25 janv. 20203 Min
This week saw an interesting variety of Apple news and rumors, ranging from rumors about upcoming iPhone and iPad releases to Apple TV+ announcements to news that Adobe Flash support will finally be removed from Safari.One of the quirkier stories of the week was also one of the most popular, as we learned a bit more about Apple CEO Tim Cook’s multi-year investment in Nebia, the eco-friendly shower head that’s looking to make a bigger splash with an updated model in partnership with Moen.
Apple may release a backlit Smart Keyboard with a scissor switch design for its next-generation iPad models, expected to be released in the second half of 2020, according to hit-or-miss website DigiTimes. The current Smart Keyboard has unlit butterfly keys covered with rubber domes.
Back in 2015, Apple CEO Tim Cook invested in a water-efficient shower head called Nebia.
This week, Nebia unveiled a new version of its shower system, and some of the interesting backstory behind Cook’s arguably left-field investment choice has also come to light.
Winter said Cook invested a “significant” amount of his own money in the eco-shower head and advised Nebia on suppliers. He also pushed the startup to prioritize user experience, design, and sustainability.
At least one iPhone 12 model will come in a new Navy Blue finish, according to XDA Developers writer and leaker Max Weinbach.
In other iPhone rumors this week, we heard that the so-called “iPhone SE 2” or “iPhone 9” will enter mass production in February ahead of a potential March release, while a higher-end 6.7-inch iPhone expected in the fall could be thinner and have larger rear-facing camera sensors.
More than two years ago, Apple informed the FBI that it planned to roll out end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, according to Reuters. Apple ultimately dropped the plan at some point after the FBI objected, although the report notes that it is unclear if the federal agency was explicitly a factor in the decision.
As noted in our coverage of Safari Technology Preview 99, Apple has removed all support for Adobe Flash. Safari Technology Preview is basically a beta of the next version of Safari proper, all but confirming that Apple is officially ditching support for Flash in the next version of its native Mac browser.
Back in July 2017, Adobe announced plans to end-of-life its Flash browser plug-in. Adobe said it was ceasing development and distribution of the software at the end of 2020, so its removal from Safari was to be expected.
It’s a good moment to reflect on the Steve Jobs letter “Thoughts on Flash.”
Apple this week shared release dates for several of its upcoming Apple TV+ shows that are set to launch during the spring and summer of 2020, such as the sci-fi anthology series “Amazing Stories,” executive produced by Steven Spielberg.
Apple this week began selling refurbished iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models for the first time since the devices were released in September 2018.
Prices are discounted by $300 to $350 compared to September 2018. For example, the base model iPhone XS with 64GB of storage was $999 brand new and is now available refurbished for $699.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!