go into video mode.

Video Mode Toggles

In the upper right corner of the Camera app, there are details on video quality and frames per second when in video mode. In iOS 14, you can tap in that corner to change the video mode rather than having to open up the Settings app to do so. This works in video mode and Slo-Mo mode.

This was previously available on the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and 11 Pro, and in iOS 14 has expanded to all iPhones.

• iOS 14: How to Change Video Quality in the Camera App

Exposure Adjustment and Night Mode Improvements

In the Camera section of the Settings app, if you tap on "Preserve Settings," you'll find a new toggle for "Exposure Adjustment." Exposure Adjustment preserves any tweaks you've made to exposure rather than resetting it from shot to shot so you can continue to take photos with your preferred exposure settings.

Toggling on Exposure Adjustment also ensures that the exposure adjustment indicator remains visible.

Apple is improving Night Mode for the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, and when you take a ‌Night Mode‌ shot, the camera uses the gyroscope to offer up a guidance indicator to help you hold the ‌iPhone‌ steady. There's also a new option to cancel mid-capture rather than having to wait for the capture to finish.

Selfie Mirroring

When taking a selfie with an ‌iPhone‌ using the Camera app, it flips the image so that it's the opposite of the mirror image that's shown in the preview, which can be confusing. Because most social networking apps use mirrored selfies, many people are more accustomed to mirroring functionality than the flipped selfies that the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ uses.

In iOS 14, you can use the new "Mirror Front Camera" toggle to cause the Camera app to take mirror image selfies where the finished product looks like the image preview. To enable the feature, open up the Settings app, select Camera, and toggle on "Mirror Front Camera."

• iOS 14: How to Stop Your iPhone From Flipping Your Selfie Shots

Photo Captions and Filtering

The ‌Photos‌ app in iOS 14 supports captions so you can add additional context to your photos with the information you add synced across iOS and Mac.

To add a caption to an image in the ‌Photos‌ app, just swipe up on any single photo you're looking at to see additional details and then tap on "Add a Caption" and type in whatever you want.

In the "All ‌Photos‌" view, there's a "Filter" option where you can choose to display favorite photos, edited photos, all photos, or all videos. To get to the Filter options, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Filter." You can also choose to change the Aspect Ratio Grid to show the photo sizes or stick with the square version.

• iOS 14: How to Add Captions to Your Photos on iPhone and iPad
• iOS 14: How to Filter Images in Your Photo Library on iPhone and iPad

Album Sorting and Hidden Album

In any album in the ‌Photos‌ app, you can tap the three dots in the right hand corner of the display to get to sorting and filtering options. Filter options work like above, but the sort option lets you sort by oldest photos or newest photos to make it easier to find what you're looking for.

As for the Hidden album, there's a new option to hide it from the Albums list. In the ‌Photos‌ section of the Settings app, toggle on "Hidden Album." The album won't be available in the ‌Photos‌ app, but you'll still see it when you use the image picker in other apps.

• iOS 14: How to Conceal and Reveal the Hidden Album in Photos
• iOS 14: How to Sort Images and Videos in Apple's Photos App

Streamlined Navigation

Pinch gestures to zoom in and out now work in the Albums, Favorites, Media Types, and Shared Albums sections of the ‌Photos‌ app, so you can easily zoom in and out to see everything in a given location. In iOS 13, the pinch zoom gesture to see more photos or photos that are larger was limited to the main ‌Photos‌ section.

Memories and Live Photos Improvements

Apple in iOS 14 improved the Memories feature to show more relevant photos and videos, and there are a greater number of music tracks available to watch with photo slideshows. Apple says that the framing has also been improved when switching between horizontal and portrait orientations for better transitions.

Redesigned Image Picker

Throughout iOS 14, there's a new image picker wherever you use iOS to insert a photo into another app. The new version lets you select from albums or search for people, places, or photo contents, which makes it easier to find the exact photo you want to use.

