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

A British advertising regulatory body has overruled objections to an Apple television ad in which the company claims iPhone X is capable of "studio quality" portraits (via AppleInsider). The TV ad in question, which began airing in March, showcases the smartphone's "radically new cameras with Portrait Lighting" and uses the phrasing, "Studio-quality portraits. Without the studio." The...

Drake's fifth album, Scorpion, has surpassed the artist's own single-day streaming record on Apple Music, with over 170 million streams in its first 24 hours of availability. Apple told The Verge that Scorpion now holds both the U.S. and global streaming records for the company's streaming service, and the debut is the biggest ever single-day streaming total for any album on any streaming...

WhatsApp rolled out an update over the weekend that introduces a useful new administrator setting to the popular messaging platform to make group chats more functional. Essentially, the new setting allows group chats to be set up so that only approved admins are able to send messages to the group, which should help prevent important information from being lost in a hail of messages from group ...

Popular iOS photography app Darkroom received a major update today, introducing a long list of app-wide improvements, a new Frames tool, a premium filter pack, and more. The new Frames tool, which marks Darkroom's first top-level tool addition in three years, offers up content-aware frame colors. Content-aware color allows the frames tool to analyze the colors in your photograph and generate a ...

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Plex to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a cord-cutting bundle that includes a lifetime Plex Pass, a TV tuner, and an antenna. Plex, for those unfamiliar with it, is an all-in-one media hub that organizes your entire library of content, from TV shows and movies to music and photos, plus it offers free access to news, support for Podcasts,...

eBay's latest sitewide coupon launched today, offering shoppers the chance to save 15 percent off nearly everything on eBay with coupon code PERFECTDAY. As usual, exclusions to "everything" include warranties and protection plans, coins and paper money, gift cards and coupons, and real estate. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a...

Apple has expanded carrier billing to TIM in Italy, Bite in Latvia and Lithuania, U Mobile in Malaysia, Singtel and StarHub in Singapore, Sunrise in Switzerland, and O2 in the UK, according to an updated support document. The payment method enables customers to make purchases in the iTunes Store, App Store, and Apple Books, and pay for an Apple Music subscription, without needing to link a...

One week after unveiling its new live streaming service "WatchTV," AT&T has now begun rolling out the platform's app on fourth-generation and fifth-generation Apple TV boxes, as well as on iOS [Direct Link] (via BestAppleTV). The service is a free add-on for anyone on AT&T's new "Unlimited &More" and "Unlimited &More Premium" cellular plans, and is also available as a $15/month service for...

LinkedIn is adding a couple of new features to its iOS app that should make it easier for users to expand their professional networks on the service. For the first time, QR codes can now be used to connect with other user profiles. This can be done by either tapping the QR code icon in the Home tab search bar to launch the QR scanner, or uploading a photo of a code taken with your device's...

Instagram today updated its Stories feature with the ability to add a soundtrack for background music, with Instagram offering thousands of popular songs to choose from. You can add music to Stories by tapping to add a sticker and then choosing the new "Music" sticker that's available in the list alongside other stickers like Location, Mention, Hashtag, and more. Tapping on the Music...

Today and tomorrow only MacRumors readers can save 45 percent sitewide on Speck's website, making a great opportunity to purchase a new case for your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook at a discounted price. To take advantage of the deal, head over to Speck, find a case or accessory, add it to your cart, and enter MACRUMORS45 in the discount code box. This will net you 45 percent off up to two Speck...

DC Comics today revealed new details about its upcoming "DC Universe" streaming platform, which will hit iOS and tvOS devices this fall. Before that time, the company will launch a beta of the platform in August, allowing a small group of users to test out DC Universe before a wide rollout. The main draw of the service will be exclusive TV shows that feature popular DC characters, including...

Sling TV today announced that it will be increasing the price of its entry-level Sling Orange service by $5 per month, jumping the price up to $25 per month for subscribers. Existing subscribers will not be grandfathered in to their old price, and all Sling Orange customers will see the new monthly $25 price reflected in their bills starting in August. Sling TV president Warren Schlichting...

After a soft launch of just one model earlier this spring, GE today announced the launch of its full lineup of HomeKit-enabled window air conditioning units. While there are a few other HomeKit air conditioners on the market outside of the United States, the new units represent the first HomeKit-compatible air conditioners to launch in the U.S. GE's air conditioners deliver 8,000 to 12,000...

In an effort that would give future Echo speakers with Alexa a new advantage over Apple's HomePod, Reuters today reports that Amazon is working with chipmakers to build Alexa speakers that would not require a constant power source. As it stands, most smart assistant devices -- Amazon's main Echo, Apple HomePod, Google Home, etc -- require a constant draw of power due to their always-on...

This week's Apple Pay promotion is offering customers the chance to save on their Fourth of July dinners with 20 percent off from restaurant chain TGI Fridays. If you use Apple Pay to checkout in the TGI Fridays iOS app, select the order for pickup, and use the promo code APPLE20, you'll get 20 percent off your meal through Sunday, July 8. Apple's new promotion encourages users to get out...

Apple has announced that, starting June 30, customers will no longer be able to change their iTunes or App Store payment information from devices running iOS 4.3.5 or earlier, OS X 10.8.5 or earlier, or Apple TV Software 4.4.4 or earlier. In an email to customers who may be impacted, Apple said it is implementing this change to continue to ensure that their financial information is protected ...

Using the Segments feature in the Apple Watch Workout app is a great way to track changes in exercise intensity over the course of a workout. It can also help you find out which activities in a mixed session push your body the most. If your regular running route includes a hilly section, for example, using segments to indicate where it begins and/or ends lets you review how much time it takes ...