For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with ColorWare to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win custom-painted AirPods Pro, available in dozens of colors.

For those unfamiliar with ColorWare, it’s a company that’s been around for a long time, offering custom paint jobs and unique skins for a range of electronic devices, from consoles to earbuds.

AirPods Pro can be ordered from ColorWare in custom colors for a fee of $389 for just the ‌AirPods Pro‌ or $439 for the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and the Wireless Charging Case. It’s pricy, but it’s the only way to get ‌AirPods Pro‌ in a color other than white.

There are solid and metallic colors, with gloss and matte finishes available. Traditional black, gold, and silver colors are options, but there are also bright shades in every color of the rainbow. If you want ‌AirPods Pro‌ in blue, yellow, orange, green, teal, deep purple, pink, or one of dozens of other colors, ColorWare is the best option. You can even get them painted to match Apple’s iPhones.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ can be custom painted in the same color as the case, or you can order each AirPod Pro and the case in all different colors, so there are quite a few available color combinations to choose from.

ColorWare has been offering custom painted devices since 1998 and has perfected the painting process. ColorWare uses a coating process that includes a primer, an application of a proprietary color formula, and an X2 liquid plastic coating that protects the color. All ColorWare work is guaranteed for 12 months, and 24 months with the purchase of an additional warranty.

Since ColorWare is using ‌AirPods Pro‌ from Apple and painting them, the full ‌AirPods Pro‌ functionality remains intact. There’s an H1 chip for quick and easy pairing, silicone tips for a tight in-ear fit, Adaptive EQ, and Active Noise Cancellation.

‌AirPods Pro‌ are a bit hard to get right now, so custom ‌AirPods Pro‌ purchases made now will arrive in early March. For those who don’t need ‌AirPods Pro‌ and prefer standard AirPods, ColorWare also colorizes ‌AirPods‌ and the ‌AirPods‌ case.

We have a set of custom painted ‌AirPods Pro‌ and Wireless Charging Case to give away, with the winner to choose the color and finish of their choice.

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 MacRumors Facebook 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.

ColorWare

The contest will run from today (January 17) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 24. The winner will be chosen randomly on January 24 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

This article, “MacRumors Giveaway: Win Custom-Painted AirPods Pro From ColorWare” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Executives from PopSockets, Sonos, Basecamp, and Tile are attending a congressional hearing today to testify in an ongoing antitrust inquiry involving major tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook, reports The Washington Post.

The smaller companies are aiming to provide evidence that the tech giants have become too big and have practices in place that stifle competition and hurt sales. Tile in particular is gunning for Apple, claiming that Apple’s iOS 13 Bluetooth and location tracking devices have hurt its business, and that Find My resembles Tile’s own service.

Apple made sweeping changes in ‌iOS 13‌, rolling out the ‌Find My‌ app alongside privacy-oriented changes that make it harder for third-party app developers to track customers without their knowledge.

According to Tile, ‌Find My‌, which is designed to let users locate lost iOS and Mac devices, has a major advantage over competing products because location tracking for ‌Find My‌ is enabled by default, while Tile must obtain user permission for location access in “deep, hard-to-find smartphone settings” that also has to be reauthorized with regular follow-up reminders.

Some lawmakers see Apple’s changes as an effort to gain an edge over rival companies, but Apple says the ‌iOS 13‌ updates are designed to improve user privacy and prevent app developers from using customer data without permission. “Apple has not built a business model around knowing a customer’s location or the location of their device,” Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz told The Washington Post.

Tile attorney Kirsten Daru said that Tile is “looking to Congress to level the playing field” because Apple’s changes have caused a “confusing and frustrating experience for [Tile] users.”

Sonos, PopSockets, and Basecamp are sharing similar complaints about Google, Facebook, and Amazon, and the information provided to lawmakers today has the potential to shape future state and federal probes.

Tile could soon be even more upset with Apple, as rumors suggest Apple is working on an “Apple Tags” product that can be attached to small items like wallets or keys to track them using the ‌Find My‌ app on the iPhone.

