In this week’s top stories: Apple releases Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, rumors suggest a new iPad and iPad mini 5 are coming soon, and iPhone 11 rumors pick up steam. Read all of this week’s top stories below.
Apple this week officially released its new Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. This comes after we exclusively found evidence in iOS last month showing the cases were on the way. The new battery cases cost $129 and are available in black and white. Further, the iPhone XS does fit the iPhone X, but with a few compromises.
Apple on Thursday officially launched HomePod in China and Hong Kong. Additionally, the company made a change for HomePod users worldwide: Apple Music no longer allows HomePod and iPhone to play different music on a HomePod and iPhone without a family account. Previously, you could have HomePod playing one music stream while you listened to a different one on your iPhone.
As the iPhone 11 rumor mill starts to pick up, a report claimed this week that the device will feature a 10MP selfie camera, as well as rear cameras at 10MP and 14MP. Details on the third sensor are still unclear.
In addition to iPhone 11 rumors this week, a supply report suggested that Apple is developing a new iPod touch. The iPod touch was last updated in 2015, which would make this the first update in nearly four years. Additionally, the same report suggested that the 2019 iPhones might ditch Lightning in favor of USB-C.
Further, another report suggested that Apple will launch a new entry-level iPad, as well as the iPad mini 5, during the first half of this year. Details are still unclear as to what these new devices might feature, but it seems we might be getting at least two new iOS devices pretty soon.
These and the rest of this week’s top Apple stories below…
iOS | macOS | tvOS | watchOS |
- Smart Home Diary: Let’s talk automation and scenes
- Second Apple Music web player has a design so clean it looks official
- Watch Scott Forstall talk working with Steve Jobs, the creation of Apple TV, and more [Video]
- GoodNotes 5 now available as a free update with redesigned interface, improved search, more
- An iOS-only video workflow: Surprises, challenges, and hopes for the future
iPhone |
- Apple officially releases Smart Battery cases for iPhone XS/Max/XR with Qi charging support
- iPhone XS Smart Battery Case fits iPhone X, works with iOS 12.1 and later [Updated]
- Report: Apple developing new iPod touch, 2019 iPhones could switch to USB-C
- iPhone XS and XS Max Smart Battery Case contains 10.1Wh battery, 13% larger capacity than previous cases
- Microsoft tells users to switch to iOS or Android as Windows Phone set for obsolescence
- Judge rules law enforcement can’t force suspects to unlock their iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID
- Apple replaced 11 million iPhone batteries in 2018, up from its usual of 1-2 million
- iPhone 11 rumors: 10MP selfie camera, rear camera details, USB-C may not replace Lightning, more
- Renders show another supposed iPhone 11 prototype with smaller notch, sleeker camera bump design
- Apple releases new ‘made with iPad Pro’ videos
- Apple says Qualcomm refused to sell modems for iPhone XS and XR, citing legal battle
- Analyst suggests further iPhone price cuts to come, and major acquisition for video service
- Report: 2019 iPhone XR to improve LTE with 4×4 MIMO antenna like current iPhone XS
Mac + iPad |
- Digitimes: New entry-level iPad and iPad mini 5 launching in first half of 2019
- Smart Home Diary: Repurposing an iPad Air as a home control panel for guest use
- 2019 Intel CPU plans point to Wi-Fi 6 and much faster integrated graphics in MacBooks
- How to use your iPad as a secondary Mac display
Tech industry |
- PSA: 773M email addresses and 21M passwords exposed by hackers, check yours here
- Netflix raising prices again, its biggest hike since launching the company
Top Apple stories, retail |
- Passeig de Gràcia Apple Store temporarily closing February 10th, Video Wall and Forum likely on the way
- Apple may be planning to relocate its first retail store at Tysons Corner
Accessories |
- Apple Music no longer allows HomePod and iPhone to play different music on individual accounts
- Verizon adding full Apple Music as free perk to some Unlimited phone plans
- 15-inch portable 4K USB-C and 1080p touchscreen monitors raise 700% of Kickstarter goal in 2 hours
- AirPower charging mat reportedly enters production after missing 2018 release [update]
- [Update: Now available] Apple officially announces HomePod is coming to China on January 18th
Top Apple stories, company |
- United Airlines takes down poster that revealed Apple is its largest corporate spender
- Apple spent $310K on Tim Cook’s personal security in 2018, here’s how that compares to other CEOs
- Apple says Qualcomm refused to sell modems for iPhone XS and XR, citing legal battle
Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.
This week’s top videos |
- Apple Smart Battery Case Review: iPhone XS/Max & XR design, wireless charging, still bulky [Video]\
- Review: Blackmagic eGPU Pro – more powerful and capable, but who is it for? [Video]
Happy Hour Podcast #208 |
This week Benjamin and Zac discuss how Apple’s revenue miss is affecting iPhone prices in China, a new detail about how the battery replacement program affected upgrades, a new AirPower launch rumor, competing iPhone 11 rumors and renders, hope for a future iPod touch, and the debut of the leaked Smart Battery Case for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.
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.
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.
- Where are the iBeacons in K-12?
- The AirPlay 2 news from CES has changed my classroom AV plans
- Teaching Swift Playgrounds: What I’ve learned and what Apple could do to improve it
- The case for dual iCloud accounts on iOS
- Thoughts on Chromebook, iPad, and user focused IT departments
Subscribe to get all 9to5Mac’s stories delivered to your inbox daily. And to 9to5Toys for the best deals from around the web.
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.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments