Joe Rossignol

Joe joined MacRumors in January 2015, and is now a Senior Reporter. Based out of Stoney Creek, Canada, he has been writing about Apple since 2008, with a focus on breaking news coverage.

Joe Rossignol's Articles

apple repair

Apple Providing Subsidies to Authorized Service Providers That Offer Repairs on Pickup and Drop-Off Basis

Wednesday April 1, 2020 1:54 pm PDT by
In an effort to encourage social distancing, Apple has indicated that it will provide subsidies to Apple Authorized Service Providers that offer product repairs on a pickup and drop-off basis in the United States and Canada. In an internal memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers, obtained by MacRumors, Apple said it will provide $20 for each iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Beats...
new tmobile sprint

T-Mobile Completes Merger With Sprint, Promises 'Transformational' 5G Network

Wednesday April 1, 2020 7:31 am PDT by
T-Mobile today announced that it has completed its merger with Sprint, with the merged company to operate under the T-Mobile brand. Effective immediately, T-Mobile's former COO Mike Sievert will assume the role of CEO, with John Legere stepping down. T-Mobile said it plans to focus on creating a "transformational" nationwide 5G network. Within six years, the carrier promises to provide 5G to ...
WrapUp 7 iPhone 12 5G Notched

Foxconn Suggests There is Still Opportunity for 5G iPhones to Launch on Time

Wednesday April 1, 2020 6:57 am PDT by
In a private conference call with investors this week, Apple supplier Foxconn suggested that there is still a possibility that 5G-enabled iPhones will launch on time this year despite pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, according to Bloomberg. Of course, Foxconn did not mention Apple or the iPhone specifically:"We and the customer's engineers are trying to catch up the missing gap,...
facetimeiphoneipad

iOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4 Prevent FaceTime Calls From Working With Some Older iPhones and iPads Amid Pandemic

Wednesday April 1, 2020 6:09 am PDT by
Newer devices running Apple's recently released iOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4 software updates are currently unable to make FaceTime audio and video calls with older devices running iOS 9.3.5 or iOS 9.3.6, according to numerous users across the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors Forums, Reddit, and Twitter. Apple normally recommends that users who cannot make or receive FaceTime calls update...
apple at home advisor

Apple Offering Work-From-Home Support Roles to Retail Employees [Updated]

Tuesday March 31, 2020 11:29 am PDT by
Apple has recently contacted some of its retail employees in the U.S. with an opportunity to work from home as a support advisor on a temporary basis due to the ongoing pandemic, according to sources familiar with the matter. Retail employees who accept this offer will receive the necessary equipment from Apple to offer support to customers by phone or online chat, as well as a small cash...
publix apple pay

Publix Rolling Out Apple Pay at Checkout

Tuesday March 31, 2020 8:30 am PDT by
Publix has indicated that it is rolling out support for contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay, as noted by the blog Appleosophy. The supermarket chain informed employees of this news in a bulletin shared on Reddit, noting that its payment terminals will be updated with the contactless payments symbol where accepted. Publix has over 1,200 stores in the Southeastern U.S., with...
a14 bionic clean

TSMC Reportedly 'On Track' to Begin Volume Production of A14 Chips for iPhones Despite Pandemic

Tuesday March 31, 2020 7:13 am PDT by
TSMC is "on track" to begin volume production of 5nm chips in April, despite "recent speculation" indicating that the foundry had been requested by Apple to defer production of A14 processors by one or two quarters, according to DigiTimes. A paywalled preview of the report claims that TSMC's manufacturing lines remain fully booked for 5nm chips amid the current pandemic. TSMC has been...
apple configuator 2 icon

Apple Configurator 2 Updated With New Features, Including Support for Restoring Firmware on 2019 Mac Pro

Tuesday March 31, 2020 5:34 am PDT by
Apple Configurator 2 has been updated to version 2.12 with several improvements, including support for restoring firmware on the 2019 Mac Pro. The release notes:• Added support for restoring firmware on the 2019 Mac Pro • Allow access to websites using TLS 1.0 and 1.1 • VPN: Configure Provider Designated Requirement for Custom SSL connection type • VPN: Configure network options for ...
darkmode ios 13

Apple Reportedly Plans to Seed First Beta of iOS 13.4.1 in the Coming Days

Tuesday March 31, 2020 4:56 am PDT by
Apple plans to release the first beta of iOS 13.4.1 with bug fixes in the coming days, according to Israeli website The Verifier, which has a mixed track record. The report also suggests that there will not be an iOS 13.5 update this year, which would not be too surprising, as Apple has never released a point-five iOS version like iOS 12.5 or iOS 11.5 in previous years. Instead, Apple...
plessey glasses

Apple Reportedly Looked at Acquiring Augmented Reality Display Maker Plessey

Monday March 30, 2020 7:39 am PDT by
Apple recently considered acquiring British company Plessey Semiconductors, a maker of Micro-LED displays for augmented reality devices, according to The Information. The paywalled report claims that Plessey has instead reached a licensing deal with Facebook, which in a statement said it wants to build "a glasses form factor that lets devices melt away so we can be more present with our...
maxresdefault

