iOS

Apple’s most expensive iPad Pro accessory yet is now available to purchase. The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro features a number of upgrades over its predecessor, but Apple is making you pay dearly for them.

According to a suspect claim by a Chinese retailer, the iPhone SE 2020 (or iPhone 9, depending on the final name) may launch later today (April 15) at 11 A.M. Eastern. Several leakers have claimed that Chinese retailer Suning is prepping for the launch of the iPhone SE 2020 today.

As we reported exclusively, the iPad Pro (2020) is fitted with a rebinned A12X chip that it has simply renamed the A12Z. The confirmation comes after TechInsights carried out an x-ray of the A12Z highlighting it has exactly the same physical layout as the A12X.

We have now reached a part of April 2020 increasingly regarded as "iPhone SE 2 Week"; however, this has not stopped the new Apple Watch rumors coming thick and fast. They now point to a new form of authentication for this device, as well as the ability to detect anxiety as well as blood-oxygen levels in the user. There may also be new case-variants in the offing.

The latest update to the AltStore/AltServer iOS app allows users to sideload their own IPA files without the need for Jailbreak or the worries of possible revokes. AltStore uses a method that exploits the app developer license system to circumvent the potential for revokes. As such, AltStore users can now install any app, even those not on the App Store, on their iPhones permanently.

Facebook has recently introduced a new group of settings to help the user manage the time they spend on its mobile app. Now, it has been augmented further with Quiet Mode, a set of toggles that allows notifications to be silenced for all or a specific part of the day. They may be followed by even more granular controls in the future.

Consumer tech has already been used for 'Covid-19 contact tracing' in Taiwan and South Korea already. Now, Google and Apple have jointly announced a new API to do the same using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). It will apparently used voluntarily-donated, anonymized data on those infected with the virus to alert other users who may have been in transmission-range of them.

The new Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro smartphone has leapfrogged over various iPhones to head Soomal’s display evaluation charts for both subjective user experience and the more objective professional color tests. It’s a good result for the Xiaomi device, but the charts do not yet include flagship rivals such as the Huawei P40, OPPO Find X2, or Samsung Galaxy S20.

Online Chinese retailers are selling the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max at significant discounts. Retailers hope the cuts will spur Chinese consumers to buy an iPhone. However, many Chinese people are delaying the purchase of their next smartphone due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Tuned, an app designed for couples, is now available on iOS. The app comes from the NPE Team within Facebook. Though Tuned is billed as a private app for couples, users should be aware that anything sent through Tuned could be sent to third parties for targeted advertising, per Facebook's data use policies.

Casio's upcoming addition to the G-SHOCK line has heart-rate tracking functions for the first time. The watch's new sensor is also joined by others to track fitness-related activities while in use. It is also a Bluetooth device, with its own app to display its measurements and manage notifications while training.

Apple's much-awaited iPhone 12 series is reportedly in its final prototyping stages. The base iPhone 12 will come with a 5.4 or 6.1-inch screen and two cameras, while the larger iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will come with three cameras and 6.1 and 6.7-inch screens respectively. Both phones will also feature a LiDAR sensor next to the camera array. All three iPhone 12 variants will come with Apple's latest A14 SoC and will be 5G-ready out of the box.

According to a new Counterpoint Research report, music-streaming service subscriptions have increased in 2019 compared to 2018. Spotify has retained the top spot in this market year-on-year (YoY), also other popular platforms such as Apple Music have taken decently-sized shares of it as well.

A research group has released its report on app use and purchasing for the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). It has concluded that the average amount of time spent on them per week increased by 20% year-on-year (YoY). In addition, app revenues increased 5% on both the App Store and Play Store.

Apple has filed patents that would allow a device's screen to respond to the user while immersed in water and that allow for rotation that adapts to a human face's orientation. These documents' images suggest that they are intended for mobile devices. Therefore, next-gen iPhones could come with these features.

Amazon has launched the Blink Mini, it’s latest home security camera. The diminutive device integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s other Blink products as well as its Alex line of voice-controlled devices.

Fortnite maker Epic Games has teamed with Star Wars director J.J. Abrams on a new mobile game for iOS and Android. Dubbed ‘Spyjinx’, the new game will pit players against each other in a multiplayer that mixes action-strategy with RPG character development.

Fitbit has unleashed its latest Charge 4 and 4 SE band-style wearables. These devices look much like their predecessors, but now pack advanced features such as on-board GPS. The OEM also claims that they are rated for up to 7 days' worth of battery life.

Users will soon be able to use a single WhatsApp account across multiple devices. The feature was first spotted in the beta version of WhatsApp, and is expected to make its way to a stable release in the near future. The chances of cross-platform support, however, look grim.

In his latest research note, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has forecast that Apple will make a large-scale transition to ARM-based MacBooks and Macs in 2021. Previously Kuo had indicated 2021 would be when the first ARM-based Mac would ship, but wasn’t it still wasn’t clear that Apple would take baby steps or go the whole hog. At the time, we correctly speculated that there were good reasons for Apple to go hard on the ARM-based Mac transition and it looks as though the same rationale will drive the change.

Apple has long supported the ability for the Mac to be able to dual boot into Windows via Bootcamp. Now that it comes with native trackpad support, it opens up the intriguing possibility of dual booting into Windows 10 on ARM.

The Xiaomi sub-brand Black Shark has a new accessory: the FunCooler Pro. This, as it may sound, is a smartphone attachment with a fan intended to manage device temperatures while gaming. It has adjustable clamps, and may thus fit onto the backs of phones besides those of its own series.

