Plex today announced that its ad-supported video on demand feature is available worldwide in more than 200 countries and accessible to anyone who creates a free Plex account.

Content includes thousands of free movies and TV shows from Plex partners like MGM, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, and Legendary. There is no subscription or special hardware required, though the content will include ads.

Available shows and movies span a range of genres, from comedies and dramas to documentaries and Bollywood musicals. Over time, Plex plans to continue to add additional free content.

Plex’s free media can be played on almost all platforms, including Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad, along with Roku, smart TVs, Android devices, and consoles. All that’s needed is the Plex app.

After downloading Plex, users will find the new content right on the Home screen, though existing Plex users who prefer to prioritize their own content can remove the free content. Personal media collections will not be subjected to ads, as ads will be limited to the new free on-demand video content.

Plex says that it may potentially take some time for the rollout of the new feature to reach all users. More information is available on the Plex website.

This article, “Plex’s Ad-Supported Free Video on Demand Feature Now Available Worldwide” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Swedbank, one of the largest banks in Sweden, has today announced support for Apple Pay.

“We want to be able to provide our customers a good range of digital and mobile services and ‌Apple Pay‌ is a sought-after service among our customers. We are pleased to now be able to broaden our mobile payment offer with yet another secure and smart alternative, which will provide lots of added value for our customers”, said Lotta Lovén, Head of Digital Banking at Swedbank.

Swedbank customers are now able to add their Mastercard credit cards and Maestro debit cards to the Wallet app by tapping the plus button in the top-right corner.

‌Apple Pay‌ can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. It is also accepted by select apps and websites.

‌Apple Pay‌ launched in Sweden in October 2017, and with Swedbank now on board, up to 4.1 million more customers can gain access to the service in the country.

‌Apple Pay‌ will be available in more than 40 countries and territories by the end of 2019, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

(Thanks to a tipster from Estonia!)

Update: As noted by MacRumors reader Adam Perjesi, ‌Apple Pay‌ is also now available at Bank Austria and Raiffeisen Bank in Austria.

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Following on from yesterday, DigiTimes has provided additional details on several Taiwan-based supply chain makers said to be “poised” to receive orders for components that will be used in a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini-LED display that Apple plans to launch in 2020.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed earlier in the week that Apple plans to release four to six products with mini-LED displays over the next two to three years, including a high-end 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌.

Kuo has said the mini-LED displays will “significantly improve productivity and the entertainment experience,” and has previously said that mini-LED displays will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including higher contrast ratio, higher brightness, and deeper blacks.

According to DigiTimes, the supply chain makers ready to receive orders for the components include Epistar, General Interface Solution (GIS), Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology (TSMT), Zhen Ding Technology, and Flexium Interconnect.

LED wafer and chip maker Epistar will compete for orders for mini LED chips from Apple through Te Opto, its joint venture with Japan-based Toyoda Gosei, the sources noted. Epistar will supply mini LED chips sized 200-micron x 200-micron and estimates that such an ‌iPad Pro‌ will use up to 10,000 mini LED chips, the sources indicated.

For mini LED backlight units (BLUs), Apple originally chose Radiant Opto-Electronics but the company was conservative about investment in expanding production capacity, the sources said. Consequently, CIS and LG Display are most likely to obtain BLU orders, the sources noted.

Kuo has previously said that future iPad and MacBook mini-LED displays will each use approximately 10,000 LEDs, compared to 576 in Apple’s upcoming Pro Display XDR. The TF International Securities analyst has said he also expects each LED will be below 200 microns in size.

GIS is an existing supplier of touch modules and LCD modules used in Apple’s iPads. Today’s supply chain analysis corroborates a recent Economic Daily News report that GIS will also make the new ‌iPad Pro‌’s mini LED backlight units (BLUs).

Meanwhile, TSMT is expected to be responsible for the surface-mounted technology, and Zhen Ding and Flexium stand a good chance of supplying flexible PCBs, according to DigiTimes‘ sources.

