Apple may launch more apps on Android

396

It seems that Apple isn’t quite done with Android just yet as Tim Cook has hinted that more Apple apps may be appearing on Google’s own OS soon.

Various sources who attended Apple’s “Town Hall” event reported that Tim Cook has voiced his interest in porting more apps to Android. Currently, the only app from Apple that is available on Android is
Apple Music
. According to Cook, Apple Music on Android was a way of “testing the waters” to see if it could further expand its services division on Android.

While Cook did not go into too much detail as to what Apple has in store for Android, Cook’s mention of expanding its services division on Android may mean that the company intends to port over iCloud and its various services like calendars, emails, notes, reminders, and the iCloud photo library. iMessage may also be potentially ported over as well. Also speculated to be ported over to Android is Apple Pay, Apple’s own mobile payment and digital wallet service.

It would be interesting to see if iCloud services and Apple Pay would be made available on Android devices as both services would be directly competing with Google’s own Google Drive and Android Pay. Whatever the case, it is too early to say for certain if both services will be coming to Google’s OS until an official announcement is made.

Other things that were discussed during the “Town Hall” event include revenue announcements, future products, Apple’s new campus, and staff privileges.

Source :
Business Insider
,
9to5Mac
,
Gizmoids (Image)

android
apple
apps
google


Apple may open first Apple Store in India after Indian government eases local sourcing requirements

350

Apple has been itching to open an Apple Store in India for a while now, but the company has been unable to do so due to a rule that states that retailers are required to locally source at least 30% of the goods sold in company-owned stores. This is no longer the case however, as the Indian government has announced that they will be easing said requirements in an attempt to boost foreign direct investment.

The easing of the local sourcing requirements will give single-brand retailers a three-year grace period in which they can operate stores. Once the three years are up, those stores would then have to comply with the local sourcing requirements. Should the company be able to prove that they are selling state of the art or cutting edge technology, they would receive a five-year extension to the relaxed local sourcing requirements.

Basically, this requirement would allow Apple to operate their own retail store in India for three years without any requirements. Once those three years are up, Apple would then have to prove that 30% of their store inventory is locally sourced. If they are able to prove that they are selling state of the art products, Apple would then be able to operate their Apple Store without any requirements for another five years. Simply put, Apple may be able to operate their Apple Store without needing to adhere to the sourcing requirements for a maximum of eight years. Once those eight years are up though, the sourcing requirements would go into effect.

Currently, Apple has been selling its products through partners such as Redington India td. as well as retail units of Indian conglomerates Tata Group and Reliance Industries Ltd.. With the relaxed ruling, Apple can now apply for permission to open its first stores in India. “The relaxed rules give Apple a window to build up a credible brand and gives the company a chance to build up internal capability and familiarity with the supply base. For branding, a certain consistency is critical and this can be done by having retail control,” says Devangshu Dutta, Chief Executive Officer or Third Eyesight.

Source:
Bloomberg

apple
applestore
india


Apple may source OLED screens from Samsung and LG

334

It seems that future iPhones may have a touch of Korean to it as Apple may be buying OLED display panels from both Samsung and LG.

While the deal hasn’t been finalised just yet, reports are saying that the deal is “close to a final agreement”. If the deal does go through, do not expect an OLED-powered iPhone this year as the first batch of iPhones that will ship with the OLED screens may not be available until 2018. Going by Apple’s release schedule, the first iPhone that will be utilising Samsung and LG’s OLED display will most likely be the iPhone 8.

According to Reuters
, LG and Samsung Display have planned a combined 15 trillion won (USD12.8 billion) in capital expenditure to build up OLED production capacity over the next two to three years. Apple is expected to provide some funding to both firms to help with the investments.

Source :
Reuters
,
Ars Technica

apple
iphone
lg
oledscreens
samsung


Apple may use new LED technology to improve display quality across its devices

261

If you ask the right people, Apple has always been about user experience – may it be from device ergonomics, software optimization and even crisp displays. The latter is especially true as most of Apple’s devices have always pushed impressive displays that not many can rival – except Samsung.

Now, reports have surfaced claiming that Apple may have something up their sleeves to make device displays even brighter and crisp. WCCF Tech reports that Apple may be adopting a display technology that involves the use of mini LED backlighting for their upcoming iPad and Mac lineups as soon as this year.

Image credit: iMore

According to WCCF Tech, the technology will first be used on a 31.6-inch 6K display that’s touted to be released this year as well as future iPads and a “redesigned” MacBook Pro that’s slated to appear in 2021.

With smaller LED backlights, Apple will be able to achieve a wide-colour gamut, a high contrast ratio and high dynamic range. A backlit unit utilizing this technology could be built with at least 500 LED chips that measure about 600 microns in size. The report suggests that with the iPad, a total of 1,000 LED chips could be used.

Not much has been said yet about exactly which Apple device will be built with this technology, but we may not have to wait long.

apple
backlight
imac
ios
ipad
led
macbook
rumours


Apple might be bringing air gesture controls and curved screens to future iPhones

312

Bloomberg has reported that Apple is in the process of developing two new technologies that will be incorporated into future iPhones, the first being a touchless gesture control and the other is a curved display. It is said that these new technologies are still in the development phase and will take roughly two years before we start seeing them in Apple devices.

Samsung already has a technology similar to what Apple is developing in its Galaxy S4, where users could swipe just above the screen to scroll a webpage or photos. Apple’s version will have 3D Touch like functions where users can hover their fingers over an icon and it will display more options. Some Galaxy S phones also have curved screens on the edge but Apple is going with a screen that will curve inward gradually from the top to bottom.

Gestures on a smartphone have been a rather hot topic, with big names trying to implement it in their devices and failed, this opens up a lot of room for Apple to experiment with it and explore different types of ways they can further enhance how smartphones react to gesture-based controls. Two years is not far off.

apple
control
curved
gesture
iphone
screens


Apple might be designing its own cellular modem for future iPhones

302

While the 5G Android smartphones will be available to consumers in 2019, Apple had plans to release the 5G iPhones only when it’s 2020. However, now it seems that Apple is working on producing its own modem to compete with Qualcomm.

Apparently Apple has been looking for architect on cellular modem systems to work in Apple’s San Diego office, and someone who was briefed stated that Apple indeed has an ongoing project to build its own cellular modem chip.

It was also reported by The Information that even though Apple is aiming to create its own cellular modem, the deal between Apple and Intel to produce 5G iPhones is still going on. So while Apple’s first 5G iPhones might still be using Intel’s cellular modem, it’ll only take a few years before the future iPhones start using Apple’s own cellular modem if the company is capable of perfecting the hardware, which according to reports will take at least three years.

Previously Apple had been using Qualcomm and Intel modems in the devices but since the beginning of 2017, Apple stopped collaborating with Qualcomm and is instead working with only Intel for the iPhone Xs, Xs Max and XR. The feud between the two companies are still unresolved which might be why Apple is trying to come up with its own cellular modem so that it can go up against Qualcomm and be less dependent on Intel.

apple
Cellular modem
intel
iPhones
qualcomm


Apple might be making smaller and bigger iPhones with OLED panels in 2020

558

Many might still be predicting and making assumptions on how this year’s iPhones will look like, but there are also others who have already moved on to 2020’s iPhones. Apparently 2020’s iPhones will be getting OLED screens and come in different sizes compared to current iPhones.

Currently, the 2018’s iPhones come in 5.8-inch, 6.1-inch and 6.5-inch displays. Next year’s iPhones are expected to be both smaller and bigger than the current ones, in which they will be a 5.42-inch, 6.06-inch and 6.67-inch models.

This means that in 2020, the smallest iPhone model will be smaller than the current iPhone XS, whereas the biggest iPhone Model will be larger than the current iPhone XS Max. It will all sport an OLED screen that is said to be either from Samsung or LG.

The last time the company offered an OLED panel for tinier models is when the iPhone SE was introduced, but it has been discontinued for a few years now. On a side note, we’ll also be expecting to see the 2020’s iPhones to come with 5G support.

apple
iPhones
oled


Apple might be releasing an entry-level MacBook and refreshing the iPad lineup

376

Apple is releasing a new cheaper MacBook and will be refreshing the iPad line up somewhere in this year. This information comes from DigiTimes which also added that the new entry-level MacBook will cost lower than the current 12-inch MacBook and will have a price of around the $999 price point.

The new MacBook is also reported to enter mass production at the end of May and will be ready for WWDC 2018. KGI also reported that Apple will be making a cheaper 13-inch MacBook Air later this year, but there could be a confusion between the two sources or we could be seeing a cheaper MacBook and MacBook Air. Digitimes also suggested that a new iPad will be launched in the second quarter of the year and other sources have suggested that the new iPad will come with a $300 price tag.

A Eurasian regulatory filing also states that new parts are being produced for a new iPad Pro which will be released in the second half of the year. We can expect a new iPad Pro this year, with a new bezel design, and the home button removed in favour of Face ID.

apple
entry
ipad
level
macbook
pro
refresh


Apple might be releasing an iPhone with three cameras on the back in 2019

286

Could Apple be the next company to show us a phone with a tri-camera setup? Huawei shocked the world by adding a third camera to their P20 Pro phone, and everyone thought it was a gimmick. However, they have managed to prove that the additional camera did big a huge benefit when it came to photography, evident from DxOMark which placed the P20 phones on the top of the list.

According to a security analyst, Jeff Pu, Apple might launch a phone with a tri-camera setup in the second half of 2019. Pu did not reveal any other information but a Chinese publication has mentioned that the phone will come with a 5x zoom and one of the lenses will have a 12MP resolution sensor. If this actually happens, then you should expect that Apple will offer the tri-camera setup on their most expensive phone when next year comes around.

Just like all speculations, it should be taken with a grain of salt. The middle of 2019 prediction date is the first indicator that this might not actually happen as we have known Apple to release their new and powerful phones closer to the end of the year, like the November 2017 release date of the iPhone X. Nevertheless, we might not want to complete dismiss this as Apple might change up their release schedule for this new phone.

apple
cameras
iphone
three
tri-camera


Apple might bring back the iPod Touch in 2019 after four long years

361

We’re always thinking of Apple Watch, iPhones and iPads when it comes to Apple, but recent reports are hinting that we might soon be reminded of the iPods that used to be quite popular.

