MacRumors

Buried in the iOS 13.5.1 update, there's a privacy policy for the "CarKey" feature that Apple has in the works, suggesting that a launch could perhaps be coming soon. CarKey is designed to allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to be used in lieu of a physical key in certain vehicles with NFC connectivity.

First noticed by German site iPhone-ticker.de, the CarKey privacy info can be found in the current iOS 13.5.1 release and the iOS 13.6 beta. There's no word yet on when CarKey will be released, but quite a bit of info about the feature has leaked over the course of the last few months as signs of it have shown up in various versions of iOS 13.

There's not a lot of new info about CarKey in the privacy policy, but it does sum up how CarKey works, setup, and the sharing of CarKey keys through Messages. It makes it clear that Apple does not collect or retain information on vehicle usage, though the vehicle manufacturer still may collect vehicle usage information based on their own privacy policies.

Wallet allows you to add and share car keys for certain vehicles. You may add a car key by signing in to your vehicle manufacturer's app or entering a pairing code in Wallet to claim the vehicle as your own and to pair your device with your vehicle. If successful, your device sends Apple a one-time owner redemption token. Apple uses the redemption token, information about your Apple account and your device, and your location at the time of provisioning (if Location Services is enabled) for fraud prevention purposes.

To set up your car key, Apple shares a unique device identifier with your vehicle manufacturer. This device identifier is different for each vehicle manufacturer to help protect your privacy. Your vehicle manufacturer may connect this device identifier with other information it has about you and will process information it has about you according to its privacy policy.

You may share car keys by tapping Invite on the back of your car key pass, selecting the access type that you would like to grant, and sharing the car key pass using iMessage. To help set up and manage car key passes, Apple forwards to the vehicle manufacturer information about with whom a pass is shared and what level of access was granted. Apple also shares a unique device identifier for the pass recipient with the vehicle manufacturer to enable them to manage your pass. For pass recipients, just as with owners, the vehicle manufacturer may connect the device identifier with other information it may have about the recipient and process such information according to its privacy policy.

Apple does not collect or retain information on vehicle usage, such as when you use your car key pass to lock or unlock the vehicle. Your vehicle manufacturer may collect vehicle usage information according to agreements you have with them. We encourage you to review your vehicle manufacturer's privacy policy for more information.

Digital CarKey keys will be stored in the Wallet app alongside credit cards, rewards cards, gift cards, and other items on ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch. These keys will let an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch unlock, lock, and start vehicles equipped with NFC.

Vehicle owners will be able to share a digital CarKey with another person, which is useful in valet situations, if a friend needs to borrow a car, and more. CarKey access is authenticated biometrically using Face ID or Touch ID, though there is an "Express Mode" that vehicle owners can take advantage of.

Apple will be partnering with vehicle manufacturers for CarKey, and it may be a factory installed option similar to CarPlay. CarKey requires NFC to function, so it is something that needs to be implemented by car makers.

Screenshots found in iOS 14 have suggested that BMW may be one of the first manufacturers that will support the CarKey feature. CarKey functionality could be released at any time as the NFC-based Digital Key Release specification that powers it was finalized in May and provided to Car Connectivity Consortium members including Apple.

Given that CarKey is a major feature and iOS 14 is on the horizon and set to be unveiled next week, CarKey could perhaps be included in the iOS 14 update.

Apple is working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels that are connected by a hinge rather than a single display like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, according to leaker Jon Prosser who shared the info in a tweet and a YouTube interview shared by Jon Rettinger.

Prosser says that the foldable ‌iPhone‌ has rounded, stainless steel edges like the current ‌iPhone‌ 11 and no notch, but a "tiny forehead" on the outer display for Face ID.

Though the ‌iPhone‌ features two separate displays connected by a hinge, Prosser claims that the panels look "fairly continuous and seamless."

Samsung's foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, is designed as a single display with a fold in the middle that allows it to open and close. Prosser believes that Apple's version that's in the works looks more similar to Microsoft's Surface Neo and Surface Duo, both of which are foldable dual display devices that feature two displays connected with a hinge.

