In addition to making a general claim that the Apple Watch will run for up to 18 hours per charge, Apple has quietly added a new battery test results page to its web site discussing the Apple Watch’s performance across a variety of different tests. According to Apple, the 38mm and 42mm versions of the Watch will have different run times, and the 42mm Apple Watch “typically experiences longer battery life....

Update: Public betas too Apple has released the fifth iOS 10.3.3 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Apple has also released the fifth macOS 10.12.6 beta. The beta version only includes new wallpapers for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and no other visible changes, although the release may be the last bug fix update for devices not able to run iOS 11. iOS 10.3.3 is currently only available in developer and public beta, although the fifth beta release suggests a release to all users is likely coming soon....

Apple has released a new firmware update for the mid 2012 MacBook Air today that helps to address problems with the device recovering from a crash. Apple release notes said the update addresses “a storage firmware issue that, in rare cases, may cause a system to fail to recover from crash.” The MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 is available to download on Apple’s website here and should be hitting Software Update soon....

Apple is upgrading the song matching features for Apple Music subscribers to truly mirror the capabilities offered by iTunes Match; the new smarter more accurate song detection is rolling out to Apple Music subscribers for free, over the next few weeks (via The Loop). Although Apple Music has always included music matching, it used an inferior version than the algorithm used by the standalone $30/year iTunes Match subscription. Apple Music is being updated server-side to offer the same functionality …...

A motion by Apple to halt the operations of a court-appointed antitrust monitor has been rejected, the Wall Street Journal reports. The lawyer, Michael Bromwich, was appointed by the court to ensure the compliance Apple’s iBook platform with antitrust laws. Apple previously petitioned the court to have Bromwich removed from his post, believing that his $1,100/hour legal fees were leading him to take undue investigative steps solely for the purpose of overcharging the Cupertino company....

The Apple Store is down ahead of iPhone 11 preorders later in the day. In fact, the store message even reminds people of the new time for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro order window: 5 a.m. Pacific Time, or about six hours from now. When the store is back up, the iPhone 11 will be available to buy, starting at $699 for 64 GB. The iPhone 11 Pro will be priced at $999 and the iPhone 11 Pro Max will be priced at $1,099, with a 64 GB base model SKU and storage upgrade options for 256 GB and 512 GB....

Apple has been working on a new gesture-based lock screen for iOS devices that works similarly to Android’s “dots” lock screen feature. The user sets up a pattern and needs to input that same pattern in, instead of a password or a four number code. Apple has already deployed this new lock screen internally for use in the employee ‘Apple Connect’ application for iOS devices. There is no word on whether or not this new lock screen will make its way to iOS devices for users....

Update: The listing showing Apple as an exhibitor has been removed. While Apple typically chooses not to have a public presence at the big tech trade shows, the company is listed as an exhibitor for next year’s Mobile World Congress show scheduled for February (via Macrumors). While there aren’t many clues as to what Apple might be doing there, the listing on the MWC website notes the words “App Planet Stand....

Apple will soon make a significant change to retail store Genius Bar appointments to improve the customer experience, according to several sources briefed on the upcoming shift. During the week of March 9th, Apple’s United States stores will launch a new initiative called “The new Concierge” that replaces traditional walk-in Genius Bar appointments. Currently, a customer seeking Genius Bar assistance can walk into an Apple Retail Store, explain the issue to a check-in assistant, and get a specific time to return for an appointment…...

Current Apple TV customers are getting at least one more new wave of channel additions before the focus completely means to the new App Store-based Apple TV on Monday. New channels from CBS, NBC, and the fashion-focused M2M arrived on current Apple TV home screens today, bringing CBS’s subscription service, full episodes of NBC shows, and exclusive fashion videos to the streaming box. We reported a month ago that CBS was planning to bring its All Access service to Apple TV boxes, allowing subscribers to view CBS shows on-demand through a standalone $5....

Apple TV users will notice a channel refresh today adding ‘120 SPORTS’ to the lineup. The update follows the addition of the official Cricket Australia channel and The Tennis Channel earlier this month further adding to the sports content offered on the Apple TV set-top box. 120 Sports, backed in part by Sports Illustrated, describes itself as “a first-of-its-kind network partnership involving multiple leagues and media properties created for the digital generation and the devices it uses most....

Apple continues to promote the customization of Apple Watch this evening with a new video on YouTube. This time, Apple is focusing on the ability to seamlessly switch between bands with your Apple Watch. In a new video shared to YouTube today, Apple touts that the Apple Watch Series 4 is “more powerful and more colorful.” The video comes in at 15 seconds long and quickly runs through various Apple Watch bands and casing options....

According to a report from Business Insider, Apple is telling employees at its Cupertino campuses, Apple Park and Infinite Loop, that it recommends working from home today as an “additional precaution” (via Mark Gurman). Further details on the policy are not clear at this time. Many divisions of Apple may struggle to do their jobs remotely effectively, which is perhaps why this is a recommendation rather than a requirement at this stage....

Two weeks following the 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference and release of the first iOS 9 beta, Apple has seeded iOS 9 beta 2 for compatible iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches to developers. The update is available over-the-air via Software Update in Settings, and it will also become available via Apple’s developer portal on the web. iOS 9, due to be released to all in the fall following a public beta in July, brings several under-the-hood enhancements to iOS as well as new features....

Google has copied Apple’s 15% commission level for smaller developers in the App Store, offering almost exactly the same deal in the Play Store. However, the way Google has done it is actually fairer, and is how Apple should have implemented the program in the first place … Our sister site 9to5Google has the details. There are two key differences with Google’s terms, however. The first is that developers don’t need to apply for it – enrollment is automatic for all qualifying ones....

It’s the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States and as has become tradition, Apple has shared its annual holiday ad for the year. The new ad called “Sway” features a brief appearance by the new iPhone X, but mostly revolves around AirPods and sharing an experience with music with someone special. The ad features the track “Palace” my R&B artist Sam Smith from his 2017 album The Thrill Of It All on Apple Music....

With Apple’s ongoing efforts to generate more sales of the latest iPhones, the company is now advertising another deal for users in China. According to WSJ, Apple has teamed up with Alipay, a popular mobile-payments network in China, to offer an interest-free loan for users looking to purchase an iPhone through Apple’s online store. Customers looking to upgrade to the latest iPhone will have an option to apply for an interest free loan over the course of 24 months....

Apple opened a new flagship store in downtown Chicago yesterday and it is stunning. Sitting right along the Chicago River, Apple Michigan Avenue has been moved south about 5 blocks. 14 years ago Apple opened its first flagship store here in Chicago, and now they are doubling down on their mission: stores aren’t just for making money. In an interview with CNBC, Cook explained the goals of Apple’s retail stores are much more than selling products....

After eight beta releases, Apple has seeded developers with the macOS 11.3 release candidate. The software features new sorting options in Reminders, expanded support for Xbox/PlayStation controllers, autoplay in Apple Music, and more. Following its Spring Loaded event, Apple made the macOS 11.3 RC available to developers today. The OTA should be showing up in System Preferences > Software Update if you’re enrolled in the developer beta program (keep checking back if you don’t see it yet)....

The “exceptional individual” will “validate the security architecture for the iPhone.” “As an implementer of advanced technologies in OS X, you will have the opportunity to have a major impact on Apple’s embedded operating system products.” We like the use of the plural there. Like everyone, we’ve speculated that Apple has far bigger plans for embedded system products – its purchase of PA Semi, recent disclosures of new cutting-edge products at prices competitors can’t match, and various mutterings and job ads have suggested the company plans a major play in digital media....