iPad, AirPods, and iPhone SE Rumors, Smart Speaker Showdown, iOS 11.3 Beta Drops AirPlay 2 - MacRumors

Brought to you by: iPad Refresh in March Likely as Apple Receives Certification for New Tablets in Eurasia It looks like updated iPads are right around the corner, as Apple has received certification from the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Russia to sell a pair of new iPad models. These are likely updated versions of the $329 iPad introduced last year, and rumors have suggested Apple could lower the price even further this year. The EEC has also granted certifications for "samples" of several other tablet and smartphone models from Apple, but with unfamiliar model number formats it's unclear what these devices might be. As for timing on the new iPads, the most common timeframe for Apple product launches in the early part of the year is March, but it's unclear whether Apple would hold a media event or simply issue press releases for any upcoming updates. The EEC has also revealed upcoming models several times in the past, and the lead time on this typically only a few weeks at most, so we should be seeing something soon!   Read Full Article Sponsored Stories An Essential Mac Productivity App for Files, Notes & Clipboard Management That Feels Like a Part of macOS Itself Unclutter – drag-and-drop clutter off your Mac's desktop, quickly jot sticky notes & easily track what you copy and paste via the clipboard manager within a single snappy app! Unclutter takes micro file management to a completely new level. It eliminates the need to have any files or folders cluttering your desktop. Instead, it offers a "drag-and-drop shortcut" where you can store or use to move between apps — your frequently used or transient files. Taking notes with Unclutter is both quick & easy. Just like with a sticky note, you can instantly jot a phone number, address, to-do task or anything else without having to open your text editor or wait until some other app launches. Plus, you can create multiple notes & easily navigate through them via the in-app quick search. Unclutter comes with a reinvented clipboard manager that extends your Mac's clipboard functionality with a history of recently copied items, essentially making it a Time Machine for “copy and paste" but with a few extra practical features on top: favorites (your frequently used clips), contents (ability to display & edit clips) and sensitive data protection (clipboard history). Get Unclutter at 30% OFF exclusively for MacRumors Subscribers Visit Sponsor Popular Stories Feb 22, 2018 Apple to Debut New AirPods This Year With Handsfree 'Hey, Siri' Voice Command Feature, 'Water-Resistant' Models Coming in 2019 Apple was unable to keep up with demand for its AirPods for nearly a year after their December 2016 launch, but now that supplies have stabilized we're hearing word that the popular wireless earphones will be receiving regular hardware updates. According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning to release updated AirPods with "Hey Siri" functionality sometime later this year. A subsequent model, likely slated for 2019, is planned to offer water resistance that would allow the AirPods to better stand up to "splashes of water and rain," but they couldn't be submerged in water. There's no word on when we should expect the new AirPods this year, but Apple has already announced a wireless charging case for the existing AirPods that will be compatible with the company's upcoming AirPower charging mat sometime this year.   Read Full Article Sketchy Rumor: iPhone SE 2 Will Debut at WWDC With Classic Design But Larger 4.2-Inch Display We're definitely filing this one in the "sketchy" category, but given other rumors of an update to Apple's iPhone SE, it's worth noting a new report claiming knowledge of some of the device's specs. According to Chinese news site QQ.com, the so-called "iPhone SE 2" will look very similar to the existing model but include a faster A10 Fusion chip and a slightly larger display. The current iPhone SE has a 4-inch display, while this rumor is claiming a 4.2-inch display for the next model. Other rumored specs include the same 2 GB of RAM and 32/128 GB storage options seen on the current model.   Read Full Article Smart Speaker Showdown: HomePod vs. Google Home Max vs. Sonos One Apple's HomePod has been out for a couple of weeks now, and we decided to put it to the test against the Google Home Max and the Alexa-powered Sonos One in a smart speaker showdown. We liked the HomePod's sound the best and its microphones are fantastic at picking up voices, but Siri on HomePod is much less capable than either Alexa or Google Assistant. When it comes down to a purchasing recommendation, it's really dependent on the combination of services you use. If you're fully invested in the Apple ecosystem with an Apple Music subscription and HomeKit devices, then HomePod is the smart speaker for you. But if you like Spotify and other non-Apple services, you might want to consider one of the other speaker options with more flexibility.   