There's no word on when Apple might develop a foldable ‌iPhone‌, but there have been rumors about work on such a device dating back to 2016, as well as a number of patents. A March 2020 patent described a device that featured two separate displays that could be brought together to create a single bendable device with a hinge.

It's not clear if the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will ever move out of a prototyping stage, but it doesn't look like a foldable device is launching in the near future. More information on Apple's alleged work on a foldable ‌iPhone‌ can be found in our guide.

With the release of the updated Apple Developer app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Apple today released some additional details and resources for developers ahead of the digital WWDC event that's set to kick off on Monday, June 22.

Along with the keynote that will take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple Park, Apple plans to hold a traditional Platforms State of the Union at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to provide developers with an in-depth look at the new features in iOS/iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14.

Apple plans to release engineering session videos for developers, but there will be an opportunity for developers to schedule 1-on-1 Developer Labs that will provide in-depth guidance on implementing new features.

These 1-on-1 labs will be held using Webex, and each appointment will last for 10 to 55 minutes, depending on subject matter. Members of the Apple Developer Program, Apple Developer Enterprise Program, and Swift Student Challenge winners are able to sign up.

Requests are taken for appointments that occur on the following day and can be made by members of the Apple Developer Program, the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, or Swift Student Challenge winners. You can submit a request Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT. Simply sign in with your Apple ID, choose a lab from the schedule, enter your question, and submit. If you've filed a report using Feedback Assistant, include the Feedback Assistant ID in your submission.

Availability is limited. Requests will be reviewed and you'll receive an email with your status within several hours. If you do not receive an appointment, you may submit again the next day if the lab is available, or post in the Apple Developer Forums.

On June 18, Apple will open up its all-new Apple Developer Forums that will allow anyone with an Apple ID to ask about questions related to app development. Starting on the first day of WWDC, the forums will be used to connect developers with more than 1,000 Apple engineers who will be answering questions.

The all-new forums feature tags as a way to make content easily discoverable. You can find content and tag your posts using special tags for WWDC20:
WWDC20 Community. Meet and chat with fellow developers. Everyone can view and all forums users can post.
WWDC20 Support. Ask for help with conference logistics, such as video streaming issues. Everyone can view and all forums users can post.
WWDC20. Discuss general conference content with engineers and fellow developers. Everyone can view. Program members and Challenge winners can post.
In addition, each session and conference topic will have a unique tag that program members and Challenge winners can use to discuss content. Everyone can view these threads.
A full list of tags will be available here starting June 22.

On June 29, a week after WWDC begins, Apple plans to announce its annual Apple Design Award winners, highlighting notable apps and games.

Apps and games created by millions of developers around the world have made a positive impact on people's daily lives. Join us in celebrating the developers who used their ingenuity, smarts, and savvy to build this year's Apple Design Award winners.

In addition to providing more information on the digital WWDC event, Apple today also added new Messages stickers for those who have installed the Apple Developer app. The stickers are WWDC themed, with graphics that are being used for the 2020 event plus some additional fun icons.

More information about Apple's WWDC schedule can be found in the Apple Developer app or on the Apple Developer website.

Following an announcement earlier today, Apple is now selling SSD storage upgrade kits for the latest Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options available. Prices range between $600 and $2,800 in the United States.

Each kit contains two SSD modules, enabling users to upgrade the internal storage capacity of a Mac Pro themselves. Until now, Apple advised customers who wanted to upgrade the built-in SSD modules to book an appointment with a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider, as they are tied to Apple's T2 security chip.

As we demonstrated earlier this year, it is also possible to expand a Mac Pro's storage capacity by placing a third-party SSD in a PCIe slot. Another option is to install a third-party internal drive mount that connects via SATA.

Apple sells a variety of other components and accessories for the Mac Pro and its companion Pro Display XDR, including graphics modules, RAM kits, expensive wheels, a VESA mount adapter, an AUX power cable kit, and more.

Apple's 2020 WWDC event will mark the first time that WWDC has been held in an all-digital format, with no physical conference or meetup. With everything taking place online, Apple today expanded its Apple Developer app to the Mac.

