This week’s top stories: iOS 14 widgets go viral, iPhone 12 mini rumors, and more

In this week’s top stories: iOS 14 widgets go viral, Apple Watch Series 6 hands-on and impressions, fall 2020 iPad Pro rumors, and more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.

iOS 14 debuted to the public on September 16, bringing a variety of new features to iPhone users such as the App Library and App Clips. Over the last week, however, home screen widgets have been the feature to go viral. You can read our full guide on how to give your iOS 14 home screen a custom aesthetic.

A rumor this week suggested that Apple will switch up the naming for the iPhone 12 lineup this year, introducing the iPhone 12 mini. This would be the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 model, while the other naming would be iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Over the last week, we also learned more about the Apple Watch Series 6. A teardown from iFixit revealed that the battery inside the Apple Watch Series 6 is actually slightly larger than the Series 5, with the 40mm size increasing by 8.5% and the 44mm increasing by 3.5%. Find more details from the iFixit teardown here.

For the first time ever, Apple’s Online Store debuted in India this week. This means that shoppers in India can now make purchases directly from Apple itself. Previously, shoppers in India were forced to exclusively on a network of channel partners like Apple Premium Resellers for sales and support. To learn more about how to purchase directly from Apple, a new “Ways To Buy” page is available. 

Finally, a new investor note from Ming-Chi Kuo this week indicated that Apple will release its first mini-LED product in Q4 of this year, and it’ll be a new iPad Pro. This would mark the second iPad Pro refresh of 2020, but the update in March was largely an iterative update with slight performance improvements and a new camera setup on the back. Theoretically, the fall 2020 iPad Pro update could bring the new A14 processor alongside the mini LED display technology, in time for the holiday shopping season.

iOS 14 |

• How to give your iOS 14 home screen a custom aesthetic with unique app icons
• Apple releases iOS 14.0.1 with bug fixes for widgets, default app settings, more
• Here’s how to use the new iPhone home screen widgets in iOS 14
• iOS 14: What do the orange and green dots in the status bar mean?
• iOS 14: How to use 10 of the most popular new iPhone and iPad features
• Apple releases first public beta of iOS 14.2
• iOS 14 Weather app includes real-time precipitation data, more
• iOS 14: How to customize your home screen widgets with Smart Stacks and Siri Suggestions
• How to use the Shortcuts app to automatically create custom iOS wallpapers
• iOS 14: How to use the new iPhone alarms
• Apple no longer signs iOS 13.7, blocking downgrades from iOS 14

iPhone |

• Report: New 5.4-inch iPhone to be called ‘iPhone 12 mini’
• New claimed photos of iPhone 12 braided cable

Apple Watch |

• First impressions of seamless Solo Loop Apple Watch band are good
• Apple Watch Series 5 vs. Series 6: Should you upgrade?
• Apple Watch Series 6 Diary: How I’m making my upgrade decision
• Apple Watch Series 6 Diary: Graphite hands-on and battery life tests
• Hands-on: Product (RED) Apple Watch Series 6 and the new Braided Solo Loop
• Bandbreite makes browsing watch bands more fun than Apple Watch Studio
• PSA: If you have an Apple Watch Sport Band, here’s a better approach to Solo Loop sizing

iPad and Mac |

• First Apple product with miniLED backlighting will be iPad Pro in Q4 – Kuo
• Logitech‘s new MX Anywhere 3 mouse for Mac looks like a great WFH companion
• Apple’s miniLED plans: 30-40% of iPads and 20-30% of MacBooks next year – Kuo

Top Apple stories, retail |

• COVID-19: Which Apple Stores have reopened?
• The Apple Store online is now available in India
• Today at Apple and Girls Who Code hosting virtual Sisterhood Story Sessions in October
• QR codes bring helpful context to the Apple Store experience

Apps |

• Hands-on: Widgetsmith brings ultra-customizable widgets to your iOS 14 home screen
• Launcher 5 lets you create custom iOS 14 widgets with different shortcuts
• TuneTrack app brings Spotify widget to your iOS 14 home screen
• Fantastical adds 12 home screen widgets for iOS 14, Scribble support on iPad, more
• iOS 14 widgets leads Pinterest to break its daily App Store download record
• Heart Analyzer for iPhone and Apple Watch adds iOS 14 widget, blood oxygen data, more
• All-new Outlook for Mac app coming in October with Big Sur-inspired design and more
• 1Password launches virtual credit card generator for safer online payments
• Marvis Pro brings custom Apple Music widgets to your iOS 14 home screen

Apple TV |

• Apple TV+ Guide: Here are all the Apple TV shows and movies available now
• Apple TV+ picks up its first Emmy, Billy Crudup awarded outstanding supporting actor for his role in The Morning Show

Top Apple stories, company |

• Epic, Spotify, Tile and more form Coalition for App Fairness
• Apple responds to antitrust pressure with App Store PR blitz

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This week’s top videos |

• Hands-on with the top 10 iOS 14 features for iPhone [Video]
• iPadOS 14 – 50+ Top Features and Changes! [Video

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.

