A new article by The Hollywood Reporter today sheds light on why director/producer J.J. Abrams declined a big deal with Apple, which would have seen his Bad Robot production company become one of the main creators for exclusive content on Apple TV+.

According to sources, Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath wanted to be able to sell Bad Robot’s content to other outlets. Of course, Apple wanted the company to exclusively produce shows and movies that would only be made available on Apple TV+ and nowhere else. Ultimately, Abrams decided to stick with WarnerMedia, which offered far less than Apple.

Sources familiar with the deal say it is less about money and more about the larger opportunities that come with an established media giant like WarnerMedia. Abrams is said to have wanted a set number of guaranteed slots on Warner Bros.’ feature film release calendar, though it’s unclear if that was included in the new agreement. With Warners, Abrams has the ability to create new features that could see his new deal reach the billions if he’s able to create a successful franchise.

Now that Bad Robot remains under WarnerMedia, the company is able to create shows like “Lisey’s Story” and sell it out to other brands, including Apple. Abrams hopes to turn Bad Robot into a “consumer brand” in this way and get its content in front of as many people as possible, which would have been more difficult if it were locked behind the Apple TV+ exclusivity barrier.

Apple’s exclusivity deal (valued in the $500 million range), also would have restricted Abrams’ ability to work on outside projects under the Bad Robot umbrella for other studios, like his work on Star Trek for Paramount. Additionally, Bad Robot was concerned about Apple’s lack of a clear theatrical distribution model, which the company as of yet has not needed to dabble in.

There are a multitude of other reasons that appear to have ultimately convinced Abrams to remain at WarnerMedia. These include Apple’s lack of IP for him to adapt, his alleged disappointment in Apple’s March media event where it introduced Apple TV+, and a disagreement on the exact valuation of Bad Robot.

J.J. Abrams is still producing many shows on Apple TV+, including “Little Voice,” “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends,” and the adaptation of the Stephen King novel “Lisey’s Story.”

This article, “J.J. Abrams Declined Apple’s $500 Million Offer Because it Would Have Restricted Bad Robot Productions to Apple TV+” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As part of a bipartisan investigation of competition in digital markets, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee today sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook requesting that the company provide any documents and executive communications related to its various policies for the App Store, product repairs, and more.

The investigation seeks any internal documents or communication involving Apple executives, such as emails, for the following topics:

• Apple’s decision to remove from the App Store or to impose any restrictions on certain parental control apps, including Freedom, Kidslox, Mobicip, OurPact, and Qustodio
  
• Apple’s App Store algorithm for determining rankings in search results
  
• Apple’s policy related to the App Store‘s in-app purchase mechanism and its revenue split
  
• Apple’s policy regarding whether apps are permitted to include in-app links to non-Apple payment systems
  
• Apple’s policy regarding whether users can set non-Apple apps as default, such as web browsers and music, maps, and email apps
  
• Apple’s policy regarding whether to allow any third-party app store beyond the App Store on the iPhone
  
• Apple’s decision to “sherlock” any functionality from third-party apps, including any discussions about Clue, Duet Display, and SwiftKey
  
• Apple’s policy regarding whether third-party web browsers must use a specific rendering engine, such as WebKit
  
• Apple’s restrictions on third-party repairs
  
• Apple’s decision to offer discounted iPhone battery replacements throughout 2018, or the actual or projected effects of this decision, including any effect on iPhone sales
  
• Apple’s decision to introduce the Independent Repair Provider Program
  
• Apple’s agreement to sell products on Amazon and corresponding move to limit unauthorized resellers on Amazon

The Committee has requested that Apple respond no later than October 14, 2019 and also sent similar letters to Facebook, Amazon, and Google.

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, “U.S. House Committee Asks Apple to Send Info About App Store Policies and More as Part of Antitrust Investigation” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max are now available for pre-order on Apple.com and cellular carriers as of this morning. As usual, most carriers are offering some perks if you choose to pre-order the new iPhone through their websites, so we’ve listed each promotion below.

