A new report this week, citing various sources within Apple’s Far East supply chain and published by DigiTimes, seeks to shed some additional light on previously rumored iMac Pro plans for 2017.

While iDrop News reported earlier this month that Apple may have a top-tier iMac currently in development, potentially boasting features like an incredible 8K UHD display (7680 x 4320 pixel resolution), up to 64 GB of RAM, and some iteration of discreet AMD-powered GPU chips, the DigiTimes report adds a bit of fuel to the fire — shedding some additional light on the upcoming machine’s myriad of pro-centric specifications.

Specifically, according to the report, Apple’s iMac Pro will feature a “server grade” configuration, and will thusly feature a powerful, quad-core Intel Xeon E3-1285 CPU, as few as 16 — but as many as 64 — GB of ECC RAM, and up to 2 TB of NVMe SSE Storage in addition to “the latest” discreet GPU chip from AMD, according to the report.

Apple is also rumored to have a 21.5-inch iMac model currently in the works. The 21.5-inch model and the 27-inch iMac Pro will be developed by Apple’s long-time Mac manufacturing partner, Quanta Computer.

As these specifications might suggest, Apple is gearing up to differentiate the next iMac from iMacs past, creating a machine that’s destined to further penetrate the ‘Pro’ segment of the market that Cupertino has progressively been trying to tap into in recent years. In fact, when Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, sat down earlier this month with tech industry insider, John Gruber, the former pointed out that a few new ‘pro-centric’ Mac desktops would actually be coming later on this year.

“And now you look at today’s 5K iMac,” Federighi said. “It’s incredibly powerful, and a huge fraction of what would’ve traditionally — whether it’s audio editing, video editing, graphics, arts, and so forth — that would’ve previously absolutely required the Mac Pros of old, are being well addressed by iMac.”

Apple’s own research cited how 30% of the company’s total base of Mac users have conducted their work utilizing one of Apple’s Pro apps — such as Logic Pro, or Final Cut Pro — at least once per week; while, within that 30% range, there exists an 80/20 split between MacBook Pro users, and Mac desktop users, respectively, with the iMac encompassing the latter majority of those desktop Mac sales.

An iMac Pro would certainly appeal to a much larger segment of Apple’s Pro users, many of whom flock to the company’s most powerful offerings, time and time again, due to their superior performance and long-lasting quality. And since it’s been a few years since Apple last addressed the iMac desktop in any way, the iMac Pro would certainly deliver on Tim Cook’s promise of many “great new desktops” to come.

iPhone 8 design rumors have been circulating the web like wildfire in recent days, with reports conflicting most notably in regards to Apple’s plans for the upcoming flagship’s Touch ID sensor positioning — among a horde of other design characteristics, including the bittersweet decision to axe the iPhone 8’s rumored curved OLED display. But a new schematic that was leaked on Wednesday morning, if indeed it turns out to be the real deal, could effectively put many of those Touch ID-related rumors to rest.

Posted by the famed but historically inconsistent serial leaker, Sonny Dickson, to his official Twitter account, the leak shows what appears to be a 2D schematic depicting the iPhone 8’s back chassis. What’s sure to stand out most of all though, is that gaping, circular cut-out plastered just beneath the Apple logo on the back of the device, suggesting that Cupertino might have unfortunately resorted to a rear-mounted Touch ID sensor after all.

Worth noting, however, is that while the front of the iPhone 8 — which has also been rumored to be dubbed the ‘iPhone Edition’ — is expected to boast minimal bezels all the way around its massive 5.8-inch OLED display, a slew of conflicting reports have surfaced in recent weeks suggesting that, well, Apple could ultimately go one of several different routes with Touch ID.

For the record, Apple has been rumored to be working on an embedded Touch ID solution for what seems like years now; meaning that the sensor would essentially be built into the OLED display, itself, allowing the user to unlock, interact with, and carry out Apple Pay transactions on their device by merely placing their finger on the front display glass. However, it was rumored recently that due to a number of unforeseen manufacturing issues, Apple had decided to scrap the embedded Touch ID concept — instead opting for a rear-mounded fingerprint sensor, similar to a host of high-end Android devices, that would enable the company to expedite the iPhone Edition to market and release it alongside its iPhone 7s and 7s Plus counterparts this September.

