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Save up to $150 on Apple’s new 2019 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with coupon

 

Exclusive

By Christine McKee
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 09:03 pm PT (12:03 am ET)

Black Friday in July deals are here, with savings of up to $150 off new MacBook Pro 13-inch and 2019 MacBook Air models that were just announced by Apple mere days ago.

Apple new MacBook Pro 13 inch


Apple’s new MacBook Pro 13-inch (2019)

$100 to $150 off Apple’s new MacBook Pro 13 inch

Apple’s brand-new 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro is full of upgrades over the previous-gen non-Touch Bar model, thanks to quad-core 8th-generation Intel processors, third-generation butterfly keyboards and T2 security. Shortly after Apple announced the updated configs on July 9, we went hands-on with the latest systems and found the spec bumps — and inclusion of the Touch Bar with every model — to be a positive step with an abundance of bang for your buck.

It gets even better, however, as AppleInsider readers can enjoy significant savings on the new systems thanks to exclusive coupon code APINSIDER, which is valid at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. Shoppers can save $100 to $150 on every CTO model (i.e. upgraded configurations available from Apple, but not available in retail outlets) or $70 to $110 on retail models through July 20, in addition to free shipping and no interest financing for 12 months when paid in full with the Adorama Credit Card.

These deals, which deliver the lowest prices anywhere for the new laptops, are available only at AppleInsider using the special pricing links below or in our 13-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide, in conjunction with the coupon code.

Need help with the coupon? Send us a note at [email protected] and we will do our best to assist.

Coupon discounts on 2019 13″ MacBook Pros

1.4GHz processor

1.7GHz processor

Up to $100 off Apple’s 2019 MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air 2019


Apple MacBook Air 2019

Apple’s newest MacBook Air is also on sale with savings of $50 to $100 off every model. Like the MacBook Pro deals above, these exclusive discounts require promo code APINSIDER when used with the pricing links below or in our 2019 MacBook Air Price Guide. In addition to the coupon savings, each configuration also qualifies for free shipping within the contiguous U.S., along with no interest for 12 months when used with the Adorama Credit Card.

Please note, the coupon discount expires on July 20 on select configurations. Need help with the coupon? Send us a note detailing the issue at [email protected] and we will happily assist.

Promo code deals on 2019 MacBook Airs

8GB memory

16GB memory

Even more Apple deals

AppleInsider has partnered with top Apple Authorized Resellers to bring you a variety of the best discounts on Apple products. From Macs to Apple Watches, the lowest prices are available 365 days a year in our Apple Price Guide.

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‘Sky: Children of the Light’ finally reaches worldwide audiences

 

By Roger Fingas
Wednesday, July 17, 2019, 08:20 pm PT (11:20 pm ET)

A showcase title for the Apple TV, thatgamecompany’s “Sky: Children of the Light” — also available for iPhones and iPads — is now finally in wide release, including the U.S.

Sky: Children of the Light

Players become one of the game’s namesake children, exploring seven realms as they work to solve puzzles and return fallen stars to their constellations. Later expansions will include new realms and seasonal events.

The title is highly focused on its social aspects, the idea being that people will run into each other in the world and team up for exploration, saving spirits, and finding treasure. Players can customize their characters, gift each other candles, and even create music.

The game is free to play, but does offer a range of in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $49.99, such as bundles and season passes.

“Sky” first premiered during Apple’s September 2017 press event, when it was used to demonstrate the power of the Apple TV 4K. It arrived in the Philippines in December that year as “Sky: Light Awaits,” but then saw its rollout slow to a crawl. In June 2019, thatgamecompany announced July 11 as a global launch date —a last-minute delay pushed the timing to July 18. The app is out in the U.S. despite it being the 17th as of this writing.

iPhone and iPad owners must be running iOS 9 or later. Apple TV users must have a device with tvOS.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3r1KbzSiT8&w=560&h=315]

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DOJ asks appeals court to pause enforcement of Qualcomm antitrust ruling

 

By Roger Fingas
Tuesday, July 16, 2019, 03:27 pm PT (06:27 pm ET)

The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to temporarily halt enforcement of an antitrust ruling against Qualcomm, citing the necessity of the company in 5G networking, and support from both the Energy Department and Defense Department.