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

AT&T

$300 Reward Card

If you use AT&T, the carrier is offering a chance to get a $300 reward card when you order select smartphones online, as long as they are purchased with a qualifying installment plan. You’ll have to add a new line to a new or existing account, as well.

After paying taxes for the smartphone upfront, and a $30 activation fee, you’ll get the $300 reward card within 3-4 weeks after redemption. The iPhone also must be placed on an eligible AT&T unlimited plan.

Compatible iPhone models include: iPhone 8, 8 Plus, XR, X, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (priced up to $1450). Customers should note that the iPhone 8 64GB is excluded.

BOGO

You can also buy an eligible iPhone 11 model and get one at a discounted price (or free) when both are placed on an eligible AT&T unlimited plan.

You’ll have to buy the two iPhones on a qualifying installment agreement, add at least one new line to a new or existing account, pay taxes for each device up front, and pay a $30 activation or upgrade fee for each device.

iPhones compatible in this offer include: iPhone 8, 8 Plus, XR, X, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (priced up to $1450). After choosing one of these, you can get the iPhone 8 64GB, 8 Plus 64GB, XR 64GB/128GB, or 11 64GB for free after up to $700 in bill credits.

You can also opt to get the iPhone 8 256GB, 8 Plus 256GB, XR 256GB, X, XS, XS Max, 11 128GB/256GB, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max for up to $700 off retail price. Credits for this offer start within three bill cycles.

Head to AT&T’s wireless page to check out more information on both of these offers.

Sprint

Sprint is offering new customers a chance to save on iPhone 11 through its Sprint Flex Lease program. If you switch to Sprint and trade in an existing smartphone, you can pre-order the iPhone 11 today for $0/month after $29.17 monthly bill credits.

The same method can be applied to the iPhone 11 Pro ($12.50/month) and 11 Pro max ($16.67/month). This is only when you trade in the latest iPhones, including the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, and XS Max.

You can also order the Apple Watch Series 5 through Sprint and take 50 percent off via monthly bill credits for the cellular models. This is only for Sprint’s 24-month installment agreement and requires a new watch plan activation, as well as one active handset on an account.

Head to Sprint to check out these deals and more.

Verizon

Verizon is hosting a multitude of iPhone-related deals today, starting with an offer for customers switching to Verizon from another carrier. If this is you, you can get up to $700 off the iPhone 11 Pro or get the 64GB iPhone 11 at no cost.

The usual 24-month installment agreement, monthly bill payments, and unlimited plan caveats apply.

Verizon also has BOGO on Apple Watches, where you can buy one and get another for up to 50 percent off (plus $10 off your first month of service). A new watch line of service is required, and up to $150 will be credited to your account over 24 months.

These deals can be found on Verizon’s website.

T-Mobile

At T-Mobile you can trade in your iPhone XS ($500) or XS Max ($550) and get 50 percent off the 64GB iPhone 11 Pro.

You can also trade in any qualifying iPhone to get 50 percent off the 64GB iPhone 11. These trade-ins will appear as monthly bill credits.

Our full Deals Roundup is the place to go if you’re on the hunt for even more Apple-related bargains.

This article, “iPhone 11 Pre-Order Deals: Save On Apple’s Latest Smartphones Through AT&T, Verizon, and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The Academy Software Foundation, a collaborative effort to advance open source software development in the motion picture and media industries, today announced that Apple has joined the foundation as a “premier” member.

“Filmmakers everywhere use Apple products. We are delighted to welcome Apple as a new member, and we look forward to working with them to ensure that our open source projects run well on Apple software platforms,” said David Morin, Executive Director of the Academy Software Foundation.

Launched in August 2018 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Linux Foundation, the Academy Software Foundation is described as “a neutral forum for open source software developers to share resources and collaborate on technologies for image creation, visual effects, animation and sound.”

Apple’s streaming video service Apple TV+ will feature dozens of Hollywood-produced TV shows and movies. The service launches November 1 for $4.99 per month, including Family Sharing, with a free seven-day trial available.