Other reports, however, have suggested that Apple is in fact still working on the glass-embedded Touch ID solution; and while lower than expected yield rates have caused skepticism among some analysts, Apple could potentially still deliver the Touch ID-embedded device perhaps in October or November of this year, albeit in lower quantities to start, while unveiling it on stage alongside the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus.

The fact that Apple has been working on this under-the-glass Touch ID technology for years is a clear indication that it won’t simply settle for the status quo, though. To that end, Apple is rumored to have been working with various prototypes of the iPhone Edition, with some embodying the embedded Touch ID solution, and some featuring the sensors embedded around back — a la Samsung’s hot new Galaxy S8/S8+ flagships.

But that would be unlike Apple to simply follow in the footsteps of its fiercest rivals in the tech space, right? Therefore, as with all rumors, we highly recommend taking this rumor, too, with a heaping grain of salt, at least until the iPhone manufacturing season kicks into full swing this summer.

Read Our Comprehensive Overview of iPhone 8▶

Last month, iDrop News received a bevy of exclusive information pertinent to Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 flagship, which could actually be dubbed the iPhone Edition, according to several supply chain sources who shared their knowledge of Apple’s imminent plans. And while we’ve had a few weeks or so to let those rumors sink in, fairly substantial amounts of additional information supporting the claims have surfaced.

The latest round of credence is coming to us this morning courtesy of a report published by the popular Japanese blog, Macotokara, which seeks to shed light on several of the iPhone Edition’s design elements that have previously taken center stage.

According to the report, Apple’s next-generation iPhone will likely borrow several design cues from the glass and metal iPhone 4 handset from 2010. However, while both the front and back of the upcoming device is expected to be covered in sheets of glass, as opposed to a thick metal frame wrapped around the edges, Apple’s iPhone Edition will boast a considerably more durable stainless steel frame — a feature that was first spearheaded by KGI Securities analyst, Ming Chi Kuo, and all but confirmed earlier this year by DigiTimes.

Meanwhile, echoing iDrop News’ sentiments which were recently divulged in leaked schematics, the report goes on to suggest that the top-tier flagship’s dual-lens camera system around back will, in fact, be reoriented to a vertical position. As noted in our previous report, however, this reorientation — as quirky as it may seem — certainly won’t come without benefits to the user. By shifting the camera sensors to a top-bottom position from their current side-by-side orientation, iPhone Edition owners will be able to achieve greater depth of field, forthcoming AR/VR applications, and more when the device is used horizontally.

Image Copyright 2017 iPhone 8 Concept, iDrop News. Attribution required.

Specifically, the report details how the iPhone Edition will feature a ‘glass sandwich’ design, boasting glass on the front and back, with a solid stainless steel frame holding it all together. It’s important to note, however, that while many might speculate that the device will embody the iPhone 4 and 4s, Apple’s design will more than likely be refined in many ways — in other words, merely borrowing some of the 2010-era handset’s aesthetics, while incorporating several newer, more durable materials, and using current manufacturing techniques to achieve a unique design.

The report also goes on to suggest that the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus duo, which should be unveiled alongside their iPhone Edition counterpart, will feature a chassis that’s slightly thicker than the current iPhone 7 and 7 Plus’ — and while that could mean a number of things, such as that the devices will ship with higher capacity batteries. If true, it also means that the current range of iPhone 7 cases probably won’t fit the new devices, accordingly. We’ll just have to take that with a grain of salt, though, since Apple isn’t known for shaking things up too dramatically when s-model refreshes are in the pipeline.

Available stocks of current-generation, 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro devices are dwindling across the board — perhaps hinting that a refresh is imminent.

