A new SurveyMonkey poll ranks Amazon as the #1 company for having the most impact on society today. Why is apparently irrelevant.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook introduced Ziggy Marley yesterday at a special event and our report has jumbo photos and brief video of a tune by Marley

Apple today announced a new worldwide battery replacement program for some 13-inch MacBook Pro models that do not have a Touch Bar. Affected machines were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017.

Apple says that a limited number of these units feature a component that can fail and cause the built-in battery to expand. It is not a safety issue, according to the company, and Apple will replace all eligible batteries.

Customers who want to see if their machines are eligible for a fresh battery should use the serial number checker on the MacBook Pro Battery Replacement page. You can find your serial number by clicking on the Apple logo in the menu bar and selecting "About This Mac." The serial number is located at the bottom of the information window.

Affected customers who are eligible for...

The United States Department of Justice today launched an antitrust investigation to determine whether U.S. carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, have coordinated to prevent consumers from easily switching wireless carriers, reports The New York Times.

AT&T, Verizon, and GSMA, an industry group that sets mobile standards, were asked in February for documents related to their efforts to hinder the implementation of eSIMs. An embedded SIM, or eSIM, is a standardized chip that's designed to replace a physical SIM card.

A physical SIM card slot in an iPhone, via iFixit

With eSIM technology, there is no need to swap out SIM cards when switching carriers, making it easier to make a switch from one carrier to another. eSIMs are designed to be compatible with all major carriers, regardless of network type.

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Apple will release an updated iPhone SE in May, according to case makers who spoke with Japanese website Mac Otakara at the Global Sources Mobile Electronics trade show in Hong Kong this week.

The case makers said the second-generation model will retain the same physical size as the current iPhone SE, and Touch ID is expected to remain, suggesting the device will continue to have a four-inch display sandwiched between top and bottom bezels for the home button, camera, and earpiece.

Following in the footsteps of the iPhone 7 and beyond, the case makers do not expect the new iPhone SE to have a 3.5mm headphone jack. If accurate, and with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus likely to be discontinued in September, Apple would no longer sell any iPhone model with a headphone jack.

Also like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the new iPhone SE will supposedly be powered by Apple's last-generation...

On January 19th Patently Apple posted a report titled "TSMC Announces 7nm Processors will be the story of the Year with Production Kicking off in Q2." We're now in Q2 and TSMC states that products with 7nm on track for Q4 2018. Smartphones using 7nm could see up to 40% power reduction, extending battery life.

Apple today shared its 2018 environmental report [PDF], outlining all of the improvements and changes that were implemented throughout 2017 and early 2018 to lessen the company's overall environmental impact.

As was announced earlier this month, Apple recently hit a major milestone and longtime environmental goal, with 100 percent of its operations around the world powered by renewable energy. Apple has also convinced 23 of its suppliers to commit to using 100 percent renewable energy so far.

A map of Apple's renewable energy projects

These efforts allowed Apple to cut down on its total carbon footprint in 2017. During the year, Apple was responsible for 27.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, down from 29.5 million metric tons in 2016.

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There's been some interest floating around in the blogosphere for years that Apple would some day converge macOS with iOS. The latest report published earlier this month hinted at this was one by Bloomberg's Gurman. The report notes "Apple working on a software platform to merge iPad and Mac apps. Today Apple's CEO once again made it clear ...

In October Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple has acquired a New Zealand based Wireless Power Company for Future iDevice and Project Titan Solutions." Apple PowerbyProxi, which develops wireless charging technology. Apple's SVP of hardware engineering Dan Riccio told Fairfax Media at the time that PowerbyProxi was a great addition to the team. Today one of their original patents for a wireless charging mat came to light supported by a very important component for safety.

Apple CEO Tim Cook remains against the idea of merging the Mac and iPad to create one unified hardware and software experience, according to a brief conversation he had at Apple's education event in Chicago last month.

"We don't believe in sort of watering down one for the other," said Cook, speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald's Peter Wells. "One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two … you begin to make trade offs and compromises."

