MacRumors

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new research note, seen by MacRumors, that details his expectations for next year's iPhone lineup, tentatively dubbed "‌iPhone‌ 13," including some positive shipment predictions based on a number of factors.

According to Kuo, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 will come in the same four model sizes as this year's ‌iPhone‌ 12, but with some major improvements to the camera technology. Specifically, Kuo says the Ultra Wide cameras on the two high-end models will be significantly upgraded to f/1.8, 6P (six-element lens) with autofocus. All the current ‌iPhone‌ 12 models are equipped with f/2.4, 5P (five-element lens) Ultra Wide cameras with fixed focus.

Looking further ahead, Kuo says he also expects all the new 2022 iPhones (tentatively called the ‌iPhone‌ 14 series) to be equipped with the same improved Ultra Wide camera with f/1.8, 6P and autofocus. Kuo states that Largan is likely to become the major supplier of voice coil motors (VCM) for the improved Ultra Wide cameras. It is expected that Largan will obtain about 70% of the VCM orders for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 under the advantages of vertical integration of lens production and VCM, versus 50% of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 series' Ultra Wide angle lens.

Kuo believes that shipments for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 will increase year-on-year and offers a positive outlook for the supply chain due to several factors, including a more robust 5G infrastructure in 2H21, a return to the traditional September timeframe for ‌iPhone‌ mass production and sale, and the aforementioned significant camera improvements to ‌iPhone‌ 13.

‌iPhone‌ 13 rumors from other sources have been thin on the ground, although the notch on Apple's 2021 "‌iPhone‌ 13" lineup may be smaller, according to one leaker. Display analyst Ross Young has also claimed the 2021 devices will come in the same sizes as the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ models, and will sport 120Hz-capable ProMotion displays, improved camera sensors, and sub-6GHz 5G connectivity.

Apple is rolling out its Safari webpage translation to more countries. According to 9to5Mac, users in Brazil and Germany have reported gaining access to the feature for the first time.

Apple introduced Safari's machine translation earlier this year when it debuted iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur at WWDC in June.

The feature allows users to translate the language of websites viewed in Apple's native browser; it can translate Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

• iOS 14: How to Translate Webpages in Safari on iPhone

Based on Thursday's report, Apple appears to have remotely enabled the translate option for the two additional countries for users running iOS 14.1, iOS 14.2, and the macOS Big Sur beta and Release Candidate.

Apple's online store is down ahead of pre-orders for iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the HomePod mini, which are set to begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.

"You're... early," reads the Apple Store message when attempting to visit the U.S. website. "Pre-order begins at 5:00 a.m. PDT. Enjoy the extra sleep." Apple used to do new device pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, but since last year, has been holding iPhone pre-orders at 5:00 a.m.

The ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini and 12 Pro Max are launching in more than 30 countries and regions around the world, and a full list of launch times can be found in our time zone guide.

Apple's ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini and 12 Pro Max models represent the most radical new form factors in Apple's flagship smartphone lineup, and feature a full redesign with a flat-edged look that similar to the design of the iPad Pro. Both the models feature edge-to-edge OLED displays, 5G connectivity, and upgraded camera technology.

Following pre-orders, the first ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini and 12 Pro Max shipments will arrive to customers on Friday, November 13. If you're hoping to get an ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini or 12 Pro Max on launch day, it's a good idea to purchase early because there's no word on how much supply Apple will have.

Pricing on the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini starts at $729, though some U.S. carriers are offering a $30 discount that drops the price to Apple's advertised $699 price point. Pricing on the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro‌ Max starts at $1099. Device payment plans are available through carriers, Apple Card Monthly Installments and Apple's ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program, plus device trade-ins are available.

‌‌HomePod mini‌‌ pre-orders are launching in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US, and the ‌‌HomePod mini‌‌ will be arriving to customers the week of November 16.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the HomePod mini are set to begin on Friday, November 6 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is the launch time that Apple has been using since last year.

