In a new post on its Newsroom website today, Apple touts that the App Store ecosystem supported $519 billion in billings and sales globally in 2019 alone. This data is based on a study conducted by independent economists at the Analysis Group. This announcement from Apple comes ahead of WWDC 2020, during which Apple generally touts the financial impact the App Store has had on developers around the world. Things are a bit different this year, given the all-online format of WWDC....

Today, Apple has issued an over-the-air update to the Apple TV that brings several new content apps. Notably, in line with expectations, an app for the Vevo Music Video service has arrived. Also new are Disney Channel and Disney XD apps. With Apple’s deep partnership with Disney, it is about time that Disney has been fully integrated into the Apple TV. Apple TV users will now also be able to access Weather information via a new app from The Weather Channel....

Digital wallets are gaining momentum and Apple Pay looks set to be the most popular platform as contactless payments are projected to hit $2 trillion within two years. As spotted by TechCrunch, Juniper Research put out a new report today with the prediction that Apple Pay will account for 50% of global mobile wallet users by 2020. The data took into account competition from Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Huawei Pay, and Fitbit Pay....

Update: Apple has also today released the first OS X 10.11.2 El Capitan beta build to public beta testers. This build follows the public launch of OS X 10.11.1 last week. You can sign up to join the public beta program on Apple’s beta testing website Following this week’s release to developers, Apple has seeded the first version of iOS 9.2 to public beta testers. The update brings some important changes to the Safari View Controller, which serves as the in-app browser for many apps in iOS 9....

[Update: Now available. tvOS 12.1.2 beta 3 is also out now as well. Update 2: macOS Mojave 10.14.3 beta 3 is now available.] Apple is releasing its third iOS 12.1.3 developer beta later today, after releasing its second iOS 12.1.3 beta late last month. The release notes only mention bug fixes, but we’ll update if anything notable is discovered on the new beta. Apple is also seeding the third watchOS 5....

According to a new report from The Information, Apple is in talks to buy a portion of Intel’s smartphone modem business. This isn’t the first time Apple has been rumored to have an interest in Intel’s modem business, but today’s report suggests that Apple is still in talks with the company about a potential deal. The report explains that Intel is looking to sell its smartphone modem business in several pieces....

iFixit, the repair guide site that has been vocal about the lack of repairability in Apple’s devices, has released a new report that compares the repairability of tablets currently on the market. With the exception of the Microsoft Surface Pro, Apple’s iPad lineup lands at the bottom of the list with a 2/10 repairability score. Among the issues with repairability for iPads: hidden screws complicate disassembly, excessive amounts of adhesive, difficulty removing batteries, and, for some models, a “high chance of cracking the glass during disassembly....

All the way back in 2017, Bloomberg reported on its knowledge of “rOS,” a new operating system that was supposedly being created to run a forthcoming virtual reality product. The news site predicted at the time that such a device could ship as early as 2020. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Since then, rumors have cropped up here and there about Apple’s ongoing efforts. Over the years, ever-shifting claims have prognosticated that the mysterious headset will be both stand-alone and require an iPhone to be tethered to, they’ve also claimed processing levels on par with everything from an iPhone to, more recently, an M1 Mac....

Newsweek‘s Dan Lyons reported today that Apple’s “thermonuclear war” on Android smartphone manufacturers is fading fast, while a new rumor surfaced among the suits’ lawyers claiming the company spent $100 million on its initial set of claims against HTC. Imagine how much Apple spent on other Android makers, such as Motorola (who is near locking Apple products out of Germany in retaliation) or Samsung (the biggest Mobile Communications patent holder in the world), if it spent so much on just HTC....

Following last week’s Mother’s Day-themed Apple Pay deal, Apple this week has launched a collection of new Apple Pay deals in celebration of springtime. The new deals offer savings in a wide array of different applications including Postmates, Wayfair, Shipt, and more. The latest Apple Pay deals are valid from May 9th through May 22nd. Apple says that you’ll receive the savings so long as you checkout with Apple Pay in-app on iOS or on the web....