Apple seems to be producing a new generation of iPod Touch, which is probably a good move if the company is continuing the product line since the 6th Generation iPod Touch is a bit too outdated. The 6th Generation iPod Touch still shows the traditional thick bezels, the presence of a home button and an A8 chip. The only aspect of the current iPod Touch that is worth applauding is that it is still compatible with iOS 12.

With the outdated specs, if Apple is plans to revamp the iPod Touch, we believe the first thing to be removed is its home button. The chin will also no longer be so thick so that the 7th Generation iPod Touch can actually be more consistent with the latest Apple products’ designs.

The iPod Touch will probably get the FaceID feature too, and the camera might just be upgraded to be at least around the iPhone XR’s specs. While iPod Touch is known to be made for music playback, it is still possible that Apple will remove the headphone jack and force users to get an earphone with a Lightning cable.

Reports suggested that Apple is bringing back the iPod Touch as a strategy to gain more Apple Music subscribers who might also get attached to the iMessage that can be found in the iPod Touch. It is a somewhat long-term plan of Apple in hope that the earlier they get people to be attached to their brand, the more likely it is for the individuals to continue to be loyal to the brand and purchase its products.

The iPod Touch can also be beneficial for those who wants to purchase a multi-functional device for their children but feels that a smartphone is too much. Users can also use the iPod Touch to capture images and videos or play games, so it’s really similar to a smartphone except that it doesn’t have cellular support.

Let’s just take this with a grain of salt as we cannot be sure if Apple really will surprise us with the 7th Generation iPod Touch. The current iPod Touch costs RM952 for the 32GB model and RM1398 for the 128GB model, so if a new iPod Touch is coming, let’s just assume it’ll cost more than RM1,000.

apple
iPod Touch


Apple might be bringing single sign-in feature for websites using iCloud

338

9to5Mac has recently found codes in the iOS 11.3 which indicates a single sign-in option will be available soon which will be linked to your iCloud account. This would mean that you will only need to remember your iCloud login and you will be able to sign in to websites that support this feature

It is still unsure on how the actual process might be carried out, but based on assumptions, you will have to give websites access to “personal iCloud data” that would act as your login details for the website. Other than that, there are also elements in the code which will use the camera app to scan for a QR code and ask for your Apple ID. There is no date given on when this feature will be ready for users, but we should also expect that this feature may never come to the official release of iOS 11.3.

Another feature expected to come with the new iOS 11.3 update is AirPlay 2 as it was meant to come out in the iOS 11.2 update. AirPlay 2 will come with a much-awaited feature which will allow you to stream to multiple Apple TVs and speakers directly from the iPhone.

icloud
login
sign in
single


Apple might be converting to Face ID for all devices in 2018

405

Want to try Apple’s new face unlock feature but don’t want to buy an iPhone? You might have to wait till next year then as an industry insider has indicated that the TrueDepth camera will be coming to next year’s iPad Pro.

The insider did not mention if Apple will change the design of the iPad to accommodate for the feature but it is possible for the company to integrate this feature without adding the notch as seen in the iPhone X. He also goes on to add that there is a very high chance that the feature will only come to the higher-end iPad Pro and not the iPad Air or Mini models. Beginning of 2018, the inside is predicting that all future iPhones will completely ditch the TouchID and use Face ID, which means soon iPhones will not have a home screen button soon.

The Face ID is quite an advanced technology as Apple has explained to us and is probably the best facial recognition out there but are you ready to move over to the new authentication method? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Facebook.

air
apple
face id
ipad
mini
pro
touchid


Apple might have plans to release a cheaper $199 HomePod

344

Apple has its own smart speaker called the HomePod, but sales are not doing well as expected due to the competition that has already asserted themselves in the market for a long time. So, the best option for Apple is to reduce the price of their HomePods and at the same time, give it the Beats branding which makes a lot of sense.

The Beats brand on its self is not doing well when it comes to sales, but combining both Beats and the HomePod might just give both brands a push forward that they need. This information comes from 9to5Mac which mentioned the cheaper alternative to HomePod as well as integrating the Beats brand to the smart speaker. Another report indicates that Apple will engage MediaTek to further bring down the price of the HomePod and it could also feature AirPlay 2. Sadly, because it comes with AirPlay 2, these cheaper HomePods might not feature Siri as Apple would want to keep their smart assistant for the premium version of the HomePods.

Again, these are just reports and rumours, as the cheaper HomePods might not even come with the Beats branding. Currently, the regular HomePods come with a $349 price tag and the new cheaper HomePods might cost only $199 which puts it at a competitive price with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, minus the smart assistant. As for release dates, it has yet to be announced, but based on a report out of China last month, the speakers could release in the middle of the year or towards the end of the year. We will know more when Apple officially releases a statement.

apple
beats
cheaper
homepods
smart
speaker


Apple might not have an iPhone 15 Pro Max this time

2.7K

It’s iPhone month, and while we anticipate the launch of the new USB-C iPhone 15 series, an interesting report from Mark Gurman, a correspondent and analyst at Bloomberg, has revealed that Apple may not be launching a Pro Max variant at its 12th September Wanderlust event.

Since the iPhone 13, the Pro Max variant has always been seen as a Pro variant iPhone with a larger screen and longer battery life, but that larger screen iPhone Pro might just not gain the Pro Max moniker and could be called iPhone 15 Pro 6.7-inch.

There’s only one new high-end 6.7 inch iPhone. No Pro Max and Ultra this year. Perhaps next year as I wrote in February.
https://t.co/mSVCEotmtG

https://t.co/OGrU2l3iKn

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
September 2, 2023

Gurman further elaborates that Apple will be launching only four models this round – the 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and bigger Pro, while the rumored and highly anticipated Ultra variant might also be missing from the launch this round and introduced as a higher end model next year, but who knows, it could be a ‘One More Thing’ moment from Apple, just like how the company surprised us with the Apple Watch Ultra the last time.

With Apple’s launch just a week away, we aren’t only just expecting to see the new iPhone 15 series, but also the next generation Apple Watch and possibly new AirPods, so stay tuned while we bring you coverage of Apple’s iPhone event.

apple
iphone 15
iphone 15 plus
iphone 15 pro


Apple might not release the AirPower Charging Mat due to engineering issues

358

Apple has teased the AirPower wireless charging mat which was shown in last year’s Apple iPhone X launch. It has been a while since we heard anything from the company, and all that we were left with is rumours from sources updating us on the progress of the mat. But it looks like we might not see the AirPower any time soon.

A leaker by the name of Sonny Dickson has some news for us on why we still have not seen the device. Based on several inside sources, they mentioned that the people working on the device have a feeling that the device might be doomed to failure unless significant advancement can be made. The major issue that the company is facing is that it produces too much heat. Others have reported that the device has a buggy inter-device communication, mainly with charging activation and charging speed. Due to these issues, Apple might shelve the project but Dickson has said that they might head back to the drawing board and it might have a different design than the device that was shown during Apple’s iPhone X launch.

There is still a possibility that the AirPower might be unveiled before the end of the year but at this point, it seems highly unlikely due to the many issues that were mentioned.

airpower
apple
charging
iphone
mat
wireless


Apple might recall the iPhone 6 Plus and it is not for ‘bendgate’

304

We know everyone of you would like to hear Apple recalling a batch of
iPhone 6
 and iPhone 6 Plus to fix the “bendgate” issue, but you can easily overcome that issue by purchasing a solid case to avoid being bent. According to Business Korea, the 128GB
iPhone 6 Plus
 model is the only affected model and might be due for recall as some users have reported unintentional crashes and reboots, while sites like TechnoBuffalo can confirm this issue on the iPhone 6 Plus, we fortunately didn’t face such issues on our
 iPhone 6 128GB model
which we’ve just completed the review.

The cause of this issue is that Apple has opted to use triple-level cell (TLC) NAND flash storage in the
iPhone 6 Plus
 to reduce costs over multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash storage in other iPhone models, sources have explained that while TLC is able to store more data, it lacks performance when compared to MLC thus causing the iPhone 6 to crash when the flash chip reaches its maximum read/write threshold. In addition, some
Samsung
 SSD products that uses the same NAND flash has also face the similar issue.

If you intend buy an
iPhone 6 Plus
 128GB model in the launch this week, do remember to take note on this point or simply avoid buying the 128GB model at this point of time if you can while Apple resolve this issue, we certainly hope that this could be resolve via a software update but since this is a hardware performance issue, recalling the product might be a better approach.

Source: T
echnoBuffalo
,
Business Korea


Apple moves sections of iCloud onto Google Cloud Platform

331

Google has gotten a new client for its cloud platform as it is reported that Apple has struck a deal with Google to move part of iCloud and some of its other cloud-based offerings to Google Cloud Platform.

According to CRN, Apple has reportedly signed a contract that is worth between USD 400 million and USD 600 million with Google to use their cloud platform. This amount of money Apple is paying to use Google Cloud Platform is reported to be almost identical to the amount of money Apple spends on Amazon Web Services. Whatever the case, Apple would be the second high profile client that Google has on its Cloud Platform, the first being Spotify.

With this development, Apple seems to be relying on three different data centres to power iCloud. According to sources, Apple is currently using a combination of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, as well as their own data centres.

Source:
CRN

apple
cloud
google
icloud


Apple Music is now Genius’s official music player

371

If you love singing and you can’t live without reading lyrics, you’ll be excited to know that the Apple Music is now collaborating with Genius.

Genius, a music encyclopedia and lyrics database, has partnered with Apple Music, making Apple Music their official music player. This means that Apple Music subscribers can play all the songs on Genius’s website and iOS app, while others are only allowed 30 seconds playback on the web player. All you need to do is sign in with your Apple ID, and you’ll gain access to all the available songs.