Apple is planning to make the new devices available in multiple countries around the world simultaneously, so we've made a guide to let MacRumors readers know when pre-orders will in their country. Pre-orders are launching in more than 50 countries and regions.

• Honolulu, Hawaii -- 3:00 a.m. HST
• Anchorage, Alaska -- 4:00 a.m. AKST
• Cupertino, California -- 5:00 a.m. PST
• Phoenix, Arizona -- 6:00 a.m. MST
• Vancouver, Canada -- 5:00 a.m. PST
• Denver, Colorado -- 6:00 a.m. MST
• Dallas, Texas -- 7:00 a.m. CST
• New York, New York -- 8:00 a.m. EST
• Toronto, Canada -- 8:00 a.m. EST
• Halifax, Canada -- 9:00 a.m. AST
• London, United Kingdom -- 1:00 p.m. GMT
• Berlin, Germany -- 2:00 p.m. CET
• Paris, France -- 2:00 p.m. CET
• Moscow, Russia -- 4:00 p.m. MSK
• Helsinki, Finland -- 3:00 p.m. EET
• Istanbul, Turkey -- 4:00 p.m. TRT
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 5:00 p.m. GST
• Shanghai, China -- 9:00 p.m. CST
• Singapore -- 9:00 p.m. SGT
• Perth, Australia -- 9:00 p.m. AWST
• Hong Kong -- 9:00 p.m. HKT
• Tokyo, Japan -- 10:00 p.m. JST
• Brisbane, Australia -- 11:00 p.m. AEST
• Adelaide, Australia -- 11:30 p.m. ACDT
• Sydney, Australia -- 12:00 a.m. AEDT next day
• Auckland, New Zealand -- 2:00 a.m. NZDT next day

While ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ and Pro Max pre-orders are launching in more than 50 countries and regions on November 6, certain countries, customers in Brazil, South Korea, and more than 25 other countries and regions will be able to order the new devices on November 20, and customers in Thailand will be able to purchase them on November 27.

Those hoping to get a device on launch day should make sure to pre-order right away, as there's no word on how much available supply Apple will have and the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models sold out quickly. Make sure to double check the time and date that pre-orders will be available in your country by visiting your country's Apple Store page.

Following pre-orders on November 6, the first ‌‌iPhone 12 mini‌‌ and 12 Pro Max shipments will arrive to customers on Friday, November 13.

Pricing on the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ mini starts at $729, though many U.S. carriers are offering a $30 discount that drops the price to Apple's advertised $699 price point. Pricing on the ‌‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro‌ starts at $1099. Device payment plans and special deals are available through carriers, Apple Card Monthly Installments and Apple's ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program, plus device trade-ins are available.

‌HomePod mini‌ pre-orders are launching in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US, and the ‌HomePod mini‌ will be arriving to customers the week of November 16. Apple is also making ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ and ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ cases available, as well as Leather Cases for all ‌iPhone‌ models.

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-orders are set to go live at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 6, and just ahead of that deadline, media sites are sharing their hands-on first impressions of the new devices.

The Verge, Engadget, TechCrunch and CNET have all been able to spend some time with Apple's smallest and largest iPhones ahead of when people can make a purchase. The sites aren't offering up full reviews at this time, but were able to visit an Apple location in New York to preview the new iPhones.

According to The Verge, the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ is "really" small by the "standards of 2020 flagship smartphones." The smaller size is nice to hold, and iOS "scales well to the 5.4-inch display."

The ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ is described as "a surfboard of a phone" like other Plus and Max-sized devices. Despite the size, it "doesn't feel too heavy in hand" and unfortunately, Apple isn't taking advantage of the larger display because there's no multitasking option.

Engadget said the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ "feels huge to hold," but the stainless steel and glass feels more premium than the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌. Pictures looked great, but it was a controlled testing area so there's not a lot to glean from the camera tests at this time.

