Benjamin Mayo

This is a bit strange, but renders based on schematics provided to MySmartPrice indicate some external design changes to the iPhone 13. These adjustments don’t really tell us much about any new features, but they are notable if accurate.

In addition to the new slimmer width notch we’ve seen elsewhere, the MySmartPrice renders depict a diagonal arrangement of the iPhone 13’s dual camera system. Rather than being stacked vertically as in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, the depicted render places the lenses diagonally in the top-left and bottom right corner of the square camera module.

According to a report today from The Korea Times, Apple is apparently close to signing a deal with the joint automotive venture of LG and Magna, currently named “LG Magna e-Powertrain.”

The contracts would supposedly see the LG and Magna International venture produce the initial rounds of Apple Car production. Apple is currently expected to introduce its own electric vehicle in 2025 at the earliest.

In a weird revelation, Siri is telling some people that Apple will host its next event on April 20, a week from today. The discovery was first reported by MacRumors.

Obviously, this is either a complete mistake or Siri has jumped the gun and Apple will be sending out invites to members of the press shortly.

With so much focus on the App Store at the moment, Apple’s leading argument is that its App Store review policies offer security and safety for users. However, unscrupulous apps continue to slip through the net and rake in millions from Apple customers before being caught.

One of the biggest drivers of these scams is the use of fake reviews to prop up apps that otherwise wouldn’t get a second look. A common pattern for such an App Store scam is to make a very simple app targeting popular search keywords, attach aggressive subscription pricing to it, and make it rise high in search results by faking hundreds of 5-star App Store reviews …

In a new report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a new smart home product: a major evolution of an Apple TV set-top box that integrates a smart speaker and camera hardware. Somewhat similar in concept to the Roku Streambar, the single device would upgrade a user’s living room with a comprehensive multimedia system.

The device would offer the kind of features users would expect from an Apple TV box — like access to video streaming apps and games console — as well as HomePod-esque smart speaker features and a camera for smart home security and living room FaceTime.

At the end of last week, it was reported that Apple had refused to send a witness to a senate hearing on the state of app store policy and industry competition. Representatives from the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee said that Apple had “abruptly declared” it would not provide a witness, and that lack of participation was unacceptable.

However, Apple says that this is inaccurate and Apple had simply asked for more time to arrange scheduling matters. The company will in fact be sending chief compliance officer Kyle Andeer to the proceedings.

According to a new report from The Information, Apple has hired away Jessie Henderson from WarnerMedia as the company looks to expand its investment in original film production.

The new hire will join the Apple Original Films division as Apple looks to expand the number of films it produces. The report say that Apple is raising up its production target for TV+ movies, increasing from the original expectation of 10-12 per year

Apple’s version of “classic MTV,” Apple Music TV, has now expanded to the United Kingdom and Canada after debuting in the US last year.

The channel plays an endless stream of music videos all day, every day, as well as incorporating live event content from time to time.

After first appearing in the 2017 iPad Pro, it appears that 2021 will finally be the year that the iPhone gains a ProMotion display.

Today’s Digitimes reports corroborates claims made recently by The Elec. The report says Apple is going to use LTPO screen technology in the iPhone 13. The power efficiency of LTPO helps to enable the iPhone to run at a 120Hz refresh rate presumably without impacting battery life.

There is a global shortage of semiconductors right now that is affecting all sorts of industries, as almost all hardware these days depends on silicon at some level. The automobile industry is being particularly affected, with manufacturers simply unable to produce as many cars as they planned to while they wait on component availability.

As one of the world’s largest buyers of silicon, Apple’s sheer size and market power meant they have been able to buy up available capacity and continue production of key products like the iPhone unscathed, at least so far. However, a report from Nikkei today says that even Apple is hurting, with production of some iPad and MacBook models impacted.

Apple today announced a new original to its slate, launching first as a podcast with an Apple TV+ series to follow later in the year. ‘The Line’ follows the true story of formy Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, who was charged with war crimes after being photographed with a corpse in Iraq. Gallagher was accused of murder.

You can start listening to The Line in Apple Podcasts from today (here’s the RSS feed URL for other podcast players). A four-part TV series on the subject will debut on the Apple TV+ streaming service later in the year.

As part of an interview with Kara Swisher, Tim Cook addresses his succession. As the interview concludes, Swisher asks Cook if he will still be at Apple in 10 years’ time.

Cook says that he probably won’t be running Apple in 10 years, although the “date is not in sight.” He obviously gave no hints about whom is set to replace him as CEO.

In a new interview with Kara Swisher on the Sway podcast, Apple CEO Tim Cook addresses the upcoming lawsuit with Epic Games, the controversy over iOS 14.5’s App Tracking Transparency policies, and more.

In regard to Apple’s interest in self-driving cars and autonomous driving, Swisher asks Cook what he thinks of Elon Musk. Cook said that he has great admiration for Tesla, even though he has never spoken to Elon Musk himself.

Renowned leaker l0vetodream said today that the upcoming iMac redesign will feature an even larger display than the current iMac lineup.

Apple currently sells iMacs in two sizes; a 21.5-inch model and a 27-inch model. The leaker suggests that the new iMac will feature a display that is Apple’s biggest yet, thereby exceeding 27 inches. Perhaps Apple is looking to match the Apple Pro Display XDR and create a 32-inch all-in-one machine?

Right around this time, March or April, Apple usually updates the Apple Store with a bunch of new iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. On a fairly regular basis, the company updates its accessory collections in spring and fall with new color choices. Update: more pics below …

Via DuanRui, Apple is apparently readying new blue, purple, green and burnt orange cases for the iPhone 12 MagSafe leather case range.

Last month, it was revealed that Apple had agreed to comply with new Russian legislation that would require device makers to ‘preinstall’ apps as part of first setup.

As it is now April, this law has come into effect and Apple has enabled the system server-side. After completing normal iPhone set up, iOS now directs the user to a special App Store collection of apps.

Update: We’ve learned that while the new Russian law requires local apps to be offered during setup, the government isn’t explicitly mandating which apps are shown.