Read Full Article Apple Seeds Third Beta of iOS 11.3, Removes AirPlay 2 Features Apple this week seeded the third beta versions of iOS 11.3, macOS 10.13.4, tvOS 11.3, and watchOS 4.3 as the company continues working on its next significant operating system updates. Likely the most notable change in this beta of iOS 11.3 (and tvOS 11.3) is the removal of AirPlay 2 support. Previous betas had allowed you to stream the same audio to multiple devices like HomePods and Apple TVs, but that's no longer possible in the new betas. It's unclear whether this feature will be returning in a later beta in time for the public release expected next month or if it's been pushed back to a later update entirely.   Read Full Article Apple Releases iOS 11.2.6 With Fix for Telugu Character Bug That Causes iOS Devices to Crash Apple this week pushed out an iOS 11.2.6 release for the public, addressing a few bugs including a nasty one that could cause app and device crashes when users typed or received certain characters from the Indian language Telugu. All of Apple's operating systems were affected by the issue, so in addition to iOS 11.2.6 the company also released watchOS 4.2.3, tvOS 11.2.6, and a macOS 10.13.3 supplemental update.   Read Full Article

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HomePod Is Here, iOS 12 Tidbits, DirecTV Now Apple TV Deal - MacRumors

HomePod Unboxing and Overview Video, User Impressions, Issues, and How Tos After months of waiting, HomePod is finally here, and we've gone hands-on with Apple's new smart speaker. Initial impressions from users have generally been positive, although side-by-side tests against other smart speakers have seen mixed results. There have been a few hiccups since the launch, including persistent setup issues plaguing a few users, and the discovery that the base of the HomePod can leave white rings on certain wood surfaces. The latter issue isn't unique to HomePod, as it also affects the Sonos One to some extent, but it's something Apple should have caught and addressed during development or at least disclosed at launch. Enterprising accessory companies are already launching pads and coasters to protect surfaces from the HomePod. If you're a new HomePod owner, make sure to stop by the How To section of our site for some tips on how to make the most of your smart speaker.   Read Full Article Deal of the Week DirecTV Now Deal: Prepay Three Months of Service for $105 and Get a Free 32GB Apple TV 4K If you're in the U.S. and thinking about picking up an Apple TV 4K, DirecTV Now's latest deal should definitely be on your radar. With this deal, just prepay for three months of DirecTV Now for as little as $105 and get a free 32GB Apple TV 4K. The Apple TV normally sells for $179 by itself, so this is a fantastic deal even if you don't care about the DirecTV Now service. There's no contract or commitment, but the DirecTV Now service will renew monthly after the initial prepaid period, so just be sure to cancel before then if you don't want to continue. Separate from the traditional DirecTV satellite TV service, DirecTV Now is a streaming service that lets you access live and on-demand content through apps on various platforms. It comes in several packages starting at $35/month for 60+ channels, and a cloud DVR component for recording shows is currently in beta testing. You can also add HBO to your subscription for just $5/month, which is another great deal. Check out our news article for more details, or head straight to the DirecTV Now site to take advantage of the deal before it runs out.   Visit Sponsor Popular Stories Feb 15, 2018 iOS 12 Said to Feature Animoji in FaceTime, Deeper Siri Integration, and Do Not Disturb Improvements Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has been spilling a few details on Apple's plans for iOS 12 recently, and this week he offered a few more tidbits including word that Apple is working on supporting Animoji in FaceTime, deeper Siri integration, improvements to Do Not Disturb features, and a redesigned Stocks app. Gurman previously noted that Apple is working to allow developers to build universal apps that will work across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and that's still on track for later this year. Some other features may, however, be pushed back to 2019 as Apple seeks to put more emphasis on quality control and performance improvements.   