Upcoming Apple TV+ film “The Banker” was set to have its world premiere at the AFI Fest in Hollywood on Thursday, but its debut has been postponed by Apple, reports Deadline.
Apple is holding the show to investigate “recently uncovered and potentially damaging charges” surfaced by a family member of the late Bernard Garrett Sr, who the movie is based on.
In a statement, Apple said that “concerns” surrounding the film were brought to the company’s attention, and its premiere has been delayed as Apple investigates.
We purchased The Banker earlier this year as we were moved by the film’s entertaining and educational story about social change and financial literacy. Last week some concerns surrounding the film were brought to our attention. We, along with the filmmakers, need some time to look into these matters and determine the best next steps. In light of this, we are no longer premiering The Banker at AFI Fest.
“The Banker” is based on the true story of Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, who devised a plan to help African Americans get access to real estate deals and bank loans during the 1960s.
The film stars Samuel L. Jackson as Joe Morris and Anthony Mackie as Bernard Garett, along with Nicholas Hoult and Nia Long.
Apple has already set a theatrical release date of December 6 for the movie, and it’s not yet clear if it will still come out on that date. Following its theatrical debut, “The Banker” was set to come out on Apple TV+.
Update: Apple has delayed the theatrical release of “The Banker” and it’s not yet clear if and when the movie will see a release.
Apple on Wednesday unveiled new Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, offering up extra battery life for its newest flagship smartphones.
The first Smart Battery Case orders are arriving to customers today and the cases are in stores, so we picked one up to give MacRumors readers a heads up on the features and the differences compared to last year’s Smart Battery Cases.
Design wise, the Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models look identical to the prior-generation battery cases, with the exception of the square-shaped camera cutout to accommodate the dual and triple-lens camera systems in the new iPhones.
This year’s case has the same bump at the back, which houses the battery that charges the iPhone, and it’s about the same thickness as last year’s model.
There are volume up buttons at the side, a power button, and, on the right side, a brand new button that’s designed to be a camera control. You can press the button to automatically launch the camera app, regardless of whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked.
Pressing the button the first time opens up the camera app, but when the app is opened, pressing again takes a photo. Pressing and holding captures a QuickTake video, and the single press also works with the selfie camera.
Apple is offering the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max Smart Battery Cases in black, white, and pink sand, while the iPhone 11 Smart Battery Case is limited to black and white. The black shade of the new cases has shifted. Last year, Apple used a black case with a charcoal logo, but this year, the entire case is the lighter charcoal color with a deeper black logo.
There are two 1,430mAh battery cells inside of the iPhone 11 Pro Max version of the Smart Battery Case, up from the 1,369mAh battery cells used last year in the iPhone XS Max Smart Battery Case. The two battery cells are wired together into one battery, allowing the cases to offer 10.9Wh of energy (vs. 10.1Wh in the prior XS Max model).
Apple says that all of the new battery cases will add up to 50 percent more battery life to the iPhones, which translates to 9 hours of additional video playback for the 11 Pro, 10 hours of additional video playback for the 11 PRo Max, and 8.5 hours of additional video playback for the iPhone 11.
With the Smart Battery Case attached to an iPhone, the iPhone will drain the case first before using the built-in battery, and this is automatic and can’t be shut off. Battery life of the case can be viewed on the Lock screen when placed on a charger or in the Today view of the Notification Center.
Charging the case can be done using a Lightning cable or a Qi-based wireless charger. The iPhone will always charge before the case when charging the two together. For those with Lightning-based headphones and accessories, the Lightning port on the Smart Battery Case does have passthrough capabilities.
Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week sat down for an interview with ABC News after his visit to Texas with President Donald Trump, and today, ABC News has shared additional details from that interview.
Cook said that his focus is on policy over politics, and that he’s focused on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which both Cook and Apple have been advocating for.
“No matter who is in the White House, the things I’m focused on are going to be the same. I am focused on DACA. We have 450 folks in Apple, employed at Apple, who are employed on DACA. I want those folks protected. Not just the 450 but the broader DACA people in America.”
Cook in October signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold DACA and protect dreamers in the United States. Cook in the interview said that he’s going to continue to fight against the Trump Administration’s efforts to rescind DACA.
“I will fight until my toes point up on the subject because I think that it is so core to who we are as a people that we not turn our back on people that came into the country as kids, they were brought here well before they could make a decision on their own. These people are the core of what an American is.”