In addition, Genius will bring its lyrics to Apple Music’s platform, which expands the quantity of lyrics available for songs on your Apple Music library. When you access the Genius app, you’ll realise the songs on your library is all in the My Music tab, and if Genius has the lyrics, you’ll get your songs ready to be played with lyrics.

This feature is exclusive to Apple Music subscribers and is available on Genius’s website on desktops and iOS mobile web, and also its iOS app. It’s unfortunate for Android users, but we can always hope that Genius will do something about it in the future.

Apple Music
genius
ios
lyrics
music player
music streaming


Apple Music now saves songs on your Android SD card, if you have one

305

While Apple is never a fan of expandable storage, it still ensures that its apps are fully utilizing the customizability of Android devices. The Cupertino company has released an update for the Android version of Apple music, enabling users to keep more music offline. In other words, Android phones with micro SD expansion are able to store more downloaded music onto their extra memory.

Despite the fact that more and more Android phones are dropping the expandable storage option, flagships such as the LG G4 are still able to take advantage of this new feature. Combining internal and expandable storage via micro SD, the storage capacity of an Android phone will make iOS devices seem elementary, only maxing out at 128GB.

Also in the update is the inclusion of a full schedule of Beats 1 shows and the ability to browse your music by composers and compilations. This shows that Apple is still willing to develop their Android apps to the operating system’s advantage. However, do note that the Apple Music app for Android is still in beta.

Source:
Apple Music (Play Store)
 Via:
The Verge

android
apple
expandable
microsd
music
storage


Apple Music subscribers can each gift one friend with one-month Apple Music for free

324

If you’re an Apple Music subscriber and you’re feeling generous, you can now send an invite to one friend so they will be able to access Apple Music for free for one month.

You’ll get a notification for a new referral promo, and that’ll give you the privilege of sending an invite to your friends who are not subscribed to Apple Music so they’ll be able to enjoy over 50 million songs ad-free.

Ok,
@AppleMusic
, you’ve had your notification privileges revoked.
pic.twitter.com/kRqmLWvdCr

— Ben (@bbchase)
February 15, 2019

Apple also caused some dissatisfaction among its subscribers as it is going against its App Store guidelines that doesn’t allow push notifications for marketing. However, it is the most efficient way to let its subscribers know about the new promo.

Aside from this referral notification, former subscribers have also received notifications last week regarding a 3-month free trial. We can infer that this is Apple’s method of gaining more subscribers, both new and ex-subscribers. Recent events suggest that Apple is took a toll from its decrease in sales and is trying different things to regain its position.

apple
Apple Music


Apple could announce new iPhones this September 10 after official invites to event appear online

293

The prophesized announcement of the new Apple iPhone is fulfilled – the fruit company had sent out official invites to attend an event taking place at their headquarters in Cupertino, California.

The date is set for September 10, and that’s likely when the iPhone will be announced. It is unsure if there will be live streams of the event or if it’s a closed-doors affair. But stay tuned on our website for updates.

View this post on Instagram

Let the reading way too far into the invites begin

A post shared by
 Marques Brownlee
 (@mkbhd) on
Aug 29, 2019 at 9:10am PDT

Let’s talk a little about what we can expect of the upcoming iPhone; there will likely be three variants at launch – iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11R. Besides the glaring possibility of a square camera module, you’ll get three lenses at the back, one of which will be a 3D ToF sensor.

It will ship with iOS 13 and should also come with the A13 Bionic chipset – and will come at a hefty price too, as usual. Previous rumours suggest that the new models will sport a 120Hz panel along with in screen fingerprint scanners.

apple
cupertino
ios
iPhones


Apple might bundle some of its services like the Apple News+, Apple TV+ and Apple Music in 2020

525

This year itself, Apple released a few services such as Apple News+ and Apple TV+ that can be subscribed separately. But this might all change next year, as there are rumours hinting that the company plans to bundle its services together.

According to
Bloomberg
’s report, the tech giant’s goal in bundling the services is to increase the number of subscribers. This this can be assumed to be true based on their current efforts — offering a one-year free trial for Apple TV+ to those who purchase the newer Apple devices and bundling Apple Music with Apple TV+ for students.

However, this might pose several issues due to the availability of each service in different countries. For example, Apple News+ isn’t widely available while Apple TV+ and Apple Music are available in more countries. If Apple chooses to bundle these services together, are they going to make the Apple News+ available to more countries, or will there be different bundles?

The Verge
 suggested that Apple might even bundle iCloud data and the Apple Card in to attract more subscriptions, but that is less likely to happen. Bloomberg predicted that this bundling decision might be implemented as soon as 2020, so we can only wait to see if it’s true.

apple
Apple Arcade
apple card
Apple Music
Apple News
Apple TV
icloud


Apple News+ subscription screen — another proof of Apple violating its own rules

699

Apple hasn’t been following the App Store guidelines when it comes to its own apps, and this time iOS developer Dave DeLong points out that Apple has once violated its own rules with its new Apple News+.

Hey
@apple
, your auto-renewing subscription screen is in violation of guideline 3.1.2 and your app should be rejected.

For starters… no links to privacy policy or support page; no info on how to cancel.
pic.twitter.com/drvAZRZzqi

— Dave DeLong (@davedelong)
26 March 2019

According to DeLong, Apple’s auto-renewing subscription screen for Apple News+ violated the guidelines because there are’t any “links to privacy policy or support page; no info on how to cancel.”

To further elaborate, the picture above shows the developers’ guidelines made by Apple, and how developers’ auto-renewing subscription screens should look like. Apple failed to include the duration of its free trial, the renewal terms and also a notice to inform users that ”once the free trial is over a payment will be automatically initiated for the next subscription duration, and they can cancel at any time.”

While this seem like pretty standard things that users can easily find out and cancel on their own, the issue focuses on double standards and injustice. Apple has already broken its rules previously when users received unwanted notifications promoting Apple Music and Carpool Karaoke, and yet nothing has been done about it. These incidents only highlight how difficult it is for third-party developers to compete against Apple’s own apps.

app store
apple
Apple News


Apple News subscription service is reported to launch on 25 March

312

Recent reports are indicating that Apple is going to launch Apple News subscription service on 25 March, and this service is described as the “Netflix for news”.

According to Buzzfeed, the tech giant plans to focus on services instead of products during the event, so we probably won’t get to see the second-generation AirPods, AirPower or even the iPad and iPad Mini that was rumored to make a comeback. While Apple has been known to organize product launch events in late March, it seems like the product launch will be pushed back this year.

Image credit: 9to5Mac

There has also been news regarding Apple’s video streaming service and Apple TV subscription service which were rumored to be launching in April, so it is possible that it could be launched at the same time, or we might get a sneak peek on the streaming and subscription service during the launch in March.

Buzzfeed also suggested that the event could be delayed due to revenue-sharing terms between Apple and publishers as there were reports stating that the tech giant plans on taking a 50% cut for the service. This means that the supposedly $10/month subscription will be divided into half; one half for Apple whereas the other half shared among publishers depending on the number of people reading their articles.

On a side note, Apple News is only available in Australia, UK and US for now so unless you are in one of these regions, you won’t see this feature in your iPhone.

apple
Apple News


Apple will alert users when their iPhone 11 and 11 Pro displays are nongenuine

339

It wasn’t too long ago when Apple was discouraging users to get unauthorised service repairs for their iPhone batteries, and now Apple is doing the same regarding its iPhone displays.

From iOS 13.1 onwards, iPhones including the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max will get a message that reads, “Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display” if users choose to get their displays repaired by unauthorised service providers or technicians. This is because there are many risks and issues that could occur when unauthentic iPhone displays are used instead.

According to the Cupertino tech giant, genuine iPhone displays follows certain qualities and performance standards set by themselves which includes “intuitive and responsive Multi-Touch, high brightness, great color accuracy, white balance, and performance for features like True Tone, Night Shift, and Haptic Touch. Nongenuine display parts and improper repairs may cause colour issues, multi-touch issues and even affect the battery health, especially with unskillful repairs.

However, rest assured that if you still insist on going for third-party repair stores, your iPhone or display will still be functional i.e Apple will not block access to your iPhone or its display.

apple
ios 13.1
iphone
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 pro
iPhone 11 pro max


Apple may be ready to launch notchless iPhones without Face ID in 2020

428

When Apple released the iPhone X with a display notch, many were skeptical. Well, after three long years, Apple may be ready to launch iPhones without a notch.

Reports suggested that Apple might be releasing iPhones this year with a full-screen display, ditching the famous Face ID. Instead, it will be replaced with the previous Touch ID, but this time it’ll be embedded in the display — similar to the in-display fingerprint sensors seen on many Android phones these days.

This contradicts the previous rumours where 2020 iPhones are expected to come with a smaller display notch. However, Apple has been known to be a little late on trendy things, so it is possible that that the previous rumours still stand.

Even better, Apple might test the waters with just one of the iPhones getting the full-screen display — presumably the iPhone 12 Pro Max (if Apple is sticking with the name format).

apple
face id
ios
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhones 2020


Apple now charges for Apple Music trials

350

Apple Music requires a subscription fee, but some users from various regions have reported Apple charging for trials for its music streaming service. According to Apple Insider, Apple has begun charging small fees for Apple Music for countries such as Australia, Spain and Switzerland.

Users in countries involved must now pay 99 cents in order to begin Apple Music’s trial session. By contrast, Spotify still offers free trials for its music service, and has a “freemium” version of the service which is limited and driven by ads compared to the premium paid version.

Apple Insider claims that it is possible that Apple is trying to make up for the costs of its trials (or free trials), but the we can’t be certain for sure. The Cupertino giant has issued a statement to popular tech news outlet The Verge in the light of this recent report:

“Pricing and promotions for Apple Music vary from country to country.”

While the email statement did not say much, it might hint at Apple’s plans to begin charging for Apple Music trials in more countries soon.

Paid trials might sound like a deal breaker for first time users, but Apple’s loyal user base might prove us otherwise. What are your thoughts on paid trials?

apple
free
music
paid
service
spotify
streaming
trial


Apple now requires that apps on the Apple Watch be able to run natively in June

285

Those who are currently developing apps for that Apple Watch will soon have to fulfill another requirement as starting from June, all Apple Watch apps must be able to run natively.