According to the Check Availability tool on Apple’s website, most high-volume Apple retail outlets are completely sold out of certain 12.9-inch iPad Pro models — though there are a few exceptions (in what probably are lower-volume brick-and-mortar stores). The lower-priced 32-gigabyte Wi-Fi and 128-gigabyte LTE models seem to be most affected by the stock shortage. Interestingly enough, nearly every single store will get new stock on May 16, per Apple’s website.

Similarly, Cupertino’s online store seems to be completely out of all 12.9-inch iPad Pro models — regardless of color, storage or connectivity options. Per the website, new orders are expected to be shipped in 2 to 3 weeks (which still puts those orders in the early- to mid-May range). Of course, this doesn’t automatically point to a device refresh on May 16 — but, combined with other rumors, the stock shortage could shed some light on the timing of Apple’s latest iPad release.

The highly anticipated iPad Pro refresh is certainly looming. Previously, the vast majority of rumors suggested that the new iPad Pro devices would be released alongside the new, entry-level 9.7-inch iPad in March or early April. Of course, that didn’t actually happen leaving much of the Apple news ecosystem confused over the conflicting rumors. Others such as DigiTimes, have reported that the iPads would launch in the second half of 2017 (with a June release being the earliest). That rumor is looking more and more likely as time goes on. Others, like Apple blogger John Gruber, are even predicting a fall launch.

Apple is largely expected to unveil two new iPad Pro devices this year: an updated 12.9-inch model, and a mid-size iPad with minimal bezels in a brand new form factor (reportedly, somewhere in the 10.5- to 10.9- inch range). Both devices are expected to run on Apple’s A10X chipset, and both should feature True Tone displays. While we might have a few good guesses, at this point, it’s totally up in the air exactly when these new iPad Pro devices will be unveiled.

Mark Zuckerberg has big plans for his company in the augmented reality space that go beyond Pokémon Go and Snapchat filters, which he outlined during today’s Facebook F8 Conference.

There, he also expanded on the ambitious ten-year master plan that Facebook unveiled last year, of which a major component was developing a viable augmented and virtual reality business. While Facebook has famously invested billions into virtual reality, notably with the acquisition of Oculus for a cool $3 billion, it looks like the social media giant’s augmented reality plan is enjoying accelerated progress.

At the annual conference, Zuckerberg discussed his company’s latest Camera Effects platform, which will give outside developers the tools to build augmented reality apps for Facebook’s camera feature on smartphones. One day, the Facebook CEO envisions selling stylish and lightweight glasses that overlay images onto the physical world. In the near-term, the idea is to turn everyone’s smartphones into augmented reality platforms that outside developers can contribute thousands of effects to it. In turn, everyone will be able to access augmented reality in everyday life.

As Zuckerberg told TechCrunch, “the first augmented reality platform that becomes mainstream isn’t going to be glasses, it’s going to be cameras.” He says that augmented reality will be brought into the mainstream in three major ways: the Facebook app’s camera will be used to display information about the real world (e.g. details about monuments and local landmarks), add digital objects to the physical world (e.g. creating a digital chessboard on your dining room table), and enhance existing objects (sort of like Snapchat filters).

While waiting at the doctor’s office for example, Zuckerberg says that kids will be able to play interactive games against each other through their smartphones, using the waiting room table as a board. “Through the lens of the camera you can see this tower defense game where all these bad guys come in and you have to swat them in order for them to go away before they get to you,” he said.

It may also mean that street artists can leave digital murals on public buildings and tag their local mailbox without incurring the wrath of the law. Or, you can use the same function to leave a note for your girlfriend or boyfriend on the refrigerator. More broadly, Zuckerberg envisions using online relationships, communities, and interactions to reinforce those in the physical world, likening augmented reality to “the platonic form” of “digital and virtual reality.”

“The idea is that when you become friends with someone on Facebook, your relationship gets stronger in real life. You bring your community online and your physical community gets stronger,” Zuckerberg said to USA Today. “So it’s not one or the other, you can actually mix these two together. And what augmented reality is like in a lot of ways is the platonic form of being able to mix digital and virtual reality.”

