MacRumors

Julianne Moore is set to play a con artist in an upcoming Apple TV+ film called "Sharper." The film comes from A24, the studio behind popular recent movies like "The Lighthouse," "Midsommar," and "The Farewell." (via The Hollywood Reporter).

"Sharper" is based on a spec script by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka (writers of the comedy film "The Sitter"). The ‌Apple TV‌+ movie will follow a woman who cons her way through the world of Manhattan's wealthy elite.

Moore will be the lead in another ‌Apple TV‌+ project, as the main character in the Stephen King adaptation "Lisey's Story." This show will also star Dane Dehaan and Clive Owen, with J.J. Abrams executive producing the series.

"Sharper" is the latest film to come out of Apple's partnership with A24, which will see numerous movies produced by A24 released exclusively on ‌Apple TV‌+. This includes "On the Rocks" from director Sofia Coppola, which doesn't yet have a release date.

You can find the full list of current and upcoming ‌Apple TV‌+ films and TV shows in our guide.

Apple's rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display has entered trial production, according to Korean website The Elec.

The report claims that LG will supply the Mini-LED panels for the device, while Foxconn will be tasked with final assembly. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Mini-LED technology will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays, including high contrast and dynamic range.

The new iPad Pro will launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 at the earliest, the report adds, but a release next year appears more likely at this point. Earlier this month, it was rumored that new iPad Pro models with a Mini-LED display, A14X chip, and 5G connectivity will launch in the first half of 2021, a timeframe that several other sources have echoed.

Apple last refreshed the iPad Pro in March, but it was a relatively minor update, with new features including an A12Z Bionic chip that is essentially an A12X chip with an extra GPU core enabled, an Ultra Wide camera that enables 0.5x zoom, a LiDAR Scanner for enhanced augmented reality, and better sounding microphones. It was the first update to the iPad Pro since the device received a major redesign in October 2018.

Apple is also expected to release its first Macs with Mini-LED displays by the end of 2021.

Apple plans to launch third-generation AirPods with a form factor design "similar to AirPods Pro" in the first half of 2021, according to the latest research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

Introduced in November 2019, the AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips included in the box, along with shorter stems below the ear. AirPods Pro also have several upgraded features over regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance.

The current AirPods lineup includes second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case for $159, second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for $199, and AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case for $249.

Kuo also reiterated that iPhone 12 models will not include EarPods in the box, which he believes will help boost AirPods shipments into 2021. He also expects AirPods shipments to benefit from some kind of promotion program launching in the second half of 2020 — perhaps allowing customers to purchase AirPods at a discount alongside the iPhone 12?

Apple has several new features for its iOS Safari browser in the works, including voice search, translation integration, improved tabs, a "guest mode" option, and new iCloud Keychain functionality.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman rounded up the new features in development in a tweet, while making it clear that there was no guarantee that they would be revealed at this week's WWDC.

Rumors of new Safari features have been trickling out ever since a leaked version of iOS 14 began circulating earlier this year. Notable among those rumors, Apple is said to be adding ‌iCloud‌ Keychain warnings whenever a password is reused as well as the ability for ‌iCloud‌ Keychain to generate two-factor authentication codes.

Elsewhere, a built-in language translation feature would allow users to translate web pages without using a third-party app or service. The translation option is expected to be available for each website that's visited, but an automatic translation feature will also be able to be turned on, similar to Chrome's automatic translation.

Apple is also working to bring full Apple Pencil support to Safari in iPadOS 14. Specifically, Apple may be planning to add full support for ‌‌Apple Pencil‌‌ input on websites, which would allow it to be used for drawing and marking up. This feature would be limited to ‌iPadOS‌ 14 as the ‌‌Apple Pencil‌‌ does not work on iPhones.

Late on Sunday, Apple leaker L0vetodream suggested a "huge update" for Safari was on the cards, although their wording implied that this was in relation to Safari for macOS.

It's important to note that the leaked version of ‌iOS 14‌ that's been floating around the internet is an early version of the software. Apple's development plans may have changed since then, but we'll hopefully learn more when Apple's WWDC kicks off on Monday morning with a live stream.

As noted in Asahi.com, on April 30th of this year, Apple applied for a trademark for the term "Apple Rosetta" in Japan.

Rosetta was the name for Apple's emulation software that allowed PowerPC apps to run under Intel processors. Apple introduced Rosetta in MacOS X 10.4 (Tiger) to provide a compatibility layer for Mac users while the company transitioned from PowerPC processors to Intel processors.

As a result, Apple has already had the trademark for the term "Rosetta" for sometime, but this new activity and new application surrounding the name is notable given the increasing rumors that Apple is planning on transitioning from Intel to ARM processors in the near future. Apple officially dropped Rosetta support in Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) in 2011.

