There was some mixed information about the RAM in the new 2019 iPhone models, which has led to confusion over the course of the last week.

Benchmarks of the new iPhones have continually listed 4GB of RAM in all iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max devices, but a rumor sourced from a certification database suggested there was 6GB RAM in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.

That led to speculation that perhaps some higher-end capacities might have had 6GB RAM, but it’s now been made clear, both through regulatory filings in China and info discovered this morning by Steve Troughton-Smith in Xcode, that every iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max model has 4GB RAM.

Xcode also confirms that no model of iPhone 11 or 11 Pro/Max has 6GB of RAM. All models have 4GB of RAM

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2019

For the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, that’s identical to the amount of RAM available in the prior-generation iPhone XS and XS Max, and for the iPhone 11, that’s up 1GB from the 3GB RAM in the iPhone XR.

Also of note, Troughton-Smith has confirmed that the S5 processor in the Apple Watch Series 5 is identical to the S4 processor in the Apple Watch Series 4, with no performance improvements.

According to Xcode, Apple Watch Series 5 has the same generation CPU/GPU as the Apple Watch Series 4; I guess the only changes are a gyro and 32GB of NAND? The plus side of that is that we won’t have to worry about watchOS being slower on the Series 4 than on a brand new model

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2019

That’s not a surprise as Apple mentioned no changes to the chip during its September 10 event and there’s no mention of speed or performance increases in the Apple Watch marketing materials, but it’s useful to have confirmation.

Internally, the Apple Watch Series 5 is using an updated display that allows for always-on functionality, there’s a new compass feature, and 32GB storage, but otherwise, the Apple Watch Series 5 appears to use the same internal components as the Series 4.

Troughton-Smith’s Xcode digging has also uncovered new information about the updated 10.2-inch seventh-generation iPad. It is equipped with 3GB RAM, up from 2GB in the previous-generation version.

3GB of RAM on the 10.2″ iPad https://t.co/KeFSV7pT5p

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2019

Apple’s new iPhone and Apple Watch models are set to officially launch on Friday, September 20, and teardowns will soon unveil even more information about the new devices. The new seventh-generation iPad will be available on September 30.

Update: Troughton-Smith now says that he’s hearing conflicting information about the RAM in the iPhones and is going to look into it further in the firmware.

I’m hearing conflicting things about this, so I’m gonna revise my wording until I can have a closer look at the firmwares this week: there is 4GB of system RAM, accessible by iOS and apps, in the new iPhones. To the user, it’s 4GB of RAM

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 19, 2019

This article, “Xcode Confirms All 2019 iPhones Feature 4GB RAM, S5 Apple Watch Chip Identical to S4 [Updated]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced three years ago in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 92 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for JavaScript, WebGPU, SVG, Images, Web API, Service Workers, WebRTC, IndexedDB, Web Inspector, Accessibility, and Security.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Mojave and MacOS Catalina, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was introduced at the June Worldwide Developers Conference.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

This article, “Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 92 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Shazam, the song discovery app owned by Apple, was today updated to add Dark Mode support ahead of tomorrow’s iOS 13 launch.

Following the update, Shazam will be displayed in Dark Mode whenever Dark Mode on an iPhone is enabled.

Shazam in Light Mode on left, Dark Mode on right

Today’s Shazam update also allows users to long press on any track in the app to add it to a favorite streaming app or share it with friends. Swiping two fingers on a list of tracks will also now select them to allow them to be added to a playlist.

We know you’re ready for iOS 13 – so is Shazam! Now you can Shazam in style with Dark Mode.

Long press on any track across the app to quickly add it to your favourite streaming app or share it with your friends. Want to quickly select a list of tracks to add to a playlist? Just place two fingers anywhere in a list of tracks and swipe down to multiselect

Apple purchased Shazam last September, and after the acquisition, removed all ads from the app and made it free. Shazam can be downloaded from the iOS App Store, though the song identification feature of the app is built right into the iPhone when asking Siri to identify a song. [Direct Link]

This article, “Apple-Owned Shazam Updated With Dark Mode Ahead of iOS 13 Launch” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded eleventh beta of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers and public beta testers, one week after seeding the tenth beta and more than two months after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 13 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that’s installed using Xcode.

tvOS 13 introduces an updated Home screen aimed at making it easier to discover new content. Apps are now able to play full-screen video previews on the Home screen, similar to Netflix.

Multi-user support is available for the first time, letting more than one profile exist on the Apple TV so each family member can have their own customized Apple TV interface with separate recommendations, music playlists, and Watch Now lists.