Cook also spoke on privacy, and reiterated comments that he’s made many times before. Apple, said Cook, does not want to know personal details about your life and is not trying to “vacuum up all your data.”
Cook went on to say that he’s “very worried” that in a world where “nothing is private,” then freedom of expression, a classic part of what it means to be American, “just evaporates.”
On the topic of breaking up tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon, Cook said that he thinks there’s too much focus on “fines and breakups” and not about how tech companies are collecting and using data that customers did not make an informed decision to give access to.
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.
Both the Classicbot and the iBot G3 are little robot toys that are modeled after classic Mac machines from Apple. The Classicbot Classic is modeled after the Macintosh Classic, sold in the early 1990s.
The Classicbot features a body that resembles a Classic Macintosh, along with movable arms and legs so it can be posed. There’s a tiny mouse and a font suitcase that the Classicbot holds in a hand, and the detail is spectacular thanks to the precise injection molding technique used to make the toy.
Every part of the Classic Macintosh is included, from the display with two cute little robot eyes to the floppy disk drive and the vents, buttons, and ports on the back.
Classicbot Classic measures in at 10cm tall, and the arms, held on by magnets, can be removed for a more streamlined computer look.
Along with the Classicbot Classic, MacRumors readers who win the giveaway will get the iBot G3, which is modeled after Apple’s iconic iMac G3, first introduced in 1998.
Available in either Bondi Blue or Tangerine, the iBot G3 features an anthropomorphized iMac with a face on the display, detachable arms, and movable legs.
As with the Classicbot Classic, the iBot G3 has been recreated faithfully, with an enclosure made from translucent plastic and impressive details like the CRT, ethernet ports, and ventilation fans.
The arms and legs can be detached and there’s an included stand so it can be displayed in a more traditional computer shape as well. It comes with the iMac G3 mouse and keyboard.
Both the Classicbot Classic and the iBot G3 are designed to be figurines that are put on display, and they’re the perfect desktop addition for any Apple lover. They also make great gifts. Philip Lee has a few other toys and figurines that MacRumors readers might be interested in, such as classic icon sets and Classicbot plushes.
Ahead of the holidays, we have five Classicbot Classic and iBot G3 sets to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (November 22) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 29. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 29 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple may have just released Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 lineup, but there are plenty of people still using last year’s devices. If you’re an iPhone XS Max owner looking to boost your battery life, Amazon has just dropped the price of Apple’s Smart Battery Case in black to $59, more than 50 percent off of Apple’s $129 list price.
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.
The case is currently listed as in stock, but supplies may run out quickly so be sure to take advantage of the deal while it’s available.
A legal battle between Apple and VirnetX that dates back nine years has seen a new development today, with a $503 million judgment from 2018 against Apple for patent infringement vacated by an appeals court and the case sent back to a lower court for reconsideration, reports Reuters.
The result is a mixed one for Apple at this point, with the appeals court finding only a partial reversal in affirming infringement by Apple on two counts and reversing on two other counts. The appeals court is sending the case back to district court to determine whether revised damages against Apple can be calculated or if a new damages trial will have to be held.
The case in question is just one of two involving Apple and VirnetX over communications security patents related to VPN, iMessage, and FaceTime. Apple is currently on the hook for $440 million in the other case, but appeals remain in progress.
Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates recently traveled to Asia to meet with manufacturers within Apple’s supply chain, and today they shared their expectations for 2020 iPhones based on information they gathered.
In a research note viewed by MacRumors, the Barclays analysts said the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will likely have 6GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. They also expect both models to feature rear-facing 3D sensing and mmWave support for higher-performance 5G.
The base model iPhone 12 is expected to have 4GB of RAM, equal to the iPhone 11. While the iPhone 12 is also expected to be 5G enabled, the analysts did not indicate whether the device will support mmWave, sub-6GHz, or both.
Last, the analysts indicated that the so-called “iPhone SE 2” is still in the pipeline, with production apparently set to begin in February. The lower-cost device is expected to resemble the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM.
iPhone 12 models will likely be introduced in September as usual, while the new lower-cost iPhone is expected around March.
Barclays has proven to be a largely reliable source of information.
Amazon has restocked its supply of Apple’s AirPods Pro at the price point of $234.98, down from $249.00. This $14 discount matches the all-time-low price we’ve previously seen on the AirPods Pro at Amazon.