Qualcomm offices

“For DoD, Qualcomm is a key player both in terms of its trusted supply chain and as a leader in innovation, and it would be impossible to replace Qualcomm’s critical role in 5G technology in the short term,” wrote Ellen Lord, the Under Secretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in a filing seen by Reuters. The company was one of the first to market with a 5G modem for smartphones and tablets.

The Trump administration and others in U.S. government have strongly opposed Chinese businesses gaining dominance in the 5G space. The worry is not just economic, but that the Communist Party could push for backdoors that would enable spying and cyberwarfare. State-sponsored hackers have repeatedly probed American networks.

The antitrust case in question was brought by the Federal Trade Commission, which won an initial verdict in late May. The agency successfully argued that Qualcomm engaged in anti-competitive patent licensing, and U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh ordered the firm to license to rival chipmakers.

Qualcomm quickly launched an appeal, but has had no luck staying enforcement pending the outcome.

Apple and Qualcomm settled their own patent licensing fight in April. After the fact it was revealed that Apple had plotted a years-long scheme to reduce its royalty payments, which is likely why the case settled on the first day of trial, netting Qualcomm between $4.5 billion and $4.7 billion.

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Prime Day monitor deal: LG UltraFine 4K & 5K displays on sale from $269

 

By Christine McKee
Monday, July 15, 2019, 10:17 pm PT (01:17 am ET)

The second half of Amazon’s 48-hour Prime Day savings event is now underway, and Amazon-owned Woot is kicking off the latter half of the sale with aggressive markdowns on LG UltraFine 4K and UltraFine 5K displays. Prices for these Apple-compatible monitors start at just $269, but you better act quick, as supplies may be limited.

LG 22″ Ultra Fine 4K LED Monitor for $269

LG 22″ HD 4K Ultra Fine LED Monitor 22MD4KA: $269.99 ($430 off) – Sold out
*Plus free shipping for Amazon Prime members.

Kicking off the Prime Day sale is LG’s 22-inch UltraFine 4K display. Priced at $269.99 (sold out) for factory reconditioned units, this deal represents a $430 instant discount off MSRP. Each display comes with a 90-day limited warranty, with Amazon Prime members qualifying for free shipping.

With a resolution of 4069 x 2304, the USB-C 4K monitor is compatible with Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, increasing your screen real estate without breaking the bank. This deal is valid during Prime Day only, while supplies last.

LG 27″ Ultra Fine 5K Display for $649

LG Ultra Fine 5K display Apple compatible


LG UltraFine 5K Display

LG 27″ 5K Ultra Fine IPS LED Monitor 27MD5KA-B: $649.99 ($650 off)
*Plus free shipping for Amazon Prime members.

Those looking for even more screen real estate can also snap up a special deal on LG’s larger 27-inch 5K display. Now on sale for $649.99, these factory reconditioned displays are $650 off MSRP. Like the Ultra Fine 4K monitor featured above, these units come with a 90-day limited warranty and are fulfilled by Amazon for added peace of mind. Amazon Prime members can also snap up free standard shipping, further adding to the savings.

Both LG monitor deals are valid today only (July 16) while supplies last.

Additional Apple Deals

AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running a handful of additional exclusive promotions this month on Apple hardware that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of the items, but also throw in discounts on AppleCare, software and accessories. These deals are as follows:

See if there is a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch deal that will save you $100s by checking out prices.appleinsider.com and deals.appleinsider.com.

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Amazon Prime Day 2019: the best tech deals with live updates

 

By Christine McKee
Monday, July 15, 2019, 12:11 am PT (03:11 am ET)

Amazon Prime Day 2019 is officially here, and we’re compiling the best deals on Apple products, accessories, Amazon hardware and much more. Check back throughout July 15 and July 16 for live updates as new deals launch.