This article, “Apple Joins Hollywood’s Academy Software Foundation to Aid in Open Source Support” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models include the necessary hardware for a two-way charging feature that was widely rumored for the devices, but Apple has disabled the feature on the software end, according to “reliable sources” cited by leaker and former Apple blogger Sonny Dickson.

Reliable sources are saying iPhone 11 and 11 Pro do include the hardware for bilateral charging, but that it is software disabled. Uncertain whether this was removed prior to final production run.

— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) September 13, 2019

Dickson, through his connections, has proven reliable at times in the past. He had early line of sight on the AirPower’s development challenges, for example, and the wireless charging mat was eventually canceled.

For months ahead of their unveiling, the latest iPhones were rumored to feature a Qi-based device-to-device charging feature, allowing for an Apple Watch, AirPods, and other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhones. The feature was expected to be similar to Wireless PowerShare on Samsung’s Galaxy S10.

The centered Apple logo on the iPhone 11 models was even believed to be partly intended to help customers know where to place their AirPods, Apple Watch, or other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhone.

Just hours before Apple’s event this week, however, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said the feature appeared to have been canceled. In a note seen by MacRumors, Kuo said the feature was possibly abandoned because “the charging efficiency may not meet Apple’s requirements.”

Teardowns of the iPhone 11 models will soon confirm whether the two-way charging hardware is in fact present in the devices. Deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin Friday, September 20.

(Thanks, Burak Polat!)

This article, “iPhone 11 Lineup Said to Include Two-Way Charging Hardware, But Software Disabled” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Shortly after pre-orders for Apple’s new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models went live, supplies of the new higher-end iPhone 11 Pro models began dwindling, with launch day shipping no longer available for many colors and capacities.

Most iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models in the midnight green color went first, suggesting it is the most popular color this year. At this time, most new Pro models in midnight green will ship in late September to early October.

Space Gray, Silver, and Gold iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models are also selling out quickly with many colors and capacities across several carriers now unavailable for launch day delivery. Gold devices are still in stock along with a few Silver and Space Gray, but it looks like all available supply will soon be exhausted.

The iPhone 11 appears to be faring better and most models in most colors and capacities can still be purchased for launch day delivery.

Given how fast the iPhone 11 Pro is selling out, it’s best to place an order as early as possible. Those who don’t get launch day delivery may be able to visit an Apple Store or another retail location on launch day to get a new iPhone.

Update 6:15 a.m.: Shipping estimates for select models of the iPhone 11, led by the new green and purple colors for T-Mobile and Sprint customers, have started slipping beyond the September 20 launch date as well.

This article, “Available Supply of iPhone 11 Pro Models Begins Waning” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models through its online storefront and the Apple Store app.

Priced at $699, the iPhone 11 is Apple’s most affordable new iPhone this year. It features a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge LCD display, a colorful glass body that comes in one of six colors, improved water and shatter resistance, an A13 chip, and a new dual-lens camera system with a wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lens.

The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro, which is priced at $999, features a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED display, a matte glass body, improved water and shatter resistance, an A13 chip, longer battery life, and a new triple-lens camera setup with telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra wide-angle lenses for some impressive photography improvements.

Apple’s most expensive iPhone, the $1099 iPhone 11 Pro Max, is identical to the iPhone 11 Pro with the exception of its larger 6.5-inch display and bigger battery. Both the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max ship with an 18W USB-C power adapter and USB-C to Lightning cable for fast charging right out of the box, and they’re available in a new green color.

All three new iPhones feature Haptic Touch instead of 3D Touch, next-gen Smart HDR for the cameras, a new night mode that’s designed to capture crisp, bright photos even in very low lighting conditions, Portrait mode improvements, and an upgraded 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera system.

Face ID is up to 30 percent faster and it works from more angles, and the front-facing camera features improved Smart HDR and support for 120 fps slo-mo video, enabling what Apple calls “slofies.”

Pre-orders are available in the United States and more than 30 other countries and regions. We haven’t heard rumors of supply constraints so available iPhone models should be plentiful, but it’s always best to order early especially when it comes to the midnight green shade because it’s a new, never-before-offered option.