On
Apple’s developer website
, the company has announced that all future watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be native apps built with the watchOS2 SDK or later. This means that all future Apple Watch apps must be able to access the internet via Wi-Fi, rather than just through a local iPhone.

Apple’s logic behind mandating that Apple Watch apps be able to run natively is so that those apps would be able to run faster. Also, this would allow the Apple Watch to run more efficiently, extending the watch’s battery life.

As for current apps, it seems that Apple isn’t enforcing developers to update their apps so that it would be able to run natively on the Apple Watch. Nevertheless, this requirement is a step in the right direction.

applewatch
apps
native


Apple officially cancels AirPower because it failed to reach expectations

349

Just as we thought the AirPower is inching closer to us, Apple announced last Friday that the company will no longer be moving forward with the project.

The new AirPods that were released recently revealed a printed image of the AirPower on the back of the box, which encouraged many to believe that the AirPower is an ongoing project. Unfortunately, the wireless charging mat failed to reach the company’s expectations and turned into a cancelled project.

“We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward,” said Dan Riccio, Apple’s Senior VP of Hardware Engineering.

There’s no doubt that some may be outraged by the cancellation of the AirPower, especially since they’ve waited for almost two years, but it’s also a wise decision for Apple to cancel it instead of launching a faulty device. Let’s just hope Apple will make a comeback with another AirPower-like device.

airpower
apple


Apple One four-in-one subscription plan now available in Malaysia

833

Rejoice Apple fans, because the
Apple One
 four-in-one subscription plan is now available in Malaysia! For the uninitiated, when you subscribe to Apple One, you get access to Apple Music, Apple tv+, Apple Arcade, and at least 50GB of iCloud storage.

There are two bundles that you can choose from – Individual, which is priced from RM19.90 per month, and Family which is priced from RM33.90 per month, but gets you 200GB of iCloud storage instead. The Family plan can be shared with up to five people.

Interestingly, Apple claims that you’re getting quite the savings – the Individual plan lets you save up to RM38.70 per month while the Family saves you a whopping RM40.70 per month.

When you take into consideration that each subscription from the bundle can cost up to RM19.90 per month for one product, so Apple’s claims seem justified.

Visit Apple’s website
here
 to learn more about Apple One, and to sign up.

apple
Apple Arcade
Apple Music
Apple One
Apple TV
icloud
ios


Here’s how Apple One costs and works in Malaysia

988

In Apple’s September virtual event, the company took the opportunity to announce Apple One, an all-in-one subscription plan that comprises all of its services by paying a single price, this is definitely exciting as it offers way more value than having to pay each service individually, and here’s how it works for Malaysian customers.

Starting this fall, customers with Apple subscriptions will be recommended the right Apple One plan, which you can either choose an individual or family plan that will cost RM19.90 and RM33.90 respectively per month.

The individual plan includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud Storage, the family plan includes 200GB of iCloud storage and access to services can be shared up to six family members.

Apple One customers will be able to save up to RM38 per month on the individual plan and over RM40 per month on the family plan, a 30-day free trial is included for any services that you haven’t subscribed to, you will also have the option to cancel any time or still opt to subscribe to a service separately.

Apple isn’t the first to introduce a bundle subscription offer, as Apple One follows the footsteps of Amazon Prime, however for the Malaysian market, this is one way to make customers happy with the savings and setting a benchmark on how to lock in customers in the ecosystem.

apple
Apple One
ios


Apple One Premier now in Malaysia: Priced from RM69.90

4.7K

Apple One
Premier

is now in Malaysia, if you’ve been eyeing for an upgrade since it was announced late last month.

Like we reported before, the new subscription plan now gives you access to Fitness+ – a holistic fitness experience meant to be used in-tandem with your Apple watch and iPhone.

The top-tier plan also gives you 2TB of iCloud+ storage, plus other Apple One services such as Music, tv+, and Arcade.

The entire service costs RM69.90/month – and it’ll save you a whopping RM49.60 each month if you were to subscribe to each service individually. In fact, 2TB of iCloud+ storage alone will set you back RM33.90/month.

So, if you’re a sucker for value, and convenient digital subscriptions or services, you should consider the Apple One Premier. Visit Apple’s website
here

to learn more.

apple
Apple Arcade
apple fitness+
apple icloud+
Apple One
apple one premier


Apple One Premier Plan and Fitness+ to launch on 4th November in Malaysia

810

With the announcement of Apple Fitness+ made available in Malaysia during the iPhone 13’s launch, Apple is set to introduce the Apple One Premier plan in Malaysia that will have the service on 4th November 2021.

Apple One Premier is a higher tier plan over the existing the Apple One Family, on top of having access to all of Apple’s available services in Malaysia and shareable with five users, iCloud+ storage has been increased to 2TB from 200GB, all of these will set you back at RM69.90 per month and are worth the premium if you require a lot of iCloud+ storage for photos and videos.

Customers are expected to save RM49.60 per month as compared to subscribing to individual services with Apple One Premier, as Apple TV+, Music, Arcade and Fitness+ will cost you RM19.90 respectively per month, while the highest storage tier of iCloud+ will set you back at RM33.90/month.

For those interested in Fitness+, Apple is offering a three month trial when you purchase and activate a new Apple Watch, this service is a fitness experience that’s built around the Apple Watch as it brings studio-style workouts and guided meditations to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

apple one premier
fitness
iphone 13


Apple might be launching an over-ear headphone in March alongside the iPhone 9

685

Looks like Apple has more surprises for us next month; the Cupertino company may be releasing new AirPods alongside the iPhone 9 and the next iPad Pro.

According to Jon Prosser from Front Page Tech, Target employees have sent him information about new listings in which there is the “Apple iPod Touch X Generation”, the ”Apple iPad 10.5-inch Wi-fi Only X Generation” and the “Apple AirPods (X Generation)”. In his tweet, Prosser says that the “iPod Touch X” should be the iPhone 9 with a price tag of $399.99 and six colour options — this matches claims on Weibo stating that the iPhone 9 will come in six colours.

Multiple Target employees have started reaching out to me about this 🤔

Showing up in their systems and on UPC scanners is this mysterious “Apple AirPods (X Generation)” listing, priced at $399. 👀

Potentially Apple’s over-ear “StudioPods” headphones. Launch soon (March)?
pic.twitter.com/NVcqH8As47

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser)
February 22, 2020

On the other hand, the 10.5-inch iPad should be the new iPad Pro while the new AirPods could be an over-ear headphone. The name “AirPods X” could also be a temporary title, so there might be a different name when it is launched. We should also be seeing three colour options for this new headphone since there are three SKUs in Target’s system. However, this headphone will be priced similarly to the budget iPhone 9 at $399.99.

Though Apple usually hosts events for its product launch in March, there is a chance that it might not happen this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Either way, we should still be getting new Apple products next month.

AirPods X
apple
ipad pro
iphone 9


New patent from Apple suggests a curved-screen iMac made of glass

339

We know patents don’t confirm the production of a device, but we can’t help but to wonder about the future if this Apple patent is turned into a reality. The patent was shared just last week, demonstrating an iMac-like PC made of glass.

Apple calls it an electronic device with a glass housing member and if we look at the diagrams, we can assume it to be a really thin display, perhaps as thin as the MacBook’s display. There will be two-portion to this device — the upper portion that serves as the display and the lower portion that functions as the input area.

Image credit: USPTO

What’s interesting is that this device will have a curved screen near the bottom to connect the upper and lower portions. The glass used in this transitional section will be flexible so that the angle of the display can be changed. There’ll also be a stand on the back to support the display.

Image credit: USPTO

Apple also discussed several forms of the device in the patent. For example, the input could support a detachable keyboard in which the glass will detect the keystrokes when it’s attached. There’s also the possibility of adding wireless charging functions, including a touch-screen style display at the bottom as well as ass data transfer capabilities.

Although it has been some time since Apple made huge design changes to its iMac, the patent we’ve seen seemed a bit far-fetched right now. Perhaps Apple will implement this in the future, or in other devices like the iPad.

apple
imac
ipad
patent


Apple patents a touchscreen keyboard that will flex when pressed

366

There was a rumour going around that indicated Apple will start removing the keyboard and replaced with a touch-sensitive surface that can be used for both typing and as a trackpad. Looks like that might actually be a reality soon as Apple has patented a touchscreen keyboard that gives you the feel of pressing a soft surface.

The latest patent filing shows a touchscreen keyboard with haptic feedback that will warp and bend downward when pressed, giving it the feel of a real keyboard. Apple has managed to achieve this by placing an array of haptic actuators under the display. Based on the patent images, it will not act as just a keyboard, it can be used as a trackpad or changed into media controls similar to the touch bar on the latest MacBook Pro. There is even the option to position the keyboard in order to give it a more ergonomic layout.

There are many possibilities for this application, with the access of a second screen, it could be very beneficial for those of you that work with video editing or illustrations as you will be able to position your shortcuts on the keyboard area eliminating the need of remembering shortcuts. There is still no indication of when this technology will arrive on any of the Apple products, but seeing as there can be multiple uses for this input method, we might see this tech in future MacBooks or other Apple devices.

apple
flex
keyboard
patent
touchscreen


Apple patents wraparound iPhone with all-glass housing

406

Have you gone mad Apple – you’re not supposed to be innovative! Just kidding – Apple pretty much invented the notch display trend so this news could potentially lead to something big.

According to Patently Apple, the American giants have patented a design for a wraparound display, something like the Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha – but the patent shows a device with intense curves all around.

Image credit: Patently Apple

Both the front and back displays are arched slightly so the chassis takes on an oval shape if you look at it from the bottom. Speaking of the bottom, we also see what looks to be charging ports, and just in between them a rectangular slot – possibly the speaker.

Patently Apple notes that Apple have described the design as “a looping transparent housing that displays images across the loop, with electrical components within the transparent housing”.