The trademark could simply be ongoing protection of a long existing trademark for Apple, but given the recent rumors, the new activity raises the possibility that Apple may decide to recycle the "Rosetta" name for a new emulation layer to transition from Intel to ARM. The trademark was filed under the following category:

A computers computer network And the computer software in which development of the computer programmes on a global communication network and the download for translating and performing are possible, computer software for computings performed by a cross platform, computer software, Electronic machines [apparatus and their parts]

Apple has been widely rumored to transition from Intel to ARM processors in the coming year, but there has be no rumors about how Apple would handle the transition with regard to emulation. Apple currently lists "Rosetta" without the "Apple" prefix in their list of active trademarks.

Thanks Sanda!

In a last minute series of tweets, leaker L0vetodream has posted a number of last minute predictions about WWDC 2020. Apple's WWDC kicks off on Monday morning with a live stream. A previous series of rumors suggested we'd see no new hardware at WWDC, which @L0vetodream agrees with saying "There will be no hardware tomorrow and Im sure Jon is right".

Beyond that, the Twitter account shares some details about the upcoming announcements. Most specifically, L0vetodream specifies "macOS Big Sur" as the name for macOS 10.16 which will also include a "redesigned UI" and "huge update" for Safari.

The other predictions are somewhat more vague, with this year being the "year of A14", Apple's own custom processor. The A13 presently drives the latest iPhones. tvOS and HomeKit integration are mentioned as well as watchOS updates including sleep and "hand wash monitoring function."

iPadOS is described with a redesigned Sidecar -- Apple's feature to turn an iPad into a secondary monitor for a Mac. Finally, "improved and enhanced hand written input is also predicted.

L0vetodream has previously had accurate predictions and normally writes their predictions in this sort of vague style.

Update: Another tweet, this time about iOS:

Apple has scrapped plans to reveal any new hardware at WWDC tomorrow, according to leakers Jon Prosser and Max Weinbach who shared the information on Twitter.

While WWDC is usually a software-driven event, until now leaks had strongly suggested the announcement of new hardware, particularly a redesigned iMac with iPad Pro design language. Other rumored hardware announcements were AirTags, AirPods Studio, and a refreshed Apple TV.

WWDC events sometimes have no new hardware reveals, as was the case in 2018. Last year, Apple used WWDC to offer a preview of the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR. It is possible that Apple has faced supply chain issues this year, and may have decided to postpone hardware announcements until its manufacturing situation improves. It may also be the case that Apple simply did not have any hardware announcements planned for WWDC.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also said he does not expect any hardware announcements at WWDC. Prosser and Weinbach are serial leakers, and both caution in their tweets that the information is somewhat uncertain.

Apple will livestream the WWDC keynote and we will be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Apple will announce Arm-based chips and new software updates at WWDC, but hardware isn't expected until later in the year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

As Gurman said earlier this month, Apple will unveil its work on custom designed chips that use Arm technology, but no Macs will launch with the hardware until late 2020 or early 2021. Apple is announcing the chips early to provide developers with time to update their apps to support the transition to Arm Macs.

According to the report, the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 10.16, will improve porting iOS updates to Macs. Apple last year introduced Project Calayst, which is designed to close the gap between Mac and iOS platforms by making it easier for developers to create Mac versions of iPad apps. Apple in February also added a universal purchases feature that allows developers to bundle iOS, tvOS, and Mac apps together for a single purchase price.

Aside from Mac hardware and software updates, Gurman says that Apple plans to introduce minor updates to tvOS at WWDC, with a new Apple TV set top box launching "as soon as later this year." This claim aligns with previous rumors that Apple is working on an updated Apple TV with an A12 or A12X Bionic chip and higher base storage. A new Apple TV would be a welcomed refresh, as the current fifth-generation Apple TV was released back in 2017.

Gurman in the report reiterates existing watchOS 7 rumors that Apple suggest Apple will add new faces, a kids mode, and a sleep tracking app to the Apple Watch.

As for the HomePod, Apple may be planning to update the HomePod software to support third-party music services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and more, which that would come ahead of a planned HomePod refresh. Gurman says that Apple is working on a new, smaller version of the HomePod that's set to launch later in the year.

Notably, aside from the mention of Arm-based Macs, Gurman does not appear to be expecting any hardware refreshes. There's no mention of a planned iMac refresh that was rumored, nor details about other products that are in the works like AirTags, suggesting these updates will come later in the year rather than at WWDC. There's a chance that Apple could surprise us with some kind of hardware announcement, but it's looking unlikely.

WWDC 2020 begins this Monday as an online event. Apple will be holding its virtual keynote on Monday, June 22 where it is expected to introduce iOS 14, other new software, a possible redesigned iMac, and more. Check out our "What to Expect at WWDC 2020" article for a full list of what we may see at the virtual event.