The mini, meanwhile, fit well in a hand and it was easy to use with one hand, unlike the Pro Max.

CNET called the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ the "most interesting of the bunch" because of the number of features that it packs into a small body. It felt "incredibly small" in the hand. The ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ is "very big, but not outlandishly so."

TechCrunch said that the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ "doesn't appear exceptionally large" to someone used to larger-sized Android devices, with the size between the mini and the Pro Max being "pronounced." The 6.1-inch middle size feels like a "pretty good sweet spot" for most users.

Full reviews of the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ are likely to come out next week ahead of when the devices begin shipping to customers on November 13. Those who want to pre-order will need to do so at 5:00 a.m Pacific Time on Friday, November 6.

Apple today informed developers that they're now able to submit privacy information for their apps using App Store Connect. The privacy details shared by developers will be displayed directly on ‌App Store‌ pages.

During WWDC, Apple announced a new ‌App Store‌ feature that will see apps listing specific privacy information, which Apple has likened to a nutritional label for apps. Developers are required to self-report this information.

Apple is asking developers to let consumers know about their app's privacy details, including what data types the app collects and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them.

Later this year, the App Store will help users understand an app's privacy practices before they download the app on any Apple platform. On each app's product page, users can learn about some of the data types the app may collect, and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them. You can now enter your app's privacy information in App Store Connect. This information will be required to submit new apps and app updates to the App Store starting December 8, 2020.

Apple plans to roll out the privacy feature for the ‌App Store‌ later in 2020, and starting on December 8, developers will be required to enter privacy information to submit new apps and app updates to the ‌App Store‌.

Apple today released a supplemental update for macOS Catalina 10.15.7, introducing security fixes. The macOS 10.15.7 Supplemental Update comes more than a month after the release of macOS Catalina 10.15.7.

The ‌‌‌‌macOS Catalina‌‌‌‌ 10.15.7 Supplemental Update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store using the Update feature in the System Preferences app.

According to Apple's release notes, the Supplemental Update improves the security of macOS and is recommended for all users. An Apple support document outlines several vulnerabilities that that have been addressed, including those that leave the Mac vulnerable to malicious fonts and applications.

macOS Catalina will soon be replaced by macOS Big Sur, which is in the final stages of beta testing and could be released as soon as next week.

Apple today seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 release candidate to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week after the first macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 beta was released. macOS Big Sur has not yet seen a public release, and the 11.0.1 beta replaces the macOS Big Sur 11 beta series.

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

macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything features a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.

The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on. Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.

Tabs now support webpage previews, there's a built-in language translation feature, Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari, and YouTube supports 4K video playback. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.

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

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

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

Apple today released iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2, the second major updates to the iOS and iPadOS 14 operating system updates that were released in September. iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 14.1.

The iOS 14.2 update can be downloaded for free and it is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 12.4.9 for older devices.

Along with emoji,iOS 14.2 includes support for a number of new features. For a detailed list of all the new iOS 14.2 features, visit our iOS 14.2 Features Guide

Apple has also addressed a number of bugs, with full release notes for the iOS 14.2 update below:

iOS 14.2 includes the following improvements for your iPhone:
- Over 100 new emoji, including animals, food, faces, household objects, musical instruments, gender-inclusive emoji, and more
- Eight new wallpapers in both light and dark mode versions
- Magnifier can detect people nearby, and report their distance using the LiDAR sensor included in iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Support for iPhone 12 Leather Sleeve with MagSafe
- Optimized battery charging for AirPods to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your AirPods spends fully charged
- Headphone audio level notifications to alert you when audio level could impact your hearing
- New AirPlay controls to stream entertainment throughout your home
- Intercom support with HomePod and HomePod mini using iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay
- Ability to connect HomePod to Apple TV 4K for stereo, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos audio
- Option to provide statistics about Exposure Notifications, without identifying you, to participating Public Health Authorities

