As detailed in a new report from Axios, Apple is facing a lawsuit from Michigan-based Omni MedSci over the Apple Watch. The company, a technology started focused on “near-infrared and mid-infrared broadband lasers,” alleges that the heart rate technology in the Apple Watch infringe on its patent… Omni MedSci says that it met with Apple over the course of 2014 through 2016, but that Apple ultimately ceased talks about a potential partnership....

A low-tech scheme where postal workers from Japan Post check-in on how elderly residents are doing is about to go hi-tech with the help of iPads, reports the WSJ. The pilot scheme – one of the fruits of the Apple/IBM partnership – will see Japan Post hand out free iPads to 1,000 older citizens to allow closer and more frequent checks. Data from the iPads will be analyzed by IBM’s Watson computer, reports Nikkei …...

Apple today announced that it is increasing the size limit for apps submitted by developers to the App Store through its iTunes Connect service. Previously limited to 2GB, app packages can now be a maximum of 4GB in size. Apple made the announcement on its website for developers earlier today but some apps have been over the 2GB limit since at least January. Apple noted the change will allow developers to “include more media in your submission and provide a more complete, rich user experience upon installation....

John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering described the M1 Ultra as a “monster of a chip” aimed at users who need “extreme levels of performance”. Apple used what it is describing as UltraFusion to build the M1 Ultra’s architecture, connecting dual chips across more than 10,000 signals for 2.5TB/s memory bandwidth. This was done to provide the performance of a dual-CPU Intel or AMD build with much less power consumption....

Global client PC shipments rose 12 percent year-on-year in Q2 2012, with the new iPad recognized as the primary influence on growth rates, according to the latest data report from Canalys, who treat the iPad as a PC (and with the ability to operate without being tethered and to use external keyboards and monitors and the like, why wouldn’t you?) Apple lead the overall charge, boosted by strong iPad sales, with an estimated 19 percent share of global PC shipments....

Fortnite Season 11 update may have more than expected in store for fans, as a new leak points to it also being the beginning of Fortnite Chapter 2. Major changes were already expected for the battle royale’s next season, which was recently delayed by a week, but the new name may point to even bigger things to come. A change may be just what Fortnite needs after Season 10. The time-travel themed season had plenty of new content and map updates to offer, but it didn’t all sit right with players....

Users have long complained about the lack of free iCloud storage that Apple offers, but now the company appears to be taking one step in the right direction. Now, when users choose to upgrade from the 5GB free tier, they will receive the first month of their new tier for free… As first noted by AppleInsider, the free trial option appears when a user attempts to back up their iOS device to iCloud, but does not have enough storage to do so....

Essentially, the document explains that employees should first run a diagnostics test to see if the customer’s Face ID issues could be resolved with a rear camera repair. If that doesn’t turn out to be the case, the employee should simply perform a whole unit replacement, giving the customer a new phone. While repairing the rear camera to fix Face ID problems may seem counterintuitive, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of it....

In addition to other various announcements this week, Apple has made a noticeable change to the web version of iTunes. Whereas the design was previously incredibly dated and hard to use, the new design is more akin to that of Apple Music and the current iTunes app on Mac and PC. The new iTunes web design features larger images and more information about artists and their music. Apple touts the new design as an “Apple Music Preview,” with several links and buttons to jump directly into iTunes or the Music app on iOS....

Following the Platforms State of the Union address this afternoon at WWDC20 Apple has shared some highlights on its new developer tech and tools to “foster the next generation of apps.” These include Xcode 12, new features in SwiftUI, App Clips and Widgets in iOS and iPadOS 14, improved access to Apple’s platforms like Find My and HomePod, as well as a new App Store Review process that gives developers a way to “challenge” guidelines....

Apple’s Smart Battery Case, with its controversial design, was released back in 2015 with support for the iPhone 6 and 6S and it now currently supports the iPhone 6, 6S and 7. With the release of iPhone X and iPhone 8, users wondered whether a new battery case would be released for this new iPhone design, but so far nothing has been announced nor released by Apple. This could change soon, based on an icon found in the latest watchOS beta (scroll down for icon)....

Following the announcement of the new iPad Pro at this morning’s special event in downtown Brooklyn, Apple has released two new informational videos that provide guidance for developers and designers updating their apps for the new displays and features. Designing for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and Bringing Your Apps to the New iPad Pro both dive deep into the technical and experiential factors that make a great iPad app. Rounded display corners and the home indicator first appeared last year on the iPhone X, but for iPad users, the experience is totally new....

As part of its Shot on iPhone 6 campaign promoting iPhone photography, Apple is now hanging billboard advertisements around the world. The ads feature the photographs in full bleed with a simple ‘Shot on iPhone 6’ tagline. The posters are going up around the world, including some dramatic large billboards on the side of skyscrapers. Pictured above is one such poster (photo taken by Jimmy Grewal on Twitter) being setup on a skyscraper in Dubai....

Apple’s Craig Federighi said that “iPad has always supported forms of multitasking.” but for iOS 9 they’re “taking it to a whole new place.” Introducing Slide Over, now users will be able to snap two apps together side-by-side (company is calling it Split View), and work simultaneously on both and even do drag and drop from one app to the other. Users will also be able to resize the windows as they see fit using a slider....

Along with Apple’s iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 3 also hit store shelves during a silent weekday release. If you don’t currently own an iPad mini, it’s probably a better time than ever to pick one up, but I wouldn’t really recommend getting Apple’s latest and greatest. Let me tell you why… Inside of the iPad mini 3, you’ll find a dual-core Apple A7 chip clocked at 1.3GHz, 1GB of RAM, a quad-core PowerVR G6430 GPU, and a 6,470 mAh battery....

iTunes 8 does indeed feature a new visualiser, and that visualiser is Magnetosphere, as we predicted last week (with thanks to the excellent Create Digital Music website). Video producer and designer Allan White has claimed Magnetosphere was purchased by Apple for deployment within iTunes. It’s not the first time Apple’s purchased a technology – then called SoundJam, iTunes was itself purchased from now defunct firm, Casady and Greene, in 2000....

Apple has just launched its annual 12 Days of Gifts campaign for 2013. In previous years, this campaign was available only in a few select countries, but not in the United States. For the first time Apple will now allow U.S. customers to participate in the giveaway. The 12 Days of Gifts app is available for free on the iTunes Store. Each day for twelve days the app will provide a special free item from the iTunes, iBooks, and App Stores....

Apple is reportedly in talks about buying cobalt direct from miners in a long-term deal set to span five years or more. The report is given weight by the CEO of one mining company confirming Apple has held discussions about cobalt, which is used in the lithium-ion batteries which power Apple devices. There would be two benefits to Apple in striking such a deal … First, as the Bloomberg report notes, it would allow the company to secure supplies of a key component at a time when shortages are feared....

Photo of iPad 3 units being loaded on planes? (thanks @sonnydickson) Some new tidbits are coming our way as the days until Apple’s next major announcement dwindle down. The first item of note is a purported shipping document for iPad 3 units. The document appeared on Twitter-like website Sina Weibo, and it is highlighted by Apple.pro. The origin seems to be in the WeiPhone forums. According to the image’s poster, the shipping document (shown below) details shipments beginning Feb....

Apple is today introducing an Apple Music plan aimed at students. The service is identical in features to the standard plan but rather than paying $9.99 per month, qualifying students can subscribe to Apple Music for $4.99 per month. The offering is rolling out today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and more countries (via TechCrunch). Prices vary per region but the discount should be around 50% of the normal Apple Music price....