Apple plans to introduce its Arm-based custom designed chips for Macs at WWDC, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors today, agreeing with an earlier report from Bloomberg.

Kuo says that the first Mac models to adopt Arm-based chips will be the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac with a redesigned form factor, with Apple planning to launch the new models in the in fourth quarter of 2020 or early in 2021 at the earliest.

(1) ARM13.3-inchMacBookPro:
The new model’s form factor design will be similar to that of the existing Intel 13.3-inch MacBook Pro. Apple will discontinue the Intel 13.3-inch MacBook Pro production after launching the ARM 13.3-inch MacBook Pro.

(2) ARMiMac:
ARM iMac will be equipped with the all-new form factor design and a 24- inch display. Apple will launch the refresh of existing Intel iMac in 3Q20 before launching the ARM iMac.

Kuo says the Arm-based 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ design will be similar to the current 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, with Apple planning to discontinue the Intel version. As for the ‌iMac‌, it will feature an all-new form factor design and a 24-inch display.

Prior to the launch of the Arm-based ‌iMac‌, Apple will refresh the existing Intel ‌iMac‌ in the third quarter of 2020, which is in line with rumors we've been hearing about an ‌iMac‌ refresh that could happen as soon as WWDC. There have been multiple rumors about Apple's work on a redesigned ‌iMac‌, though most rumors have suggested the display will be 23 inches rather than 24 inches.

Starting in 2021, Kuo says that all new Mac models will be equipped with Apple processors, and that it will take 12 to 18 months for Apple to transition to an all-Arm lineup.

Kuo also says that an unspecified MacBook model with an "all-new form factor design" and an Arm-based chip will go into mass production in the second half of 2021, while a MacBook model with a mini-LED display will launch in the first half of 2021.

According to Kuo, Apple's custom designed chips, planned mini-LED displays, and scissor switch keyboard will "create competitive advantages for MacBook models in two years" with mini-LED technology significantly improving the user experience.

Leaker Sonny Dickson has today shared several images depicting what he claims are dummy units of Apple's upcoming iPhone 12 lineup.

Images of ‌iPhone‌ dummy units usually appear every year, just a few months ahead of Apple's usual September-October launch timeframe. They are usually based on CAD schematics sourced from the Chinese supply chain, much like the molds leaked last week. Such dummies are often used to aid case-makers before the official reveal.

The images mostly conform with details we already know, with the device sporting an iPad Pro-style design with flat edges. Apple is expected to launch four iPhones this year, across three sizes of 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7 inches. Dickson's images give a clear comparison of the three new sizes.

The camera setups, however, do not mirror what is expected. Previous leaks have largely agreed that the two ‌iPhone‌ 12 models in 5.4 and 6.1 inches will have dual camera setups, while the two ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro models in 6.1 and 6.7 inches will have triple camera setups. It is also of note that the dummies are missing the LiDAR scanner, expected on at least the 6.7 inch model.

Dickson cautions that the notch and camera layouts in these images should not be heavily relied upon. The are believed to offer clear depictions of what the upcoming chassis design may look like across the various new sizes.

Dickson has been known to leak dummy models in the past, such as of the 2020 iPad Pro refresh. He most recently suggested that WWDC will see the announcement of a new iMac with ‌iPad Pro‌ design language and thinner bezels.

In this week's App Recap, we've highlighted productivity app "Noted," utility app "PodWise," and health app "Sidekick" as three apps that are worth checking out. We've also compiled a list of apps that received major updates this week.

Apps to Check Out

• Noted. (iOS & Mac, Free) - Noted is a productivity app that fully integrates audio recordings with notes to help users make the most out of note-taking. The app's simple design allows users to easily create notes and start recording in just a few taps. While recording audio, Noted adds a timestamp to each new line, and it's easy to navigate to specific places within the audio. Additionally, users can add #TimeTags, which link to key parts of the audio that can be placed anywhere in the note. Noted also features multitasking, iCloud syncing, the ability to lock notes with a password or Touch ID/FaceID, and more. Noted is free to download, but users looking to gain access to even more of the app's capabilities can upgrade to Noted+, which consists of monthly and yearly subscriptions priced at $2.49 and $23.99 respectively.

• PodWise (Mac, $14.99) - PodWise is an app that allows users to seamlessly add metadata to .mp3 audio files such as titles, artwork, chapters, author information, and more. The app consists an intuitive interface that allows users to import the file, add in the desired metadata, and then easily export the file. The convenient chapters feature allows users to listen to the audio and pause at desired points to add chapter information, which can even include URL links and images. Although PodWise is priced at $14.99, it features no ads or additional in-app purchases.