Watch the Trailer for British Series 'Trying' Ahead of Apple TV+ Debut on May 1

Monday March 30, 2020 7:25 am PDT by
Apple today released the official trailer for the "heartfelt" and "hilarious" British comedy series "Trying," available to stream on Apple TV+ starting May 1. Apple's description of the series:"All Jason and Nikki want is a baby. But it's the one thing they just can't have. Starring Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, "Trying" is a new comedy series about growing up, settling down and finding...
Apple new covid 19 app macbook pro iphone 11 pro 03272020 big

Apple Launches COVID-19 Website and App With Screening Tool and Resources

Friday March 27, 2020 9:00 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it has released a new COVID-19 website and iPhone app with a screening tool and other resources to help people stay informed and take the proper steps to protect their health during the spread of the novel coronavirus. Apple partnered with the CDC, the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA on this initiative. The website and app allow users to answer a...
macbook pro 13 inch

Kuo: Apple to Launch Several Macs With Arm-Based Processors in 2021, USB4 Support Coming to Macs in 2022

Thursday March 26, 2020 8:19 pm PDT by
Apple plans to launch several Mac notebooks and desktop computers with its own custom designed Arm-based processors in 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note obtained by MacRumors. Kuo believes that Arm-based processors will significantly enhance the competitive advantage of the Mac lineup, allow Apple to refresh its Mac models without relying on Intel's processor roadmap,...
carkey screenshots

CarKey Screenshots Reveal Digital Keys in Wallet App, BMW Likely to Support Feature at Launch

Thursday March 26, 2020 6:03 pm PDT by
MacRumors recently discovered that Apple is developing a new "CarKey" feature that will allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start an NFC-compatible vehicle. Just like credit cards and boarding passes, users will be able to add a digital car key to the Wallet app, eliminating the need to use a physical car key or key fob. CarKey will allow users to approach their vehicle, hold...
MacBook Pro anti reflective wearing off

Apple Says MacBook Air With Retina Display Can Exhibit Anti-Reflective Coating Issues, Unclear if Eligible for Free Repairs [Updated]

Thursday March 26, 2020 8:16 am PDT by
Apple this week acknowledged that MacBook Air models with Retina displays can exhibit anti-reflective coating issues, as indicated in a memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers and obtained by MacRumors. "Retina displays on some MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro computers can exhibit anti-reflective (AR) coating issues," the memo states. Apple's internal service documentation ...
apple ar vr headset controller

Apple Testing AR/VR Headset With HTC Vive-Like Controller, Crosswalk Bowling Game, and More

Thursday March 26, 2020 5:34 am PDT by
Apple has expressed a profound interest in augmented reality in recent years, making a major push into the space with frameworks like ARKit and RealityKit, creative tools like Reality Composer and Reality Converter, and hardware like the LiDAR Scanner on the new iPad Pro and likely some iPhone 12 models. Multiple reports have indicated that Apple also plans to release a combination AR/VR...
macos catalina legacy system extension alert

Apple Begins Warning Users That 'Legacy System Extensions' Won't Work With a Future Version of macOS

Wednesday March 25, 2020 9:53 am PDT by
Apple has shared a new support document that indicates kernel extensions — which it calls "legacy system extensions" — will not be compatible with a future version of macOS because they "aren't as secure or reliable as modern alternatives."System extensions are a category of software that works in the background to extend the functionality of your Mac. Some apps install kernel extensions, which...
ios13 ipad pro settings accessibility pointer control customize

Apple Explains How to Connect and Use a Bluetooth Mouse or Trackpad With iPad

Wednesday March 25, 2020 9:10 am PDT by
Apple has shared two new support documents that outline how to connect and use a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad with compatible iPad models, including all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 or later, the fifth-generation iPad or later, and the iPad mini 4 or later. Connecting a Bluetooth mouse, standalone trackpad, or keyboard with a built-in trackpad to an iPad requires iPadOS 13.4, released...
macos catalina system prefs display xdr presets customize preset

Apple's Pro Display XDR Now Supports Customized Reference Modes

Wednesday March 25, 2020 8:25 am PDT by
Apple on Tuesday released firmware version 2.2.2 for its Pro Display XDR, adding support for customized reference modes. The feature also requires macOS 10.15.4 and is reflected in the release notes for the update. In a new support document, Apple says advanced users can create customized reference modes tailored to unique workflow needs by selecting from several color gamut, white point,...
ipad pro box

New iPad Pro Begins to Arrive to Customers Around the World

Wednesday March 25, 2020 6:58 am PDT by
Apple Stores may be closed outside of China, but today is still launch day for the new iPad Pro, with the first online orders beginning to arrive to customers around the world. The photo below was shared by a MacRumors reader from Manchester, England. If you are patiently waiting for your new iPad Pro to arrive in the mail, be sure to participate in the order status thread in the MacRumors...