It hurts to imagine slotting a phone like this into my jeans pocket – can’t help but think the glass panels would crack like an egg under pressure. But hey, we’re sure Apple would reinforce the displays with something else. I also doubt you’ll be able to put this phone down flat on a table – I foresee perpetual back and forth rocking.

apple
iphone
wraparound display


Apple Pay arrives in Malaysia

8.5K

Finally, after 8 years of its existence, iPhone users in Malaysia can finally use Apple Pay on their devices starting today, where you will be able to make payment with your debit and credit card by just tapping your iPhone on an NFC enabled payment terminal, and also use it on supported apps and Safari.

Malaysia is the ninth Southeast Asian country that Apple has implement Apple Pay, while our neighbor Singapore had it since 2016, so it definitely took Apple quite a while to launch it here to compete directly with Samsung Pay, which the latter has been here since 2017.

According to our friends at
Lowyat.NET
, Apple Pay can already be enabled on Maybank Credit Cards at this time of writing, but we should also expect several other major banks to follow suit in the next few days, which we can safely assume is similar to Samsung Pay and include Ambank, CIMB Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, HSBC, Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank.

No software update is required to enable Apple Pay in Malaysia, as you will only need to enter your credit or debit card number and follow the steps to activate it on your phone, and all you need to do is to double tap on your power button to pull up your wallet on your phone screen when you want to make a payment thereafter.

Are you excited for Apple Pay?

apple pay
apple pay malaysia
iphone


Apple Pay launched in China

318

Having had numerous rumors and reports of Apple’s plan its Apple Pay service in China, the truth is out and Apple has officially launched its payment service in the country, stating that Apple Pay is now available to customers in the land of China. The company states:

You can now support Apple Pay for your customers in China, providing an easy, secure, and private way for them to pay using their China UnionPay credit and debit cards. Apple Pay lets users buy physical goods and services within your app without having to enter payment or contact information.

This leads back to Apple’s announcement last December that it will be working with China’s Union Pay to bring Apple Pay to its customers sometime this year.

Recently rumored is also an Apple Pay launch at France, but nothing has yet to materialize thus far. Apple Pay was first launched in the US back in 2014. China is now in the listed of Apple Pay supported countries alongside US, UK, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Spain, and Singapore.

Source:
9to5Mac

apple
china
pay
union


Apple Pay now supports Maybank American Express cards

3.1K

Apple Pay was introduced in Malaysia just almost a month ago with support from Maybank, Standard Chartered and Ambank, while only Mastercard and VISA credit and debit cards are accepted initially, users will be happy to know that Apple Pay can now support Maybank American Express cards.

As reported by our friends at Lowyat.NET, Maybank has updated its
FAQ PDF
 that reflects the additional support for the following AMEX cards:

The Platinum Card®

American Express® Gold Charge Card

American Express® Charge Card

Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express®

American Express® Platinum Credit Card

American Express® Cash Back Gold Credit Card

Maybank 2 American Express® Platinum Card

Maybank Islamic Ikhwan American Express® Platinum Card-i

Maybank 2 American Express® Gold Card

Maybank Islamic Ikhwan American Express® Gold Card-i

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card

Shell easiGO American Express® Prepaid Card

This effectively increases the number of supported credit cards on Apple Pay from 36 to 49 cards, it also makes Apple Pay stay ahead of rival Samsung Pay as the latter still doesn’t support AMEX cards despite supporting other Maybank VISA and Mastercard debit and credit cards.

To add an AMEX card to Apple Pay, simply launch the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the “+” button on the top right, you can either enter the card number manually or using your iPhone’s camera, enter the 4 digit security code in front of your AMEX card, enter a OTP to confirm the activation and you are all set.

Meanwhile, you might be interested to read up on the differences between Apple Pay and other digital payment solutions
here
.

american express
amex
apple pay malaysia


Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay vs E-Wallet, how different are they?

15.1K

The arrival of Apple Pay in Malaysia has caused a hype on social media and among Apple users, as users can finally store their credit and debit cards on iPhones as old as the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch Series 3 onwards, and use it to make payment at almost any NFC enabled credit card terminal, not to mention that it is also supported on recent iPads and MacBooks with Touch ID.

Despite that, Apple Pay is most certainly not the first mobile payment service to be in Malaysia, Samsung is in fact the very first company to offer mobile payment service on its phones in Malaysia back on 2017, and the service is also supported on a variety of Galaxy smartphones, not to mention a whole lot of e-wallet services in Malaysia that has existed since then.

Ultimately, these are mobile payment services that enables you to go cashless, but how different are they from each other? Here’s all you need to know.

Payment Methods and Security

All mobile payment services have their respective security measures in place and complies with the regulations of Bank Negara Malaysia.

In the case of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, they mainly store your credit and debit card with a process called Tokenization, which creates a unique identification that has your card details, this information is stored in your smartphone’s dedicated security enclave.

Apple and Samsung doesn’t store any card details and transactions on their servers and only you alone can authorize the payment with either a PIN or biometrics authentication on your device, payment can be done by tapping your phone on any NFC payment terminals while certain Samsung Pay devices can support Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) terminals.

As for services such as Touch ‘n Go eWallet and Boost, they work similarly to prepaid cards as you will need to reload money to your e-wallet account to use it for payments, rather than tapping on credit card terminals, you either scan on a merchant’s QR code and enter the payment amount, or have the merchant scan on your phone’s screen where the e-wallet app generates a unique QR code for the terminal to process payment, which can at times be more convenient than Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, and these services will support most smartphones with a working camera.

Furthermore, e-wallet services in Malaysia lets you send cash to friends and family to any other e-wallet services and bank accounts in Malaysia easily all thanks to DuitNow QR, an interoperable QR code that’s tied to a unique individual or merchant.

In terms of authentication, e-wallet services will require the user to enter a PIN or use your phone’s biometric authentication to authorize the payment similar to Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, however e-wallets tend to have risks in compromising customer privacy and may be more prone to hacks and phishing scams, as customer data and monetary value is stored at the e-wallet service provider’s servers rather than on the device’s security enclave, there is no guarantee that customer data is secure when you don’t have actual physical control over it.

Rewards and Loyalty Programs

To encourage the use of mobile payment services, merchants and banks will usually have certain offers in place for that purpose, which makes it super exciting to go cashless these days.

However, only Samsung Pay and the major e-wallet services in Malaysia have dedicated loyalty programs for their customers.

Apple Pay on the other hand doesn’t offer points collection or reward redemption and that effort leaves with the supported bank partner or merchant.

Samsung Pay for instance rewards the users with Samsung Reward points on top of your credit card’s reward every time you successfully authorize a transaction, and you can choose to redeem vouchers within the Samsung Members app.

As for e-wallet services, they tend to offer more attractive rewards such as cashbacks and reward points, which you can sometimes get more savings and feel more rewarded by using them to make payments.

Device Support

E-wallet services in Malaysia support almost all modern Android phones with Google Mobile Services certification and iPhones, so they are unquestionably the best choice if you don’t want to own a specific device for making cashless payments.

Apple Pay isn’t just supported on iPhone and Apple Watch, as it can be used on MacBooks with Touch ID and iPads to make payments on a website or service, hence it is very convenient as you don’t need to necessarily have your iPhone in order to make payment.

Samsung Pay is supported on flagship Galaxy devices from as old as the Galaxy S6 and certain Galaxy A series models in recent years, which gives users a wider variety of device choices depending on their budget to buy a Samsung phone that supports Samsung Pay, Samsung Pay unfortunately isn’t extended to the company’s tablets and there aren’t many websites or apps in Malaysia that accepts Samsung Pay.

Which one is better?

Every mobile payment service has their respective advantages against each other, which ultimately depends on how you intend to move towards a cashless lifestyle, e-wallet services will definitely have a more rewarding experience than Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, but the latter two promises a more secure and seamless payment experience.

Which mobile payment service do you prefer then?

apple pay
boost
DuitNow
duitnow qr
ewallet
malaysia
samsung pay
shopee pay
Touch 'n Go eWallet


Apple ‘Peek Performance’ Rumor Roundup – iPhone SE 3 and new Apple Silicon Macs!

1.9K

In less than 12 hours, Apple is about to broadcast its ‘Peek Performance’ event where we will be introduced to a slew of exciting announcements, and here’s what we know so far.

iPhone SE 3 (or iPhone SE+) with A15 Bionic and 5G

Apple is set to announce the third generation iPhone SE that will sport the same design as its predecessor, which will come with a faster A15 Bionic and supports 5G, pricing is expected to remain the same at $399 with storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. In addition, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that the existing iPhone SE will still be on sale with its price reduced to $199, which could make it the most affordable iPhone ever, but knowing Apple, we might just take with a pinch of salt.

iPad Air 5 with M1 chip

The iPad Air got a facelift last year, so it is unlikely that Apple will make any design changes to its successor, but one thing that’s going to excite many is the inclusion of the M1 chip that powers the current generation iPad Pro and Macbooks, there are also speculations that the iPad Air could also receive quad speakers, 5G support, Center Stage for video calls with improved cameras, the 10.8-inch display is expected to remain at 60Hz but there have been previous rumors that Apple might include an OLED panel this round.

iPhone 13 Dark Green

Apple has usually used its Spring event to announce a new color option for iPhones, just like it did last year with a new Purple color option for the iPhone 12. This time, YouTuber
Luke Miani
 has confirmed that Apple could release a new dark green color for the iPhone 13.

Apple M2 Chip

The current M1 Macs are due for an upgrade, and we can expect Apple to announce the more powerful M2 chip that’s made for the entry-level MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, though a redesign still isn’t expected on these laptops as we have been anticipating a 24-inch iMac like design on the MacBook Air, it will nonetheless be interesting to see how much improvements Apple has done to the M2 Chip over the M1.

Mac Mini Studio

Apple has lacked a powerful desktop based on Apple Silicon, and the rumored Mac Mini Studio could be the answer and starter to the next gen Mac Pro, this new desktop machine is expected to be much smaller than the current Mac Mini and sport the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, but on the other hand, we might just see the current Mac Mini being refreshed with the new M2 chip, hopefully with updated ports selection.