• Sidekick (iOS, Free) - Health app Sidekick is comprised of exercises and tips to boost the mental well-being of its users. Upon downloading the app, users can select up to three goals to achieve through Sidekick, which will then create suggestions in users' libraries based on the selected goals. Aside from wellbeing exercises, the app has a toolkit tab that allows users to access daily wellbeing workouts, favorited exercises for specified situations, and more. Sidekick also features an inspiration tab that contains inspirational quotes and tips to improve one's mental well-being.

App Updates

• Etsy - Popular shopping app Etsy was updated this week with a new feature that allows for the viewing of items with AR. Users can now explore thousands of items and use AR to determine the fit of the item in a room before adding it to their basket.
• Fantastical Calendar & Tasks - Flexibits this week updated its Fantastical app with several new features. The update introduces a "Work From Home" feature that includes automatic conference call detection and timed calendar sets. Timed calendar sets will automatically activate at any given time and day as specified by the user. In addition to timed calendar sets, users can activate location-based calendar sets that will automatically activate a calendar set when a users arrives or leaves a certain location. The update also features bug fixes, other improvements, and new iMessage stickers for those who have the iOS version of the app installed.
• Grammarly Keyboard (iPadOS) - Productivity app Grammarly was updated this week with full iPad support that allows users to access the document editor and personal writing statistics. Grammarly also introduced several improvements to the Grammarly Keyboard on iPad.
• Notability - Popular note-taking and productivity app Notability was updated this week with improvements to audio controls. Users can now rename, reorder, trim, merge, and split audio recordings. Additionally, the update introduces support for eight new languages for handwriting recognition.

Know of a great new app that we've missed? Let us know in the comments and we'll check it out for next week's App Recap.

This week was mostly about Apple gearing up for WWDC, but aside from the expected preparations like updating its apps and websites to stream the keynote and other sessions and beefing up other areas to support the first all-digital WWDC, Apple also cleared the decks a bit with a few launches including a new high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, SSD kits for the Mac Pro, and the annual Back to School promotion.

Another big story this week was Apple's rejection of apps for the new "Hey" email service, due to the developers refusing to include a payment option using Apple's in-app purchase mechanism. The situation is leading to a more comprehensive discussion about what the rules for playing in the App Store should be more than a decade after the marketplace's debut.

Check out our video above and read on below for more on this week's biggest stories and to make sure you're ready to go for WWDC on Monday!

What to Expect at WWDC 2020: New iMac, Custom Arm-Based Chip Unveiling, iOS 14, macOS 10.16, and More

In a world that could use a little excitement, WWDC 2020 is finally almost here. While the event will be held virtually this year, it will still be jam-packed with announcements, with everything from iOS 14 to a potential redesigned iMac. For a look at everything we expect or hope to see at Monday's keynote, check out our overview guide!

Ahead of WWDC, Apple got the ball rolling this week by updating its Developer app and extending it to the Mac, announcing its Swift Student Challenge winners, launching its redesigned Developer Forums, and more.

Apple will live stream Monday's WWDC keynote at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through its website, the Apple Developer apps, the TV app on the Apple TV and other platforms, and on YouTube, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

16-Inch MacBook Pro Now Available With Up to 75% Faster Radeon Pro 5600M Graphics

As a pre-WWDC treat, Apple has released a new high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. For an extra $700, the notebook can now be configured with AMD Radeon Pro 5600M graphics with 8GB of HBM2 memory.

Apple says the 5600M graphics are up to 75% faster than the base 5300M option.

Apple has also released user-installable SSD storage upgrade kits for the Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options available. Each kit contains two SSD modules, enabling users to upgrade the internal storage capacity of a Mac Pro themselves without needing to contact a service provider.

Apple Card Extends 0% Financing to Mac, iPad, and More

Previously limited to the iPhone, Apple Card Monthly Installments are now available for the Mac, iPad, AirPods, HomePod, Apple TV, and several accessories, including the Apple Pencil.

This program allows customers to purchase new Apple products and pay for them in 6-24 monthly installments without any interest charges.

Apple Card remains limited to the United States.

Apple Launches 2020 Back to School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac or iPad Purchase

Apple has launched its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and Canada, several weeks earlier than usual. This year, Apple is offering free second-generation AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad.

During the checkout process, it is also possible to upgrade to second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for an additional $40 or to AirPods Pro for $90.

Phil Schiller: Apple Will Not Change Decision on 'Hey' Email App, No App Store Rule Updates Imminent

The App Store developer rules are back in the spotlight just ahead of WWDC, as controversy has erupted surrounding Apple's rejection of the new "Hey" email service that refuses to implement subscriptions via Apple's in-app purchase.

