Sonder Keyboard, an Australian startup now part of Foxconn’s International Holding’s (FIH) Incubator program, has been in talks with Apple related to its dynamic keyboard technology, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Sonder’s keyboard, which is currently available for preorder on its website for $199, utilizes E Ink technology to offer dynamic, contextual keys that can be customized to a user’s preference. The concept is not entirely unlike the contextual buttons that supply chain sources have indicated Apple will include in an upcoming MacBook Pro refresh expected to include an OLED touch panel in place of the keyboard’s current top row of function keys....

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a couple of interesting patent applications from Apple today. One patent described various embodiments of a depth perception system and laser projection, while another concerned an “ad-hoc cash dispensing network” that would turn iPhone users into walking ATMs. PatentlyApple first covered the patent and highlighted several possibilities of using cameras and a laser source to determine the distance of an object and implement various applications based on detection of depth....

The Apple Magic Keyboard is an upcoming accessory which combines a backlit keyboard and integrated trackpad with a clever magnetic stand. It was announced on March 18, alongside the 2020 iPad Pro. However, whereas the iPad Pro is now available, the Magic Keyboard is not officially slated to launch until May. (Remember: iPadOS 13.4 fully supports third-party trackpad and mice as input devices too.) A tech spec detail for the Magic Keyboard that Apple conspicuously does not mention is the weight....

If Apple versus FBI was the big story to start the year, then it looks like Apple versus Spotify will be the hot battle of the summer. Yesterday a letter surfaced in which Spotify accused Apple of being anticompetitive with its App Store policies and holding back a Spotify update in order to benefit Apple Music. This letter is likely what prompted Senator Elizabeth Warren’s negative remarks about Apple earlier this week....

According to a report from Reuters, Apple’s LTE chip supplier Qualcomm is having “trouble meeting demand” for smartphone chips and will continue experiencing manufacturing constraints throughout the rest of the year. Qualcomm Chief Executive Paul Jacobs told analysts on a conference call yesterday, “At this stage we cannot secure enough supply to meet the increasing demand we are experiencing.” With Apple’s next-generation iPhone expected to include LTE capabilities like the recently launched third-gen iPad, many are speculating Qualcomm’s supply issues could lead to delays....

Apple won’t have a new external display to show off at its WWDC 2016 event later this month despite limited inventory as the company plans an event that will mostly focus on new software, according to sources. Yesterday we reported Apple is developing a new standalone desktop display that may feature an integrated GPU. While naturally there was some speculation that WWDC might be a likely venue for an unveiling, we’ve now confirmed that no new desktop display, integrated GPU or not, is planned for the event....

Live on stage during its iPad/Mac press event today in Cupertino, Apple has officially introduced the new iPad Air dubbed “iPad Air 2”. As previously rumored, the new full-sized iPad features a slimmer profile compared to the previous generation but largely retains the same physical design of the first gen iPad Air. It does, however, come in the gold color option that Apple previously only offered on iPhones. Apple says the new iPad Air is 18% thinner than the previous generation thanks to improvements to the display manufacturing process....

As expected, Apple today officially opened its first retail location in Singapore. After nearly two years of anticipation, the store finally opened to the public today, showcasing a gorgeous design as part of Apple’s next-generation retail store rollout. The new store, as we detailed earlier this week, features Apple’s latest retail store design philosophy, focusing on community and group communication with large open spaces and meeting areas. The two-story building features products and accessories on the bottom floor, while the upper floor is home to the Genius Grove and Apple’s new Today at Apple sessions....

Apple has recently received official approval from the FCC to test 5G wireless broadband. The company was granted permission in the form of an experimental license to test millimeter wave technology at two locations near its offices in Milpitas, California (via DSL Reports). Apple specifically referenced using the 28GHz and 39GHz bands for its testing, which the FCC initially approved for commercial 5G last year. Apple’s testing of next-generation 5G was first reported earlier this year, but it’s now confirmed thanks to the release of the FCC application....

