iOS 14 Could Offer Home Screen Widgets, Wallpaper Customizations

iOS 14 could offer home screen widgets and wallpaper customizations for the first time, according to 9to5Mac and Twitter user DongleBookPro.

Apple is reportedly working to implement widgets that can be moved freely around like icons on the iPhone and iPad homescreen for the very first time. The feature is reportedly codenamed “Avocado” and no other details are available. It was also mentioned that Apple is still working on implementing the feature and it may be scrapped.

In addition to home screen widgets, Twitter user DongleBookPro shared allegedly leaked screenshots of new wallpaper settings and customization options coming in ‌iOS 14‌. The leaked screenshots reveal a new “Collections” menu that users can populate with their own photos. The new “iOS 13” column hints that Apple will not be removing wallpapers first introduced in ‌iOS 13‌. It also appears Apple will be grouping similar wallpapers together in a more pleasant arrangement, as users will now be able to scroll left to right instead of top to bottom.

The screenshot also mentions new “Home Screen Appearance” options which will allow users to alter the appearance of their current wallpaper. It appears users will now be able to select dark, dim, blurred, and normal versions of a wallpaper.

Apple is expected to announce ‌iOS 14‌ at its WWDC 2020 event this June which will be held online.

New Low-Cost ‘iPhone SE’ Could Launch as Soon as Tomorrow

Thursday April 2, 2020 4:06 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple’s new low-cost iPhone is set to launch as early as Friday, April 3, according to a new report from 9to5Mac that cites a tip from a “highly trusted reader.” The site says that while it can’t be certain about the launch date, “Apple could reveal and begin taking orders for the new iPhone as soon as tomorrow.” The iPhone 8 Apple is said to be planning to call the new iPhone, which is…

Apple’s 2020 MacBook Air vs. 2020 iPad Pro

Wednesday April 1, 2020 2:45 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple in March updated both the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro, and with the iPad Pro increasingly positioned as a computer replacement, we thought we’d compare both new machines to see how they measure up and which one might be a better buy depending on user needs.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We’re comparing the base model 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the base model…

AirTags Referenced in New Apple Support Video

Apple has accidentally referenced its widely rumored AirTags item tracking tags in a video that it uploaded to its Apple Support channel on YouTube today. The video was first spotted by the blog Appleosophy and has quickly been removed.
The video was titled “How to erase your iPhone.” AirTags were mentioned in Settings > Apple ID > Find My > Find My iPhone under Enable Offline Finding, with…

Apple Paid Hacker $75,000 for Uncovering Zero-Day Camera Exploits in Safari

Apple paid out $75,000 to a hacker for identifying multiple zero-day vulnerabilities in its software, some of which could be used to hijack the camera on a MacBook or an iPhone, according to Forbes.
A zero-day vulnerability refers to a security hole in software that is unknown to the software developer and the public, although it may already be known by attackers who are quietly exploiting…

Apple Offers Employees Deep Discounts on HomePod, Beats Headphones and More

Friday April 3, 2020 11:14 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple is offering employees significant discounts on products that include the HomePod and Beats headphones, according to details on the deals shared by MacGeneration and 9to5Mac.
Apple is said to be clearing stock of Beats headphones and HomePods, providing them to employees through an internal deals program. The HomePod is available at a 50 percent discount, dropping the price to $149.50,…

iPhone 8 Screen Protector Updated With ‘iPhone SE’ Compatibility on Apple’s Online Store

Another clue has surfaced to suggest that Apple’s rumored lower-cost iPhone SE successor will likely be released soon.
Earlier today, a product listing for a Belkin screen protector on Apple’s online store was updated to reflect compatibility with not only the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, but also the iPhone SE. Given the original iPhone SE was a 4-inch device, and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 are…

Zoom Updates Mac App Installer to Remove Controversial ‘Preflight’ Installation Method

Thursday April 2, 2020 11:42 am PDT by Eric Slivka

The popular video conferencing company Zoom has been under scrutiny over the past few days for the method used to install the Mac version of its app, which essentially abused a “preflight” compatibility check to install the app without the user needing to explicitly grant installation permission, as highlighted by developer Felix Seele earlier this week.
Screenshot of preflight compatibility …

Top Stories: Apple Leaks iPhone SE and AirTags, Apple Buys Dark Sky, and More

With the calendar rolling over to April this week, we yet again saw several leaks and rumors, most notably including Apple itself leaking some references to a pair of long-rumored products: a new budget iPhone SE and AirTags item trackers.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple also acquired popular weather app Dark Sky, while Amazon’s Prime Video app now allows…