The Mac version of the Apple Developer app will mirror the iOS version, offering up a Discover section with new and relevant developer news, a videos section with sessions created by Apple engineers, and a WWDC section.

The WWDC section of the app will allow developers to access Apple's keynote event on Monday, June 22, as well as the Platforms State of the Union and more than 100 technical and design-focused engineering sessions.

Content from past WWDC events is also included in the app and neatly organized to make it easy for developers to find exactly what they're looking for.

Developers can download the new Apple Developer app for Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

As Apple gears up for its 2020 WWDC event that will be held in a digital-only capacity, the company today sent out invites inviting members of the media to tune in to the keynote that's set to take place on Monday, June 22.

Apple will hold its keynote event at the standard time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. While the event will be digital only with no non-employees attending, Apple execs will be broadcasting from Apple Park.

"Join us for the first all-online WWDC, kicking off on June 22 with a Special Event Keynote coming to you from ‌Apple Park‌," reads the invitation.

Some people have noted that much of Apple's wording around the invite does not include the word "live," which suggests that Apple will be recording the keynote in advance and then broadcasting it on June 22.

Apple today also updated its main Apple.com website to invite all Apple users to watch the keynote event in addition to media and sent out invites to developers.

Apple plans to share broadcast the keynote through the Events tab on the Apple TV, through the Events section of the Apple website, on YouTube, in the Apple Developer app, and on the Apple Developer website.

For those unable to watch the livestream, MacRumors will have a live blog on the MacRumors.com site and will also live tweet through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Ahead of the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to take place next Monday, Apple has updated its Apple Developer app for the iPhone and the iPad.

The new version of the app includes a redesigned Discover tab to make it easier to catch up on news, videos, and more, plus an option to favorite articles in addition to videos and session content.

A refreshed Browse tab allows users to search for existing sessions, videos, and articles, and the WWDC tab has been revamped to prepare for the upcoming WWDC event.

Apple plans to hold the WWDC keynote on Monday, June 22, and the keynote will be available in the Apple Developer app as well as on the Apple Developer website, the standard Apple Events website, the Events tab on the Apple TV, and YouTube.

The Apple Developer app used to be known as the WWDC app, but Apple changed the name in 2019 to turn it into a general developer app that can be used all year rather than just during WWDC.

The app is more important than ever this year as it will house more than 100 technical and design-focused engineering sessions as well as Apple Developer forums, the Platforms State of the Union address, and more.

Apple today launched its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and Canada. After five years of offering free Beats, Apple this year is offering free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad.

Qualifying students and educators can receive free second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case with the purchase of a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, iPad Pro, or iPad Air. During the checkout process, it is also possible to upgrade to second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for $40 or to AirPods Pro for $90.

As usual, the standard iPad, iPad mini, Mac mini, and refurbished products are not eligible for the Back to School promotion.

The free AirPods are in addition to Apple's educational pricing, which allows students to save up to $200 off a Mac and up to $100 off an iPad Pro. The promotion runs until September 29, 2020 and is available through Apple's education store on the web, at Apple's retail stores where open, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE.

For purchases made using Apple Card Monthly Installments, you will receive an instant credit of $159, which will be applied as a discount to your eligible iPad or Mac at the time of purchase. Then, the cost of the AirPods will be billed in six monthly installments. Apple provides more details in its full terms and conditions for the promotion.

The promotion does not appear to be live in Europe or other regions at this time.

Apple today expanded its Apple Card interest-free monthly installment payment plan across much of its U.S. online store, allowing users to pay for Macs, iPads, and other Apple products over time. In addition to the interest-free payments, users also earn the standard 3% Daily Cash for purchases through Apple.

The new option is available on checkout pages for individual products, with some products like Macs and iPads available with 12-month interest-free installments, and others like Apple TV, AirPods, and HomePod can be paid off over six months. Notably, Apple Watch and iPod touch are not eligible with the interest-free financing.