Read Full Article Apple to Fix Telugu Character Bug Causing Devices to Crash in Minor iOS Update This week saw publicity about a newly discovered bug affecting all of Apple's operating systems that causes app or even device crashes when a certain character from the Indian Telugu language is typed or pasted into many text fields, including those in first-party and third-party apps. The troublesome bug can then prevent those apps from even opening until the message with the offending character can be deleted. The bug was already fixed in Apple's iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4 betas prior to disclosure, but the company will be pushing out minor operating system updates to address it so that users don't have to wait weeks for the more significant iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4 updates to be ready for public release.   Read Full Article KGI: Apple Could Ship 100 Million Units of New 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, Replacing iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in 2018 Device Line-up KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple could ship up to 100 million units of its upcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone following its launch later this year. The device is rumored to adopt some iPhone X features such as Face ID and a full-front display, but forego the OLED display, glass back, and dual-lens camera of Apple's current flagship phone. This new LCD phone appears to be the successor to the iPhone 8 family and will continue the multi-year transition toward Apple's new design paradigm as the iconic iPhone enters its second decade.   Read Full Article Samsung's Galaxy S9 Expected to Copy iPhone X's Animoji Feature Apple's face-tracking Animoji are one of the flagship features of the iPhone X, and it sounds like Samsung might be launching a similar feature in its Galaxy S9 phone next month. The S9 isn't expected to have the full capabilities of Apple's TrueDepth front camera system, but its face-tracking hardware should still be able to support the feature to some extent. One of the other trademark features of the iPhone X is the notch in the top of the display that houses the camera, earpiece, and other sensors. It looks like Android is similarly preparing to "embrace the notch," with Google's next smartphone operating system said to include support for the design feature as a number of Android handset manufacturers are expected to mimic the iPhone X design.    Read Full Article

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HomePod Launch, Battery Health in iOS 11.3 Beta, New Products in March? - MacRumors

HomePod Reviews: Outstanding Sound Quality, but Siri 'Struggles at Smart' HomePod, Apple's smart speaker, is launching on Friday in the US, UK, and Australia, and this week we saw the first early press reviews of the device. Reviewers generally raved about the sound quality, but most feel that Siri's capabilities are underwhelming at this point. The first HomePod orders have shipped out, and Australian customers should start receiving them within hours, while US and UK customers have another night's sleep until their deliveries. Supplies have tightened as the release day has approached, with Apple no longer taking orders for delivery or in-store pickup for Friday. It's possible, however, that retail stores may have some unclaimed stock on hand for launch day. We've also continued to learn more about HomePod, including that support for its stereo-like pairing when placing two HomePods in the same room will be coming "soon" while multi-room syncing will follow later in the year. Music streams on HomePod from Apple Music or iTunes Match also won't count against your streaming or device limits.   Read Full Article Popular Stories Feb 08, 2018 iOS 11.3 Beta 2 Introduces New 'Battery Health' Feature Apple this week seeded the second beta of iOS 11.3 to developers and public beta testers, and the new version includes the promised "Battery Health" feature that lets you view the relative capacity of your battery, see whether performance is being throttled, and turn off that throttling if you wish. For now, the throttling affects iPhone 6, 6s, 7, and SE series models, and while Apple could introduce similar interventions for the iPhone 8 and X as they age, the company says a more advanced hardware and software design in the newest models should lessen any performance impact. Apple is offering users of affected models who need new batteries discounted $29 pricing on replacements, but the company is reportedly looking into the possibility of offering rebates to those who previously paid the normal $79 price. In addition to iOS 11.3, this week also saw the releases of second betas for macOS 10.13.4, watchOS 4.3, and tvOS 11.3.   