Amazon’s Prime Day sale has begun, and we’re rounding up the best deals on tech gadgets, including deals on Apple products with a Prime membership. Continue to check back throughout the 48-hour sale as we’ll be bringing you the best deals from Amazon and third-party sellers.

Top deals

  1. Apple Watches and iPads: From $169 (Up to 30% off)
  2. 128GB 2018 iPad (Wi-Fi): $299 ($130 off)
  3. 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 GPS (Space Gray Aluminum, Black Sport Band): $169 ($110 off)
  4. Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones: $139.99 ($160 off)
  5. 2019 Apple AirPods with Charging Case: $144.99 ($15 off)
  6. 2019 Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case: $179.99 ($20 off)
  7. 2019 MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Space Gray: $1,049 with code APINSIDER ($50 off)
  8. 2019 13″ MacBook Pro (1.4GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Space Gray: $1,229 with code APINSIDER ($70 off)
  9. 2017 12.9″ iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi) Silver: $699 ($450 off)
  10. 2014 Mac mini (2.8GHz, 8GB, 1TB FUS): $489 ($510 off)

Prime Day deals on Apple and Amazon hardware

Echo Show and Amazon Echo Dot Charcoal and Philips Hue Bulb


Find Prime Day savings on Amazon devices.

As in years past, Amazon has issued extensive markdowns on its own line of Fire, Kindle and Echo devices for Prime Day. Save up to 64% instantly on individual systems and bundles, with all of the deals view-able here. New to Prime Day 2019, Amazon is also knocking up to 30% off Apple Watches and iPads.

Apple Watch deals

iPad deals

Fire TV deals

Fire TV Stick deals

Echo deals

Fire Tablets

Ring Doorbell deals

Exclusive deals on MacBook Pros and iMacs

Apple MacBook Pro and iPad


Exclusive savings on MacBook Pros and iMacs are in effect.

Shoppers on Prime Day can also save up to $2,500 instantly on iMac and MacBook Pro computers. Plus, grab exclusive savings on closeout iPad Pros with high-end 12.9-inch models available for just $699. Please note, these deals must be activated via the special pricing links in this post. Promo code APINSIDER will also need to be entered for the Adorama deals. See the footnotes in each section for additional instructions.

Need help? Send us a note at [email protected] and we will do our best to assist.

iMac 5K + AppleCare bundle

2019 MacBook Air promo code

New 2019 13″ MacBook Pro coupon

Bonus savings on Apple’s 2018 MacBook Air

Lowest prices ever on 2018 MacBook Pros

New price drops on Mac mini

Apple Mac mini 2014 with flash sale badge


Grab the lowest price ever on Apple’s upgraded 2014 Mac mini.

B&H has also launched new deals on closeout Mac mini systems, with prices as low as $489. This represents an additional $50 price drop for Prime Day compared to last week’s cost.

Upgraded Mac mini now $489

Apple accessory deals

Nomad Battery Cable for iPhone


Nomad Battery Cable

Prime Day deals are also going on now with discounts of up to 80% off everything from AirPods to back-to-school covers and stands from Twelve South.

AirPods 2 deals

Twelve South accessories

Satechi accessories

Nomad Battery cable $19.98 with coupon

Software

Mighty Mac Software Bundle


The Mighty Mac Bundle

Shoppers can also save on VPN subscriptions and photo editing tools with Prime Day 2019 markdowns.

Prime Day software deals

More Apple deals

AppleInsider has partnered with top Apple Authorized Resellers to bring you even more Apple markdowns, many of which are available only at AI. Top offers on a variety of Macs, iPads and Apple Watches can be found below, with the lowest prices available every day in our Apple Price Guide.

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Editorial: Manufacturers, it’s time to put more USB-C ports on chargers

USB-C has continued to become more ubiquitous as more users adopt the small, reversible port. While all of our accessories are supporting it, chargers are lagging behind. Manufacturers —it is time to finally create chargers with more than a single USB-C port.

Even if you don’t have all your devices switched to USB-C yet, you are surely familiar with the new specification. USB-C is the connector type replacing the aging USB-A port. It is reversible and smaller than type-A ports and it supports faster speeds. USB-C cables that use the USB 3.1 Gen 2 protocol can handle up to 10Gb per second at full duplex.

Apple saw the usefulness of USB-C and made all new portable Macs utilize the cable exclusively, ditching USB-A, DisplayPort, and MagSafe in the process. The new iPad Pro also uses type-C.

Kanex GoPower USB-C chargers

Kanex GoPower USB-C chargers

Other accessory makers in the past few years have started to release products using USB-C at a faster rate. Dashcams like Owl use USB-C, as do recent GoPros, the Nikon Z range of cameras, air purifiers like Wynd, and headphones such as the Master & Dynamic ANC over head cans.

The point is, with so much of our gear now relying on the updated port design, why are we limited to chargers that only support one or maybe two USB-C ports max?

When AppleInsider reached out to several accessory makers, the main hangup that we were quoted was that USB-C PD takes too much power for more than two ports to be included on a charger at once. However, that doesn’t need to be the case.

USB-C PD —the PD stands for Power Delivery —is a dynamic charging technology that can handle up to 100 watts with specific cables and chargers. This is the kind of charger need to power up Apple’s latest Macs that use 60W or up to 87W of power draw.

Satechi 75W Dual USB-C multi-charger

Satechi 75W Dual USB-C multi-charger

What manufacturers seem to be trying to do is keep things simple by making all USB-C ports on their chargers support Power Delivery. Take the Satechi 75W Dual USB-C multi-charger. It sports two USB-C ports, with the top handling 60W output and the second handling 18W. The 60W is great for a Mac while the latter for an iPad Pro.

Then there are two legacy USB-A ports that charge at much lower speeds, usually five or seven watts. These ports are the ones that we wish would be swapped for low-power USB-C ports.

The same can be said for the absolutely exceptional Zendure SuperTank and SuperPort battery and multi-charger we reviewed, though it can handle up to 100W over USB-C.

In our ideal world, we’d have a four-port multi-charger with all USB-C. Two that support USB-C PD at fast speeds for power hungry gear such as Macs or iPads, and two slower ports for headphones, fitness accessories, etc.

Take my standard setup for example. Admittedly, I often truck around with more gear than the average consumer, but I don’t think my setup is all that odd.

When I head out, I take my MacBook Pro (or my iPad Pro), my iPhone, my Apple Watch, and a pair of headphones. Both my Mac and iPad Pro use USB-C to charge and with the newfound prevalence of USB-C Lightning cables I also use that to quick charge my iPhone and even my AirPods.

If I’m not taking my AirPods, I take my Master & Dynamic ANC headphones which came with a USB-C cable. I also use a USB-C Apple Watch charger because it can plug into my iPad or Mac.

Other gear that I travel with from time-to-time include my Nikon Z 7, my GoPro Hero 7, or my DJI Osmo, all of which use USB-C. The current option is to grab a bunch of USB-C to USB-A cables which is frustrating to bring along or to just charge two devices at once.

None of this is ideal.

Manufacturers have the ability to create all USB-C chargers without worrying about heat or power by just including slower ports that still put out the same amount of power as current chargers with both type A and C.

It is time for them to stop holding on to the legacy ports and embrace USB-C to push the industry forward and to finally allow early adopters and those with newer devices the ability to actually charge their gear the way they should be able to.

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Tesla requests iCloud data for engineer who allegedly stole Autopilot secrets

 

By Roger Fingas
Friday, July 12, 2019, 02:23 pm PT (05:23 pm ET)

Tesla has subpoenaed Apple for access to the iCloud data of an engineer who allegedly stole thousands of Autopilot source code files right before leaving to work at XMotors.ai, the U.S. research branch of China’s Xpeng.