Better Zoom

In iOS 14 you can use the pinch to zoom feature to zoom much further into photos than was possible in iOS 13, so you can see more of the detail in a photo.

Limited Photos Permissions

Apps that ask permission to access photos can now be provided with access to a limited number of images if you don't want to give blanket permission for an app to access your entire camera roll.

With the limited photos option, you can continually update the photos that are shared with the app, selecting just a couple at a time that you want to upload or edit.

You will be asked about limited photos access whenever an app wants permission to use photos, and you can control which apps have access to all of your photos, limited photos, or no photos in the Privacy section of the Settings app under "‌Photos‌."

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the Camera and ‌Photos‌ features in iOS 14, know of something we left out, or or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here. If you want to know more about what's coming in iOS 14, make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup.

Apple supplier ASE Technology is packaging core chips for at least two new Apple Watch models based on its system-in-package technology, and it will also incorporate the technology into third-generation AirPods, according to DigiTimes.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu reported that the new Apple Watch lineup will include a successor to the Apple Watch Series 5 and a replacement for the Series 3 that will compete with lower-cost fitness trackers like Fitbits.

While new Apple Watch models are typically announced alongside new iPhones in September, rumors suggest that this year's Series 6 lineup might be unveiled in October. Rumored features include a new S6 processor for improved performance, expanded health capabilities like blood oxygen monitoring, and faster Wi-Fi and cellular speeds.

The report claims the third-generation AirPods will be released in 2021, lining up with a timeframe shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who expects a launch in the first half of the year specifically. There have been conflicting rumors as to whether these AirPods will sport the same design as the AirPods Pro, including in-ear tips and shorter stems below the ears.

Apple is rumored to have several other products in its pipeline, including a 10.8-inch iPad Air with an edge-to-edge display like the iPad Pro, a smaller HomePod, over-ear AirPods headphones, a new Apple TV, and item tracking AirTags. While some of these products will likely be released by the end of 2020, timing is less certain amid the global health crisis.

Apple continued to dominate the North American wearables market in the second quarter of 2020, with a growth of nine percent year-on-year, according to a new report by Canalys.

The shipments of wearables in the North American market grew 10 percent in the second quarter of 2020, but the value of the market remained flat year-on-year. A boom in low-end activity trackers meant that the average selling price of a wearable declined by 11 percent to $235. The surge in more basic devices offset the United States' third consecutive quarter of smartwatch decline.

In spite of this, the Apple Watch Series 5 was America's best-selling smartwatch, matching last year's Series 4 model for shipments. Demand for the Apple Watch Series 3 also grew by 30 percent.

Recent IDC research similarly showed Apple's ongoing dominance of the global wearables market. North America was one of only two regions to demonstrate sustained consumer demand for wearables with quarter-on-quarter growth.

Canalys predicts that going into 2021, medical-oriented devices will move certain products into an elevated tier, creating much stronger differentiation between casual fitness devices and those that offer advanced health tracking. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 6 will likely contribute to this by offering new health-tracking features such as blood oxygen monitoring.

Following several months of explosive growth, Apple's stock came crashing down on Thursday, dropping around eight percent in a single day. It was the worst day of trading for technology stocks as a whole since March.

Apple's market capitalization slid over $180 billion as a result of the sell-off, marking the largest one-day loss in value for any company ever, according to Barron's. The report claims the previous record was set by Volkswagen in October 2008, when the automaker lost $153 billion in value in a day, shortly after a massive short squeeze.

Apple is down another five percent today as of writing, stripping the company of its $2 trillion status during intraday trading.

Apple's stock price is still twice as high as it was in late March. Despite the global health crisis, the company set a June quarter revenue record of $59.7 billion, buoyed by strong Mac and iPad sales as more people work, learn, and connect with others from home.

Apple recently announced a four-for-one stock split that took effect for shareholders of record as of August 24. Split-adjusted trading began August 31.