The headline feature of Apple’s 2019 iPhones is undoubtedly the new camera system, with the more affordable iPhone 11 boasting the same high-quality lenses as the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, with the exception of the third telephoto lens that’s exclusive to the Pro models.

The standard wide camera on the iPhone 11 series offers the same 12 megapixels and f/1.8 aperture as on last year’s iPhone XS devices, while the new 12 megapixel ultra-wide camera gets a f/2.4 lens. Apple has also widened the aperture of the telephoto lens on the Pro models to f/2.0 – an improvement over the f/2.4 lens found in the iPhone X and XS – which allows more light to hit the sensor and grab more detail.

Lens-Based Camera App Changes

Apple has also re-designed the camera system from the ground up to make the lenses work seamlessly in concert, and also radically improved the image processing technology. To accommodate these more advanced capabilities, Apple has given the stock Camera app a complete overhaul exclusively for its iPhone 11 series devices.

For example, when you shoot with the standard wide lens as shown above, the camera app interface becomes semi-transparent to reveal the ultra-wide camera’s larger field of view, giving you a preview of what shooting with it would look like.

This immersive preview isn’t limited to the wide and ultra-wide either: When using the telephoto lens on Pro devices, the Camera app will use the standard wide lens to fill in the additional area of the screen, as shown in the screenshot below. There’s even an optional new camera feature that recruits the additional lenses and allows you to fix photo composition in post without having to resort to cropping.

Switching Between Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto

You can choose between the different lenses by tapping the numbered buttons at the bottom of the viewfinder: .5 is the new ultra-wide lens, 1x is the standard wide lens, and 2 is the telephoto lens (iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max only).

At first glance, it looks as if these lens modes are fixed options. Far from it: If you swipe up on one of the buttons you’ll see a radial zoom wheel enabling you to find a transition from camera to camera through a series of fine gradations.

Along the wheel you’ll also see the 35mm equivalent focal length of each lens-sensor combination (the focal length you would need for a 35 mm film camera to obtain the same angle of view). The wheel disappears once you’ve chosen a custom focal length, and if you decide you want to return to the standard focal length, you can simply tap the center lens button.

This article, “How to Use the New Camera Lenses on the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that its next-generation Mac Pro will be manufactured in Texas, with production slated to begin soon at the same Austin facility where the current Mac Pro has been made since 2013.

Apple says the new Mac Pro will include components designed, developed, and manufactured by more than a dozen American companies for distribution to U.S. customers. Suppliers will span eight states, including Arizona, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.

Apple did not immediately respond when we asked if the new Mac Pro will be made in Texas for orders distributed in other countries.

Apple says the U.S. manufacturing is made possible following import tariff exemptions the Trump administration granted Apple last week for certain Chinese-made components. The value of American-made components in the new Mac Pro is 2.5 times greater than the current Mac Pro, the company adds.

Apple CEO Tim Cook:

The Mac Pro is Apple’s most powerful computer ever and we’re proud to be building it in Austin. We thank the administration for their support enabling this opportunity. We believe deeply in the power of American innovation. That’s why every Apple product is designed and engineered in the US, and made up of parts from 36 states, supporting 450,000 jobs with US suppliers, and we’re going to continue growing here.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott:

Apple’s latest investment is a testament to Texas’ unrivaled workforce and premier business climate. Our state’s economy is thriving as the tech and manufacturing sectors continue to expand. I am grateful for Apple’s commitment to creating jobs in Texas, and will continue to promote fiscal and regulatory policies that encourage investment in our state and benefit future generations of Texans.

Apple says it remains on track to fulfill its commitment to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy by 2023. Apple said that, last year alone, it spent over $60 billion with more than 9,000 domestic suppliers across the country, including at manufacturing locations spanning 36 states.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

This article, “Apple Says New Mac Pro Will Be Manufactured in Texas After Receiving Tariff Exemptions” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Following a teardown of the iPhone 11 Pro Max on Friday, iFixit today posted a separate teardown of the entry-level iPhone 11 model.

The repair site reiterated what has been said previously about the iPhone 11: it’s essentially an iPhone XR, but with a few internal upgrades from the new iPhone 11 Pro family. There’s a double-decker logic board, upgraded wide and ultrawide camera lenses, and what iFixit believes to be ultra wideband antenna technology embedded into the rear case.