Apple is digging in its heels in noting that email apps like Hey don't qualify for an exemption of the in-app purchase requirement, which is limited to "reader" apps for content services like Netflix and Spotify. The controversy is leading to a broader discussion about Apple's App Store rules, the fees it charges, and more.

Alleged iPhone 12 Molds and CAD Images Show New iPad Pro-Style Design

Alleged molds and CAD images for Apple's rumored iPhone 12 models suggest that the devices will have flat edges like recent iPad Pro models, as widely rumored. The return of this design would coincide with the 10th anniversary of the iPhone 4, which also featured a flat stainless steel frame.

There remains some debate as to whether the iPhone 12 models will feature a smaller notch, and exactly how many models will feature a LiDAR Scanner for augmented reality. It is also unclear whether the devices will be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G, as widely rumored, or the Snapdragon X60 as one report has claimed.

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!

Disney+ is no longer offering seven-day free trials of the streaming service to new subscribers, reports French news site Numerama.

A Disney spokesperson suggested the ending of the free trial formed part of an initial investigation into different offers and promotions to best expand the service's user base.

"We continue to test and evaluate different marketing, offers and promotions to grow Disney Plus," the company said in a statement. "The service was set at an attractive price-to-value proposition that we believe delivers a compelling entertainment offering on its own."

It's not known exactly when Disney stopped offering the trial, but the decision comes ahead of the hotly anticipated July 3 premiere of "Hamilton," a movie based on Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical. Disney reportedly paid $75 million for worldwide rights to the movie, which will air over a year ahead of its original planned theatrical release.

Going forward, anyone wanting to watch "Hamilton" next month will have to pay for at least one month of Disney Plus, priced at $6.99, but that's unlikely to concern Disney.

The streaming service has amassed at least 50 million subscribers since its launch last November and has a significant edge over ‌‌Apple's rival TV‌‌+ service, thanks to an established catalog of content that includes many popular Star Wars and Marvel franchises.

For example, "The Mandalorian," the key show Disney+ premiered with, received more attention than any of ‌‌Apple TV‌‌+'s launch shows, including "The Morning Show," "Dickinson," "See," and "For All Mankind." In a bid to rival that interest, Apple is reportedly in the process of purchasing older movies and shows for ‌Apple TV‌+ to build a back catalog of content.

Apple has not released subscriber numbers ‌Apple TV‌+, which costs $4.99 a month, so there's no direct comparison to Disney+. Since September though, Apple has been providing a free year of service to anyone who purchases a new Apple device, so it will take at least a year before Apple has large numbers of paying subscribers.

Apple's 31st annual Worldwide Developers Conference will be unlike any WWDC before, because it's the first WWDC event that's going to be held in a digital-only capacity. That means it's free for all developers, but we're in uncharted territory when it comes to format.

Apple plans to hold a virtual keynote, which is set to take place on Monday, June 22. Though there's no physical event this year, Apple still has big plans for WWDC. Along with the usual software updates, rumors suggest Apple could unveil a redesigned iMac and give us our first glimpse at the custom-designed Arm-based chips it will use for future Macs.

Below, we've outlined everything that we're expecting to see from Apple at the digital keynote event.

Redesigned iMac

Rumors suggest Apple will unveil a new iMac at WWDC, with the machine featuring the first redesign that it has seen since 2012.

Sonny Dickson, a leaker who sometimes shares details on Apple's plans, says the updated iMac will use "iPad Pro design language" with much thinner bezels that are similar in size to the bezels on the Pro Display XDR.

The iMac is rumored to include a T2 chip for security and controller functions, plus it will feature AMD Navi graphics and all-flash storage, with Apple eliminating the Fusion Drive. Intel in April announced "Comet Lake" chips that could be used in the updated iMac.

iMac size is unclear, but rumors have indicated that at least one model could measure in at 23 inches, bigger than the current 21.5-inch iMac. It's likely to be the same general size as the 21.5-inch model, but with slimmer bezels. The exact size for the larger iMac is unclear.

Rumors have been a bit mixed when it comes to release dates, with the 23-inch iMac rumors suggesting a launch in the second half of 2020, so it's not clear if both iMac sizes will be refreshed at the same time. One could come at WWDC and one could come later, or the WWDC timeline could be incorrect and we could be left waiting until later in the year for a new version of the iMac.

More Information

For more on what's rumored for the next-generation iMac, check out our iMac roundup.

Custom Arm-Based Chips

There have been rumors about Apple's work on custom-designed Arm-based chips for years now, and at WWDC 2020, Apple may finally be ready to unveil its efforts and details on its plan to replace Intel chips in Macs.

Bloomberg says Apple will unveil its custom chips at WWDC, but don't expect a Mac with an Arm-based chip right away - the first machine isn't expected to debut until 2021. Apple is making an early announcement to give developers time to prepare for the transition.