As a more concrete example, Zuckerberg says that his augmented reality vision will enable friends to watch TV together by casting a TV app on a blank wall, doing away with physical TV sets. “We don’t need a physical TV. We can buy a $1 app TV and put it on the wall and watch it,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s actually pretty amazing when you think about how much of the physical stuff we have doesn’t need to be physical. It could just be digital and created by kids all around the world who don’t need access to a factory to build a TV.”

Publisher Condé Nast has revealed the newest covers for two of its popular magazines. What’s significant about these covers, however, is that both were shot on an iPhone 7 Plus.

The two covers are for Bon Appétit’s latest annual travel issue and Condé Nast Traveler’s May HOT LIST AWARDS issue. Both were shot using the various camera tools included on the iPhone 7 Plus — including Portrait Mode, which lets photographers apply a depth-of-field effect to highlight the subject of a picture. Both mark the first time that a smartphone was used to shoot a cover photo for either publication, Yahoo News reported.

Bon Appétit’s cover, taken by famed photographers Peden + Munk, features a portrait of a woman in front of a blue background reportedly taken in Oaxaca, Mexico’s Tlacolula Market. “It changes the whole process and feel of a photo shoot, making it more intimate, less invasive, more nimble,” Bon Appétit’s Creative Director Alex Grossman told Yahoo News. “We wanted to create something our reader would relate to.” Apple has reportedly taken notice, too: the company is running an ad on the back of that issue highlighting the iPhone-shot cover photo, TechCrunch reported.

Condé Nast Traveler’s editorial team took a similar approach, reportedly tasking their photographers to highlight the iPhone 7’s new Portrait Mode feature. One of the resulting images, a bokeh shot of a boat taken in St. Barts, an overseas French territory in the West Indies, graces the cover of the publication’s May issue. “iPhone photography has reimagined the way we gather memories while we travel, making it easier than ever to capture, with exceptional precision, snapshots of our trip,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote in a press release.

This isn’t the first time that an iPhone shot was featured on the cover of a popular publication. Billboard’s February 25 issue features a photograph of former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello shot using an iPhone 7 Plus. Similarly, Bon Appétit actually shot its entire March 2016 issue — minus the cover — with iPhones.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have our alarms hooked up to a mechanical hand to slap us awake. And without it, the answer to waking up easily is to achieve a higher quality of sleep.

But for as much good as smartphones do, they often get a lot of blame for sleep issues today. Of course, there’s always two sides to every story — and there are a few ways that your iPhone can actually improve your sleep. Here are a few ways your iPhone can help you sleep better.

3. Night Shift

First introduced in iOS 9.3, Night Shift is a nifty little feature that’s scientifically proven to help you sleep better.

According to recent studies, exposure to blue light before bed could actually shift your body’s natural circadian rhythm — and even suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep at an appropriate time. All of this results in overall poorer sleep time and quality. Of course, the easier solution is just to turn off your device and refrain from using it a few hours before bed. But let’s admit it: that’s hard.

Luckily, Night Shift could help with that. The feature actually changes the color temperature of the iPhone’s display to reduce the amount of blue light emitted. This gives the iPhone a warmer hue, and “may help you get a better night’s sleep,” according to Apple. Learn more about Night Shift, here.

How to Turn on Night Shift

1. Simply swipe-up from the bottom of the home screen to access the Control Center.


2. Then tap Night Shift.

By default, Night Shift should be set to turn on automatically at a certain time. To edit that time (and the time it turns off)..

1. Go to Settings.


2. Tap Display & Brightness.


3. Tap Night Shift.

2. Bedtime

If you have trouble getting to bed at a decent hour and tracking how much sleep you actually get, Bedtime is here to help. Recently introduced in iOS 10, Bedtime is a sleep-tracking feature that connects to Apple’s Health app. And it does a few different things that could help you adjust to a new (and healthier) sleep cycle.

