This week’s top stories: Apple’s fix for MacBook Pro throttling, iPhone color rumors, more

In this week’s top stories: We roundup the latest iPad Pro and Apple Watch rumors, Apple pushes a fix for MacBook Pro thermal throttling issues, new 2018 iPhone color speculation, and more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories…

Apple this week pushed a fix to all of its 2018 MacBook Pro models to address CPU throttling and thermal concerns. In a statement to 9to5Mac, the company explained that there was a missing digital key that impacted the thermal management system:

“Following extensive performance testing under numerous workloads, we’ve identified that there is a missing digital key in the firmware that impacts the thermal management system and could drive clock speeds down under heavy thermal loads on the new MacBook Pro. A bug fix is included in today’s macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Supplemental Update and is recommended. We apologize to any customer who has experienced less than optimal performance on their new systems.”

Meanwhile, Verizon announced the third city on its list to get 5G later this year. Verizon says it plans to launch 5G technology in Houston, Texas starting in the second half of 2018. The carrier touted its existing relationship with the city as its reasoning for the choice. Houston joins Sacramento and Los Angeles as cities on the docket to get 5G technology.

A handful of internal Apple repair videos leaked this week. These videos go in-depth as to how to repair common problems on the iPhone X, iMac Pro, and MacBook Pro, offering a neat look at the exclusive tools Apple has to make such repairs easier.

A supply chain report this week highlighted the potential colors that could come to the iPhone lineup. According to the report, the 6.1-inch iPhone will be available in white, black, flash yellow, bright orange, electric blue, and taupe or gold. Contradicting an earlier report, this one made no mention of a red option – though Apple could be saving that for a mid-year release.

Last but not least, Philips showed off two of its upcoming HomeKit accessories. The company has a “completely weatherproof” version of its popular LightStrip coming soon, as well as a lighted mirror on the docket, both with HomeKit support.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below…

iOS | macOS | tvOS | watchOS |

• These are the 18 best iOS apps with dark mode, according to Apple
• Steam for macOS is now 64-bit, adds new chat features & design, more
• Apple Store app for iOS update brings revamped search interface w/ voice support & more
• LinkedIn adds support for sending voice messages – a feature nobody was asking for

Mac + iPad |

• Apple releases 2018 MacBook Pro update to fix CPU throttling/thermal management bug
• PSA: Very small number of 2018 MacBook Pro and iMac Pro machines suffering kernel panics
• Intel Power Gadget utility download link removed amidst 2018 MacBook Pro throttling controversy
• iPad Pro Diary: Apple will definitely be selling me a new iPad this year, with one question …

iPhone | 

• New report says 6.1-inch 2018 iPhone to come in white, black, yellow, orange, blue, more – but no red
• It’s not just Samsung – now Qualcomm is bashing iPhone specs …
• Even more Samsung ads mock iPhone over multitasking, expandable storage, and iPhone X notch
• This year’s iPhones may require an official USB-C charger for fast charging
• Apple touts A11 Bionic chip in new ‘Unleash’ iPhone X ad [Video]
• iPhone X sets new record for resale value, averaging 85% of retail price
• Kantar: iPhone makes up 8 out of the 10 best-selling smartphones in Q2 as iOS gains on Android
• Report: 6.1-inch iPhone to use ‘Full Active LCD’ with ultra-small bezels, launch in late November

HomeKit & HomePod |

• Philips unveils new ‘completely weatherproof’ outdoor Hue LightStrip with HomeKit
• HomePod OS 12 private beta reportedly includes Siri multiple timers, make and answer phone calls, more

Apple Watch | iPad | 

• Everything we know so far about the new iPad Pro models coming this year
• Everything we know so far about the Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple ships 3.5M Apple Watch units in Q2 as LTE model proves to be a global hit
• Nike releases ‘Nike Training Club’ app for Apple Watch with over 180 workouts
• New iPad Pro said to drop 3.5mm jack, move Smart Connector to bottom to accommodate vertical-only Face ID

Tech Industry |

• Verizon names the third city getting 5G during the second half of this year
• MoviePass temporarily goes offline because it ran out of cash – and it’s still down for many
• Spotify hits 83M paying subscribers, more than double Apple Music’s 40M

AAPL Company |

• Leaked internal Apple videos detail iPhone X, iMac Pro, MacBook Pro repairs
• Photos: Apple celebrates grand opening of Piazza Liberty store in Milan, Italy
• Comment: Apple needs to publicize its store device security measures to deter robberies
• Apple said to be investigating growing iTunes credit card fraud in Singapore

Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.

This week’s top video |

• Review: Is Apple’s Leather Sleeve for MacBook Pro worth the cost? [Video]
• Review: 2018 MacBook Pro – more than skin deep [Video]

Happy Hour Podcast #183 |

This week Benjamin and Zac talk about the state of HomeKit in the UK and some useful ways to use automation, iPad rumors and guesses about rounded corners and the Home indicator, Photos in iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, photo sharing changes and questionable sharing suggestions, Apple’s photo print products going away, and more.

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

9to5Mac Daily |

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

• 9to5Mac Daily: July 23, 2018
• 9to5Mac Daily: July 24, 2018
• 9to5Mac Daily: July 25, 2018
• 9to5Mac Daily: July 26, 2018
• 9to5Mac Daily: July 27, 2018

Making The Grade |

Making The Grade is a weekly series from Bradley Chambers covering Apple in education. Bradley has been managing Apple devices in an education environment since 2009. Through his experience deploying and managing 100s of Macs and 100s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple’s products work at scale, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for students.

• Making The Grade: iPad accessories for the classroom
• Making The Grade: Could Apple own IoT in the enterprise with HomeKit for Work?
• Making the Grade: Could HomePod and Siri have a place in the classroom?
• Making The Grade: Apple’s biggest mistake in K-12 happened in 2006
• Making The Grade: Clever solves the identity management problem for K-12
• Making The Grade: Does your deployment need physical keyboards?

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Featured in top image: Dell 38-inch UltraSharp Curved Monitors, Grovemade’s Desk Shelf System, Nixie Tube Clock, Apogee Quartet, KRK VXT6 Studio Monitor speakers, Classicbot Classic Vintage Mac Toy. Read about the setup over on 9to5Toys as part of the ‘Behind the Screens’ series.