Read Full Article DigiTimes Predicts Apple's First New Products of 2018 Could Debut Starting in March Like Last Year Hit-or-miss supply chain rumor source DigiTimes is claiming that Apple's first new product introductions of the year could come in March, which is right around the corner. The report doesn't specify which products would be launching that soon, but with the main iPhone refresh likely targeted for the usual September timeframe and rumors of updated iPad Pros suggesting a similar launch window, it's likely DigiTimes is referring to updated Macs. Much of Apple's Mac lineup could use a refresh, as we haven't seen anything other than the new iMac Pro since last June, so there are lots of candidates for an early 2018 update. Another candidate could be an updated iPhone SE, but rumors are split on whether such a product is in the works. Last March saw the launch of the fifth-generation iPad and it's also possible that could see an update next month, although Apple's low-end models tend to stick around for more than a year between updates.   Read Full Article Apple Launches Official Repair Program for iPhone 7 Models Affected by 'No Service' Issue Apple has launched a new repair program for iPhone 7 users who have been affected by an issue that results in a "No Service" message even when a cellular network is available. The issue is caused by a failed part on the logic board, so Apple will repair affected devices free of charge. In a separate issue, Apple is "looking into" limited reports of incoming call delays affecting some iPhone X users. Users experiencing the problem are seeing delays of up to ten seconds before the display wakes up as a phone call comes in, preventing them from accepting calls.   Read Full Article Apple Reports Record Results for 1Q 2018: $20B Profit on $88B Revenue, 77.3M iPhones Apple last week reported record revenue and profits for the holiday quarter. iPhone sales fell just short of the 78.3 million from the year-ago quarter, but due to calendar adjustments this year's quarter was only 13 weeks while the comparison period included 14 weeks. iPhone X was the top-selling iPhone every week since its launch in early November, which helped raise the average selling price for iPhones by $100 and drive the record revenue despite no growth in unit sales.   Read Full Article New Study Suggests Apple Watch Heart Rate Sensor Can Detect Early Signs of Diabetes Apple has been pushing the Apple Watch's health and fitness capabilities, including an ongoing heart study from Apple and Stanford designed to determine whether the device can detect abnormal heart rhythms. Another study conducted by the firm Cardiogram in partnership with researchers at UC San Francisco has determined that heart rate data from the Apple Watch can even help detect early signs of diabetes. Heart rate variability is linked to early symptoms of diabetes, and Cardiogram's study was 85 percent accurate at distinguishing between users with and without diabetes.   Read Full Article

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Updated iPhone SE?, HomePod Orders, 2018 iOS and Mac Features Delayed to Focus on Quality - MacRumors

Brought to you by: Conflicting Rumors of Second-Generation iPhone SE Launch in 2018 Late last week, DigiTimes reported that it expects Apple to launch an updated version of the iPhone SE in the May/June timeframe. According to the report, the new model would include updated internals and wireless charging, but no 3D sensing capabilities like the Face ID and TrueDepth camera system found on the iPhone X. Just days later, however, more reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he doesn't expect Apple to launch a new iPhone SE this year, given that Apple's development resources are already strained by working on three other new models, a second-generation iPhone X, a larger "iPhone X Plus," and a new 6.1-inch LCD model with 3D sensing. Kuo says that if Apple were to update the iPhone SE, it would almost certainly just be internal upgrades with no major new features like wireless charging or Face ID. So how will all of this shake out for fans of the 4-inch iPhone form factor? Given the competing rumors, we'll have to wait and see what other information comes in over the next few months.   Read Full Article Sponsored Stories Protecting Your Personal Data Has Never Been This Easy It’s hard to use the Internet without it feeling a bit creepy – like there’s a nosy neighbor watching everything you do from across the street. Except, instead of a nosy neighbor, it’s a vast array of highly sophisticated tracker networks, run by big companies like Google and Facebook, recording everything you do online, often without your knowledge, and selling their findings to the highest bidder via targeted ads. While closing the blinds at home can put a stop to your neighbors, there isn’t something that simple that can work online. Until now. Today we’re taking a major step to simplify online privacy with the launch of fully revamped versions of our browser extension and mobile app, now with built-in tracker network blocking, smarter encryption, and, of course, private search – all designed to operate seamlessly together while you search and browse the