The failed AirPower project has been revived within Apple, according to tipster Jon Prosser, because the company is keen to push forward with a portless iPhone. Although not calling out the iPhone 12 Pro to get a portless design, it wouldn’t surprise to see Apple advance to a portless design sooner rather than later.

Most IP and Wi-Fi-connected home security cameras are designed to simply detect suspicious movement on a property. However, the Lumus may improve on such products from Reolink in that it also has a built-in spotlight. This augmentation is intended to deter potential intruders from the home.

Apple is said to be working once again on its failed AirPower project. The tip comes from Jon Prosser who has been a fountain of hot Apple tips lately yesterday pointing to a 5G iPad Pro model he says will debut later this year.

Tipster Jon Prosser has been particularly active lately with leaks camp out of the Apple camp. His latest is rather juicy predicting that Apple will release a iPad Pro model with 5G connectivity later this year with an all-new A14X chip.

Apple has debuted a refreshed pair of Powerbeats for 2020. These new products look much the same as their predecessors, although they have comparably extended battery life and Audio Sharing. They are available from now for ~US$150.

There is a lot to like about the new iPad Pro. Its new LiDAR scanner is certainly cutting-edge and its new Magic Keyboard accessory is everything Apple fans have been wanting. But its battery life continues to be stuck at 10 hours all these years after its launch.

Instead of using a standard 3D ToF sensor for its new iPad Pro, Apple has upped the ante by using a LiDAR scanner instead. It has opted for the more advanced technology to take the augmented reality capabilities of the iPad Pro to the next level.

The wait is over for the long sought after trackpad support for Apple’s iPad range. The launch of the new iPad Pro also brings with it an all-new keyboard that drops the infamous butterfly mechanism in favor of Apple’s revised Magic Keyboard scissor switch.

With the new coronavirus forcing most of us to stay at home, we are all going to be looking for things to do to keep us entertained. Enter Korg and Moog, which have both made a couple of their popular synth apps available to download for free for a limited time.

Apple has announced that only developers from specific credible entities can publish apps pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic on the App Store. This is being done to curb the spread of misinformation and provide users access to reliable sources. Eligible developers can also chose to get their app approved faster than the conventional App Store approval process.

Some extraordinary Geekbench results for a supposed Apple A14 SoC have been posted on the Weibo social network. The apparent mixture of Geekbench 4 and 5 information reveals that the chip was clocked at 3,090 MHz and features 6 cores. The hexa-core processor amassed huge test scores: 1,658 points for the single-core benchmark and 4,612 points for the multi-core test.

Apple has announced that its WWDC event will not be live as usual this year. Instead, it will have an online format. This will include a "full program" of sessions and a keynote that will appeal to developers, consumers and other interested parties.

Phones that run neither Android nor iOS have been falling behind in terms of their browser and web-based support. Mozilla and KaiOS (the mobile platform most likely to run on such devices) have addressed this through a new partnership by which the former will keep devices running the latter much more up to date in their ability to use the internet.

Swiss luxury watch maker Tag Heuer has launched its third-generation Connected smartwatch. The most notable change, in addition to a more refined design, is a switch from an Intel chipset to Qualcomm’s 2018 Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC.

Some code allegedly derived from an as-yet unreleased version of iOS also reportedly offers insight into watchOS 7, software that may debut with the next Apple Watch. It hints at additions such as sleep tracking and a new mode for its Infograph watch-face. On that note, new custom faces may be possible in this version.

Vecnos, a spin-off from Ricoh, has announced that it will release its first product soon. It will be a 360-degree camera that may compete with similar devices from GoPro or Insta360. However, this one may come in a much more portable form-factor.

Casio has released analog watches that can use Bluetooth before. However, it claims that the most recent models with this feature are updated in that they stay connected to a phone on a more consistent basis. These new EDIFICE variants do so in order to maintain their accuracy regardless of where they are.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, widely regarded as one of the best games of all time, is now available on iOS and Android. The port retains the same beautiful pixel art as the PSX original. While gamers can use an on-screen virtual gamepad, the title also supports Bluetooth controllers.

WhatsApp is globally rolling out dark mode for Android and iOS users after more than a month of beta testing. The Facebook-owned company says that dark mode is designed to lower eye strain in low light environments. While iOS users get to experience a pure black theme, Android users have to be content with a dark grey environment.

Kami - YI Technology's new home-security brand - has released its new Wire-Free Outdoor Camera. As it lacks the need for connectivity hubs and has batteries that can be recharged in a USB-powered holder, it can be installed anywhere the user wants. It has a 165-degree wide-angle camera that supports FHD video at 20 frames per second (fps).

A new video of an iPhone claimed to run iOS 14 shows off a new grid-style multitasking view similar to the one running on iPadOS. Ben Geskin, the tipster behind this video, claims that this multitasking view is one of four options that will be available on iOS 14.

WhatsApp sets a lot of store by the privacy in messaging it supposedly offers. However, allegations that links that invite new users to private groups are searchable online have recently emerged. This is due to the fact Google has indexed them, meaning appropriate terms can bring them up.

Apple may release a revamped version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. According to Digitimes, Apple will launch an iPad Pro 12.9 with a triple camera array similar to that found on the iPhone 11 Pro next month, though shipments won't peak until late April at the earliest. However, this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt; there has been a lot of speculation as to the launch of the next iteration of the iPad Pro.

Apple will not hit its estimated revenue target for this quarter. Citing supply chain restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak and falling demand in China, the Cupertino colossus will pull in lower-than-expected revenue. Apple's stock fell 3% in response.

The T8i is the latest in the EOS Rebel series made by Canon. It has a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor with a 45-point all-cross form of auto-focus (AF) with Face Detect. This Rebel is also the first of its line to feature vertical video for consumption on mobile devices.