Watch Apple ‘Peek Performance’ Live Stream on YouTube

That’s all for the rumor roundup, we will be covering the launch so watch out for that.

apple
apple m2
ipad air 5
iphone 13 dark green
iphone se
iPhone SE 3
mac mini studio
peek performance


Apple plans to integrate sleep tracking by acquiring Beddit

336

Looks like more and more wearable companies are moving towards sleep tracking and Apple is not going to be left behind, recently Apple has acquired Beddit, which is a company that revolves around a sleep monitoring device as well as companion iOS and Watch app. Not much is known, what is going to happen to products from Beddit as both companies refused to comment to the acquisition.

Apple has never done well when it comes to sleep tracking as it relies on third party sleep tracking apps which gets the job done but is usually not integrated into the Apple ecosystem which is more preferable. If Apple’s focus is to integrate what Beddit has to offer into the Watch then it would be able to cover all areas of health instead of needing a secondary wearable to track sleep. A simple integration between Beddit’s app and iOS’ health app would get the job done

These sleep tracking features are not likely to show up in the iOS 11, WatchOS 4 or the third generation Watch, assumptions lead to it being in-house technology by Apple. There are issues to solve before any sort of tracking are implemented into the Watch such as battery life, which will finally give you a reason to leave the Watch on when going to sleep.

Source:
Engadget

apple
apple watch
apple watch sleep tracking


Apple promises free screen replacement for faulty iPhone X

426

While the iPhone X was discontinued after the release of the iPhone Xs and XR models, the smartphone has been reported to have faulty screens, an issue that has been going on for months.

Users have been reporting that their displays are either not responding or responding intermittently when touched, whereas some also reported that the displays react even when untouched, which Apple has admitted that was caused by component failure in the device.

To solve the issue, Apple offers free screen replacement for those who are facing the faulty screen issue and users will need to get their iPhones checked to see if it’s eligible for the screen replacement program.

On the other hand, the 13-inch MacBook Pro also faces some issues that cause data loss and failure in storage drive, though Apple stated that it only affected some of the MacBooks that has 128GB and 256GB SSD. Unlike the iPhone X, users could check for eligibility by keying in their MacBooks’ serial numbers in the form on Apple’s website to know if they can get free repair.

faulty
iphone x
macbook pro


Apple pulls iPad Pro update after bricking reports

269

If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod, chances are good that you’ll be receiving iOS update 9.3.2 today. If you’re on an 9.7″ iPad Pro though, that update will come at a later date as Apple have received reports that iOS 9.3.2 has been bricking some iPad Pros.

Those who were affected by the faulty update states that the affected iPad Pro would show a ‘connect to iTunes’ message. Once connected, iTunes would only display an ‘Error 56’ message, thus making it impossible to restore the tablets.

Apple has not offered any explaination as to what is causing the device lockout, but the company has said that it is currently “working on a fix” and will “issue an update as quickly as possible.” Interestingly enough, this update only affects the 9.7″ variant of the iPad Pro and not the 12″ variant.

Reports from 9to5Mac seems to suggest that Apple will be replacing affected iPad Pros with new hardware, but as Apple did not issue a formal statement regarding that matter, there are no guarantees that this option is available to those who own the device in Malaysia.

Source:
Ars Technica
,
9to5Mac

apple
bricking
ios
ipadpro97
update


Apple pulls the curtain off the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3

278

This has been expected, Apple has finally announced its next generation
iPad
 Air and iPad mini in today’s keynote event, the new
iPad
 Air 2 brings significant improvements to the original iPad Air, featuring an all new A8X processor specifically designed for theiPad Air 2 that offers desktop architecture and 64-bit performance while being able to multitask even better, Apple has given theiPad Air 2 a great slimming job by making it extremely thin at 6.1mm from 7.5mm on the original
iPad
 Air, weight has also been reduced to 437g from 469g as well.

The iPad Air 2’s design isn’t much different from its predecessor, however this time the iPad Air 2 comes with three colors – Space Grey, Gold and Silver, similar to the iPhone’s color selection and its great to keep that consistency. The iPad Air 2 now also comes with Touch ID however NFC is missing so you won’t be able to perform Apple Pay transactions with it and that makes a lot of sense, since you won’t be holding a huge
tablet
 to tap on the credit card machine. The display is the same 9.7-inch Retina display (2048 x 1536 resolution) that we’ve come to know of and it will deliver the same 10 hour battery life.

Camera optics of the iPad Air 2 has also been upgraded to a higher resolution 8 Megapixel f/2.4 sensor, it will take panaorma, burst shots, HDR pictures, slow-mo, time-lapse videos, very comprehensive for a
tablet
 and Apple is very sure that users will love using the iPad Air 2’s huge display as a viewfinder for taking beautiful pictures and videos.

On the other hand, the iPad Mini 3 gets a minor update from the iPad Mini with Retina Display by merely including Touch ID and offering the same color options to choose from, otherwise things such as the 7.9-inch Retina display, Apple A7 processor and 5 Megapixel iSight camera remains in place on the smaller version of the iPad.

Apple has started its online preorders for both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 in 29 countries while retail stores will start to carry stocks next week, both iPads come in storage options of 16GB, 64GB and 128GB. The iPad Air 2 retails from $499 for the WiFi variant and $599 for the WiFi + Cellular variant, the iPad mini 3 starts from $399 for the WiFi variant and $529 for the WiFi + Cellular variant. Apple will subsequently launch the iPads globally in the coming months.

Image Credit: Engadget


Apple really has more things to talk about on tipped October 21st event

257

Alright, the
iPhone 6
 and iPhone 6 Plus have been launched, and Apple finally got to say more about it’s Apple Watch. Apple has just tipped an upcoming October 21st and we should be expecting the official release of OS X Yosemite and two new iPads as usual – the new iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display, though we still doubt if the company will still maintain the same name. It seems legit, given the fact that Apple has done an event October 22nd last year and the company always do a launch on Tuesday, so October 21st is a Tuesday. We believe most people are probably be disappointed with the new
iPhones
 but the company’s iPad still holds very high hopes in our minds, one guess that we can try to do over here, is that the new iPads could come with Touch ID, an A8 processor, probably the same Retina Display and an updated camera, Apple Pay and NFC will definitely be missing since nobody in their right mind would use
an iPad
 to make NFC payments. Let’s do the countdown to October 21st then.

Source:
The Daily Dot


Apple rebukes FBI's request to create backdoor for iOS

415

Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are about to enter a messy legal affair as the Cupertino tech company has refused to comply with the FBI’s demand to “break the encryption” of their iOS-powered devices.

This issue begun on December 2nd 2015 when
a couple shot 14 people in the San Bernardino area
 of California. FBI personnel managed to recover a locked iPhone which they haven’t been able to crack. As such, they turned to Apple to assist them in cracking said iPhone, which Apple claims they could not do as there is no method to bypass the passcode on a locked iOS 8 powered iPhone.

Needless to say, the FBI weren’t particularly happy with Apple’s response. The authorities have since approached the US magistrate court and the court has ordered Apple to assist the FBI in overcoming the encryptions of iOS 8. In essence, the court, and by extension the FBI, is ordering Apple to create a backdoor for iOS 8.

With the pressure now on Apple to deliver, Tim Cook has since
posted a letter on Apple’s website
 saying that they will not comply with the demand. Cook states that creating a backdoor to iOS 8 will allow the US government to “intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge”. Apple isn’t alone in the battle between national security and personal privacy as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will be supporting Apple in their fight against the FBI. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai has also spoken out in support of Apple’s stance on his own Twitter account.

1/5 Important post by
@tim_cook
. Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users’ privacy

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai)
February 17, 2016

2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai)
February 17, 2016

3/5 We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai)
February 17, 2016

4/5 But that’s wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices & data. Could be a troubling precedent

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai)
February 17, 2016

5/5 Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai)
February 17, 2016

Apple’s conflict with the FBI is one of many cases where encryption is under the spotlight. Not long ago,
a California bill
 was introduced in order to weaken encryption standards. With the way things are playing out, it is highly likely that the case will be brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, and any decision made by the Supreme Court would affect how encryption and security for smart devices will be handled in the future.

Source :
Engadget
,
Ars Technica
,
Associated Press

apple
encryption
fbi
ios
politics
security


Apple to redesign AirPods Pro, MacBook Air and more in 2022; AR Glasses expected by 2025

866

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg (via
iMore
), Apple will be having a major design overhaul and upgrades for some of its products next year, namely the AirPods Pro, MacBook Air and iPad Pro.

AirPods Pro and MacBook Air will differ greatly in looks compared to their predecessors

In his latest newsletter, Power On, Gurman said that Apple has big plans for its devices next year; the new iPhone will be featuring major upgrades, the MacBook Airs and Mac Pros will be revamped with Apple silicon and there will be a new AirPods Pro.

The new AirPods Pro are expected to ditch the stems that is still apparent on the current AirPods Pro, albeit shorter than the usual AirPods.

Upcoming iPad Pro is unlikely to get a 180º change in design

He also mentioned that there’ll be an updated iPad Pro design; however, it is unlikely that there’ll be a significant change appearance-wise since the iPad Pro has just adopted the current design for two generations and the other iPad models are catching up.

For example, the iPad mini 6 that was launched last week is finally sporting the same design as the newer iPad Pro and iPad Air, while the latest iPad is still the same design-wise.

According to
MacRumors
, you should instead expect a new glass back that will support wireless charging.

We’re still waiting for Apple’s AR headset and foldable iPhone

Gurman also said that there’ll be more products to look forward to in the next two to four years. Future Apple Watches are expected to sport more health sensors and there may be a new product that’s a combination of the HomePod with Apple TV and FaceTime camera.