Following the release of the first beta last week, Apple today has released the second developer beta of macOS Catalina 10.15.1. The update includes changes such as new emoji and new Siri privacy settings. The latest macOS Catalina 10.15.1 beta is available now to developers via the System Preferences application. macOS Catalina 10.15.1 focuses primary on bug fixes and performance improvements, with two other notable changes. For one, there are new Siri privacy settings....

A new report outlines Apple’s apparent plan to establish an office presence near its upcoming store in Washington, D.C.’s former Carnegie Library. According to the publication Bisnow, Apple has signed an agreement to lease a full floor of the Anthem Row development at 700 K St. NW. While details are scarce, the report notes that 700 K Street features outdoor terraces facing Mount Vernon Square directly across the street. It’s on the square that Apple is completing a complete restoration of the city’s former Carnegie Library....

A recent report from Le Figaro claimed Apple authorized reseller eBizcuss was suing Apple regarding claims it gives preferential treatment to its own Apple retail stores when shipping products. Now, following that news, a European Apple Premium Reseller reached out to ChannelWeb to clarify Apple’s retail tactics in a 4,400-word letter. Speaking anonymously, the APR mirrored many of the complaints of product shortages from eBizcuss’ original lawsuit, but goes even beyond by claiming stores are experiencing cash-flow shortages due to Apple cutting credit lines....

Last week, we noted that Apple had pulled its 39 EPEAT-eligible products from the organization over design differences. Apple’s Macs, while hella-“green” and recyclable, aren’t built to the EPEAT standard. Specifically, Apple’s new Retina MacBook Pro can’t be disassembled as easily as its EPEAT rated predecessors for recycling. Since making the move, Apple has been criticized, specifically from those who believe that EPEAT-certification is important to environmental consciousness. That, and Government and Educational institutions that are tied to EPEAT can’t buy Macs anymore....

When LG announced it was shutting down its smartphone business, Samsung and Apple ran to conquer its market share in South Korea. Now, the Cupertino company is rolling out its trade-in program for LG phones in the US as well. At the end of May, both Samsung and Apple announced a trade-in program in South Korea for LG phones. For Apple, its program will run up to September 25 and will give an additional 150,000 won (around $135) for customers switching to an iPhone....

Last year it was announced that Apple was planning a major new data center for County Galway in Ireland, as well as one in Denmark, both set to begin operations in 2017. According to a new report from Business Insider, however, Apple’s plans for the Irish data center have hit a speed bump. The report claims that the company’s $928 million dollar center has been put on hold due to complaints from the community....

We learned today about Apple’s satellite project: a team working on ways to establish direct two-way connections between iPhones and satellites. If that sounds like crazy science-fiction, it’s actually not. The technology to do it exists today and has been proven to work with today’s phones. You shouldn’t, however, expect to have ubiquitous access from anywhere on the planet, nor for satellite connections to replace your existing mobile data plan....

Apple Car rumors may have taken a backseat to augmented reality headset ambitions over the last year, but recent reports show the ambitious project to put Apple technology on the road is alive and well. New today is news of a prominent hire at Apple: Porsche’s Vice President of Chassis Development. That’s according to Insider Deutschland, which first reported Apple poaching Dr. Manfred Harrer from the German sports car company....

Apple drew the line in the sand officially today. If you are a merchant who makes money selling anything in the App Store either through subscription or in-app purchases, Apple will be taking a 30% cut. And if you sell anything for use on an app, you now have to sell it for the same price or less in App. You can argue for or against this policy but Apple is going to do this starting at the end of June....

In addition to the public release of iOS 13.2.2 today, Apple has also released the first developer beta of macOS Catalina 10.15.2. The update likely focuses on performance improvements, security updates, and bug fixes. Developers can update to the latest beta through System Preferences if they’re already enrolled in the Beta Program. A public beta release should be available later this week. macOS 10.15.2 is the successor to macOS 10.15.1, which included new Siri privacy settings, new emoji, and more....