A mockup of what Apple Tags might look like

Apple Tags will directly compete with Tile’s own trackers, and will be better integrated into the iOS operating system. Apple will also be able to offer more advanced tracking features, taking advantage of the ultra-wideband chip in the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌Find My‌ option that uses connected Apple products belonging to other people to locate devices even when they’re offline.

For those interested, there is a live stream of the congressional hearing that can be watched on YouTube, with the video embedded above.

Update: CNBC‘s Kif Leswing has shared Apple’s full statement on the House Antitrust Subcommittee hearing involving Tile, which clarifies that Apple is working on an option that will let third-party developers enable “Always Allow” tracking at the time of setup. Apple plans to introduce this setting in a future software update.

Apple builds its hardware, software, and system level apps to protect user privacy and provide the best products and ecosystem in the world. Apple has not built a business model around knowing a customer’s location or the location of their device.

When setting up a new device users can choose to turn on Location Services to help find a lost or misplaced device with ‌Find My‌ ‌iPhone‌, an app that users have come to rely on since 2010. Customers have control over their location data, including the location of their device. If a user doesn’t want to enable these features, there’s a clear, easy to understand setting where they can choose exactly which location services they want enabled or disabled.

In regard to third-party apps, we created the App Store with two goals in mind: that it be a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps, and a great business opportunity for developers. We continually work with developers and take their feedback on how to help protect user privacy while also providing the tools developers need to make the best app experiences.

We’re currently working with developers interested in enabling the “Always Allow” functionality to enable that feature at the time of setup in a future software update.

This article, “Tile Decries Apple’s iOS 13 Location Tracking Changes, Calls on Congress to ‘Level the Playing Field’ [Updated]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with award-winning actress and producer Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who will develop new projects exclusively for Apple TV+ as both an executive producer and actress.

Louis-Dreyfus has broken records with multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics Choice Awards for her work as an actress and producer, and is a recipient of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This marks her first-ever overall deal with a streaming service, according to Apple.

“I am thrilled about this new partnership with my friends at Apple,” said Louis-Dreyfus. “Also, many thanks and kudos to my representatives for structuring the deal in such a way that I am paid in AirPods.”

Louis-Dreyfus is best known for her long-running roles as Elaine Benes on the popular NBC sitcom “Seinfeld” and Selina Meyer on HBO’s political satire comedy series “Veep.” She has also appeared on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Apple’s streaming TV service launched in November for $4.99 per month.

This article, “Apple TV+ Reaches Multi-Year Agreement With ‘Veep’ and ‘Seinfeld’ Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Acclaimed actress Meryl Streep is set to narrate a forthcoming animated short film about Earth Day for Apple TV+.

Getty Images

In celebration of Earth Day, which falls on April 22, the 36-minute short will follow a curious seven-year-old who learns about the planet from his parents and visits a mysterious exhibit at the “Museum of Everything,” according to Variety. The film is based on The New York Times bestselling book from Jeffers.

“Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth” will also feature the voices of Chris O’Dowd, Ruth Negga, and Jacob Tremblay.

The short film will debut on Apple TV+ on April 17.

This article, “Meryl Streep to Narrate Animated Short Film About Earth Day for Apple TV+” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Speed to the rescue in Kings of the Castle, this week’s addition to Apple Arcade across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The colorful, family-friendly speed runner game by Frosty Pop supports one to four players.

The game’s description on the App Store:

The dragon Zantorian locked Prince Rupert away in a castle tower on a dangerous and mysterious island. Lord Baldor dispatches the princess to investigate the hostile and unfamiliar territory and save the prince.

Playing as the princess, you must use your speed, courage, and savvy sense of direction to save the prince. Avoid traps, battle enemies, jump over obstacles, and collect gems along your journey to pay a ransom for the prince’s safe return. But do it fast. The dragon is hungry!

Apple Arcade launched in September. The subscription-based gaming service provides iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

In a recent press release, Apple promised that its Arcade service will receive new games and expansions every month.