Tim Cook announced on Apple's April 30 earnings conference call that the company would be expanding the ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installments plan beyond the iPhone, and just over a week ago, Bloomberg shared details on what it would cover.

One week ahead of WWDC, 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 new 5600M graphics option is up to 75 percent faster than the base 5500M graphics for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, according to TechCrunch.

Apple has also released user-installable SSD storage kits for the latest Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities available.

A range of images have today emerged from Twitter user @Jin_Store allegedly featuring iPhone 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro molds, offering a further look at what may be in the works for the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup.

The molds are similar to those usually seen in the lead-up to the announcement of new iPhones. These physical molds are often based on leaked schematics and are produced by third party case manufacturers to develop cases for upcoming devices.

The design depicted in these images is consistent with other rumors that have leaked from the supply chain regarding Apple's upcoming ‌iPhone‌ models, with iPad Pro-style flat edges that are a significant design departure from current models. The notch does not appear to be any smaller in these molds, but this may be because case makers would probably not need to have an accurate replica of that area.

The mold images show all ‌iPhone‌ four sizes that rumors have indicated Apple may release in 2020: A 5.4-inch ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌, a 6.1-inch ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌, a 6.1-inch ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ Pro, and a 6.7-inch ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ Pro Max.

The Twitter user also posted a number of CAD renders. CAD images of unreleased iPhones shared online are usually presented as official designs leaked from production factories, but are often made by case makers themselves to predict the design of unreleased devices.

The designs closely mirror other leaks, such as those from Mac Otakara. The expected 3D camera setup, however, similar to the iPad Pro's LiDAR Scanner, does not appear to be present.

Apple is expected to begin production of its 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup next month. For more on what to expect from the 2020 ‌‌iPhone‌‌ models, be sure to see our dedicated roundup.

In this week's App Recap, we've highlighted utility app "Pastel," health app "Punkt," and utility app "Remote Control for Mac/PC Pro" 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

• Pastel (iOS, Free) - Pastel, an app marketed for developers and artists, allows for the creation of color palettes for use in various projects. Pastel includes diverse color selector options such as a color wheel, RGB sliders, crayons, and even the ability to import specific colors from a photo. In addition, the app allows users to copy a bitmap representation of a palette for use in a pixel editor. The free version of Pastel allows users to add up 20 palettes in their library, and users looking to upgrade to the full version that includes an unlimited number of palettes can opt for a single in-app purchase of $4.99.
• Punkt: One-Sentence Journal (iOS, Free) - With its streamlined interface, Punkt makes day-to-day journaling very straightforward and intuitive. When crafting a story, users simply add a single sentence. Additionally, users have the ability to select from a list of feelings and reasons, enter a specific location, and add photos to bring the story to life. Every story is saved on both the device and in iCloud, and users looking for more protection can protect stories with either Face ID or Touch ID. Although the app is free to download, adding photos and creating an unlimited number of stories per day is limited to those with a premium subscription. Punkt offers a range of monthly subscriptions in which users can choose to contribute a certain amount per month, an annual subscription, and a lifetime membership, which are priced at $0.99-$2.49, $6.49, and $13.99 respectively.
• Remote Control for Mac/PC Pro (iOS, $6.99) - Remote Control seamlessly pairs to a Mac client app that introduces efficient productivity methods for users. Users are able to control volume, playback, and AirPlay mirroring directly from an iOS device. Additionally, the app can morph into a trackpad for a Mac, control any app, launch and quit apps, and more. All of Remote Control's features are included with its purchase price, so no extra in-app purchases are present. In addition to the paid version, Remote Control's developer has also released a free version of the app that contains ads and all of the pro version's features without advanced media controls for apps and websites as well as the ability to control apps and execute system actions.

App Updates

• Darkroom: Photo & Video Editor - Popular editing app Darkroom was updated this week with the ability to manage albums within the app. In the library that's located within the Darkroom app, users now have the ability to create, rename, and delete albums. Any changes made within Darkroom will be reflected in the device's native photo library.
  