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Apple + OpenAI rumors, iPad durability testing – 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. Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: Ad-free versions of every episode Bonus content New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories discussed in this episode: New iPad Pro performs well in extreme bend test, beats previous-gen Here’s how the new iOS Cross-Platform Tracking Detection works iOS 18: Apple finalizing deal to bring ChatGPT to iPhone Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Spotify TuneIn Google Podcasts Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: Ad-free versions of every episode Bonus content Catch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes! Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

1. Apple + OpenAI rumors, iPad durability testing 05:54
2. Apple previews iOS 18 accessibility features 06:52
3. iOS 17.5 now available, touchscreen Macs 06:54
4. Will the new M4 iPad Pro have a bending problem? 05:45
5. ‘Crush’ iPad ad, Shot on iPhone 06:48

9to5Mac Watch Time |

Jeff Benjamin joins Zac Hall to give Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 5 an exit interview before new models are announced. 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives.

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Week 6 – 9to5Mac Watch Time

This week on Watch Time join 9to5Mac's Zac Hall and Tempo developer Rahul Matta in the final episode of this podcast "season". 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives. Subscribe now to catch up with each episode and automatically hear new episodes as soon as they’re released every two weeks: 🟣 Apple Podcasts | 🟠 Overcast | 🟢 Spotify Follow Zac Instagram @apollozac Twitter @apollozac SpaceExplored.com Follow Rahul Matta Twitter @rmatta Twitter @TempoLog Blog indie.sh Follow 9to5Mac Instagram @9to5mac Twitter @9to5mac Facebook YouTube.com/9to5Mac Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast RSS Read More Toning down the Apple Watch: Tips and feature requests to avoid being overwhelmed Apple releases watchOS 7.4.1 with security improvements Apple Watch blood sugar and blood pressure measurement could be a step closer watchOS 7.4 brings iPhone mask unlock feature for Apple Watch Enjoy the podcast? Shop Apple at Amazon to support 9to5Mac Watch Time!

1. Week 6 46:48
2. With guest Sigmund Judge 42:59
3. Week 5 52:45
4. Week 4 57:20
5. Week 3 56:40

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New iPad Pro released, iOS 18 accessibility features, Apple AI servers – 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin gives his thoughts on his brief experience using the new M4 iPad Pro hardware, while Chance ponders a purchase. Apple previews some exciting new iOS 18 accessibility features, and we gist more insight into Apple’s AI plans with reports that the company is already hosting Apple Silicon chips in its server farms. And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance react to the increasing likelihood that John Ternus becomes Apple’s next CEO, in the fullness of time. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Incogni: Limit public access to your private information, mitigate the risks of identity theft, and keep your data from being sold. Use code “happyhour” at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: incogni.com/happyhour Sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/HAPPYHOUR. 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus Introducing 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:  Ad-free versions of every episode  Pre- and post-show content Monthly bonus episodes Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.  Hosts Chance Miller @ChanceHMiller on Twitter @chancehmiller@mastodon.social @ChanceHMiller on Instagram @ChanceHMiller on Threads Benjamin Mayo @bzamayo on Twitter @bzamayo@mastodon.social @bzamayo on Threads Subscribe, Rate, and Review Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads Email us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com Links Here’s how the new iOS Cross-Platform Tracking Detection works Apple announces new accessibility features, including Eye Tracking – Apple iOS 17.5 is now available: Here's everything you need to know Apple previews iOS 18 accessibility features including eye tracking and music haptics CarPlay in iOS 18 will add these new accessibility features iOS 18 will let you use custom voice phrases to trigger actions Vision Pro will soon be able to show live captions of everything being spoken around you M4 iPad Pro reviews praise OLED display; criticize price, software Hands-on with the nano-texture M4 iPad Pro [Video] Here's how much lighter the iPad Pro's new Magic Keyboard actually is Not an iPad Pro Review: Why iPadOS Still Doesn’t Get the Basics Right Apple reportedly developing new dedicated chip for AI data centers Bloomberg: iOS 18 AI tech to rely on data centers with Apple silicon iOS 18: Apple finalizing deal to bring ChatGPT to iPhone Apple to unveil brand new Siri at WWDC powered by generative AI iPhone 17 rumors: New design, 'Slim' model to replace 'Plus’, more Apple allegedly planning foldable 20.3-inch hybrid for 2025, foldable iPhone in 2026 John Ternus emerging as most likely successor to Tim Cook as Apple CEO

1. New iPad Pro released, iOS 18 accessibility features, Apple AI servers 55:43
2. New iPad Pro, iPad Air, and M4 chip Apple event reactions 01:25:22
3. Beats Solo Buds, surprising iPad Pro specs, and iOS 18 rumors 59:52
4. iPad Apple event announced, FineWoven winding down, Apple TV FIFA deal 01:16:56
5. iOS 17.5 beta 2, M4 Mac schedule, Humane Pin reviews 57:58

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Stacktrace has moved! – Stacktrace

As we've mentioned in the last episode, the Stacktrace podcast is no longer a part of the 9to5Mac network. If you're seeing this entry in your podcast player, then you probably need to unfollow Stacktrace and follow the podcast again. Start by unfollowing the show in your podcast player, then just search for "Stacktrace" and follow the show again. You'll notice that the updated show has a new artwork and that episode 179 has already been released there. To learn more about how to listen to Stacktrace, check out our new website. Thanks for listening!

1. Stacktrace has moved! 01:00
2. 178: “Let’s try something new” 01:03:25
3. 177: “The stand is included!” 01:09:24
4. 176: “Extra Keynote Poker” 01:19:00
5. 175: “A Bluetooth fanboy” 54:35

Apple @ Work Podcast |

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Pull requests are welcome – Apple @ Work

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1. Pull requests are welcome 21:03
2. Layers and layers of security 23:48
3. Security and productivity in the age of AI 29:54
4. Configuration Profile surgery 28:27
5. Dongles need not apply 25:44

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