This release also fixes the following issues:
- Apps could be out of order on the Home Screen dock
- Camera viewfinder may appear black when launched
- The keyboard on the Lock Screen could miss touches when trying to enter the passcode
- Reminders could default to times in the past
- Photos widget may not display content
- Weather widget could display the high temperature in Celsius when set to Fahrenheit
- Next-hour precipitation chart description in Weather could incorrectly indicate when precipitation stops
- Voice Memos recordings are interrupted by incoming calls
- The screen could be black during Netflix video playback
- Apple Cash could fail to send or receive money when asked via Siri
- Apple Watch app may unexpectedly close when opened
- Workout GPS routes or Health data are prevented from syncing between Apple Watch and iPhone for some users
- Audio is incorrectly labeled as “Not Playing” in the CarPlay Dashboard
- Devices could be prevented from charging wirelessly
- Exposure Notifications is disabled when restoring iPhone from iCloud Backup or transferring data to a new iPhone using iPhone Migration

Apple also has separate notes for the iPadOS 14 update:

iPadOS 14.2 includes the following improvements for your iPad:
- Over 100 new emoji, including animals, food, faces, household objects, musical instruments, gender-inclusive emoji, and more
- Eight new wallpapers in both light and dark mode versions
- Magnifier can detect people nearby, and report their distance using the LiDAR sensor included in iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) and iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
- Scene Detection in Camera uses intelligent image recognition to identify objects within a scene and automatically improves the photo on iPad Air (4th generation)
- Auto FPS in Camera automatically reduces the frame rate when recording video to improve low light capture and to optimize file size on iPad Air (4th generation)
- Optimized battery charging for AirPods to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your AirPods spends fully charged
- New AirPlay controls to stream entertainment throughout your home
- Intercom support with HomePod and HomePod mini using iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay
- Ability to connect HomePod to Apple TV 4K for stereo, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos audio

This release also fixes the following issues:
- Camera viewfinder may appear black when launched
- The keyboard on the Lock Screen could miss touches when trying to enter the passcode
- Reminders could default to times in the past
- Photos widget may not display content
- Weather widget could display the high temperature in Celsius when set to Fahrenheit
- Voice Memos recordings are interrupted by incoming calls
- The screen could be black during Netflix video playback
- Apple Cash could fail to send or receive money when asked via Siri

Alongside iOS and iPadOS 14.2, Apple today released new 14.2 software for the HomePod, which includes support for new Siri and Intercom features. Today's update comes a couple of weeks after the release of HomePod 14.1 software.

With the update, ‌Siri‌ can now provide a personal snapshot of each ‌HomePod‌ user's day, offering up news information, weather, traffic, reminders, and more when asked "What's my update?"

Intercom now supports iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay, and the full-size ‌HomePod‌ can be connected to an Apple TV 4K for immersive sound. Apple's full release notes for the update are below:

Software version 14.2 includes support for new Siri, Intercom, and Home Theater features. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

- Ask Siri "What's my update?" to hear a personal snapshot of your day that includes the news, weather, traffic, reminders, and calendar appointments.

- Intercom using iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay.

-Connect HomePod to Apple TV 4K and enjoy stereo, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos audio. Add a second HomePod for a more immersive soundstage.

‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated by following the instructions in our ‌‌HomePod‌‌ update how to.

Apple today released watchOS 7.1, the first major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released back in September. watchOS 7.1 follows watchOS 7.0.2 and watchOS 7.0.3, which were bug fix updates.

‌‌watchOS 7.1‌‌ can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌. Apple has also released watchOS 6.2.9 and watchOS 5.3.9 updates for older devices.