"So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day, but that's not what it's about," he added. "It's about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their...

Back on March 18 Patently Apple posted a patent application report titled "Apple files Patent Describing a new Water Resistant Coating Process and other Waterproofing Modifications." The patent pending invention was discovered in Europe which described new ways of waterproofing iDevices. Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple covering the identical European patent's main theme but with additional focus on waterproofing the audio modules and more.

Apple today released the second beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 update to public beta testers, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing macOS High Sierra 10.13.4. Today's public beta is identical to the second beta provided to developers earlier this week.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will be able to download the new macOS High Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Those who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 once again introduces support for...

During the holiday quarter 2017, Apple's strong iPhone X sales catapulted the activations into first place. With the Samsung S9 launching in Q1, the tables have switched, with Samsung having more activations than Apple in Q1 2018 according to the latest report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, LLC (CIRP). Then again, aren't the stats skewed when Samsung gave phones away during the quarter?

Today the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published five registered trademarks that were issued to Apple on April 10th. One of the registered trademarks covered "Today at Apple." Apple announced this specific in-store service back in April 2017.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4 update to its public beta testing group, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing iOS 11.3, the last major update to the iOS 11 operating system. Today's public beta is identical to the developer beta that was provided to developers earlier this week.

Beta testers who are members of Apple's beta testing program will receive the iOS 11.4 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on an iOS device.

Those who want to join the beta testing program can sign up on Apple's beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. iOS betas are not always stable and should not be installed on a primary device.

The iOS 11.4...

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing the macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update.

The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta can be downloaded through Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 introduces support for Messages on iCloud, a feature that was previously present in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 betas before being pulled ahead of the release of the update. Messages on iCloud is also available in iOS 11.4.

The update also likely includes bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, but as Apple does...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 55 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover patents relating to HomePod, 4 & 8 speaker iPad Pros and design patents for the iPhone X, Apple's most profitable smartphone to date. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

An analytical report today covering Q4 2017 is making the claim that the Global smartphone market has now reached its peak due to longer replacement cycles. Now key smartphone OEMs are under pressure to book profits. Of course that's nothing new for Apple who is known to be the most profitable smartphone company in the world by a wide margin. Today we learn that Apple has once again racked up the most profits in the smartphone industry for Q4 2017 in blowout fashion.

A new report this morning reveals that a move by the United States to ban American firms selling components to the Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will also hit a target closer to home: Qualcomm

In late February Patently Apple posted a report titled "After China, the EU is now working on a Law that could Force Companies like Apple to give up Customer Data on Demand." The report stated that the European Union was preparing legislation to force companies to turn over customers' personal data when requested even if it is stored on servers outside the bloc, a position that would put Europe at loggerheads with tech giants and privacy campaigners. Tomorrow the EU will give EU judges broad new powers on collected data on tech company servers.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4 update to developers, two weeks after releasing the first beta and three weeks after releasing iOS 11.3, a major update that introduced several new features.

Registered developers can download the new iOS 11.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

The iOS 11.4 update introduces a new ClassKit framework for educational institutions, which will support new features announced at Apple's March 27 event.

For standard users, the iOS 11.4 update adds features that were originally present in the iOS 11.3 beta but removed ahead of release. It includes support for Messages on iCloud, designed to store your iMessages in iCloud and sync them across devices...

Until today, Apple's last entry into their Machine Learning journal was in December or four months ago. Today Apple's Siri Team published Volume 1, Issue 9 titled "Personalized Hey Siri." The new issue covers ...

Late last month Patently Apple posted a report that provided an update in the construction of the Apple Piazza Liberty store in Milan that will offer an amphitheater situated on the roof of the Apple store which is below ground level. Today two more great photos have surfaced giving us better perspective of ...