First of all, Bedtime allows you to set a wake-up time (like the alarm does). Nothing special there. But, Bedtime also lets you input how much sleep you want to get via a radial dial — and then recommends a time to be in bed by. The app also lets you set when you want to be reminded to hit the hay — via time intervals — which is great for night owls who have trouble getting to bed at a decent hour. Bedtime also lets you track your sleep via a new panel in the Health app — as consistency is key.

Bedtime is available as a feature in the stock Clock app. To set it up, just tap on the Bedtime icon and follow the prompts. For a full-guide on using Bedtime, just follow this link.

1. Third-party apps

While Apple’s proprietary sleep-related apps are great, there are a plethora of third-party options that could help you sleep better. For example, Relax Melodies is an app that generates calming white or fan noise, as well as other relaxing sleep sounds and melodies. White noise has been found to actually help people sleep — and there are quite a few of us who can attest to that fact. Apps like Relax Melodies are especially useful if you don’t want to run a fan all night, or if you’re in a hotel room or similar place where that’s not an option.

Similarly, numerous studies have shown that a regular mindfulness meditation practice can actually fight insomnia and significantly improve sleep. An app like Calm has plenty of guided meditations to get you started. As an added bonus, Calm also features so-called Sleep Stories — a modern mindful rift on a child’s bedtime story, but tailor-made for all ages.

Apple on Friday was granted a permit from the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing it to officially begin testing self-driving cars in the state.

According to the DMV’s official website, Apple’s name was added to an extensive list of 29 companies that have previously been granted the same self-driving car permits, including various auto-makers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Ford, as well as Silicon Valley heavyweights including Google, Faraday & Future, Inc., and computer components giant NVIDIA.

“Today, April 14, 2017, California Department of Motor Vehicles issued Apple Inc. an autonomous vehicle test permit,” a DMV spokeswoman told Business Insider, while adding that “The permit covers three vehicles, all 2015 Lexus RX450h, and six drivers.” Interestingly, the RX450 hybrid from Lexus has also been used by Google in a number of ‘unsuccessful’ road tests making Apple’s decision to employ the same SUV a bit intriguing.

Apple’s permit granting is merely the latest in a long and complex string of developments that have collectively painted a picture of the Mac-maker’s ambitions in reinventing the automobile. While the company was recently rumored to have abandoned the prospect of actually manufacturing a self-branded ‘Apple Car’, other reports have suggested that the company’s interest has merely shifted towards developing the underlying software systems that would make them possible — with the ultimate goal, perhaps, of partnering with a premium auto-maker to jointly create and deliver autonomous autos based a computerized system that’s uniquely Apple.

Either way: tech-titans and well-known automaker’s, alike, have been engaged in a race to develop their respective autonomous vehicle infrastructures, with companies like Uber, Google, Tesla, General Motors, Ford, and many others, having unleashed a fleet of bulky sensor-equipped prototypes in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, all around the country, and even upon private courses where they can be tested discreetly — free from the possibility of causing any major damage, should something go awry.

Although Apple’s Project Titan has hit its fair share of roadblocks over the last few years, including several upper-management reconfigurations, the company is nevertheless expected to continue steadfast in its attempt to deliver some form of self-driving car technology — and we should know much more about those goals and intentions by the year’s end, according to Bloomberg.

Great news for those of you who’ve clung so tightly to your 4th generation iPad. Apple recently instated a policy change in regards to service requests for the now discontinued 4th generation tablet. Specifically, in instances where customers need to have their device serviced or repaired for any serious reason, Apple is now offering them an outright replacement with a considerably newer, more powerful iPad Air 2, according to an internal memo from the company that was obtained by 9to5mac.

“Starting March 30th, iPad 4th generation whole unit repairs may be substituted to iPad Air 2,” the memo reads, in part.

Apple has essentially authorized its retail staff, as well as select Apple-authorized retailers, to start shipping a variety of iPad Air 2 models as replacement units for customers who’re seeking service on their 4th gen models, in cases when stock of the aging, long discontinued iPad 4th gen isn’t available.

