We told you a couple weeks ago about the possibility Apple was testing 3G MacBook Pro designs back in 2007 after a prototype popped up on Ebay recently. After reaching nearly $70,000 in bids, it looks like Apple is stepping in and requesting the device be returned. A report from CNET today sheds a little more light on the current situation of the seller, who was allegedly contacted by Apple to return the machine to local Apple employees after the company had the eBay listing removed citing copyright, trademark, and IP infringement....

Over the weekend, iOS security hacker Jonathan Zdziarski released a presentation claiming to show how Apple had purposefully made backdoor access points for a variety of system and user data on iOS devices, that would usually be locked and encrypted via the passcode. The legitimacy of the claims is still questionable. Apple has now commented on the matter, unsurprisingly denying any misconduct. Apple reiterates its previous statement: ‘Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services’....

After rolling out a firmware update for AirPods 3 earlier this month, Apple is now rolling out an update for Beats Studio Buds.Today’s update brings the Beats Studio Buds firmware to version 10M359, but unfortunately, Apple has not provided any details on what’s new. Apple’s last firmware update came to the Beats Studio Buds back in December, bringing the truly wireless earbuds to version 9M6599. Today’s update is the first since then for Beats Fit Pro users....

Looks like we’re going to have to keep waiting for an Netflix-killer from Apple… Rumors were floating around last week that claimed Apple was on the verge of launching a new “iTunes Replay” service, which would allow users to re-download and/or stream TV shows and movies. Unfortunately, a new report from CNET claims Apple does not have the agreements in place to offer content from the big film studios via the cloud....

Apple has issued a response to the recently uncovered “Masque Attack” that allowed malicious applications to be installed in place of valid apps and access user data. In a statement provided to iMore, the company highlighted the security features built into iOS that informs users of any attempted app installations via an outside source like the Safari browser and said that it is not aware of any reported instances where a user was affected by this specific type of attack....

Apple removed Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil from the App Store last month shortly after it began offering the ability to AirPlay music from one iOS device to another, effectively making your old iPod touch an AirPlay speaker. Some thought the app removal was due to use of private APIs. Apple gave a statement on the matter: From a post today, it seems pretty clear that Apple just did not want that functionality in the app and that third-party hardware vendors were to “blame....

Yelp today has joined the long list of companies that have debuted apps for Apple Watch. In a blog post this evening, the popular ratings and reviews app shared the first screenshots of its Apple Watch app. The Yelp app for Apple Watch provides the majority of the information you’re used to seeing in the company’s other iOS apps, just on your wrist. On Apple Watch, Yelp shows nearby restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other businesses alongside their ratings, reviews, price ranges, and distances from your current location....

Apple Music has announced an expansion of its “Up Next” editorial initiative. As first reported by Billboard, Apple Music is bringing a new “international local focus” to the artist spotlight program. Apple has also announced the artists that will be featured next… Apple Music Up Next was first launched in 2017 as a way to promote new emerging artists every month. Apple is now expanding the program to support emerging artists across different countries and regions....

Apple is out with a new press release this morning touting a milestone for Apple Music. The company says that Apple Music now offers an expansive library with over 100 million songs. With this, however, Apple says that it’s focus on human curation has never been stronger… It’s a bizarre milestone to celebrate, but the perspective is interesting as Apple points out: Apple had previously said that Apple Music offered a library of 75 million songs....

Apple Music is rolling out a new discovery mix called the Friends Mix, which updates every Monday. It collates 25 songs that your Apple Music friends have been listening to. The mix is appearing for some users across Apple’s platforms and does not seem to be tied to iOS 12 or any other beta software release. The Friends Mix joins the Favorites mix, Chill mix and New Music mix algorithmic collections on the service....

Apple Music offers some “Mix” playlists that are updated weekly with new songs, including Friends Mix, Favorites Mix, and Chill Mix. This week Apple is updating the Mix playlists with redesigned art covers and more. The playlists are still nearly the same, but now they’re presented with more bright and colorful artworks instead of the soft-colored gradient used before. The company is now also referring to them as “Made For You” instead of just “For You....

Apple is launching a dedicated section in Apple News to cover the US midterm elections. US Apple users will be able to view the latest updates for the election inside the Apple News app through November. It will feature content from Fox News, Vox and other curated publications including some exclusives from the Washington Post, Axios and Politico. The News app will surface this section with a specially themed banner in the For You tab, as well as recurring features in the Top Stories and Spotlight tab....

Apple is adjusting how it sells AppleCare+ in Australia, likely in response to new consumer laws in the country. Now, if you buy a new Apple device in Australia, you will automatically receive seven days of complimentary AppleCare+ coverage before you are able to purchase a full policy… Apple has updated its AppleCare Products website in Australia to acknowledge this change: Apple has also updated the configurators for its product in light of this new requirement....

If you prefer your app recommendations to be served by the highest bidder, then you’re in luck. Apple has enabled Search Ads to appear on the front page and related app pages on the App Store. “Apple Search Ads makes it easy to promote your app on the App Store,” Apple says. “And now with new Today tab and product page ad placements, you can drive discovery of your app in more moments across the App Store — when customers first arrive, search for something specific, and browse apps to download....

Apple has opened up one of its rare replacement programs for the graphics card in some mid-2011 iMac configurations, according to a notice issued to Apple Support employees. The iMac in question is the model released in May 2011 with Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt ports. This iMac was sold between that month and October 2012 when Apple launched thinner models with new internals. Apple says that AMD Radeon HD 6970M cards (both 1GB and 2GB configurations) in select versions of these 2011 iMacs could fail:...

You may notice a new look on those digital receipts you get in your email inbox after you buy something from iTunes, iBooks, or the App Store. Apple has refreshed its invoices with a new design, friendlier subject line, and cover art images that are clearer on Retina displays. You can see the old and new designs below: Apple’s subject on receipts read out a lengthy order number such as “Your receipt No....

Fire up your Apple TV folks, there is a new update waiting for you. Not to leave the Apple TV out in the cold after a huge week with other iOS devices, the hardworking group in Cupertino has released its latest update to the second- and third-generation Apple TVs. Surprisingly still not called ‘iOS 6’, Apple released build 10A406e to the masses with a slew of new features. The Apple TV now features shared photo streams, and the ability to switch between iTunes accounts, re-order icons on the second page by holding the select button on the remote, and send audio from the Apple TV to Airplay-enabled speakers and devices....

Apple has just released the first developer beta of iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 following the public release of iOS 14.0 this week. It’s uncertain what has changed in this update, but probably Apple is working on improvements and some new features. In addition to iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2, Apple has also released the first developer betas of tvOS 14.2 and watchOS 7.1. Earlier today, the company released macOS Big Sur beta 7 and an update for Xcode 12....

Apple has released macOS 10.13.4 beta 4 for registered developers to test on compatible Macs. We’ll dig in to the new version and detail changes below. Beta 1 New Privacy explainer included in macOS 32-bit app warning starting now New ‘Ink Cloud’ wallpaper on all Macs, previously iMac Pro only Messages in the Cloud is opt-in on High Sierra, requires checking a box Beta 2-3 iBooks Mac app renamed Books to match iOS (iBooks Author is a Mac App Store app so it likely won’t change until the beta cycle ends ) Refresh for updates....

Apple has just released Xcode 11.3.1 for developers — the tool used to create iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS apps. This week’s update features overall improvements and bug fixes, including enhancements to compile Swift files. According to Apple, Xcode 11.3.1 addresses a bug in the storyboard canvas that could cause Xcode to crash and fixes an issue that would cause Xcode to time out waiting for Simulator.app to become ready when multiple copies of Xcode are installed....