Other new products Apple fans can expect include a foldable iPhone and true AR Glasses — these products have been talked about since 2019.

airpods pro
apple
apple watch
iphone
mac pro
macbook air


Apple reduces iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 local pricing

441

Apple is sure to update the pricing of older iPhones after its keynote, and for those who still loves the physical Touch ID home button, the iPhone 7/7 Plus and iPhone 8/8 Plus are thankfully here to stay, and they have now gotten a lot more affordable with a huge price cut, so here’s how much they are priced right now:

iPhone 7 – RM2199 (32GB), RM2649 (128GB)

iPhone 7 Plus – RM2749 (32GB), RM3199 (128GB)

iPhone 8 – RM2899 (64GB), RM3599 (256GB)

iPhone 8 Plus – RM3299 (64GB), RM3999 (256GB)

Unfortunately, if you think the Xs isn’t much of an upgrade and would like to stick with the X, Apple is no longer listing it on its online store but there are still chances that you can still get one at local Apple resellers, the smaller iPhone SE is also discontinued, which means all iPhones you are getting now doesn’t have a headphone jack.

While the price reduction makes the older iPhones worth considering, the iPhone XR will still probably affect the sales of these phones with its $749 (RM3103) price tag, even after taxes and SST, since it offers improved hardware performance and a larger 6.1-inch display, so it all comes down to whether you prefer a classic or notched iPhone design when it comes to purchasing decisions.

apple
iphone 7
iphone 8


Apple refreshes iMac with upgraded display and internals

340

Apple has brought in some minor but significant upgrades to both its iMac and Macbook Pro lineup. This marks just two of the many announcements live from the company’s annual WWDC event, held at San Jose, California this time round.

Apple started off by announcing that the iMac now has a much brighter display, 43 percent brighter than the previous generation iMac to be exact, at 500 nits. Two thunderbolt USB Type-C ports have also made their way to the new iMac’s I/O, as USB C technology begins to pick up the pace in the industry. Other than those, the iMac will look the same externally as Apple did not alter any part of the desktop’s overall design.

Underneath the hood, the iMac series now feature Intel’s Kaby Lake processors. The 21.5-inch and the 27-inch iMac’s are now configurable up to whopping 32GB and 64GB onboard RAM respectively. Apple has also made a good switch up with its desktops’ graphics as well. The base model iMac now sports an Intel Iris Plus 640 GPU, while the other models (both 4K and 5K) will feature GPU’s from the AMD Radeon 500 series to make way for VR tech which is now supported on macOS High Sierra with Metal 2.

Apple has also adjusted the price point of the 4K 21.5-inch iMac, which now begins at a slightly more affordable $1,299 (RM5,538.29). The base 21.5-inch model starts at $1,099 (RM4,685.59) and the 5K 27-inch model starts at $1,799 (RM7,670.04).

That’s not all. Apple packed a surprise for pro-sumers in the industry with a new iMac Pro. What makes the iMac Pro stand out from the standard iMac lineup is its “badass” space gray design, as mentioned by Apple.

The iMac Pro is spec-ed to the max, meant for professionals as it will come with a minimum of an 8-core Xeon processor, configurable up to a colossal 18-core Xeon chip. It can also be configured to have up to 4TB of SSD storage, plus incredible graphics performance via the brand new AMD Radeon Vega GPU, with up to a staggering 16GB of VRAM. By the looks of it, the iMac Pro is likely to be the replacement for Apple’s aging Mac Pro. Other minor mentions include a 1080p FaceTime camera and a UHS-II SDXC memory card slot.

Apple claims to have priced the iMac Pro relatively more affordable than the competition with similar specs. The powerful and gorgeous iMac Pro will begin at a price of $4,999 (RM21,313.24). It will start shipping this coming December

2017
amd
apple
c
display
graphics
gray
imac
intel
kaby
lake
pro
radeon
ram
space
storage
thunderbolt
type
usb
vega
wwdc


Apple refreshes Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chip

4.8K

Just before the Chinese New Year, Apple has released a pre-recorded video to quickly introduce the new Mac mini.

The Mac mini has always been a budget go-to for those who wants to get started with the Mac, while using the display, keyboard and mouse of their choice. The M2 chip is the same 8-core CPU found on the current MacBook Air and comes with a 10-core GPU, while for users that require more power, the new M2 Pro chip will deliver that with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, while it can be configured with up to a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU.

Image Credit: Apple

In terms of memory options, the M2 Chip can be configured to 24GB of Unified Memory, while the M2 Pro chip can be configured with up to 32GB of Unified Memory, base storage will start at 256GB for the M2 model and 512GB for the M2 Pro model. One notable thing between the two models would be their memory bandwidth, the M2 and M2 Pro have 100GB/s and 200GB/s respectively, which the latter will be more superior for creative workflows.

Performance wise, Apple claims that the M2 Pro on the Mac mini is 4.7x faster on Photoshop than the Intel-based Mac Mini with a Core i7 processor, while compared to its M1 predecessor, it has 2.5x faster graphics performance on Affinity Photo, 4.2x faster rendering on a complex timeline on Final Cut Pro. However, no comments were made on the performance gains over the M1 Pro.

Ports selection is slightly different between the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini, the M2 continues to feature the same set from its predecessor with its USB-C ports upgraded to Thunderbolt 4 with support for up to two display outputs, the M2 Pro features two additional Thunderbolt 4 ports and supports up to three display outputs, it’s HDMI port also exclusively supports 8K 60Hz resolution, while the M2 Mac mini’s HDMI port is only limited to 4K 60Hz.

Interestingly, Apple has dropped the base price for the Mac mini in Malaysia, it starts at RM2,499 for the M2 model with 8GB unified memory and 256GB storage, while the M2 Pro Mac mini with 16GB Unified Memory and 512GB storage will start at RM5,599, these are extremely reasonable prices if you’d like a powerful Mac creative workhorse, as most laptops and PC configurations at that price couldn’t perform as well.

apple
m2 mac mini
m2 pro mac mini
Mac Mini


Apple refreshes MacBook Pro with Intel Coffee Lake processors

315

MacBook Pro customers have been waiting this for the longest time, as Apple has finally refreshed the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros with Touch Bar with the 8th Generation Intel Core processors. The 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with either a 6-core Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro will come with either a quad-core Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor. The 15-inch MacBook Pro will come with either AMD Radeon Pro 555X and 560X discrete graphics, and they both come with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.

Previously, MacBook Pro fans have criticized the use of DDR3 RAM with a maximum memory configuration of 16GB, and Apple has allowed customers to configure up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM on the 15-inch MacBook Pro, storage can also now be configured up to 4TB on the 15-inch model, and up to 2TB on the 13-inch model. On top of that, the refreshed MacBook Pros will also received the Apple T2 chip that was first featured on the iMac Pro, it delivers enhanced security with support for secure boot and on-the-fly encrypted storage, while offering “Hey Siri” support to the MacBook Pro for the first time.

The refreshed MacBook Pros with Touch Bar will be available starting today at Apple Malaysia’s website, with the 15-inch model retailing from RM9,999 and 13-inch model retailing from RM7,499. No news from Apple whether they will be upgrading the 13-inch non Touch Bar models, as they are still available for purchase on Apple Malaysia’s online store.

apple
apple malaysia
intel
macbook pro 2018
macbook pro coffee lake
macbook pro with touch bar


Apple refreshes Macbook, with additional Rose Gold model

310

The time has come where Apple updates one of its Macbook series once again. This time, it’s the 12-inch Macbook, receiving some refreshes in terms of processors, graphics performance, better battery life and a faster flash storage. This refresh comes as a surprise more than a month before Apple’s WWDC set for June later this year.

Apple is retaining the same form factor of the Macbook from last year, with its already riduclously thin and compact size. Weighing at 2 pounds and boasting a thickness of only 13.1mm, the Macbook proved to be quite the seller although it only packed an Intel Core M processor underneath the hood. This year’s refresh still feature Intel Core M processors, but of the sixth-generation. The dual core processors are clocked at 1.3GHz and can be turbo boosted up to 3.1GHz, also coming with a faster 1866 MHz memory. Aside from that, Apple claims up to 25 percent faster graphics performance with new Intel GPU’s, namely Intel HD Graphics 515. The refresh also applies to the PCIe-based flash storage, which is now faster.

Apple has pushed the battery life of the Macbook to further heights, with 10 hours of web browsing and 11 hours of movie playback on iTunes, making it more power efficient on the go. In typical Apple fashion, the company has added a new color option to their Macbook lineup and unfortunately, Apple is still insistent on the color being Rose Gold instead of Pink, probably to maintain the false glamour from the beginning. The Rose Gold model joins the previous color offerings of the 12-inch Macbook – Gold, Silver and Space Gray. On top of that, Apple has made 8GB as the baseline memory across their 13-inch Macbook Air’s.

The Macbook comes with an Intel Core m3 processor with 256GB of PCIe-based flash storage for RM 5,499 and an Intel Core m5 processor with 512GB of PCIe-based flash storage for RM 6,699. The Macbook also comes at a configure-to-order option with the 1.3GHz clocked Intel Core m7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz at RM 7,389. Visit Apple’s website
here
 for more info.

Source:
Apple

12inch
6thgen
8gb
air
apple
core
gold
intel
m
macbook
ram
rose


Apple refutes Spotify’s claims, revealing a different side of the story

346

Spotify just announced about a day ago that it’s filing an antitrust complaint against Apple, and the tech giant is having none of it. Just like how Spotify posted on its newsroom revealing how unjust Apple has been, Apple decided to release a post on its newsroom addressing Spotify’s claim.

The company felt the need to respond to Spotify’s claims when it came to their realisation that the music streaming service provided misleading information that doesn’t accurately describe Apple and its goal, which could tarnish the company’s reputation.

Image credit: Valentin Wolf

“Spotify seeks to keep all the benefits of the App Store ecosystem — including the substantial revenue that they draw from the App Store’s customers — without making any contributions to that marketplace. At the same time, they distribute the music you love while making ever-smaller contributions to the artists, musicians and songwriters who create it — even going so far as to take these creators to court,” said Apple in its press release.

According to CEO of Spotify Daniel Ek, Apple has prevented the company from providing experience-enhancing upgrades and ensured that competitors of Apple are unable to access their services like Siri, HomePod and Apple Watch. Apple in return refuted the claim by revealing that they’ve approached Spotify to introduce Siri and AirPlay 2 support in its app, and the tech giant has also approved Spotify’s Apple Watch app last year with the similar speed and process that other apps have received.