Apple’s 4th generation iPad, which was the first to feature the company’s Lightning port for charging and data syncing via USB, was discontinued back in October, 2014, when the company announced the iPad Air 2. However, Cupertino’s policy has typically been to continue offering support and repairs for discontinued products up to five years after their discontinuation at Apple Stores or authorized retailers.

Apple’s internal memo also informs staff to notify customers about the color and storage capacity of their replacement model, since the iPad Air 2 is offered in several colors and storage capacities, including a new Gold color option, and recently introduced 32 GB and 128 GB storage capacities — which replace previously discontinued offerings in 16 GB and 64 GB. That’s pretty good news for iPad 4th gen owners whose devices start acting up, as it entails that the replacement being offered won’t just be more powerful and feature-packed, but also could boast a bit more onboard storage than their iPad 4th gen, depending on availability.

While the iPad Air 2 is now discontinued as well, having been replaced last month with the company’s new budget-friendly $329 iPad, this move is nonetheless great news for those whose bulky-bezeled 4th gen iPads begin showing signs of doom — especially since Apple Stores, and most 3rd party service providers, don’t typically perform repairs to iPad but rather offer the customer a replacement for their faulty model, depending on stock and availability in their region.

Apple is pushing LG to enter the smartphone OLED display industry ahead of the 2018 iPhone, according to a new report.

While Samsung — the world’s current largest producers of OLED panels — is expected to be the sole supplier for Apple’s upcoming 2017 iPhone, Cupertino is apparently attempting to coax LG into competition with Samsung. As of April 17, LG Display has all but decided to supply Apple with OLED panels for iPhones in 2018 — and the manufacturer will reportedly confirm the decision in a June board meeting, according to Business Korea.

“We received a request to take part in a bid for receiving an order for small and medium-sized OLEDs from Apple,” a senior LG Display official told the publication. “At the end of June, we will make a decision based on OLED production technology, capacity and the accompanying investment volume in an extraordinary board meeting.”

Apple has been exploring opportunities to receive OLED shipments from LG in an attempt to move into a multi-vendor strategy for small and medium-sized OLEDs. LG, for its part, was unsure that it was able to mass-produce enough OLED panels of high enough quality for Apple — due to LG’s inexperience in small and medium-sized OLED panel production. On the other hand, the display manufacturer determined that it would lag behind other competitors in the market if they didn’t invest in the burgeoning OLED industry — a display medium that’s rapidly turning out to be the new standard for flagship smartphones.

LG is already the primary supplier of OLED panels for the Apple Watch — although that device clocks far fewer shipments than Apple’s flagship smartphone does. LG has similarly been preparing to ramp up its OLED production capacities by 2018. Reportedly, one of LG Display’s production facilities will enter full operational capacity in the second half of 2017 — allowing the company to produce and supply Apple with as many OLED panels as it needs, Business Korea reported.

According to a report published over the weekend by Motherboard, a host of previously unknown Windows hacking tools — which were created and utilized by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) — have been leaked, allowing even the most technologically challenged hackers to carry out “zero day” exploits against millions of active PCs, including nefarious acts like defacing websites, remotely locking a user’s machine for the sole sake of demanding a ransom payment for their re-admittance, or outright stealing emails or other sensitive data from right under their nose.

Featuring a range of easy-to-use hacking tools, including one called “Fuzzbunch,” the leaks allow hackers to gain control of PCs specifically running versions of Windows prior to Windows 10, including Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, as well as various server versions including NT, 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2012.

Message from alleged Fuzzbunch hacker.

The swath of NSA hacking tools, which one former U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) employee said is “The worst thing since Snowden,” were leaked in recent weeks by a hacking group known as the “Shadow Brokers,” according to Motherboard’s Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai. The report also quotes the same DoD employee saying “It’s not safe to run an internet facing Windows box right now.”

“All of the Windows implants are new to VirusTotal [an online file scanning tool], which suggests they’ve not been seen before,” added U.K.-based IT security architect, Kevin Beaumont.