Kuo expects the new mini-LED ‌iPad Pro‌ to launch in the third quarter of 2020; Apple is widely rumored to refresh the ‌iPad Pro‌ in spring 2020. If it does, another new 12.9-inch model in fall 2020 would certainly be an early addition to the range.

This article, “GIS and Epistar to Supply Display Components for Mini-LED 12.9-inch iPad Pro” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today posted a new support document outlining troubleshooting steps for users experiencing problems with unexpected shutdowns on the entry-level 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which was introduced back in July.

Apple’s troubleshooting steps involve making sure the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has its battery level run down to below 90 percent, connecting it to a charger, quitting all open applications, and letting it sleep and charge for at least eight hours.

Once the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has been charged for at least eight hours, users should make sure they are running the latest version of macOS, and if the shutdown issue persists after following these steps, users should contact Apple for service.

There is a fairly lengthy thread in our forums where some users experiencing the issue have gathered to try to diagnose and troubleshoot their machines, and there are scattered reports of the issue in other discussion forums, including Apple’s support forums.

This article, “Apple Acknowledges Issue With Some Entry-Level 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro Models Unexpectedly Shutting Down” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Along with sharing its picks for the best apps and games of 2019, Apple today also updated the App Store with Top Charts that highlight the top free apps and games, paid and free, on the iPhone and the iPad.

When it comes to free games, Nintendo’s latest title, Mario Kart Tour, topped the charts. Launched on September 25, Mario Kart Tour was a highly anticipated game and features one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises.

Below are the top five free ‌iPhone‌ games:

• Mario Kart Tour
• Color Bump 3D
• aquapark.io
• Call of Duty Mobile
• BitLife Life Simulator

As for paid ‌iPhone‌ games, many titles that have been popular for years continued to hold on to their number one spots. Minecraft was the number one app on the paid game chart, followed by Heads Up, Plague Inc., Bloons TD 6, and Geometry Dash.

Many familiar apps also topped the free apps chart, including YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook Messenger, while the top paid app was FaceTune. Apple’s top five paid ‌iPhone‌ apps are listed below:

• FaceTune
• HotSchedules
• Dark Sky Weather
• The Wonder Weeks
• AutoSleep Apple Watch Sleep Tracking

Apple also did separate top charts for the ‌iPad‌, highlighting the most popular games and apps downloaded on its tablets. The top free game was Roblox, and the top paid ‌iPad‌ game was Minecraft. Top five charts are below.

Top 5 Free ‌iPad‌ Games

• Roblox
• aquapark.io
• Paper.io 2
• Color Bump 3D
• Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game

Top 5 Paid ‌iPad‌ Games

• Minecraft
• Geometry Dash
• Bloons TD 6
• Plague Inc.
• Amazing Frog

As for free ‌iPad‌ apps, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Chrome, and Hulu secured the top spots, while the top paid ‌iPad‌ apps included Procreate, Notability, GoodNotes 5, Duet Display, and kids game Toca Hair Salon 3.

Apple separately created a top chart to highlight the most popular Apple Arcade games available for ‌Apple Arcade‌, the company’s $4.99 per month gaming service. Top picks are listed below.

• Oceanhorn 2
• Sonic Racing
• Hot Lava
• Frogger in Toy Town
• Skate City
• LEGO Brawls
• Shinsekai Into the Depths
• Sayonara Wild Hearts
• Overland
• Assemble With Care
• Speed Demons
• WHAT THE GOLF?
• Rayman Mini
• Mini Motorways
• Sneaky Sasquatch
• Agent Intercept
• Super Impossible Road
• Where Cards Fall
• Outlanders
• Cricket Through the Ages

Apple’s full ‌App Store‌ charts for the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌ can be found in the ‌App Store‌ under the respective Apps and Games categories for each device. Apple lists the top 20 paid and free games and apps in these charts.

If you missed it yesterday, Apple also shared its editors choice picks for the best games and apps of the year on ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, Mac, and Apple TV.

• ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ Game of the Year – Sayonara Wild Hearts by Simogo
• ‌‌iPhone‌‌ App of the Year – Spectre Camera by Lux Optics ($2.99)
• ‌‌iPhone‌‌ Game of the Year – Sky: Children of the Light by thatgamecompany (Free)
• ‌‌iPad‌‌ App of the Year – Flow by Moleskine (Free)
• ‌‌iPad‌‌ Game of the Year – Hyper Light Drifter by Abylight S.L. ($4.99)
• Mac App of the Year – Affinity Publisher by Serif Labs ($49.99)
• Mac Game of the Year – GRIS by Devolver / Nomada Studio ($4.99)
• ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ App of the Year – The Explorers by The Explorers Network ($4.99)
• ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ Game of the Year – Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap by DotEmu ($7.99)

More information on all of the apps and other gaming and app trends of the year can be found in the “Today” section of the ‌App Store‌ on the ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, Mac, and ‌Apple TV‌.

This article, “Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2019 Include Mario Kart Tour, Minecraft, YouTube and FaceTune” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Yesterday, in a research note shared with MacRumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is planning four to six products with mini-LED displays over the next two to three years, including a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an A14X chip in the third quarter of 2020 and a refreshed 16-inch MacBook Pro in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Kuo said LG Display and Taiwanese manufacturer GIS will be the most significant benefactors of these mini-LED products starting next year.

Now, those mini-LED plans have been backed by two Taiwanese publications in DigiTimes and the Economic Daily News, with both outlets also reporting that GIS will be a key supplier of mini-LED-related components.

“Apple will introduce a 12.9-inch iPad Pro series featuring mini-LED backlit displays in 2020, with related suppliers set to kick off shipments in the third quarter, according to industry sources,” reports DigiTimes, which in a separate report added that Apple also plans to release a new MacBook with a mini-LED display next year.

Likewise, the Economic Daily News reported that Apple will tap GIS for mini-LED display module assembly for an upcoming iPad.

Kuo has previously said that Mini-LED displays will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including good wide color gamut performance, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks.

iPads and MacBooks currently use LCDs.

This article, “Supply Chain Reports Back Rumors of MacBook Pro and iPad Pro With Mini-LED Displays in 2020” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Spotify added a Sleep Timer to its Android app earlier this year, and this week, it’s making the feature available for Spotify users on iPhone and iPad. Keep reading to learn how to use the Sleep Timer and get a good night’s sleep.

What’s the Spotify Sleep Timer For?

Basically, the Sleep Timer feature is for anyone who goes to bed with Spotify playing on their iOS device and wants it to automatically stop playing after they’ve fallen asleep.

It’s a useful function to have if you don’t want your ‌iPhone‌ playing through that carefully chosen playlist or podcast series when you’re not awake to enjoy it. It can also help save your battery, and potentially your data allowance if you’re streaming over cellular.

How to Use the Spotify Sleep Timer

Spotify is rolling out the feature via a software update, so make sure you’ve downloaded the latest version of the Spotify app from the App Store before following these steps. If you don’t see the function in the Spotify app, check back later in the day, by which time the rollout will have hopefully reached you.

1. Launch the Spotify app on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
2. Start playing your music or podcast of choice.
3. Select the “now playing” screen so that the artwork and playback controls are front and center.
4. If you’re listening to music, tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen. If you’re listening to a podcast, tap the little moon icon in the bottom-right corner.
5. Scroll down and select Sleep Timer from the list of options that appear.
6. Select a duration for your timer. There are six increments to choose from, between five minutes and an hour. If you’re quick to fall asleep, choose End of track or End of episode.

You’ll can tell that the Sleep Timer function is active by the moon icon that appears next to the playback controls. If you set a timer and you haven’t fallen asleep yet, you can go back in and tap either Turn off Timer or select more time.

If you’re at a loss for what to listen to at bedtime, head to Spotify’s Sleep selection of playlists for some quick inspiration.