Otherwise, the teardown doesn’t reveal much unknown information about the iPhone 11. iFixit delved into the device’s rectangular battery, which is only marginally improved upon last year’s iPhone XR battery. The iPhone 11 has a 3,110 mAh battery, measuring about 7 percent more compared to the iPhone XR and accounting for the one hour battery increase that Apple claimed in its keynote.

iFixit also briefly discussed the potential for bilateral charging on the iPhone 11, which the site ultimately pointed out was never meant to be on the entry-level 2019 iPhone. The iPhone 11 lacks a second battery connector (unlike the 11 Pro Max), and iFixit explained that a larger battery and additional thermal management “would almost certainly be required” for bilateral charging on the iPhone 11.

The iPhone 11 earned a repairability score of 6 out of 10. iFixit said that the display is easier to replace than in other smartphones, but the site bemoaned Apple’s continued use of proprietary screws and an increased chance of breakage due to glass on the front and back of the iPhone 11.

This article, “iFixit’s iPhone 11 Teardown: ‘An iPhone XR With Some iPhone 11 Pro Tech Inside’” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s new iPhone 11 Pro Max has earned display testing and calibration firm DisplayMate’s “highest ever A+ grade” for providing “considerably better display performance than other competing smartphones.”

DisplayMate tested the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s display and found “major” performance improvements compared to the iPhone XS Max’s display, including increased peak brightness, improved absolute color accuracy, and slightly lower screen reflectance, all while being up to 15 percent more power efficient.

DisplayMate:

The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a Very Impressive Top Tier Smartphone Display

Apple has continued to raise the on-screen Absolute Picture Quality and Absolute Color Accuracy of their displays by implementing Precision Factory Display Calibration, moving the overall iPhone 11 Pro Max display performance up to Record Setting Outstanding levels, and setting or matching many Display Performance Records, including Absolute Color Accuracy at a very impressive 0.9 JNCD that is Visually Indistinguishable From Perfect, and almost certainly considerably better than your existing Smartphone, 4K UHD TV, Tablet, Laptop and computer monitor.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max also has a Record Full Screen Peak Brightness of 770 nits, and 820 nits for the typical Average Picture Level of 50%, which is roughly double of most high-end Smartphones. Compared to the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a number of notable improvements including 17% higher Full Screen Peak Brightness and up to 15% higher Display Power Efficiency.

Read the full DisplayMate article for in-depth analysis of the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s display and the methodology behind its testing.

This article, “iPhone 11 Pro Max Outperforms Competing Smartphones to Earn DisplayMate’s Highest Ever A+ Grade” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon has a few notable deals to kick off the week, offering up to $400 off the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro, 2019 MacBook Air, and the 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro. All of the deals that we’ve rounded up below represent the lowest-ever prices for these models.

iPad Pro

To start, you can get the 12.9-inch iPad Pro from 2018 (Wi-Fi, 64GB) for $799.00, down from $999.00. At $200 off, this is the lowest price currently available for this model of the iPad Pro. If you’re looking for more storage, the 1TB 12.9-inch model is also $200 off at $1,349.99, down from $1,549.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

These iPad Pro models come with an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, Face ID, an A12X Bionic chip, 12-megapixel rear camera and 7-megapixel True Depth front camera, and up to ten hours of battery life. You can use Apple’s Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 accessories with the 2018 iPad Pros as well.

MacBook Pro

Amazon has the higher-end 15-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD for $2,399.00, down from $2,799.00 ($400 off). The notebook is available in both Silver and Space Gray.

This is the latest 2019 MacBook Pro with Retina Display, the Touch Bar, Touch ID, four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, and updated Butterfly keyboard technology.

MacBook Air

Lastly, Amazon has the new 2019 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $899.97, down from $1,099.00 ($200 off). This MacBook Air has a 13-inch Retina Display, Touch ID, two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, and an updated butterfly keyboard.

Availability on this model is low, however, and at the time of writing it will be shipped sometime in late October. This is still a great price for the notebook, so those looking to save on this model should head to Amazon before the discount expires.

Head to our full Deals Roundup for more information on similar Apple-related discounts and offers.

Update: Since posting, the deal on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (64GB) has expired, and is now priced around $950.

This article, “Deals: Save on Apple’s iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air (All Lowest Ever, Up to $400 Off) [Updated]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple and esteemed talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey today announced the launch of Oprah’s Book Club in the Apple Books app.

Oprah’s Book Club can be accessed in the Apple Books app under Book Store > Browse Sections on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Winfrey’s first book selection is “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, available for pre-order now on Apple Books in both e-book and audiobook formats ahead of its debut tomorrow.