All of the major U.S. carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile — are accepting pre-orders for the new devices, as are many other carriers around the world. Major online retailers including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, are also accepting pre-orders starting today.

The iPhone 11 is priced at $699 for 64GB of storage, with 128GB of storage available for $749 and 256GB of storage available for $849. iPhone Upgrade Program pricing is available, as are trade-ins to lower prices.

The iPhone 11 Pro is priced at $999 for 64GB of storage, $1149 for 256GB of storage, and $1349 for 512GB of storage. The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers the same storage tiers at price points $100 higher than iPhone 11 pricing ($1099, $1249, and $1449).

In the United States, customers can purchase the new iPhones from any of the four major carriers using Apple’s site, or choose a SIM-free version. Customers who successfully place an order for launch day delivery can expect to begin receiving their devices on Friday, September 20, the official release date for the new devices.

This article, “iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max Now Available for Pre-Order” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that its Omotesando retail store in Tokyo reopens Friday, September 20 following renovations, as noted by Japanese blog Mac Otakara. Doors will open at 8 a.m. local time. September 20 is iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and Apple Watch Series 5 launch day.

Likewise, Apple previously announced that its iconic Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan reopens September 20 at 8 a.m. local time.

“We’re transforming our iconic store into a space that’s open to collaboration of all kinds,” reads Apple’s new Fifth Avenue store preview page. “Made for the city where creativity never sleeps. Stop by during our weeklong celebration to get inspired by some of the best creative talent in the city.”

To celebrate the reopening of its Fifth Avenue flagship, Apple has temporarily covered the store’s iconic glass cube in an eye-catching iridescent film. Below, the underground store has been significantly expanded in size, with circular skylights added at ground level to allow natural light into the store.

Update: Apple Antara in Mexico City will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27. It will be the company’s second retail store in Mexico.

This article, “Apple Fifth Avenue in New York and Apple Omotesando in Tokyo Reopen on iPhone 11 Launch Day” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Spotify will require family plan members to provide their location data “from time to time” to prove they’re all living under the same roof, in an effort to curb subscribers who abuse the offer.

The Spotify Premium Family Plan has been hugely popular among users of the music streaming service, since it offers families up to six accounts under one plan for a single price of $14.99 a month, as does Apple Music‘s equivalent.

It’s no secret that friends sometimes gang up together to share the spoils of subscribing to Spotify’s cheaper family plan, even though they don’t live together. If six people share a plan then the cost of Spotify Premium works out at $2.50 per person.

The streaming service officially requires that fellow family plan members live in the same household, but Spotify has historically been fairly lax about checking up on where people live, so it’s easy to see the appeal.

However, according to the streaming service’s terms and conditions, updated in August, family plan users will be expected to share location data “from time to time” in order to prove that everyone on the plan is in fact living in the same residence.

First spotted by CNET, the new requirement does raise privacy concerns, but Spotify has moved to allay those fears by issuing the following statement:

“The location data that is collected during Premium Family account creation is only used by Spotify for that purpose…. once verification of a family member’s home address is completed, we do not store their location data or track their location at any time. This data is encrypted and can be edited by the plan owner as needed.”

It’s not clear how aggressive Spotify will be in checking user’s locations, but it has tested the policy before – though it ended shortly afterward after complaints of privacy violations.

@Spotify Why do you need my GPS location to continue offering me a “Premium discount”? I pay for the family plan and it should not matter where my family lives. Will you cancel my account if my family gets too far from each other? #wtf #fail pic.twitter.com/HauQtHXSUA

— suck (@unaligned) September 18, 2018

Regardless, existing family plan subscribers who don’t like the change have up to 30 days to cancel their subscription after the new terms come into effect. Depending where they are though, subscribers may not have as much time as they think. The updated family plan terms rolled out first in Ireland on August 19 and in the U.S. on September 5.

This article, “Spotify Wants Family Plan Members to Share Their Location Data ‘From Time to Time’” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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