Switching between profiles can be done with the new Control Center, which offers up profiles, the time and date, search, a Now Playing widget, AirPlay controls, and a sleep option.

tvOS 13 gets the Apple TV ready for Apple Arcade, Apple’s new gaming service that’s coming to the Apple TV, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. Apple Arcade will offer unlimited access to more than 100 new and exclusive games, for one subscription fee.

As part of the Apple Arcade preparations, Apple has implemented support for the Xbox Wireless Bluetooth Controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 Controller, both of which can be connected to an Apple TV over Bluetooth.

There are new under the sea themed screensavers created in partnership with the BBC Natural History Unit, which also created “Blue Planet.” There’s also a new Picture-in-Picture feature. Picture-in-Picture lets you continue to watch TV shows or movies while using a different app, adjusting settings, or otherwise navigating through the tvOS 13 operating system.

tvOS 13 is available to registered developers and public beta testers at this time and will see an official public launch this fall.

This article, “Apple Seeds tvOS 13 Beta 11 to Developers and Public Beta Testers” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iPadOS and iOS 13.1 update to developers and public beta testers, one week after seeding the third beta and a few weeks after seeding the initial iOS 13.1 beta.

iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air after the proper profiles have been installed.

Apple in late August released the first iOS 13.1 beta, which came as a surprise because Apple has never released a point update for software that’s not out yet. Apple is planning to release iOS 13.1 two weeks after the September 19 launch of iOS 13.

The iOS 13.1 update includes several features that were announced at WWDC but were ultimately removed from iOS 13 over the beta testing period. Shortcuts Automations, for example, is back in iOS 13.1. Shortcuts Automations allows Shortcuts users to create personal and home automations from the Shortcuts app to have actions performed automatically when specific conditions occur.

Share ETA, a major maps feature, is also available in iOS 13.1. With Share ETA, you can share your estimated time of arrival to a location with a friend or family member.

Other new features include new icons on the volume indicator when headphones or speakers are connected (with icons for AirPods, Beats headphones, and HomePod), more detailed HomeKit icons in the Home app, and updates to Dynamic Wallpapers.

Mouse support, an accessibility option in iOS 13, has been improved in iOS 13.1 allowing a long press or 3D Touch to be mapped to the right click function of the mouse. Reading goals now include PDFs, Nike+ is now just Nike, and iOS 13.1 supports HEVC video encoding with alpha channels.

There are some other smaller changes in iOS 13.1, which are outlined in our first iOS 13.1 article. If we find new features in the fourth beta of iOS 13.1, we’ll update this post. iOS 13.1 will be released to the public on Monday, September 30.

This article, “Apple Seeds Fourth Betas of iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 to Developers and Public Beta Testers” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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One of the new features of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models is an upgraded 12-megapixel front-facing TrueDepth camera system, which, for the first time, is able to take slow motion 120fps videos.

When introducing the 2019 iPhones, Apple invented a new word for the function, combining slo-mo (the name long used for the 120fps feature on the rear-facing camera) and selfie into the word “Slofie.”

Slofies didn’t sound like a serious word when Apple first mentioned the feature at the iPhone event, but the company is promoting Slofies in multiple places on its website, and as The Verge points out, Apple last Friday filed a trademark on “Slofie” in the United States.

Slow motion videos taken with the front-facing camera are identical to the slow motion videos that have previously been available through the rear-facing camera, slowing down motion for a unique super slow effect. “Slofie” isn’t used to describe the feature in the camera app, where it’s just referred to as “Slo-mo.”

It’s not clear if Slofies are going to take off and become a popular feature, but Apple is certainly aiming to make that happen. Prior to when Apple used the word on stage on September 10, the Slofie term doesn’t appear to have been widely used, so it’s likely Apple will be granted the trademark.

Apple’s move to trademark the term will prevent other smartphone makers from marketing their devices with a similar feature name, ensuring the “Slofie” term is associated exclusively with iPhones.

This article, “Apple Files Trademark Application for ‘Slofies’” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Korean website The Elec continues to believe that the iPad Pro lineup will be refreshed in March 2020 with 3D sensing rear cameras, noting in a report today that LG will supply time-of-flight sensors for the devices.

MacRumors concept of iPad Pro with triple-lens rear camera system

However, there is still debate as to whether the iPad Pro will be refreshed this October, next March, or in both months.

Early this year, Bloomberg‘s oft-reliable Mark Gurman claimed a laser-powered 3D camera could debut on an iPad Pro as early as spring 2020, but he more recently reported that Apple plans to refresh the iPad Pro lineup by the end of 2019, so Apple’s roadmap for its high-end tablet is not entirely clear.

Japanese blog Mac Otakara and Sonny Dickson also expect the iPad Pro to receive a triple-lens rear camera system in October.

Meanwhile, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said there is an over 50 percent probability that the iPad Pro adopts time-of-flight technology in the fourth quarter of 2019 or first quarter of 2020, adding to the uncertainty.