• Spike (iOS) - Collaborative email app Spike this week announced a major update that gives users the ability to manage tasks, create notes, and collaborate on documents in real-time without the need to leave the app. The new tasks feature allows users to seamlessly set reminders and set to-dos, which can help enhance day-to-day productivity. Spike has also added the ability to sync notes and tasks across all devices signed into the same account.

• Phone Buddy Notifier for Watch (iOS) - Phone Buddy, an Apple Watch app that alerts users when the Bluetooth connection with a paired iPhone is lost, was updated recently with several new features. The Distance Alerts feature was updated with a new customizable distance threshold for signal strength and time. In addition, the iPhone app was updated with a streamlined interface, and it's now possible to manage all alerts directly on the Apple Watch companion app.

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.

Update: The developers of the OpenCore Bootloader have released a statement regarding the unauthorized use of the OpenCore name.

We at Acidanthera are a small group of enthusiasts who are passionate about Apple ecosystem and spend time developing software to improve macOS compatibility with different kinds of hardware including older Apple-made computers and virtual machines. For us, who do this on entirely volunteer and uncommercial basis, for fun, it is shocking and disgusting that some dishonest people we do not even know dare to use the name and logo of our bootloader, OpenCore, as a matter of promotion in some illicit criminal scam. Be warned, that we are nohow affiliated with these people and strongly ask everyone by all means to never approach them. Be safe.

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Original version of article follows...

Following in the footsteps of Psystar, a new company called "OpenCore Computer" (No affiliation with the OpenCore Bootloader) this week launched a commercial Hackintosh computer called the "Velociraptor," which is a violation of Apple's end-user license agreement or EULA for macOS.

On its website, OpenCore Computer claims that it hopes to make Mac Pro-style workstations more accessible. The company's lineup of computers, which they call "zero-compromise Hackintoshes," are advertised as coming with macOS Catalina and Windows 10 Pro pre-installed. The first available model is the "Velociraptor," which is configurable with up to a 16-core CPU, 64GB of RAM, and a Vega VII GPU, and starts at $2,199. OpenCore Computer intends to launch more models at a later date, with options allowing for up to a 64-core CPU and 256GB of RAM.

Hackintoshes are computers that run macOS on hardware not authorized by Apple. OpenCore is a free open-source tool used to prepare a system for booting macOS. The company selling these Hackintoshes seems to have appropriated the name of the open-source bootloader, and has no affiliation to the developers of OpenCore. Hackintosh machines have to bypass copy-protection technologies that Apple uses to protect macOS from being cloned, affording them a dubious legal status when sold. OpenSource Computer reports that its computers "work just like a regular Apple Mac."

Commercial Hackintoshes have a notorious legal history. The now-defunct Psystar Corporation sold so-called "Open Computers" from 2008, with the option to have Mac OS X Leopard pre-installed. Apple's EULA forbids third-party installations of its software, and any commercial Mac clone is a violation of that agreement, as well as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Apple sued Psystar in 2009 and won a permanent injunction against the company, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2012. Given this precedence, it is particularly surprising that OpenCore Computer has chosen to sell a Hackintosh.

OpenCore Computer seems to be trying to get around the EULA by accepting payments in Bitcoin cryptocurrency only. In an attempt to prove that the company is not a scam, it offers the use of escrow payment through "Bitrated," which intends to bring consumer protection and fraud prevention measures to cryptocurrency transactions. Much like the skepticism levelled at Psystar in 2008 when it announced its Mac clone, the legitimacy of OpenCore Computer is unclear. No address for the company is given and there is little further information about it online.

Apple sends out regular Apple Pay promotions via email, and this week's promotion provides a 20 percent discount on select items from sports store Fanatics when using ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ and the promo code APPLEPAY at checkout.

The email suggests gift purchases of sports apparel and fan gear ahead of Father's Day on June 21. The offer is available through June 19 and is valid in the United States only, both in the Fanatics app and on Fanatics.com.

In addition to Fanatics, Apple in its email highlights several other major merchants that feature ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ for unique Father's Day gifts, including Allbirds, Goat, Oakley, and The North Face.