This article, “How to Use Spotify’s Sleep Timer Feature on iPhone and iPad” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has arranged for a representative to meet with Taiwanese touchscreen-related manufacturer GIS next week to discuss development of an iPhone with an under-display fingerprint scanner for release as early as next year, according to a pair of reports from the Economic Daily News.

The reports claim that Apple plans to use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor technology in at least one iPhone model set to be released in 2020, although the timeframe could be pushed back to 2021. GIS would cooperate with Qualcomm to supply necessary components.

This lines up with recent reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Barclays analysts, Bloomberg, and others who expect Apple to release an iPhone with both Face ID and under-display fingerprint authentication in 2020 or 2021.

There are currently two types of under-display fingerprint sensors, including optical and ultrasonic. Optical variants rely on light from a smartphone’s display to create a 2D image of a fingerprint, while ultrasonic variants make use of high-frequency sound to generate a 3D image of a fingerprint.

Qualcomm already supplies ultrasonic fingerprint sensors for Samsung’s Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10 smartphones, but iPhones could use an even more advanced version of the technology by time 2020 or 2021 rolls around.

In a closed-door briefing on the sidelines of the 2019 Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona, Qualcomm director Gordon Thomas reportedly disclosed that the company plans to create even larger under-display fingerprint sensors than the one used in Samsung’s latest smartphones, with an eventual goal of developing a sensor that works across virtually the entire display.

Coincidentally or not, the rumors about iPhones with under-display fingerprint scanning have suggested it will be a full-screen solution.

All in all, this serves as more evidence that Apple plans to release at least one new iPhone model with both Face ID and a form of full-screen Touch ID within the next year or two. Given the ultrasonic technology only works with OLED displays, the sensor will likely be limited to higher-end iPhones.

Update: As noted by PCMag, Qualcomm today at its Snapdragon Tech Summit in Hawaii unveiled a 30x20mm in-display fingerprint sensor for smartphones, said to be 17x larger than the one in the Galaxy S10. (Thanks, Stefan Constantine!)

This article, “2020 iPhone Rumored to Have Under-Display Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner Supplied by Qualcomm” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has picked up a new untitled documentary presented by Oprah Winfrey and created by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film will explore alleged sexual misconduct in the music industry, following a former music executive who struggles with whether or not to go public with her story of assault and abuse by a notable music industry executive.

It’s described as an examination of race, gender, class, and the toll that assaults take on victims and society.

Dick and Ziering have previously created several other documentaries, including “The Hunting Ground,” exposing sexual assault on college campuses and “The Bleeding Edge,” an exposé on the medical device industry.

There’s no word on what the film will be called, but it’s set to be released next year. Oprah Winfrey is serving as an executive producer, along with Terry Wood, Dan Cogan, Regina K. Scully, and others.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News 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 Picks Up New Documentary Focusing on Sexual Misconduct in the Music Industry” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Otterbox, a popular iPhone case manufacturer known for its highly protective cases, today launched the Exo Edge, a new series of cases designed for the Apple Watch.

Priced at $29.95, the cases are available both for the Series 3 and older ‌Apple Watch‌ models and the newer Series 4 and Series 5 models, which have a larger display.

The cases are designed to fit around the bezel of the ‌Apple Watch‌, adding a thick bumper that protects it from damage if the wrist is accidentally hit against something.

Each Exo Edge Case is designed to fit around the Digital Crown, and it covers the Side button on the ‌Apple Watch‌ for additional protection. Speakers on the alternate side are left open, and the back remains uncovered so the heart rate sensor continues to function.

You can use any ‌Apple Watch‌ band with the Otterbox ‌Apple Watch‌ cases, and the cases themselves are available in pink, black, white, and beige.

Exo Edge ‌Apple Watch‌ cases can be purchased from the Otterbox website for $29.95, but there is a 25 percent sale going on right now that drops the price to $22.46.

This article, “Otterbox Launches New Apple Watch Cases” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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