Apple has today updated the iMac with a few tech spec bumps. Although the rumored redesign did not come to pass, Apple has updated the 27-inch models with new 10th-generation Intel CPUs, a higher-resolution 1080p webcam. Apple has also standardized SSDs across the lineup for fast internal storage, finally adding the Apple T2 chip. The 21.5-inch iMac also gets the SSD chip, with Fusion Drive as a build-to-order option. As far as specs are concerned, the 2020 iMac update features 10th-gen Intel CPUs across the board, in 6 and 8 core options....

Apple is set to bring Apple Pay, its mobile wallet service, to China using a partnership with China UnionPay. @KhaosT on Twitter found references to the credit card type in iOS 8 code and now MarketWatch is corroborating with sources that a deal is in the works. Apple announced Apple Pay as a US only service, coming to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in October with a software update....

Alongside the launch of iOS 7, Apple has raised the limit for an application file size that could be downloaded over a cellular network via the App Store. The new limit is 100MB, and that is double the previous limit of 50MB (via MacRumors). Back in 2008, the App Store launched with a 10MB cap, but as iOS devices gained new features such as 3G, LTE, and Retina Displays, Apple has been raising the limits....

Early today, Apple started rolling out a new Music Videos section to the Music app on iOS. The feature acts as a home for music videos for Apple Music subscribers, aggregating the best and most recent video content. Now, the new Music Video section is coming to desktop with iTunes 12.7.4… Apple this evening has released iTunes 12.7.4 to users, bringing the new Music Video section to the desktop. Apple touts that this makes for a “new music video experience for Apple Music....

Apple is advancing its data accuracy efforts with Apple Maps, according to a new report from iGeneration. The report details a new website app program where freelancers can sign up and get paid a small fee each time they correct/verify a Point-of-Interest or placemark in Apple Maps. Similar to a Mechanical Turk system, people in the program can get paid about 54 cents per task, with a maximum of 600 tasks per week …...

Apple executives just finished unveiling the new iPad mini at the company’s special event at California Theatre. As we previously told you, pricing for the device starts at $329 (16GB), $429 (32GB), and $529 (64GB). For the same storage capacity options as the Wi-Fi only model, there will also be Wi-Fi + LTE models available for $459, $559, and $659. Pre-orders start Oct. 26, and the Wi-Fi-only model will ship Nov....

Bloomberg claims to have some info on how Apple plans to spend some of the $10.5B it has set aside for capital expenditure over the next year, saying that the investments will span everything from lasers to robots. A fair chunk of the cash – up from $7B last year – will of course be spent on initial work on the company’s spaceship campus, but Bloomberg’s sources say that Apple takes a very hands-on approach to its manufacturing process....

Apple’s senior VP retail, Ron Johnson, has exercised 150,000 AAPL stock options at a strike price of $11.73, selling these for a total $44.1 million. Johnson, who has been responsible for Apple’s explosive retail store success, sold his shares at an average $306.07 per share, according to a SEC filing. Johnson led Apple’s deployment of retail stores across the US and later internationally. The stores opened for business at a time during which other retailers were suffering, with computer retailer Gateway disapperaing from streets....

Apple sapphire supplier GT Advanced Tech has today released a statement announcing that it is filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. Filing for Chapter 11 means the company will be able to continue normal operations until it can resolve issues with creditors. As of September 28th, GTAT had $85 million in cash. What implications this has on Apple’s upcoming Watch wearable, which uses a sapphire screen cover for both Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition models, is currently unclear....

Yesterday, former Apple engineer Arjuna Siva testified in the company’s ongoing court battle with Qualcomm. The testimony centered on whether Qualcomm purposefully didn’t name Siva as a co-inventor on a patent. In new filings today, Apple says it has “good reason” to believe someone attempted to sway Siva’s testimony. Siva testified yesterday that while he contributed ideas to the cellular data technology patented by Qualcomm, he doesn’t claim to be an inventor....

