This week we saw details on Apple News for an upcoming update to the iPad Air. The big thing with this upcoming midsize iPad could be the removal of the home button and the introduction of a Touch ID power button.
In other Apple news, we've heard of more Fortnite drama, India-made iPhone SE devices, a crazy floating Apple Store, and a mysterious prototype for an unreleased Mac Mini with a built-in iPod dock.
Please see the Apple News summary below for the latest information.
Last week's top Apple news:
- Alleged manual leaks in the iPad Air: A photo of an alleged iPad Air manual hit social media this week. The manual shows an all-screen iPad with a Touch ID power button. This would be a big change for Apple as the iPad would not have access to Face ID, which is what Apple has mainly focused on in recent years. The iPad also has a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but that's not too surprising. If an iPhone gets USB-C, we'll be surprised.
- The Fortnite drama continues: This week, Epic Games confirmed that the next season of Fortnite (which was released today) will not be accessible through Apple products. Additionally, cross-play no longer works with Apple devices, making it a lot harder for iPhone owners to play Fortnite. It'll only get more chaotic!
- WordPress for iOS finally gets the green light: Apple is currently in legal trouble that could drastically change the way the App Store works. It didn't help Apple's case when it became known that the company was preventing the iOS WordPress app - which is free and has no in-app purchases - from giving out updates. The reason? The app was supposed to make in-app purchases so Apple could save the usual 30%. Apple withdrew its request and blamed the problem on some wording in the WordPress app itself, but it is clear that the company has a real problem on its hands.
- IPhone SE devices sold in India are now made in India: When you buy an iPhone SE (2020) in India, chances are the phone you will receive was assembled in India too. Apple's newest iPhone is being assembled in Bengaluru by a company called Wiston. However, if you get an iPhone SE in other countries, it was likely made in China.
- A Mac Mini with an iPod docking station? It almost happened: Twitter users @DongleBookPro recently posted some interesting prototype images of an unreleased Mac Mini. The compact PC would have a 30-pin iPod connector built into the top, with which you can quickly dock and uninstall your iPod. However, the product never made it to light.
- Apple loses market share in wireless earbuds: Apple's AirPods are the market leaders when it comes to true wireless earbuds. Despite its dominance, Apple is currently losing market share, according to Counterpoint Research (via) Bloomberg). As you'd expect, competing Chinese brands are slowly losing to Apple's piece of cake by offering cheaper variants.
- Crazy Apple Floating Store Preparing to Open: You read that right: Apple created a floating Apple Store. The store will be known as Apple Marina Bay Sands, the third store in Singapore. It's a huge ball that floats. It has to be seen to be believed!
- There could be AR content on Apple TV Plus: A new rumor has it that Apple is working on AR content for its Apple TV Plus service. The feature displays items from a TV show in your home while you watch that show. The example given was being able to see a moon rover in your living room while watching the For All Mankind series. It's not known yet if Apple definitely does this or not, but it seems cool.
Are you thinking of making the switch?
If you are reading this Apple article on an iOS device and considering switching to Android, there are several articles and guides that can help you with this process. Regardless of what it may seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.
The best place to start would be our iPhone to Android Moving Guide, which covers all of the basics. We also have more specific guides on how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples such as: For example, our list of the best alternatives to FaceTime for Android.
If you're looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, check out our list of the best Android smartphones currently available.