Apple has launched a new online store through Tmall, a Chinese popular e-commerce site Tmall, reports the Wall Street Journal. Tmall, which is owned by the Alibaba Group, is already home to thousands of official retail outlets for other brands, such as Nike. The new storefront will not replace Apple’s own first-party store, but will instead complement it. Like the store on Apple’s website, the Tmall store will be participating in Apple’s “Red Friday” sales event later this week....

Launch Settings and go to iCloud » Storage & Backup. Here you’ll see the available storage of your free 5GB account. Tap Manage Storage. Now tap your device. Next, you’ll be at the Info screen. Here you can manage what app data is backed up to iCloud. Scroll down the screen and turn off the apps you don’t want to be backed up. A list of apps using the most space is available....

Apple’s antitrust complaints continue grow with the latest one being filed with the European Commission by Florian Mueller, a German developer. The case is based on Mueller’s app originally called “Corona Control Game” being rejected by the App Store. Mueller is aiming to sue Google along with Apple as both companies blocked the Corona Control Game from their app stores. Both have policies in place that only allow COVID-19 related apps that are government-approved to keep important health information in check (via Reuters)....

Since their release late last year, Apple’s completely wireless AirPods have been plagued by availability and supply issues. While they’re sometimes easy to find from third-party retailers, they’re still nearly impossible to come by in Apple retail stores and are carry a 6-week shipping window from Apple’s online store. During Apple’s earnings call today, Tim Cook noted of the production difficulties and said the company is working to make AirPods as available as possible…...

Back in 2018, Apple was hit with a 10 million euro fine in Italy over the iPhone performance throttling scandal. Apple quickly appealed the ruling, but new court filings this week reveal that the company has lost that appeal, and the 10 million euro fine still stands. Apple lost the lawsuit at the end of 2018, with an Italian court ruling that Apple had not appropriately disclosed the changes to performance introduced with iOS 10....

Apple has lost a key member of its platform architecture team. According to a new report from CNET, Gerard Williams III has departed Apple after nine years at the company. Williams served as a senior director in platform architecture. Williams is said to have led development of numerous A-series processors, starting with the 64-bit A7 chip and ending with the A12X. The A7 processor was first used in the iPhone 5S in 2013, while the A12X is found in the current generation iPad Pro lineup....

Apple has recently hired a notable name in the virtual reality industry. Arthur van Hoff, a founding executive of VR startup Jaunt, joined Apple in the role of a senior architect earlier this month. Van Hoff noted his move to Apple on LinkedIn this month, which was first picked up by Variety. According to his LinkedIn, van Hoff joined Apple this month and carries the title of “Senior Architect.” Specific details about his role at Apple, however, are unclear....

A few more interesting Apple Inc-filed patents have surfaced today (via Patently Apple) as part of the many applications published by the US Patent & Trademark Office recently. Perhaps the most notable include a design for an iPhone antenna clip, new finger reducing oil resistant coating, and a patent describing using solar energy as an alternate power source in portable devices (something we know Apple has been researching from patents and other sources in the past)....

Apple is now inviting macOS developers who are part of the Universal App Quick Start Program to join Apple engineers on special labs next week. The program is intended for developers who have access to the Developer Transition Kit in order to prepare apps for Apple Silicon. Back in June, when Apple announced the transition from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon on the Mac, the company offered a custom Mac mini with the A12Z chip to some developers....

As expected, Apple today opened three new retail stores around the globe. The company opened a new location in Cologne, Germany, another one in Miami, Florida, and last but not least one in Nanjing Jinmao. We’ve rounded up some images of the grand opening experiences at all three locations, so head below to check them out.. The new Cologne, Germany location at Schildergasse has been in the works for quite a while now, but it’s now open to the public....

Apple seems to be picking up the pace on its original content efforts as it has now picked up yet another straight-to-series show. As reported by Variety, Apple has now ordered a half-hour dramedy titled “Little Voices” which feature J.J Abrams and Sara Bareilles as executive producers. Apple has ordered 10 episodes for the first season. Jessie Nelson, who’s known for screenwriting I Am Sam, Stepmom and others is in charge of writing, executive producing, and directing the very first episode....