While Microsoft has aggressively encouraged its customers to upgrade to Windows 10, which was released back in the summer of 2015, the latter majority of internet-connected PCs around the world, unfortunately, are still running much older versions of the operating system — with Windows 7, in particular, being the most widely used among them, according to recent statistics from GoSquared.

Interestingly, statistics collected by NetMarketshare revealed that only 25% of Window PCs, globally, are running the most recent version of Windows 10, meaning that the broader majority (give or take, 65-75%) of Windows machines are susceptible to being compromised by the suite of hacking tools.

A Microsoft spokesperson indicated in response to the Motherboard report that the company is currently “reviewing the report and will take the necessary actions to protect our customers.”

Meanwhile, aside from Macs whose owners have intentionally configured them to dual-boot into older versions of Windows, the breadth of Mac computers running recent software (10.11 El Capitan or later), as well as iPad models running iOS 9 or 10, remain unaffected by these exploits.

Apple’s limited exposure to malware, at least in part, can be attributed to the company’s penchant for propagating so-called “security by obscurity,” whereby even the easiest to execute hacking tools are simply unable to work on Mac or iOS because the operating systems simply aren’t as easy to target as their Windows and Android counterparts. That’s because Apple has a much faster ability to create and distribute new updates to the public, patching vulnerabilities and advancing system-wide security with each successive update to iOS and macOS, respectively.

T-Mobile won big in a recent FCC spectrum auction — coming away with 45 percent of all low-band spectrum sold, the Un-carrier announced Friday.

The Un-carrier was reportedly the top bidder in the recent 600 MHz spectrum auction put on by the Federal Communications Commission. T-Mobile walked away with 31 MHz nationwide, covering 100 percent of the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and bringing the company’s low-band holdings to a total around $8 billion, according to an April 13 press release.

“These auction results are a win for everyone, especially consumers, and generated BILLIONS for broadcasters and US taxpayers,” T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a vlog discussing the auction results. “This spectrum sets us up to bring the Un-carrier — and REAL competition — to wireless customers everywhere, many of whom have never had real choices in wireless.” In the wake of the FCC auction, T-Mobile now has the largest swath of unused low-band spectrum in the U.S., Legere added. All in all, that spectrum can cover every single American. Additionally, T-Mobile’s low-band spectrum will allegedly be uncrowded, which the company said could mean a slicker and faster experience for consumers.

Low-band 600 MHz spectrum is important for wireless providers, as the spectrum can travel long distances and penetrate buildings, according to Business Insider. Despite that, the nation’s leading wireless giants — AT&T and Verizon — were relatively quiet during the FCC event. The FCC held the first-ever Broadcast Incentive Auction, meant to repurpose spectrum for new users, in March of last year. While the auction results are certainly a big win for T-Mobile, the investment is not without its risks. Some have expressed skepticism over the long-term viability of low-band spectrum, according to Forbes. That’s partly because of low-band spectrum offers less capacity, and the fact that its relevance may decline in the coming years.

Despite that, T-Mobile said it will put the low-band spectrum wins to good use. Some of it is already slated to be used for both T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers. Furthermore, the availability of 600 MHz equipment and Qualcomm-produced chipsets that support the spectrum are expected to ramp up this year, the company said.

Apple TVs will allegedly get multi-user support and picture-in-picture functionality in tvOS 11, according to a new rumor.

Multi-user support will reportedly allow the creation of different profiles in tvOS — and will tailor on-screen content, apps and other personalized features to the active profile, which is connected to an Apple ID. Reportedly, users will be able to access music bought from Apple Music, view their own photos and videos from iCloud, watch purchased and downloaded content connected to their iTunes account, and use their own apps on the TV, Israeli site The Verifier reported.

According to The Verifier’s undisclosed source, work on multi-user support is in the “advanced stages” — but added a caveat that it could ultimately be delayed until an even later version of the operating system. Multi-user support isn’t a new concept to Apple. The company’s various Mac computers already support it. The iPad does, too — but only in educational mode.