Today's update brings hearing health protections that lets the Apple Watch send a notification when connected headphones are playing music that's too loud and has the potential to damage the ears. The update also brings the ECG app to South Korea and Russia. Apple's full release notes for watchOS 7.1 are below:

watchOS 7.1 contains new features, improvements, and bug fixes.
- Adds the ability to be notified when your headphone audio level could impact your hearing
- Adds support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in the Republic of Korea and Russia
- Adds support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in the Republic of Korea and Russia
- Resolves an issue that prevented some users from unlocking a Mac with Apple Watch
- Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 owners.

Like watchOS 7, watchOS 7.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and later. For more on what's included in watchPS 7, make sure to check out our watchOS 7 roundup.

Some Qi-based wireless chargers don't appear to be working with the iPhone 12 models, perhaps due to the magnets inside of the new devices, alignment issues, or other internal changes to wireless charging protocols.

Apple's ‌iPhone‌ models have been using Qi wireless charging since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ X and ‌iPhone‌ 8 in 2017, so many people have existing wireless chargers on hand from prior ‌iPhone‌ generations. Unfortunately, some of those wireless chargers do not appear to be working properly with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 at this time.

There are complaints about non-functional wireless chargers from multiple new ‌iPhone‌ 12 owners on both Reddit and the MacRumors forums. Affected chargers work with older iPhones, but will not charge the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, which is something to be aware of if you have a new ‌iPhone‌ 12 or are planning a purchase.

The MacRumors forums has a list of chargers that don't appear to be working with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 such as the Zens Liberty Wireless Charger, the Mophie Charge Stream Pad+, the Nomad Base Station Stand, and the Mophie 3-in-1 wireless charging stand. There are also complaints about some Anker wireless chargers.

Nomad's Base Station Pro with Aira wireless charging technology was previously on the list, but just this week Nomad released a firmware update that should address the problem. Unfortunately, most wireless chargers can't get firmware updates like the Base Station Pro, and it's not clear if there's a software fix on the way from Apple.

Some users have had luck getting a wireless charger to work after restarting a device or attempting to change the positioning of the phone on the charger, but in most cases, the affected wireless chargers simply don't charge the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models. This is a problem that seems to be limited to a small number of chargers and most appear to be working.

Update 10:15 a.m.: Apple has just released iOS 14.2 which includes a mention of a fix for an issue in which "devices could be prevented from charging wirelessly." Presumably, this should fix many of the previous issues, while other tweaks by charger vendors such as Nomad's Base Station Pro firmware update may also help. Not all chargers are able to have their firmware updated by users, however.

Another unique Apple logo hashflag has been prepared for next week's "One More Thing" Apple event.

The custom Twitter hashtag includes an Apple logo in the same orange, red, purple, and blue hues as Apple's event invites. The hashflag is set to go live at 12:00 EST.

Twitter allows brands to add custom emojis next to hashtags as a marketing strategy. According to Agency Creative, these "hashflags" can cost upwards of one million dollars, and they are commonly used for large events like the Super Bowl or holidays.

Apple has used custom hashflags for its two previous Apple events in September and October. Ahead of the "Time Flies" event in October, Apple customized the #AppleEvent Twitter hashtag before announcing the event, thereby revealing that the release of invitations was imminent. Since the "Hi, Speed" October iPhone event, Apple seems to have been conscious to not add the hashtag logo until after invites have been sent out.

Tuesday's Apple event is set to take place on Tuesday, November 10, and is likely to see the announcement of the first Macs with Apple Silicon chips.

Apple today informed customers that its iPhone Upgrade Program is temporarily unavailable in England due to new COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that have gone into effect across the country starting today until December 2.

In the United Kingdom, the iPhone Upgrade Program requires visiting an Apple Store, but England's lockdown restrictions have forced these retail locations to operate on a click-and-collect basis only with Express Pickup windows at the entrance. Due to these restrictions, Apple cannot allow customers inside the stores to complete their iPhone upgrade at this time, according to an email shared with MacRumors by several readers.

