MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

Sonos today announced the launch of the Sonos Amp, a new audio hub that's designed to replace the existing Connect:Amp. The Sonos Amp is able to connect to traditional home audio speakers and integrate them into a Sonos home sound system. According to Sonos, its new Sonos Amp is twice as powerful as the Connect:Amp with the ability to power four speakers with 125 watts per channel, up from...

Following DirecTV Now's addition of numerous local stations for its customers, Sony this week announced the addition of around 200 new local network affiliates for PlayStation Vue users in cities across the United States. These include affiliate partners with ABC, FOX, and NBC in cities like Buffalo, Honolulu, Memphis, Austin, and many more. ABC affiliates on PS Vue now include Cincinnati,...

A trio of former Mophie/Zagg employees today launched a new accessory brand called "Nimble," which is aimed at crafting smartphone and tech accessories that are environmentally friendly (via CNET). Those behind Nimble include Ross Howe (Nimble CEO), Jon Bradley (creative director), and Kevin Malinowski (brand marketing), who were all originally part of Mophie when the company merged with...

Spotify and Hulu are further sweetening their student subscription offer by adding a monthly Showtime subscription into the mix, pricing everything at $0.99 for the first three months and $4.99 per month after (via The Verge). This means that eligible college students can get a Spotify Premium subscription ($9.99/month), Hulu With Limited Commercials subscription ($7.99/month), and a Showtime...

It's now been two years since Pokémon Go launched on iOS, becoming immensely popular with players across iOS and Android in the months that followed its debut. Although the number of players in the game has lessened since then, Pokémon Go has remained consistently popular among its fans, and this week Sensor Tower reports that it's seen a "resurgence" this summer thanks to the long-awaited...

Following an announcement in April, Nintendo's next mobile game Dragalia Lost will officially launch on iOS and Android devices on September 27 in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau (via Engadget). The company tweeted the news late last night, also confirming that the mobile game will be getting a Nintendo Direct of its own later tonight at 8:30 p.m. PT. In the reveal...

At IFA Berlin, ZENS today announced a new range of wireless chargers, each including an ultra-thin aluminum design. All of the new wireless chargers will be available beginning September 15. First is the Single Aluminum Wireless Charger, which is a simple single-device Qi-enabled wireless charging pad, much like those launched from companies including Belkin, Mophie, Anker, RAVPower, and...

Tesla today launched a new battery-powered Qi-based wireless charger that's designed for iPhones and Android devices that support wireless charging. Priced at $65, the Tesla Wireless Charger features a 6,000mAh battery so it can be used for charging while on the go. According to Tesla, it's been constructed using the "same design language" used in Tesla energy products like Powerwall,...

Instagram today announced several new security enhancements that are being implemented to make the social network safer for all users. Starting soon, Instagram is implementing support for third-party authenticator apps, which will allow them to be used for two-factor verification purposes in lieu of a phone number. Instagram has supported two-factor authentication for some time, but it was...

Bose today revealed the "Bose Home Speaker 500," a new smart speaker that comes with Amazon Alexa built into the device and support for Bluetooth music streaming from iOS and Android smartphones. The Wi-Fi enabled speaker has many of the same features as competitor devices like HomePod and Sonos One, including music streaming, smart home automation, smart assistant inquiries, multi-room music...

Brian Bumbery, a publicist who has worked with with Metallica, Green Day, Madonna, and Chris Cornell, has joined Apple, reports Variety. Bumbery ran his own press firm, BB Gun Press, before deciding to join Apple as a Director of Apple Music Publicity. Bumbery's hiring comes as Jimmy Iovine, a key Apple Music executive, has completed his transition into a consulting role. Rumors suggested in...

This past Sunday, August 26, marked the one-year anniversary of HQ Trivia's launch on the App Store for iPhone. HQ host Scott Rogowsky appeared on Yahoo Finance's "Midday Movers" show on Friday to discuss the future of the game, revealing that parent company Intermedia Labs has plans to expand the live, interactive concept to other games. The plans go beyond HQ Sports, hosted in the...

Apple today seeded the ninth beta of a new tvOS 12 operating system to developers for testing purposes, one week after releasing the eighth beta and more than two months after introducing the new software at the 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference. Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the tvOS 12 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV using a profile that's...

Apple appears to be testing integration of Apple Music with Android Auto, according to a report today by Android Police. Discovered in the the most recent beta version of Apple Music on Android, Apple's streaming music app includes support for the Android Auto platform. With this support, Android smartphone owners can control playback of Apple Music songs directly from the infotainment...

YouTube is the latest app to gain a new "digital wellbeing" section in its iOS and Android apps, allowing you to see how much time you've spent watching YouTube recently. Google announced at I/O in May that it would be introducing a "Time watched" section in YouTube, and today the rollout has begun. Once you update YouTube on iOS to version 13.33, open the app and tap your profile picture in...

The newly-branded Eve Systems today opened up pre-orders for the second generation of its Eve Room climate and air quality sensor, ahead of a launch on September 12. The new device was first revealed at CES in January and is compatible with Apple's HomeKit platform, measuring air quality, temperature, and humidity in whatever room it's placed. The original Eve Room was a square white box that...

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu today previewed details about Apple's widely rumored trio of 2018 iPhones. Towards the end of the report, there are also a few details about the Apple Watch and iPad that we've highlighted below. The first noteworthy tidbit is that Apple Watch Series 4 models will be compatible with existing bands, as they are said to have a similar physical size as...

Today is the last day that our readers can take advantage of the MacRumors exclusive Twelve South sale, which is offering discounts on nine products aimed at helping you get ready to go back to school. If you're interested and haven't used the promo code MacRumorsBTS yet, head over to our blog post on the sale, browse the products eligible for the discount, and make your purchase on TwelveSouth.co...