In addition, the Israeli news site also alleged that tvOS 11 will add picture-in-picture functionality. Again borrowing from Mac and iPad devices, picture-in-picture will allow users to “minimize” a playing video, essentially adding a multi-tasking function to the Apple TV. Users will be able to stream their favorite content while using another app — although, reportedly, playing additional video or audio in another window will “turn off” the currently played content. Lastly, the publication suggested that Apple plans to introduce a live programming guide alongside a monthly TV subscription bundle through partnerships with content providers (something Apple has long been rumored to be exploring).

It’s worth noting that The Verifier is a relatively new and fairly obscure Apple news site, and it currently has an unproven track record. This is further complicated by the fact that the publication’s recent claims are all currently unverifiable — and we likely won’t know if they turn out to be true until WWDC in June. That isn’t to entirely discredit the publication, however, as Israel has become a hub of technological innovation in recent years — and there are currently Apple engineers working on various projects in the country.

The latest tvOS update is expected to be unveiled in June at Apple’s 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Due to the increasing number of available titles, and their ease of access on our smartphones, mobile gaming has become a past-time for millions of iPhone and Android users, especially those looking to kick back, relax, and delve into immersive new titles or classic addictions, alike. But with so many offerings to choose from, it can be hard to find a game that truly “suits you,” and your budget; which is why we’ve combed the Apple App Store this week in search of the latest and greatest new releases, and the tried-and-true classics that have been discounted for a limited time. Check out the awesome assortment of options below, and get ready to get your game on this weekend.

Originally released for PC back in 1999, the uber-popular role playing game (RPG), Planescape: Torment, has officially made its way onto the iOS App Store. Set amongst the backdrop of the notorious Dungeons & Dragons universe, this combat-style RPG boasts a familiar yet re-envisioned mode of gameplay. As you make your way through the graphically intense city of Sigil, you’ll have to explore various planes, solve increasingly complex puzzles, and engage in tactical combat with a host of adversaries. Featuring over 50 hours of game-play, Planescape: Torment is the perfect new addition to your collection of iOS-based RPGs, and can be downloaded now from the App Store for just $9.99

There are a myriad of Labyrinth-style games available — but only one has been made available to download for FREE! For a limited time, head on over to the Apple App Store and get your gratis copy of this addictive, classic-style puzzle game. As you tilt your iPhone or iPad in various orientations to steer the onscreen ball, you’ll have to be careful to avoid the plethora of holes that are scattered methodically about your path. Boasting over 50 unique puzzles, The Labyrinth is an easy, casual game that’s sure to keep your hands and mind busy for hours on end.

Blast off into the intergalactic unknown in this addicting, combat-style space shooter game. As you traverse the galaxy in search of valuable resources, you’ll engage in ac number of increasingly challenging battles, take control of new spaceships, and equip yourself with the weapons your need to fight off the forces against you. Boasting 10 exciting ships to choose from, you’ll get lost in the stratosphere when you realize how fun it is to fight off your adversaries in outer space. Just released on the Apple App Store, you can download Broadside now for just $1.99.

Recipient of the ‘Pocketgamer Gold Award’ for its “amazing aesthetics and perfect controls,” Hyperburner is a graphically immersive, high-speed flier game that will take you on a star-studded journey through the great beyond. Featuring six unique zones, boasting five challenging stages apiece, your goal is to navigate your ship through an increasingly intense and dangerous course — avoiding objects and unlocking achievements as you go. This week, Hyperburner is another paid app gone FREE, and can be downloaded now from the Apple App Store.

Flip your world upside-down, quite literally, when you play Mallow Drops — the equally fun and addicting new puzzle game for iOS. As you move and slide your way through over 100 increasingly tricky levels, you’ll have to collect all the lost eggs belonging to the kiwi birds who entrust you to recover them. Immersive as it may be, Mallow Drops isn’t all “fun and games,” though: you’ll also have to be on the lookout for pesky characters, including “Wooly Jumpers,” “Dirty Underbears,” and fatal “Dropbears,” who will persistently attempt to thwart you in your path to save the day. New this week on the Apple App Store, Mallow Drops can be downloaded now for just $2.99.