Apple has at least three Mac processors in development based on the A14 chip set to be included in the upcoming iPhone 12 models. The first Apple-designed Mac chips will feature 12 cores with eight high-performance cores and at least four energy-efficient cores.

Releasing its own custom-designed chips will allow Apple to untether itself from Intel, which will allow for more regular Mac updates as Apple will not have to rely on Intel's chip release schedule. Arm-based chips will feature faster performance and reduced power consumption, which could bring better battery life.

Read More

For more on Apple's work on custom-built Arm-based chips, check out our Arm-based chip guide.

iOS and iPadOS 14

We don't typically know too much about new versions of iOS ahead of when they're released, but in 2020, an early version of iOS 14 leaked in March, giving us some insight into what Apple is working on for the update.

The features listed below were discovered in the software, but it's worth noting that some of these new additions may have been shelved due to delays caused by the global health crisis.

First and foremost, iOS 14 will focus on performance and quality due to the numerous bugs that were found in iOS 13, but there are still quite a few new features in the works.

Setting Third-Party Apps as Default

2020 might be the year that Apple will allow iPhone and iPad users to set third-party mail, browser, and music apps as their defaults instead of Apple's own apps.

The change would allow apps like Google Chrome and Gmail to be set as the default apps on iOS devices, so tapping on a link or an email address would not necessarily open Apple's own apps. The change would also allow music apps used with the HomePod to work with Siri, something limited to Apple Music at the current time.

Home Screen Redesign

Right now, all the apps are organized in a grid pattern on the iPhone, but Apple could introduce an Apple Watch-like option that allows installed apps to be viewed in a list, which would make it easier to manage apps.

The list will show all of the apps installed on the iPhone, with users able to select viewing filters to see app categories like recently used or apps with unread notifications.

Along with an optional list view, iOS 14 may also offer Home screen widget options, allowing for widgets that can be moved freely around the Home screen much like app icons.

Wallpapers could improve significantly in iOS 14, as Apple could be planning to add support for third-party wallpaper packs in the update. This would let developers create wallpaper options for iPhone and iPad that could be installed through the Wallpaper section of the Settings app.

Fitness App

Apple plans to bring a new fitness app to the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The app will let users download fitness-related videos that will walk them through workouts. Multiple workout types will be available, including indoor running, cycling, rowing, stretching, core training, strength training, outdoor walking, dance, and yoga.

New Features for the Messages App

Apple is testing new features for Messages, including a new Slack-like mention system that will let users tag contacts with their name, such as @eric or @dan. In a busy group chat, this will make it possible to mute the overall conversation but receive push notifications when someone uses an @mention with your name.

Also for group chats, Apple may be planning to add multi-person typing indicators so you can see everyone that's currently typing in chat with more than one person.

Apple could be planning to add support for the /me command that's currently limited to the Mac, and perhaps most exciting, there may be a new feature that will let users retract sent messages. That a message was retracted would be visible to both parties.

Finally, there could be an option to mark a message as unread, which will let users retain the unread icon so a task or request isn't forgotten.

New Augmented Reality App

There could be an all-new augmented reality app in iOS 14, which is designed to let users get more information about the world around them using AR. Based on code in iOS 14, the app could feature integrations with Apple Stores and Starbucks.

These integrations could let users do things like hold up an iPhone in an Apple Store to see AR information about the products, or scan a QR code to see detailed information about an object at Starbucks.

QR codes may work as triggers for AR experiences, and Apple-designed QR codes have been found in Apple's iOS 14 AR app, which is code-named Gobi. There are signs that the Gobi app could offer comparison shopping and promotions or content experiences based on specific locations.

iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain will include warnings whenever a password is reused in iOS 14, which should help encourage users to select different passwords for each site and service. Apple may also add a way to save two-factor authentication passwords, which would let iCloud Keychain generate two-factor authentication codes.

Clips

Apple is developing a feature that will let users interact with select content and experiences in apps without needing to have those apps installed. Apple has codenamed this feature "Clips," and it will allow users to scan a QR code linked to an app and interact with content from that app through a floating card on the screen.

The card will offer up options to download the full version of the app from the App Store or open content in app if it's already installed. Apple is testing Clips with OpenTable, Yelp, DoorDash, YouTube, and the PS4 Second Screen app from Sony.

As an example, a restaurant might have a scannable QR code that would open up the Yelp app or allow it to be installed to leave a review. A movie poster could offer a QR code that could be scanned to open up and play a YouTube video without the YouTube app needing to be installed.

New HomeKit Features

HomeKit may gain a new Night Shift for lights feature that would let HomeKit adjust the color temperature of HomeKit-connected lights based on the time of day. Early in the day, the lights would feature blue lighting to match the light from the sun, but at night, the lights would shift to a warmer, more yellow tone.