Duncan Sinfield says that piloting his drones over Apple Park has become increasingly difficult in the past few weeks, and that he believes it's "only a matter of time until the campus becomes shut-off to drones completely." Sinfield's comment on Apple Park security comes in the text description of a new video that he uploaded today, where he talks about the response that he's been getting to drone piloting over the campus.

The drone videographer says that security "generally responds" to his precise takeoff location "in 10 minutes or less." He speculates that Apple has set up a geofence of some kind and that the company could be tracking all drone flights near the campus in an effort to lower the amount of eyes on Apple Park. He further guesses that Apple might be using technology from a company like Dedrone, which describes itself as "the airspace security platform that detects, classifies, and mitigates all drone threats.​"
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A new report today claims that Apple has warned employees to stop leaking internal information on future plans and raised the specter of potential legal action and criminal charges ...

Apple appears to have designed a gold iPhone X, according to documents filed with the United States Federal Communications Commission.

When releasing a new device, smartphone companies must share details with the FCC, which Apple did for the iPhone X in September of 2017. In the document, Apple appears to have used an iPhone X in a gold colorway that was not ultimately released.

The document in question, which again, was filed back in September, includes several images of a gold iPhone X from multiple angles to outline included features and the device's dimensions. The gold shade of the iPhone X appears to be similar to the gold color of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

Other documents indicate Apple had prepared its FCC filing in July, suggesting the photos were taken as much as several months ahead of the iPhone X unveiling in September. While many of the documents in the filing were available soon after submission, external photos and other sensitive...

Apple last year sued an aftermarket repair shop in Norway, accusing the owner, Henrik Huseby of infringing on Apple's trademarks by using non-genuine aftermarket repair parts.

Details on the lawsuit were shared today by Motherboard, a site that has been covering "Right to Repair" efforts in the United States.

Apple started out by sending Huseby a letter demanding that he stop using aftermarket displays to repair broken devices after Norwegian customs officials seized iPhone 6 and 6s replacement screens that were addressed to him and discovered they were counterfeit.

Image via iFixit

Huseby had ordered the screens, which were "refurbished screens assembled by a third party" from Hong Kong. The displays were refurbished using genuine broken...

On Monday, Apple introduced new (PRODUCT)RED models of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, which went up for pre-order on Tuesday and are available to purchase in Apple Stores as of today. Since it's an Apple product launch day, customers interested in the new iPhone 8 color can visit Apple.com to check stock at their local Apple stores and arrange for an in-store pickup on the smartphone.

Apple's iPhone availability tool shows that the new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus devices should be easy to obtain today at most Apple stores across the United States and in other countries, in both 64GB and 256GB. Those who don't feel like picking up at an Apple store, or who don't live nearby one, can also choose to have the iPhone delivered via...

In March Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple Supplier Wistron has been given the Green Light to build a Larger Assembly Plant in India to Expand iPhone Production." Earlier in January we also reported that Wistron may use the new facility to expand to manufacturing the iPhone 6s. We're learning from a rumor today out of India that a trial run of the iPhone 6s Plus ...

In 2016 Patently Apple posted a report titled "In 2015 Smartflash won a $533 Million Verdict against Apple, but Two out of Three Patents have now been invalidated." Today we're learning that "A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld that ruling ...

GrayShift's recently publicized "GrayKey" box designed to crack locked iPhones is seeing wide adoption among police forces and federal agencies across the United States according to a recent investigation by Motherboard.

Motherboard found that regional police forces like the Maryland State Police, the Indiana State Police, and the Miami-Dade County Police have purchased or are soon purchasing GrayKey technology, while other forces like the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department have looked into boxes and received quotes from GrayShift.

GrayKey box, via MalwareBytes

The Secret Service is also planning to purchase "at...

Apple Store employees will celebrate Earth Day by again wearing green shirts instead of traditional navy blue for the next few weeks.

Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts with employees ahead of Earth Day in 2017

Apple has already provided many of its retail employees with the new uniform, which they will begin wearing as early as Friday, April 13 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries, according to a reliable source. The new shirts will likely be worn at least through Earth Day on Sunday, April 22.