This article, “Apple Arcade’s New Game This Week is ‘Kings of the Castle’” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It’s been nearly one year since Apple cancelled the AirPower wireless charging mat, which would have allowed you to place your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods anywhere on the mat to wirelessly charge each device. In the subsequent months, numerous third-party companies have stepped forward in an attempt to reproduce this product, and now Zens has released its own take on an AirPower-like device: the Zens Liberty 16 Coils Wireless Charger.

Zens’ charger features 16 overlapping charging coils, letting you place any two Qi-enabled devices anywhere on the mat to charge them. It supports a total output of 30W, Apple Fast Charge, a USB-A port for wired charging of a third device (or attaching the ‌Apple Watch‌ USB stick accessory), and a USB-C power adapter.

Zens sent me both the Liberty Fabric Edition and the Liberty Glass Edition, which are the same product with different finishes on the Qi surface of the mat. The Fabric Edition sports a woolen upholstery textile that’s made of 90 percent wool, ensuring the back of your devices won’t be scratched, while the Glass Edition has a see-through surface that showcases the 16 charging coils.

In terms of their design, I preferred the subtlety of the Fabric Edition over the Glass Edition, which stands out far more. Both Liberty Wireless Chargers have a rubberized outer shell and sturdy bases with large footprints (8.8 inches long x 5.3 inches wide). The textile on top of the Fabric Edition lends the device a luxurious feel and look, which is good given that these are high-end chargers that exceed $140.

Charging times across the board aligned with typical Qi wireless charging estimates. My iPhone 11 Pro Max was topped off at 100% consistently every night I used the Zens Liberty charger, and I never faced any mysterious disconnects or interruptions in my time with the accessory.

As with any wireless charger, charging times are not as fast as using a Lightning or USB-C cable, but Zens’ accessory is perfect for trickle charging at your desk or overnight near your bed. Similarly, the USB Stick performed as expected for an ‌Apple Watch‌ charger, with performance on par with Apple’s own Magnetic Charging Dock.

After a few days, the Zens Liberty charger quickly replaced my previous Belkin Qi mat next to my bed. Zens’ promise of “freedom of placement” on the mat turned out to be entirely accurate, allowing me to throw down my ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ in nearly any orientation without having to worry about landing on the Qi “sweet spot,” which is something I constantly fussed with on the Belkin charger.

The nearly 9-inch mat is large enough to hold two Max-sized iPhones, but I mainly used mine to charge up my ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ and AirPods Pro on the Qi base. While the Liberty charger doesn’t quite meet the promise of AirPower‘s three-device Qi charging, what it provides for two devices is a reliable and frictionless wireless charging experience, with the added bonus of charging your ‌Apple Watch‌ with an accessory you can purchase separately.

This MFi certified ‌Apple Watch‌ USB Stick is a tiny dongle with an ‌Apple Watch‌ charging puck attached to the end, allowing you to charge your ‌Apple Watch‌ through any USB-A port. When connected to the Zens Liberty Wireless Charger on a special port at the back of the Qi mat area, the dongle turns into a little upright stand that can charge your ‌Apple Watch‌ in Nightstand Mode.

Bottom Line

The Zens Liberty Wireless Charger is a solid ‌AirPower‌ alternative that provides dependable wireless charging to any two Qi-compatible devices like the iPhone 11, ‌AirPods‌, and more.

Of course, the ability to freely place your devices anywhere on the mat and the high-quality design mean you’ll pay a premium for the accessory.

How to Buy

The Liberty Fabric Edition costs $139.99 (€139.99), while the Glass Edition costs $179.99 (€179.99). Both models come with a three-year extended warranty. The Apple Watch USB Stick is available separately for $39.99 (€39.99).

Note: MacRumors received the Zens Liberty Fabric Edition, Zens Liberty Glass Edition, and Zens ‌Apple Watch‌ USB Stick for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.