Reuters today reports that Apple has informed a federal judge that it has no way of accessing data that is stored on an iPhone that is locked with a passcode and running iOS 8 or later. Apple revealed this information in a court filing recently in response to the U.S. Justice Department asking if the company would help authorities access data on a seized iPhone. Apple cites strengthened encryption methods in iOS 8 and later for its inability to access data on a locked iPhone....

Apple announced today that it will release its second quarter earnings on April 30th. Following the release of its Q2 2019 earnings report, Apple will hold a call with investors and analysts at 2PM PT/5PM ET. Apple made the announcement on its Investor Relations website. The company announced its Q1 2019 results at the end of January, reporting revenue of $84.3 billion with profit of $19.97 billion. As you’ll remember, Apple had to revise its earnings guidance ahead of those results due to lower iPhone sales than expected....

Following a report from Bloomberg in December featuring advice from analysts, we asked you if Apple should settle for up to a $10 royalty per Android device and not keep paying its lawyers to fight patent disputes. Today, Dow Jones Newswiresreports that Apple is interested in seeking settlements. According to the report, Apple “indicated a willingness to cut deals with competitors,” including Motorola and Samsung: The report continued claiming Apple is requesting between a $5 and $15 royalty per device in at least one negotiation, but said the company does not want to “create a royalty business” and is not open to discussing settlements with all competitors....

Apple today has shared three new videos on its YouTube channel highlighting different aspects of the iPhone. The new videos highlight App Store privacy, recycling, and iMessage encryption. Watch them all below. Each of the new videos comes in at 15 seconds long, focusing on a specific feature of the iPhone and iOS. For instance, in the App Store Privacy video, Apple explains that every iOS app is reviewed to help keep malware out of the App Store....

Apple today has shared a new advertisement for the iPhone 8 Plus touting the new Portrait Lighting feature. The video was uploaded to Apple’s YouTube channel and comes in at 38 seconds, showcasing the various new effects that Portrait Lighting offers. Throughout the ad, the various Portrait Lighting settings are shown off, including Studio Light, Natural Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono. Portrait Lighting is a new feature exclusive to the iPhone 8 Plus....

Apple and Staples have struck a deal for the United States office supply retail chain to sell both iPads and iPods beginning next month, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. This person says that several versions of both the iPad and iPod will be available via the Staples Online Store in the U.S. for the first time beginning as soon as October 1st. Staples currently sells the iPad via its website in Canada....

A few months after its debut, the new Chromecast with Google TV picked up support for Apple TV last week. An added bonus? Apple TV for Chromecast can be controlled by Google Assistant speakers and smart displays. Google mentioned in its announcement last week that this feature would be supported, and it’s also now mentioned on an official support page. Notably, this doesn’t apply to older Chromecast devices; it only works for the new Chromecast with Google TV....

On its earnings call, Apple has announced a further expansion of Apple Pay in partnership with American Express, to Australia and Canada in 2015 as well as Spain, Singapore and Hong Kong next year in 2016. Exact details are still murky — Tim Cook very specifically said ‘eligible American Express customers in these regions’ so it isn’t going to be as big as a rollout for Apple Pay as we saw for the US or UK....

Apple is releasing the first developer beta of iOS 14.5 today following last week’s release of iOS 14.4 to the public. iOS 14.5 is expected to include the groundwork for Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency privacy feature, among other changes. For those unfamiliar, App Tracking Transparency is a new feature that requires apps to request permission from users before tracking them across other apps and websites. Under Settings, users will also be able to see which apps have requested permission to track so they can make changes as they see fit....

Earlier this week Apple issued iOS 10 beta 4 to developers, and today the third public beta version of the pre-release software is available to match. iOS 10 public beta 3 should include the updated emoji characters introduced on Monday. iOS 10 includes loads of new features in the Messages app, a redesigned Apple Music experience, and much more. Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program....