HomeKit Secure Video may be updated with facial recognition, allowing HomeKit cameras to be able to identify specific people.

Apple Pencil Updates

For iPadOS 14, Apple is adding a new PencilKit feature that will let users handwrite text in any text input field using the Apple Pencil, with the handwritten content then converted into standard text before it's sent.

The update could include support for Apple Pencil input on websites in Safari, allowing an Apple Pencil to be used for drawing and marking up as well as scrolling.

Updated Activity App

watchOS 7 is expected to bring a Kids Mode to the Apple Watch, and iOS 14 will feature a tweaked Activity app to accommodate the new mode. Instead of tracking active calories burned, the Activity app when used in Kids Mode will track movement time, which is a healthier metric for children.

Shot on iPhone Photos App Integration

Apple hosts Shot on iPhone photo challenges to collect high-quality Shot on iPhone images that can be used in videos and on billboards, and in iOS 14, Shot on iPhone contests could potentially be integrated into the Photos app. This would allow iPhone users to submit their photos and see challenge results right in the Photos app.

Safari Updates

Safari in iOS 14 might offer a built-in translation feature that would let users translate webpages without using a third-party app or service.

Apple Maps

Apple Maps in iOS 14 could provide additional information for select businesses, such as specific Genius Bar services offered by an Apple store, movie theaters with IMAX showtimes, and locations that offer discounts for children.

Find My

Find My in iOS 14 will include a notification feature that can provide alerts when someone doesn't arrive at a specific location at a scheduled time of day, so a parent can do something like set up an alert for when a child arrives at school at a certain time. If the child doesn't make it by the deadline, an alert would be sent.

CarPlay

CarPlay in iOS 14 might support custom wallpapers, displaying the wallpaper on the CarPlay interface. Wallpapers will be able to switch between light and dark mode based on the time of day.

Health App Sleep Tracking

The next-generation Apple Watch will feature Sleep Tracking, a feature that will integrate with the Health app on the iPhone. Users will be able to set a personalized sleep goal, and the Health app will provide recommendations on improving sleep.

Sleep tracking may not be unveiled until the fall with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6, so this is a feature that we may not see when the iOS 14 beta releases.

Xcode

Apple could be developing a full version of Xcode that runs on iPads, but there's been some contention about whether or not this is a feature that's actually in the works.

CarKey

Apple is working on a "CarKey" feature that would allow the iPhone and Apple Watch to be used to lock, unlock, and start a car that has NFC capabilities. CarKey would let iPhone owners use their devices in lieu of a physical car key, and it's a feature that could be coming as part of iOS 14.

More Features

For a full list of all of the features that are rumored to be coming to iOS 14, make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup.

macOS 10.16

Most of the leaks that we've seen have focused heavily on iOS and iPadOS 14, and little has been shared about macOS 10.16, which is as of yet unnamed. macOS 10.16 could, however, include some of the features that are coming to iOS 14, such as the changes to the Messages app.

There are even hints in iOS 14 that Apple is working on a Catalyst version of the Messages app for Mac, which would make the Mac Messages app much more similar to the iOS Messages app.

Other features rumored for iOS 14 that could come to the Mac include built-in translations for Safari, Shot on iPhone integration into Photos, reused passwords in iCloud Keychain, third-party default apps, and wallpaper collection support.

watchOS 7

For kids who wear Apple Watches, there's a new Kids Mode rumored for watchOS 7, which will include a new Activity mode that measures movement time instead of calories burned.

To go along with this, Apple will add a SchoolTime feature that will let parents manage which apps and complications on an Apple Watch are accessible during specific hours. General parental controls will also be available.

With the fitness app coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, the Apple Watch will be able to be used to track progress through various workout routines.

A Share Your Face feature may allow users to share specific Apple Watch faces and complication settings with one another, and there are new watch faces coming such as Infograph Pro with a tachymeter and an international watch face that shows flags from different countries.

When new Apple Watch models are released later this year, watchOS 7 could have new capabilities related to blood oxygen tracking and mental health capabilities, though not much is known about these new features at the current time.

More Features

More information on what's coming in watchOS 7 can be found in our watchOS roundup.

tvOS 14

We don't know much about tvOS 14 at all, but based on the iOS 14 leaks, we do know that the Apple TV will get a new fitness app. The update could also feature a new permanent audio option for the Apple TV, with users able to specify the HomePod or another speaker as the default audio option without having to manually choose it as an AirPlay 2 target each time audio is played.

There's little else to say about tvOS at this time, but we can perhaps expect new animated screensavers, which Apple adds to the Apple TV with each update. There have also been rumors suggesting Apple could add a Screen Time feature to the Apple TV to track how much time is spent watching television.