On a purely speculative basis, we can think of three possible scenarios: the March refresh with 3D sensing ends up being an October affair instead, or the iPad Pro receives a minor refresh in October and a bigger update with 3D sensing in March, or the iPad Pro is simply not refreshed until March.

Apple would be breaking precedent by refreshing the iPad Pro in October, as the tablet has gone roughly 18 months between hardware updates since first launching in November 2015 — the second-generation 12.9-inch model was released in June 2017, followed by third-generation models in November 2018.

The Elec also expects LG to supply 3D sensing rear camera sensors for 2020 iPhones, slated to launch next September, although it appears to mistakenly refer to the iPhones as iPads in one section of its report.

The Elec has established a small track record after accurately claiming the iPhone 11 would have a 3,110 mAh battery.

This article, “LG Rumored to Supply 3D Sensing Camera Sensors for iPad Pro Refresh in March 2020” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In a production information sheet, Apple has confirmed the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max all feature single-cell batteries.

Last year, only the iPhone XS had a single-cell, L-shaped battery, with an iFixit teardown of the device revealing that Apple “notched” the internal corners of the battery to prevent undue stress from thermal expansion. iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR models are equipped with multi-cell L-shaped batteries.

Vietnamese website Di Động Việt today shared a seemingly legitimate teardown of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, revealing its single-cell, L-shaped battery. Consistent with Chinese regulatory filings, the battery has a capacity of 3,969 mAh, making it around 25 percent larger than the iPhone XS Max’s battery.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max’s battery is also noticeably thicker than the iPhone XS Max’s battery to accomodate the increased capacity.

With the added thickness comes added weight. Apple’s production information sheet says the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max batteries weigh 47, 48, and 65 grams, respectively, while the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max batteries measure in at 46, 41, and 50 grams, respectively.

iPhone 11 Pro Max battery on top, iPhone XS Max battery on bottom via Di Động Việt

The teardown also provides a first look at the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s triple-lens rear camera lenses and other components. iFixit should have more comprehensive teardowns of all three new iPhones in the coming days.

This article, “iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max All Feature Thicker and Heavier Single-Cell Batteries” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Facebook today announced a new set of Portal video chat devices, including one that is aimed to compete in the streaming TV market. This device is called the Portal TV, and it connects to a TV set with a standard HDMI cable and can stream content as well as enable video calls through Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

According to Facebook, video calling is the primary feature of Portal TV, because there aren’t many supported streaming apps announced as of today. Customers will be able to stream Amazon Prime Video, listen to Spotify, and download apps like Showtime, CBS All Access, Starz, Pluto TV, Red Bull TV, and Neverthink.

More apps are said to be coming soon, but Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and other popular platforms will not be on Portal TV at launch.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth said that the ability to video call friends and family on a TV-based device will make it unique in a crowded market. Bosworth went on to suggest that people will likely switch on alternative devices for their video streaming when they’re done video calling on Portal TV.

Otherwise, Facebook is also launching updated Portal devices in two new sizes: an 8-inch “Portal Mini” and 10-inch regular “Portal.” The new Portals have improved speakers, and a physical shutter so users can easily disable the camera and microphone.

Of course, with any news related to Facebook, the company has attempted to double down on privacy assurances. With the new Portal models, it said that users can opt out of the company accessing voice recordings collected by the Portal in their home. Facebook will transcribe some “Hey Portal” audio clips if users don’t opt out of it, however.

Bloomberg posted a separate story about this earlier today, detailing how Facebook “paused human review of audio” in August, while it worked on a way to give customers more control over the feature. The default option will still be for Facebook to automatically collect and transcribe “Hey Portal” commands, so users will have to be aware of this and navigate into their settings to opt out.

The Portal TV will cost $149, the Portal Mini will cost $129, and the Portal will cost $179. The Portal Mini and Portal will launch October 15, while the Portal TV is set to launch on November 5.

This article, “Facebook Announces ‘Portal TV’ for Streaming Content and Holding Video Calls” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple this week published environmental reports for the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, revealing that the Taptic Engine in all three devices is made of 100 percent recycled rare earth elements.

The Taptic Engine, which powers haptic feedback, represents around 25 percent of the total rare earth elements used in each iPhone.

“This is one of those happy coincidences where what is good for the planet is really good for business at the same time,” Apple’s environmental chief Lisa Jackson told Reuters. “One of the things we talk about a lot internally, just in general, is how much more resilient this makes our supply chain.”

Apple is able to recover and sort some rare earth elements using its recycling robot Daisy.

This article, “Apple Says Taptic Engine in iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro is Made of 100% Recycled Rare Earth Elements” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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