As noted by 9to5Mac's Michael Steeber, all Apple Stores in England are closed today and will reopen Friday with click-and-collect service.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Plans are in place to allow users to play Epic Games' "Fortnite" on iOS and iPadOS again using Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud gaming service in Safari, the BBC has discovered.

Nvidia has reportedly developed a version of its GeForce Now cloud gaming service that works in Safari on iOS and iPadOS, and Fortnite looks to be a key title on the platform for Apple devices that have lost the game due to the ongoing legal battle between ‌Epic Games‌ and Apple.

In August 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after ‌Epic Games‌ introduced a direct payment option in the app for its in-game currency, defying the ‌App Store‌ rules. In what appears to have been an orchestrated move, ‌Epic Games‌ promptly filed a lawsuit and a press campaign against Apple, accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior.

Using an online streaming service will allow ‌Epic Games‌ to circumvent Apple's ban on the game as an app. iPhone and iPad owners will be able to play Fortnite without charge through GeForce Now's free basic tier, though Nvidia limits these sessions to a duration of one hour.

Other games streaming services, such as Google Stadia, Microsoft xCloud, and Amazon Luna, have also laid out plans to access iOS users via Safari. However, none of these other platforms hosts Fortnite, leaving GeForce Now as the only way to play the game on ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.

Nvidia has not yet formally announced that GeForce will be coming to iOS, but it is expected to do so before the winter holidays. The service is already available for Mac.

After a California judge denied ‌Epic Games‌' request for a preliminary injunction that would have required Apple to allow Fortnite back into the ‌App Store‌, the court case between Apple and ‌Epic Games‌ is due to go to trial in May.

Facebook is now rolling out a new disappearing messages feature to all WhatsApp users on iOS and Android, allowing messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days (via TechCrunch).

Users can use the feature for direct messages, and it can be enabled in groups by members with administrator privileges. The seven-day limit exists regardless of whether the recipient reads the message or not, with the timer starting from when the message is sent.

Facebook also hinted at potentially offering a wider range of time limits in the future:

"We will keep an eye on feedback about how people are using it and liking it and see if it needs adjusting in the future," a spokesperson for Facebook said. "For now we are starting with seven days, because it feels like a nice balance between the utility you need for global text based conversations and the feeling of things not sticking around forever."

The implementation of the feature was reportedly delayed by the need for end-to-end encryption:

"[End-to-end encryption] was partly why it took us so long to implement this feature, because we wanted to retain the e2e capabilities that WhatsApp users expect and love," the spokesperson remarked.

There are also indications that Facebook may be looking to carry over the feature to its Messenger app, where it would sit in addition to the pre-existing "secret" messaging feature which allows the sender to control how long a message remains in a separate feed. This seems increasingly likely given Facebook's long-term plan to merge Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp chat platforms.

Earlier this week, WhatsApp began rolling out a new and improved way to manage storage in the app, helping users identify, select, and bulk delete GIFs, photos, and videos that may be filling up their device.

As with the recent storage changes, the new disappearing messages feature will not be enabled by default. It will instead need to be actively turned on in settings.

Apple is facing a severe shortage of vital power management chips for the iPhone 12, as well as other devices, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg notes that power management is particularly important for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 due to its additional camera features and 5G capabilities. Apple has multiple power management chip suppliers, as revealed by a recent teardown from iFixit.

The ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro uses a power management chip for the camera system from Texas Instruments, and an equivalent chip from STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm for the 5G modem, in addition to a power management chip designed by Apple itself.

The shortage of power management chips is reportedly causing a bottleneck in Apple's already frustrated supply situation, further complicating its ability to meet holiday demand.

Apple is now facing supply constraints across multiple devices, including the ‌iPhone‌, iPad, and Apple Watch, leading to long wait times for orders. At the end of last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors that the company is "working really, really hard" to remedy the ongoing supply issues.

Earlier today, it was reported that Apple has been repurposing components from iPad models in the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro in an effort to meet demand.