Other Possible Hardware Announcements

Apple has multiple other products in the works that are likely going to launch at some point in 2020, and Apple could use WWDC to debut them. We've heard no specific details about these devices coming at WWDC, though, so it's a bit of a long shot.

AirTags

Apple is creating Tile-like Bluetooth tracking tags that are designed to be attached to keys and wallets for tracking purposes, with lost items able to be searched for right in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, Macs, and iCloud.

Apple plans to call these little tracking tags "AirTags," and hints of AirTags have been showing up in various versions of iOS since iOS 13 was in beta testing.

AirTags will work over Bluetooth and will have a built-in chip that lets them communicate with an Apple device, relaying the position of lost devices they're attached to. AirTags may also include ultra-wideband technology, which would allow them to work with the U1 chips in the latest iPhones.

With ultra-wideband support, AirTags would be able to provide more precise location information than Bluetooth alone, and there's also going to be a crowd tracking feature that will leverage other people's devices nearby to help you find what you've lost.

Images found in iOS 13 suggest AirTags will be small, circular white tags with an Apple logo, which will be able to attach to items using adhesive or an attachment point like a ring. AirTags will show up in the Find My app, and when an item is lost, there may be an AR component that will help you locate whatever's missing using the camera of an iPhone or iPad.

We have no information on when Apple will launch the AirTags, but it's very possible they're tied to iOS 14 and could be introduced at WWDC or in the fall alongside new iPhones.

Read more: For more on what to expect from the AirTags, make sure to check out our AirTag roundup.

AirPods Studio

Apple is developing high-end over-ear headphones that are rumored to be called the AirPods Studio. The new headphones will join the AirPods lineup with the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro, and they will be Apple-branded and distinct from the Beats lineup.

The AirPods Studio is said to feature Active Noise Cancellation, equalizer settings controlled though the iPhone, head and neck detection, and a $349 price tag.

Apple may also be working on multiple designs, one that's a higher-end premium version and one that's fitness-focused and made from lighter weight materials. According to Bloomberg, the headphones will feature magnetic ear cups and headband padding that can be swapped out, allowing for a customizable look.

Rumors have indicated the headphones will launch at some point in 2020, but a specific date has not been nailed down.

Read more: For more on the AirPods Studio, check out our AirPods Studio roundup.

Small Wireless Charging Mat

AirPower may have been nixed back in 2019, but there have been persistent rumors that Apple is working on some kind of wireless charging mat that could launch in 2020. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in January said that Apple is working on a "small wireless charging mat" with no other details provided.

Leaker Jon Prosser in March said that AirPower "isn't dead" and that the project is "back on internally," but it's not clear if he too was talking about the wireless charging mat that Apple has in development, nor is it clear if that product is the discontinued AirPower or something else entirely.

Bloomberg has also said that Apple is still exploring ways to make the AirPower work, so we could see some kind of AirPower product this year.

Refreshed Apple TV

We've been hearing rumors about a refreshed Apple TV for months, but there's so far been no word on when it's coming. Apple is definitely working on a refreshed model, perhaps with an A12X Bionic chip, new storage tiers, and possibly a new remote control, but it's not clear if it's going to be released at WWDC or later in the year.

Read More: For more on what to expect from a new Apple TV model, check out our Apple TV roundup.

MacRumors Coverage

Apple will livestream of the WWDC keynote available on its website, the Apple Developer apps, and through the TV app on the Apple TV, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

We'll also have in-depth coverage of all of Apple's hardware and software announcements throughout the week.

As Apple prepares to unveil its next-generation version of iOS, iOS 14, new iOS installation numbers indicate that iOS 13, the current update, is installed on 92 percent of all iPhones introduced in the last four years.

Seven percent of iPhones released in the last four years run iOS 12, and two percent run an earlier version of iOS.

When it comes to all iPhones, including those that were released more than four years ago, 81 percent of devices have iOS 13 installed. 13 percent are running iOS 12, and six percent are running an earlier version of iOS.

As for the iPad, 93 percent of all iPads introduced in the last four years run iPadOS, while five percent run iOS 12 and just one percent run an earlier version of iOS.

When counting all iPads still in use, 73 percent run iPadOS, 16 percent run iOS 12, and 11 percent run an earlier version of iOS.

Apple hasn't released updated iOS installation numbers since January, and over the course of the last several months, many more people have upgraded to the iOS 13 operating system.

At the end of January, iOS 13 was installed on 77 percent of iPhones released in the last four years, and 79 percent of iPads released in the last four years.

Apple will introduce iOS 14 on Monday, June 22 at its WWDC keynote, with the update set to be released in the fall alongside new iPhones. As work picks up on iOS 14, Apple will focus less on iOS 13 in order to add features and fixes to the new update.