For every Oprah’s Book Club selection sold on Apple Books, Apple says it will make a contribution to the American Library Association to support local libraries and fund programs that give access to everyone.

Winfrey will interview the authors of her book club selections for a companion Apple TV+ series also named Oprah’s Book Club. Winfrey will interview Coates for the first installment of the series, which premieres November 1, the day that Apple TV+ launches across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and the web.

Winfrey will interview the authors of her book club selections at various locations. Her conversation with Coates about “The Water Dancer” will be filmed in front of a live audience at Apple’s Carnegie Library store in Washington, D.C. next month. A new episode will be available every two months.

Oprah Winfrey:

I am who I am today because of the experience of learning to read at an early age. Reading opened up a whole world for me beyond the red dirt road and my grandmother’s porch in Mississippi. I want to do that for everybody. And the opportunity to do this with Apple, to speak to people all over the world about the pleasures, the excitement, the tension, the drama that a good book can bring you … I don’t know what’s better than that.

Apple CEO Tim Cook:

Few people in the world can bring us together like Oprah, whose compassion and grace celebrating the power of books are unmatched. It’s our honor to provide a new platform for Oprah’s Book Club and support the American Library Association in opening hearts and minds to the joy of reading.

Oprah’s Book Club was first announced at Apple’s services-focused event in March.

This article, “Oprah’s Book Club Launches on Apple Books, Apple TV+ Series Premieres November 1” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple says that its new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max are made from a more durable glass that’s the “toughest glass ever in a smartphone,” and warranty company SquareTrade conducted one of its annual drop tests to put Apple’s claims to the test.

According to SquareTrade’s Breakability Score tests, the new iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models had more durable glass and better handled small drops, but were still prone to shattering in major drops.

In a series of 6 foot drop tests conducted both face up and face down, all three of the iPhones broke and suffered damage of varying degrees. In a tumble test, though, where the iPhones are tumbled around in a metal cylinder, the new devices fared a bit better.

The iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro Max both suffered from cracks (damage on the iPhone 11 was more minor) but the iPhone 11 Pro survived intact. There was no damage to the front or the back, with minimal scuffing at the corners.

According to SquareTrade, the iPhone 11 Pro is the first iPhone that’s ever been able to survive the tumble test intact. SquareTrade says the iPhone 11 Pro is the “most durable iPhone” it’s tested in generations.

In a 5 foot dunk test for 30 minutes, the iPhone 11 Pro came out unscathed, while the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Max suffered from audio distortion. Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro also fared the best in a bend test, bending at 251 pounds of pressure. The iPhone 11 bent at 240 pounds of pressure, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked at 232 pounds.

Based on these tests, SquareTrade assigned each iPhone a breakability score. The iPhone 11 received a score of 73, the iPhone 11 Pro received a score of 65, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max received a score of 85, with the lowest score being the best.

Comparatively, in the same drop tests conducted last year, the iPhone XS had a breakability score of 86 while the iPhone XS Max had a breakability score of 70.

“After our robots dropped, dunked, tumbled and bent the devices, we found the new iPhone 11 Pro to be the most durable iPhone we’ve tested in generations,” said Jason Siciliano, vice president and global creative director at SquareTrade. “It’s the first smartphone to survive our tumble test, which simulates the effects of multiple, random impacts experienced by a smartphone during long-term use. That’s a real achievement when it comes to durability. However, dropping any of the new iPhone 11 models on a sidewalk without a case, face-down or back-down, can still cause serious damage, as we saw with our drop tests.”

Several other less formal drop tests have been conducted on the new iPhone 11 models since launch, with mixed results.

Tom’s Guide dropped an iPhone 11 Pro right outside Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York from a height of about 3.5 feet, resulting in screen damage. A second drop didn’t damage rear glass, but the original hip-height drop still broke the phone. CNET saw better results in its multi-height drop tests onto concrete flooring.

At three feet, six feet, and eight feet, the iPhones stayed undamaged for the most part, though some suffered minor scratching and pixel damage on the display. At 11 feet, the iPhone 11‘s camera quit working, but the 11 Pro and Pro Max didn’t break.

YouTuber EverythingApplePro saw results that were quite similar to CNET‘s in drop tests from multiple heights and at different angles onto concrete. None of the iPhones broke from waist or head height, and the iPhone 11 only shattered after being dropped 10 feet.