A tipster who asked to be identified as The Apple Post informant today sent us photos of what appears to be the new uniform items.

Apple also celebrates Earth Day by adding a green leaf accent to the Apple logos at its retail stores around the world, and by offering an Earth Day activity challenge on Apple Watch. And, in recent years...

Last week we posted a report titled "Bingo! Apple Hires Google's AI Chief, a move that should translate into Siri Catching up with Leading Digital Assistants." The New York Times has stated that "Apple has hired Google's chief of search and artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea, a major coup in its bid to catch up to the artificial intelligence technology of its rivals." However the catching up will take time and at present, Apple has reportedly lowered sales forecasts and cut some orders with Inventec Corp., according to a new report.

It's being reported today that Korean mobile technology solutions firm Firstface will be filing a patent infringement suit against Apple for allegedly copying their feature to unlock a smartphone screen through a biometric sensor-based user authentication.

Apple appears to have recently updated Siri on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and HomePod with a slew of new jokes to tell. Based on reports on Twitter and from MacRumors readers, the new jokes started rolling out earlier this month.

When you ask Siri a question like "tell me a joke" on an iOS device, Mac, or the HomePod, Siri has dozens of fresh responses to share with you.

• "What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup? Anyone can roast beef."
• "One night, I paid $20 to see Prince. But I partied like it was $19.99."
• "I taught a wolf to meditate. Now he's Aware Wolf."
• "What do you call a labrador that becomes a magician? A labracadabrador."
• "What do you call a talking dinosaur? Thesaurus."
• "What do cats like to eat for breakfast? Mice Krispies."

With the humorous new additions, Siri's joke repertoire has expanded significantly, and you need...

IDC published PC shipments today for Q1 2018 and the results were flat at 0.0% year on year growth. Apple finished the quarter in ...

Amid a continuing decline in worldwide PC shipments, Apple's Mac sales have remained steady in the first quarter of 2018, according to new PC shipping estimates shared this afternoon by Gartner.

Apple shipped an estimated 4.26 million Macs during the first quarter of 2018, up from 4.2 million Macs in the year-ago quarter, marking 1.5 percent growth.

Apple's market share for the quarter comes in at 6.9 percent, up from 6.7 percent in Q1 2017. Apple was ranked as the number four PC vendor worldwide during the quarter, coming in after HP, Lenovo, and Dell, and ahead of Asus and Acer. Apple was ranked the number five vendor during the same quarter last year, but this year, it surpassed Asus.

Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q18 (Thousands of Units)

Most vendors saw shipments remain steady...

iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models that have been repaired with a new display by an unauthorized third-party repair outlet are affected by a problem where the fix seems to disable the device's ability to adjust brightness automatically, according to report from Engadget and Motherboard.

The issue appears to impact replacement displays installed by non-Apple certified repair shops even when using genuine Apple parts, and it seems to be related to the functionality of the ambient light sensor. It is not a problem that affects display components replaced by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

iPhone X internal image via iFixit

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Apple Music hit a new milestone this week as it officially reached 40 million paid subscribers across 115 countries, reports Variety. The new number was shared in a memo circulated by Eddy Cue, who also announced the promotion of Oliver Schusser to Apple's new head of Apple Music Worldwide.

Schusser previously served as vice president of Apple Music and International Content and has worked alongside Eddy Cue for several years handling Apple's non-U.S. affairs for Apple Music, the App Store, iTunes Movies and TV shows, iBooks, Podcasts, and more. He is said to have had a key role in Apple's recently announced, but not yet finalized, acquisition of Shazam.

Apple hit its new 40 million subscriber milestone less than a month after iTunes chief Eddy Cue...

On Christmas day 2017 Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple Hit with a $125 Million Class Action in Israel over Purposely Slowing iPhones." The Israeli class action filed in Tel Aviv stated that Apple is known for its 'closed' nature: The code of its system is not accessible, and users are entirely dependent on Apple's judgment regarding their use...