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.
As of writing, the AirPods Pro are in stock and available to ship now, with an estimated arrival date between November 29 and December 2. Head to Amazon soon if you’re interested, and be sure to check out our dedicated Best Deal on AirPods guide for all of the best discounts on Apple’s entire line of wireless earphones.
Shipments of Apple’s popular AirPods lineup are projected to double to 60 million in 2019, according to Bloomberg. The strong growth is due in part to “much higher” early demand for AirPods Pro than Apple had expected.
The $249 AirPods Pro — which offer noise cancellation and water resistance — have surpassed expectations and demand for them is pushing Apple’s assembly partners against capacity and technical constraints, a person familiar with the matter said. Multiple suppliers are competing for the business of manufacturing the Pro earphones, though some are still building up the technical proficiency.
After a ramp-up in popularity of the original AirPods, which debuted in late 2016, Apple has released two updates to the lineup this year, with second-generation AirPods in March and the new AirPods Pro just a few weeks ago.
Apple Watch and AirPods are the two cornerstones of Apple’s push into wearables so far, and both have seen strong growth over the past few years. AirPods are the market leader in true wireless earphones, which are proving popular with consumers. While there are some competitors like Sony and Google already in the market, the launch of Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds has been pushed back until at least March.
Google this week began rolling out its new cloud gaming service, known as Stadia, which is designed to let you play games wherever WiFi is available on smartphones, laptops, tablets, TVs, and more.
Google Stadia doesn’t work on the iPhone at this time (though you can use the app to manage your account), but you can play games on the Mac so we thought we’d give it a try in our latest YouTube video.
Right now, Stadia is available to those who ordered the Founders Edition bundle, which was priced at $129, but it will soon be available to everyone.
There are a few cloud-based gaming services on the market such as PlayStation Now and GeForce NOW, so Google Stadia isn’t a new concept, but Google promises a simple hassle-free experience that works cross platform.
Basically, to use Google Stadia, you sign up for an account ($9.99 per month for 4K streaming and a selection of free games) and then you can access games on a Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook, or a TV using a Chromecast Ultra, with Stadia also available on Pixel 2, 3, and 4 smartphones running Android 10.
The $9.99 per month fee is to access the Stadia platform. You still need to purchase games separately, and major titles are going to cost anywhere from $30 to $60. There aren’t a ton of games available right now, but you can play Red Dead Redemption 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat 11, and a handful of other popular games.
We tested Stadia on a new 16-inch MacBook Pro, and found it to be simple and straightforward to use. All of our games were available right away after logging in to Google Stadia via a web browser, with no downloading or installing required to play.
Because these are cloud-based games, you can pick up where you left off on any compatible device, so a game started on the Mac can later be picked up on the TV.
Setup was simple, but the gameplay experience was, well, average. In testing, there was quite a bit of lag and several drops in resolution. Gameplay would be stable for a bit, but we also ran into some stretches where the gameplay was terrible.
Game quality also depended on the game. With Destiny, for example, we saw some hiccups but it was mostly stable, but with NBA 2K20, the game refused to recognize certain button presses and it just didn’t work well, suggesting not all games are quite as optimized as they should be. Google definitely has some bugs to work out.
The Stadia service works with any Bluetooth controller, but Google has designed its own Google Stadia controller that shipped with its Founders Edition bundle. We used the Stadia controller, which is pretty similar to an Xbox controller.
Using Google Stadia requires a solid internet connection, so it’s not for people who have slow connection speeds. You need at least 35Mb/s for 4K gaming, but even with a connection 10 times that, we had the aforementioned lag issues.
As mentioned before, Stadia is priced at $9.99 per month, but Google is also working on a free tier next year that won’t have a monthly fee and will be limited to 1080p quality.
The Founder bundle that we tested Stadia with is no longer available, but Google does have a similar “Premiere” bundle that includes the white Stadia controller (instead of the blue founder model), a Chromecast Ultra, and 3 months of “free” Stadia Pro service. After that, it will cost $9.99 per month.
Cloud gaming has been picking up in popularity over the course of the last few years, and now that Google has launched a cloud gaming service (Microsoft has one in the works too), it doesn’t seem out fo the realm of possibility that Apple could launch something similar in the future as an expansion of Apple Arcade.
What do you think of Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service? Let us know in the comments.