What happens to one of the new iPhone 11 models when dropped in the real world is going to depend on the drop height, the material it’s dropped on, where the iPhone takes the blow, and other factors, so these tests aren’t necessarily demonstrative of what’s going to occur when you drop your iPhone.

Testing overall suggests the new 2019 iPhones are more durable than previous-generation iPhones, but glass plus a hard surface still has the potential to result in damage, so it’s best to use a case.

Apple sells AppleCare+ for the new iPhones, which covers two incidents of accidental damage for a $29 deductible. AppleCare+ for iPhone 11 is priced at $149, and AppleCare+ for iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max is priced at $199.

This article, “Durability Tests Suggest New iPhones Can Survive Some Drops, But Still Break From Major Falls” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last year, Google introduced its impressive Night Sight camera mode, a software-based feature that allows users to take detailed pictures in dark environments using Google Pixel smartphones. This year it’s Apple’s turn, and with the launch of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the company unveiled a dramatic new Night Mode photo feature exclusive to its flagship smartphone lineup.

When using the Camera app on any of Apple’s 2019 iPhones, the new Night Mode feature comes on automatically when an indoor or outdoor scene is dark enough to warrant brightening, resulting in natural colors and reduced noise. In short, new iPhone users should see an immediate improvement when shooting in low light environments, without having to adjust any exposure settings.

In photography, the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor is measured in the “lux” luminance metric, and Apple’s Night Mode is designed to work in environments hovering around 10 lux. For a comparison, the outdoor light level on a clear day will be around 10,000 lux, while a windowed indoor space on the same day might get somewhere between 1,000-2,000 lux. A very dark day may reach about 100 lux, but during twilight and in dimly lit indoor environments you’re probably looking at around 10-15 lux, which is when Night mode should present itself as an option in the Camera UI.

When Night Mode is suggested but not engaged, you’ll see a Night Mode button appear at the top of the viewfinder that looks like a crescent moon. If you think the scene would benefit from Night Mode, simply tap the button – it will turn yellow, and display the number of seconds for exposure. If the lux is below 10, Night Mode will automatically engage.

With Night Mode enabled, you’ll see a slider appear under the viewfinder that you can leave at the suggested exposure time, or use to manually select one. Depending on the lux, Night Mode automatically simulates a long exposure of 1, 2, or 3 seconds, but you can adjust this to anything up to 10 seconds, again depending on the environmental light level.

When you’re ready to shoot, tap the shutter button, hold the phone as still as you can as the Camera simulates a long exposure, and when it’s done, you should be left with an image that effectively makes the camera seem like it can see in the dark.

If you don’t want Night Mode engaged when shooting in extremely low light environments, you can easily turn it off by tapping the yellow Night Mode button when it appears at the top of the viewfinder.

Using Night Mode With a Tripod

By recruiting the help of the gyroscope in your iPhone, Night Mode can detect when the device is attached to a tripod and will present longer exposure times than normally offered, enabling you to take more detailed shots in very low light.

When taking Night Mode shots during handheld use, you’ll usually see 1-3 second delay and you can manually select up to a 10-second delay, but with a tripod you may see up to 30 seconds available in the Night mode dial.

This article, “How to Take Photos Using Night Mode on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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YouTube Music has launched a new automated playlist called “Discover Mix” to help subscribers to the streaming service find new songs and artists that match their taste.

Image via 9to5Google

Similar to Spotify’s popular “Discover Weekly,” Google’s new playlist features 49 songs consisting of music that’s “picked for you,” according to your listening history, and updated every Wednesday.

The playlist can be found in the YouTube Music app, under a recently added “Mixed for you” shelf that also includes the “New Release Mix” and “Liked Songs” playlists. Like those lists, it can be saved to your library for quick access and supports offline playback.

Initial comments on Reddit suggest the Discover Mix includes undiscovered tracks from artists that users are already familiar with, along with a few new artists, some from genres that haven’t been explored before by the listener.

The new playlist follows last month’s launch of Google’s “New Release Mix” to YouTube Music, which features the “hottest 50 songs” and looks designed to compete with Spotify’s “New Music Friday,” and Apple Music‘s “New Music Daily” playlist, which also launched in August.

Discover Mix is currently rolling out, although like many of Google’s new features, it may take some time to become widely available.

Customers who subscribe to Google Play Music are also automatically signed up to YouTube Music, which is expected to replace the former service soon. For a direct comparison between Apple Music and Google Play/YouTube Music, click here.

This article, “YouTube Music Gains New Personalized ‘Discover Mix’ Playlist Updated Weekly” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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