In closing its event at the Steve Jobs Theater today, Apple announced that next Monday it will launch the latest software update to HomePod, version 12.0. The headline feature is multiple timers, a missing function often derided at HomePod’s launch, and it’s joined by the ability to make and receive phone calls, perform Siri song requests with lyrics alone, and rounding things out, support for Find My iPhone and new languages.
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HomePod 12.0 Coming Next Week with Support for Multiple Timers, Phone Calls, and More
Apple Asks Developers to Submit iOS 12 and watchOS 5 Apps for Review
Ahead of the upcoming public releases of iOS 12 and watchOS 5 on September 17th and macOS Mojave on September 24th, Apple has told developers via its developer website that App Store submissions are open.
On its developer news site Apple touts the advantages of the new iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR:
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR feature a trio of all-screen displays paired with A12 Bionic and the next-generation Neural Engine. A12 Bionic is the smartest and most powerful chip ever in a smartphone, and is designed for performance in mind with Core ML, ARKit, Metal, and more. And now Face ID works even faster than before to securely and privately unlock, authenticate, and pay.
Apple has added scores of new features to its operating systems that developers can take advantage of to improve existing apps and create all-new ones that were impossible before the new APIs were introduced.
You can also follow all of our Apple event coverage through our September 12, 2018 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated September 12, 2018 RSS feed.
Replay Apple’s September 12, 2018 Keynote and New Product Videos
If you didn’t follow the live stream or announcements as they unfolded at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino today, you can replay it on Apple’s Events site and catch all the the product videos on YouTube.
The keynote video can be streamed here and on the Apple TV using the Apple Events app. A higher quality version should be made available soon through iTunes on the Apple Keynotes podcast.
Apple also posted new videos, including its product-reveals for the new iPhones and Apple Watch Series 4 and a two-minute speed run version of the event on its YouTube channel. You can find all those videos below after the break.
You can also follow all of our Apple event coverage through our September 12, 2018 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated September 12, 2018 RSS feed.
Apple Expands AppleCare+ on iPhones with Optional Theft and Loss Coverage
AppleCare is Apple’s extended warranty program. Every iPhone comes with a 1-year limited warranty and 90 days of phone support. If you pay for AppleCare+, the price of which depends on your model of iPhone you buy, the warranty is extended to two years as is phone support.
AppleCare+ also covers accidental damage. Customers are entitled to two incidents during the two years and are charged $29 for new screens and $99 for other repairs, which is significantly less than the repairs would cost otherwise.
Today, Apple announced an extension of AppleCare+. Now, Theft and loss can be covered too providing additional value to customers. In addition to being available for the new iPhones announced today, theft and loss coverage will be available for customers with the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X according to Apple’s AppleCare site.
Theft and Loss coverage includes Apple’s new Express Replacement Service and 24/7 priority phone and chat access to AppleCare representatives for up to two incidents. Find My iPhone must be turned on for coverage to be effective. Replacement costs $199 for the iPhone 6, 6s, 7, and 8, $229 for the iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, and XR, and $269 for the X, XS, and XS Max.
You can also follow all of our Apple event coverage through our September 12, 2018 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated September 12, 2018 RSS feed.
Apple Announces Release Dates for OS Updates, New iPhones, and Apple Watch
Apple announced release dates for updates to its OSes and new hardware at the keynote held in the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park today. Here are the dates for each:
iPhone XR:
- Pre-Order Date: October 19, 2018
- Ship Date and in stores: October 26, 2018.
iPhone XS, and XS Max:
- Pre-Order Date: September 14, 2018
- First Wave of Countries Ship Date and in stores:1 September 21, 2018
- Second Wave of Countries Ship Date and in stores:2 September 28, 2018
iOS 12
- Release Date: September 17, 2018
Apple Watch Series 4
- Pre-Order Date: September 14, 2018
- Ship Date and in stores: September 21, 2018
watchOS 5
- Release Date: September 17, 2018
macOS 10.14 Mojave:
- Release Date: September 24, 2018
You can also follow all of our Apple event coverage through our September 12, 2018 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated September 12, 2018 RSS feed.
- Shipping initially to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UAE, UK, US, and the US Virgin Islands. ↩︎
- Shipping to Andorra, Armenia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and South Africa ↩︎
Three Years of Club MacStories
When I introduced Club MacStories three years ago, I had no idea our crazy plan for a members-only newsletter would eventually grow into a key component of MacStories that now makes up for roughly half of its annual revenue. I remember reading a final version of my announcement post and telling my girlfriend we’d be lucky to hit 100 members in the first month. It took less than 30 minutes to surpass that number after the announcement went live. I couldn’t be more grateful to all the readers who signed up, keep reading Club MacStories to this day, and spread the word among their friends and family.
Apple Music Gains Better Organization of Releases on Artist Pages
In an update rolled out last night following the release of global top charts, Apple redesigned artist pages on Apple Music with separation of different kinds of music releases.
Apple Music Debuts Global and Country-Specific Top 100 Lists
Today, Apple Music added 116 Top 100 charts to its iOS Music app and iTunes on the Mac. The charts, consisting of a global Top 100 chart and a Top 100 chart for each country where Apple Music is offered, are part of a new Top Charts section of Apple Music’s Browse tab. Despite some reports that the charts are limited to the iOS 12 and macOS Mojave betas, I have been able to access them in iTunes on macOS High Sierra and iOS 11 too.
According to Rolling Stone, which was given a demonstration by Apple Music executives, the charts are based on Apple Music streams only and are updated every day at Midnight Pacific time.
Apple’s Acquisition of Shazam Approved by the European Commission
Last December, Apple announced plans to acquire music-discovery service Shazam. The service, which makes iOS, watchOS, and macOS apps that can detect songs, TV shows, and advertisements from their sound signatures, has been on Apple’s platforms since the early days of iOS and is the engine behind Siri’s ability to recognize songs.
Since February, the deal has been on hold while the European Commission considered whether it would adversely impact competition. In a press release today, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who is in charge of competition policy, explained:
“Data is key in the digital economy. We must therefore carefully review transactions which lead to the acquisition of important sets of data, including potentially commercially sensitive ones, to ensure they do not restrict competition. After thoroughly analysing Shazam’s user and music data, we found that their acquisition by Apple would not reduce competition in the digital music streaming market.”
Elaborating on the Commission’s findings, Vestager said the Commission concluded that “Apple and Shazam mainly offer complementary services and do not compete with each other.”
There has been no official word from Apple on the Commission’s decision, but it should clear the way to allow that deal to be consummated soon.
Past MacStories coverage of Shazam is available here.