This article, “Review: Zens Liberty Wireless Charger is a Solid AirPower Alternative With Room for Two Qi Devices and Apple Watch” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Dutch company Robin Telecom today announced that its Robin ProLine doorbell is the first to support HomeKit Secure Video, allowing the camera to capture and store recordings securely in iCloud.

With help from an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad set up as a home hub, the ProLine doorbell can intelligently detect when motion from a person, animal, or vehicle is captured and store a recording in iCloud. When activity is detected, users will instantly receive a push notification on their iPhone or iPad and can play video clips right from the Lock screen or in the Home app.

With end-to-end encryption, HomeKit Secure Video is billed as a safer option than storing recordings on the servers of third-party accessory makers. A demo of the feature from an Apple Store was recently shared by Zach Truskowski.

HomeKit Secure Video is only available to users that pay for 200GB or more of iCloud storage, starting at $2.99 per month. Users with the 200GB plan can store 10 days of recordings from one camera in iCloud at no extra cost, while those with a 2TB plan can store 10 days of recordings from up to five cameras. HomeKit Secure Video recordings do not count towards a user’s iCloud storage usage.

To update the doorbell’s firmware, update the Robin ProLine app to version 1.6.0 or later and tap on the gear icon in the ProLine accessory to open the Details page. Tap on “update firmware” followed by “start firmware update.”

Priced at €599 in Europe, the Robin ProLine features 720p video recording, a 130-degree viewing angle, IP53-rated water and dust resistance, and a brushed aluminum finish available in space gray, silver, or black.

While several other HomeKit Secure Video doorbells have been announced, the Robin ProLine is the first to support the feature.

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Facebook’s controversial plan to sell ads in WhatsApp has been put on the back-burner, according to a new report today from The Wall Street Journal.

WhatsApp in recent months disbanded a team that had been established to find the best ways to integrate ads into the service, according to people familiar with the matter. The team’s work was then deleted from WhatsApp’s code, the people said.

Plans to monetize WhatsApp were floated no longer after Facebook acquired the messaging service in February 2014 for $22 billion. WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum and Brian Acton continually pushed back against the plans, which were a factor that ultimately led both men to quit the company.

Prior to leaving, Koum and Acton changed WhatsApp’s terms of service to explicitly forbid displaying ads in the app, which complicated Facebook’s future efforts to do so, according to WSJ‘s sources.

Facebook has changed its platforms’ terms of service in the past, but introducing ads on WhatsApp would have required a formal notification of users, creating a potential public-relations problem for Facebook.

Still, Facebook hasn’t completely given up on inserting ads into WhatsApp, and reportedly plans to add them to the app’s Status feature “at some point.” Status allows users to create short-lived posts similar to Instagram’s Stories.

However, for now the focus is said to be on developing money-making features that enable businesses to communicate with customers and better manage those interactions.

Before the acquisition, WhatsApp was initially a paid-for app and later transitioned to a $0.99 annual subscription service. Facebook made the service free after buying it and later unveiled its own revenue-generating plans for the platform, which has 1.5 billion users globally.

This article, “Facebook Shelves Controversial Plan to Insert Ads into WhatsApp” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today sent out emails notifying iPhone, iPad, and Mac users about the latest Apple Pay promo, which provides a 50 percent discount on gameplay at Dave & Buster’s when loading a Power Card in the Dave & Buster’s app using ‌Apple Pay‌.

Dave & Buster’s is a food and gaming venue that has multiple locations across the United States. Customers can get a 50 percent discount on card purchases and refills through January 30.

Customers who want to take advantage of the deal must sign up for a Dave & Buster’s Rewards account in the Dave & Buster’s app to quality. The offer will be automatically applied for first-time customers when using ‌Apple Pay‌ within the app, but existing customers can also take advantage of the deal when reloading a card with ‌Apple Pay‌.

Apple also promotes Apple Arcade in its latest ‌Apple Pay‌ email, suggesting customers who enjoy games sign up for the $4.99 per month service.

This article, “Apple Pay Promo Offers 50% Off Game Play at Dave & Buster’s” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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