The Cupertino company also stated that it is unfair for Spotify to demand the benefits of a free app while it’s not an entirely free service since it does have Premium membership should users choose to upgrade. What Spotify currently demands is to have no charges from Apple at all since it’s free to download, but Apple’s rule clearly state that tax will be required for in-app purchases that goes through the company’s payment system. In addition, Apple exposed that Spotify only stated the 30% tax they have to pay, while failing to state that it only applies to the first year of an annual subscription, while the following years will only require a 15% tax.

Apple continues to justify themselves, unveiling the fact that a huge portion of Spotify’s customers come from mobile carriers partnerships instead of Apple’s payment system, and yet Spotify refuses to agree to Apple’s tax when they’re paying distribution fees to retailers and carriers.

“Spotify wouldn’t be the business they are today without the App Store ecosystem, but now they’re leveraging their scale to avoid contributing to maintaining that ecosystem for the next generation of app entrepreneurs. We think that’s wrong.”

Now that Apple is out with its side of the truth, at least we have a better understanding on the ongoing situation. Which side are you on? Is Spotify right to file its complaint, or is the music streaming service being unreasonable?

app store
apple
spotify


iOS 14 update released: Introducing widgets and app library

519

After its initial
introduction
 in June, the Apple iOS 14 has finally been rolled-out to the masses and it can be downloaded now on the iPhone 6s and newer – including the iPhone SE (2020) obivously.

One of the biggest updates aesthetically are the widgets page and app library – the former is pretty self-explanatory, and lets you fill up an entire page filled with useful widgets; you can also choose to place the widgets on any other screen for
easy
 of access.

The app library is sort of line an Android app drawer, but Apple’s puts a spin on it by packaging apps into their respective categories, which is arranged neatly in a single page;
so
 it’s not so much all your apps arranged in alphabetical order. This is useful for those who search apps based on their categories, but we think most people search based on the name instead.

There’s also a picture-in-picture mode that we’ve also seen on Android before, but oddly, the feature doesn’t work on the YouTube app. Siri is apparently smarter now and even lets you send voice messages to your contacts.

When it comes to the native messaging app, you now get a more intuitive app, letting you pin conversations to the top, while adding inline replies. You’ll also be notified in a group chat if someone replies to your message.
Memoji
 is improved too with 20 new hairstyles and headwear.

Also new is App Clips, which are stripped-down versions of existing apps that pop up, should you need them, to perform tasks like paying, browsing, and more – when you’ve completed the task it goes away and doesn’t eat up storage space or data.

You should be able to download the update already if you have a compatible iPhone – simply head to into your settings and into your software update tab. Visit Apple’s website
here
 to learn more about iOS 14

apple
iOS 14
iphone
iPhone 11


Apple to release iPhone 12 in stages starting with 6.1-inch model

316

Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone 12 should be coming late this September, but not all variants according to reports.

MacRumors cites
Digitimes

as saying that the middle 6.1-inch iPhone 12 will be the first to make its way to customers, while the smaller 5.4-inch model and largest 6.7-inch variant will arrive a little later, but both together.

So, it’s likely that we’ll only get to see all three iPhone 12s hit the shelves only in October – reports say that the delay is due to a setback in receiving orders from their SLP (substrate-like PCB).

We’re hoping of course this will be the only setback Apple will face as we draw closer to the launch event which should still happen this September. When they do come, the iPhone 12 will be will be the first from the brand to arrive with 5G in Malaysia – and we’re excited for that.

apple
ios
iPhone 12
iphone delay


Apple released an official 25-hour battery case for the iPhone 6 & 6S

345

A lot of iPhone users may have seen a
lot
 third-party battery cases for a long time now, but Apple has finally decided to step into the battery case market themselves. Apple launched its own slim case for iPhone 6S and iPhone 6 smartphones. The Smart Battery Case looks similar to the company’s existing range of iPhone
cases,
 but has a built-in battery element that promises to increase your talk time up to 25 hours or give you a further 18 hours of surfing on a 4G connection.

The case looks bolted around it, and comes in two colors – charcoal or white. But those who prefer a slim device will need to be aware that the additional battery life comes with a caveat, which adds some extra length and thickness to the iPhone.

The company claims its battery is better than others because users will be able to swipe down in the notification center to see the battery levels for the iPhone and Smart Battery rather than relying on a button on the case itself. Since it’s an Apple product, you should expect it to be charged via Apple’s standard Lightning cable.

The new iPhone battery case works with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S and costs £79.99. However, there hasn’t been any news for iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhones 5, and the others as of now.

Source:
 The Verge

apple
batterycase
ios
iphone


Apple releases a book costing up to RM1,300

396

No, this isn’t a budget Macbook of any sort, but rather, a physical kind of book that you get in book stores. That’s right. Apple has launched a book, titled “Designed by Apple in California” that records 20 years worth of products designed by the Cupertino giant. The book by Apple is also dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs.

“Designed by Apple in California” is said to cover products from the iMac back in 1998 till the 2015 designed Apple Pencil. The book comprises of 450 photos which show the design process for Apple products, and of course, the end products themselves. Jony Ive, the golden voice behind most of Apple’s product videos at the company’s keynote events, and also Apple’s chief design officer, has said, “the idea of genuinely trying to make something great for humanity was Steve’s motivation from the beginning, and it remains both our ideal and our goal as Apple looks to the future.”

In typical Apple fashion, the company “beautifully” describes the material of the book itself – “printed on specially milled, custom-dyed paper with gilded matte silver edges, using eight color separations and low-ghost ink”. According to Apple, the hard cover of the book is said to be developed over a lengthy 8 year period.

“Designed by Apple in California” is available in small and large sizes, with respective price tags of $199 (RM863.79) and $299 (RM1,297.85). Overpriced? If you think that the 450 photos of Apple’s design is worth your money, then by all means go for it. Do bear in mind that the book by Apple is only available in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the UK and the US. What do you think of Apple’s premiumly priced book?

Source:
Apple

apple
book
california
designed
imac
in
ipad
iphone
macbook
pencil
watch


Apple releases iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4

294

Apple has announced the availability of iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4, where users can now check their devices for updates to these new OS versions, and you should probably do so if you own an iOS device or Mac because these updates are definitely worth applying, as they bring improvements when it comes to usability.

In the case of iOS 10.3, Apple is introducing the new AFS (Apple File System) file system to replace the current HFS+ file system, which will offer better encryption, scaling across devices and more optimized for SSDs, users can also expect a slight storage space increase after applying the update. The most significant feature update would be to able to track your lost AirPods using the Find My iPhone app, which can be used to play a sound on the AirPods or find out its last connected location, hence you would probably worry less of misplacing your AirPods with this feature.

With macOS Sierra 10.12.4, Apple is finally bringing Night Shift over to Macs, the feature is first introduced in iOS, which reduces blue light emission from the display and help users sleep better when using the device before bed, other than that the update merely fixes certain issues with the Mail app and adds dictation support for Shanghainese, while if you are a cricket fan you will be able to ask Siri scores about the scores and statistics of the Indian Premiere League and International Cricket Council.

Let us know if you find any new stuffs in these updates, but if you own an Apple TV and Watch, Apple has also announced software updates for these two products, which adds a theater mode and better content rental features respectively.

apple
ios
iphone
macbook
macos


Apple releases iOS 11.3 update for iPhone and iPad

330

Apple has officially released iOS 11.3 to iOS devices today, this feature update brings a number of new features and improvements to the user experience, which includes ARKit with support for more immersive augmented reality experiences, iPhone Battery Health (Beta), new Animojis for iPhone X and improvements to privacy features. Judging by Apple’s fashion, this could be the last feature update for iOS 11, as the company is expected to release the next major release of iOS in WWDC which will happen on June 4th.

iOS 11 has received much criticism on it’s reliability since it’s launch, the iOS 11.3 update will finally give you the option to disable CPU throttling when your iPhone’s battery has aged, iPhone Battery Health will be able to show detailed information on your iPhone’s battery capacity and peak performance capability, while also advising if you should replace your battery; as for iPad, there is also a new charge management feature that maintains battery health when plugged in for prolonged periods of time, which is useful for iPads that are used as kiosks and point of sale systems.

For those who are concerned about privacy when an Apple feature asks for permissions, an icon will appear with a link that explains how your data will be used. Autofill on Safari will now only work when you select a web form field, it is also now available in web views within apps for convenience.

As for Augmented Reality, users can expect higher resolution real world camera view when using AR apps, and developers can finally place digital objects on vertical surfaces like walls and doors in addition to horizontal surfaces; iPhone X users will be getting the lion, bear, dragon and skull as new Animoji characters.

As usual, if you would like to upgrade to iOS 11.3, we would recommend that you backup your iOS devices’ data to iCloud or on to your computer as a safety precaution, as there have been several cases of bricked and bootloop iPhones in previous iOS updates, otherwise it is always safer to update your iOS device using iTunes instead of over-the-air for better assurance.

apple
ios 11
ios 11.3
iphone 8
iphone 8 plus
iphone x


Apple releases limited edition AirPods Pro to celebrate Chinese New Year

1K

To celebrate 2021, Apple has released a limited edition AirPods Pro the comes with two cute ox emojis.

Limited edition AirPods Pro comes with two ox emojis

Apple calls this the special double happiness emoji — it’s basically a tiny ox on top of another ox. This emoji is not just engraved onto the wireless charging case, but also on the packaging of the AirPods Pro. Don’t worry though, the AirPods Pro remains at its original price of RM1,099 despite being a limited edition model.

Same price, same features

The AirPods Pro comes with Active Noise Cancellation and with iOS 14, it finally supports Spatial Audio and Automatic Switching. The former offers surround sound experience so your movies or videos feel more immersive whereas the latter lets you switch seamlessly to whatever Apple device you’re using — these devices has to use the same Apple ID.

These earbuds offer up to 5 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 24 hours if you pair it with the charging case. You’ll also get three different silicone ear tips and a Lightning to USB-C cable when you purchase them. The limited edition AirPods Pro can be purchased now on Apple’s
official site
.

airpods pro
apple