web. Our updated app and extension are now available across all major platforms – Firefox, Safari, Chrome, iOS, and Android – so that you can easily get all the privacy essentials you need on any device with just one download. Get the app & extension Visit Sponsor Popular Stories Feb 01, 2018 HomePod Now Available to Order in United States, Australia, and United Kingdom Apple's HomePod smart speaker became available to order in the US, UK, and Australia last Friday, and at the time of this writing, both Space Gray and White models remain available for launch-day delivery or in-store pickup on February 9. Apple invited a host of reporters to participate in brief listening sessions with the HomePod, and the consensus is that the speaker does sound very good, at least in Apple's controlled environments, but concerns remain over whether it's worth the $349 price tag and whether Apple is late to the game with Amazon and Google having head starts in the market. Apple has shared its first series of HomePod ads, focusing on the speaker aspect rather than Siri capabilities or other features. We've also learned a bit more about what to expect with the device, including the supported audio sources and how software updates will be handled over-the-air through the Home app on iOS. Phil Schiller also gave a brief interview over the weekend to discuss the HomePod.   Read Full Article Apple Has Delayed Some Planned iOS 12 Features Until Next Year to Focus on Performance and Quality Following a series of high-profile bugs and other issues with its software, Apple is reportedly delaying some of its features originally planned for iOS 12 later this year, and instead putting more focus on performance and quality. Some of the delayed features include a refreshed home screen app grid and some improvements to core apps like Mail and Photos. Apple's decision to focus on performance and quality also reportedly extends to the Mac, although "to a lesser degree" than on iOS. One thing that appears to remain on track for 2018 is support for universal apps that can run across iOS and Mac platforms. Details on how exactly this will work remain unknown, but expect to hear more on it at WWDC this summer.   Read Full Article KGI Shares Latest on 6.1-Inch iPhone, Next iPhone X and iPhone X Plus to Have 4GB of RAM and Two-Cell Batteries Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo continues to share details on his expectations for this year's fall iPhone lineup, which is expected to include an updated iPhone X, a larger "iPhone X Plus," and a new 6.1-inch LCD iPhone with Face ID. For this 6.1-inch model, Kuo reiterates claims that it will have a nearly full-face display like the iPhone X, including a notch for Face ID hardware and no home button. He believes it'll be priced at $700-$800 in the United States. As for the second-generation iPhone X and the larger "iPhone X Plus," Kuo believes they will both have 4 GB of RAM and that both models will have two-cell L-shaped batteries similar to that of the iPhone X. Apple had reportedly been looking into a single-cell battery that could have stored more energy, but apparently that tech isn't quite ready yet.   Read Full Article Apple Expected to Report Highest Revenue in Single Quarter in Company's History Apple will be reporting its financial results for the October–December quarter later today, and based on Apple's earlier guidance it's expected to be the company's biggest quarter in history with revenue of at least $84 billion. The iPhone has long been Apple's revenue driver, so the December quarter is Apple's strongest of the year due to the launch of new iPhones. And with three new iPhones having launched in late 2017 at higher price points than usual, Apple and analysts are expecting blockbuster revenue. We'll have all the details once earnings are announced at around 4:30 PM Eastern today, with Apple's conference call to follow half an hour later.   Read Full Article Everything New in watchOS 4.3: iPhone Music Controls, Portrait Orientation Nightstand Mode and More Apple last week seeded the first beta versions of significant updates for all of its operating systems, and we've taken a deeper dive into what's new in this first beta of watchOS 4.3. Among the changes are the return of controls for your music library on your linked iPhone, new easily accessible Activity information on the Siri watch face, and new portrait orientation support for Nightstand Mode. In other MacRumors video news, we've launched a new series looking at some of our favorite Mac and iOS apps, so be sure to check out our inaugural Mac edition covering apps like Unclutter and Bartender and our first iOS edition with old favorites like Bear and newer apps like The Room: Old Sins, the latest installment of the popular escape room-style game series.   Read Full Article

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