Tesla Model 3 Autopilot

The ex-Tesla engineer, Guangzhi Cao, has already acknowledged uploading copies of Autopilot source code to his personal iCloud account, Bloomberg said in a report this week. He nevertheless claims to have done nothing wrong, saying he didn’t make use of the data and has tried to scrub it from his personal devices. Cao and his lawyers have even offered to provide forensic copies of devices Tesla wants to inspect.

Apple is likely to comply with the subpoena as long as it meets legal standards. July 2018 saw prosecutors charge an engineer from Apple’s self-driving program, Project Titan, with stealing trade secrets in advance of joining Xpeng. The case is still ongoing as the engineer has pleaded not guilty.

Autopilot is Tesla’s branding for the self-driving systems in cars like the Model 3 and Model S. The company’s AI has yet to achieve full independence, but can already park, navigate highways and change lanes with little human help.

Apple’s self-driving plans remain nebulous. The company has been performing road tests and recently bought out self-driving car startup Drive.ai, but details on product integration remain scarce. A finished vehicle could hit roads in 2023 or later, or not at all.

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Japan Display inks $738M bailout deal, including reported $100M from Apple

 

By Mikey Campbell
Thursday, July 11, 2019, 10:15 pm PT (01:15 am ET)

Ailing LCD manufacturer Japan Display on Friday said a consortium led by China’s Harvest Group has successfully raised the requisite funds to execute an 80 billion yen (about $738 million) bailout plan, $100 million of which is thought to come from Apple.

iPhone XR

After months of negotiations, Harvest agreed to increase its investment in JDI to meet the 80 billion yet target, reports Reuters.

Harvest was reportedly willing to invest nearly $500 million to keep JDI afloat. In June, JDI confirmed the amount, adding that a single customer had agreed to a $100 million infusion as part of Harvest’s offering.

Previous reports identified Apple as the mystery JDI investor. Apple is JDI’s most important customer, with the tech giant’s iPhone LCD panel orders accounting for some 60% of JDI’s revenue for the 2018 fiscal year.

Apple was originally expected to make its investment through TPK Holding, a Taiwan-based display maker in talks to kick $230 million into the bailout pool. TPK stepped away from the deal in June.

Alongside Harvest, Hong Kong-based Oasis Management will invest between $150 million to $180 million. According to today’s report, Oasis has offered to furnish additional funds to offset potential currency fluctuations. JDI plans to formalize the bailout at a shareholders meeting in August, the report said.

JDI is a joint venture that combined the display arms of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba in a bid to better compete with Korean powerhouses Samsung and LG Display. While the company enjoyed some early success, it erred by investing heavily in LCD production and largely ignoring a wider industry trend toward OLED panels.

Apple became intertwined with JDI after fronting a large sum to help the display maker build a $1.5 billion panel factory in 2015. JDI now finds itself in arrears and with a funding shortfall as the iPhone maker and others reduce LCD orders on a path toward OLED.

In addition to the supposed $100 million investment, Apple has agreed to slow JDI’s debt repayment timeline and potentially increase orders to stabilize the firm’s finances. Reports also suggest Apple this year awarded JDI a portion of future Apple Watch OLED panel orders as the company works to shift production away from LCD technology.

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Apple disables Walkie-Talkie app after notified of iPhone snooping threat

 

By Mikey Campbell
Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 11:46 pm PT (02:46 am ET)

Apple late Wednesday said it disabled the Walkie-Talkie app on Apple Watch after being alerted to a vulnerability that allows a user to surreptitiously listen in on another iPhone’s audio.

Walkie-Talkie

In a statement issued to TechCrunch, Apple said it was made aware of the bug through its product security reporting service, which allows developers, researchers and others to flag security and privacy issues via email.

Apple did not specify how the Walkie-Talkie flaw works, but in a statement said the bug “could allow someone to listen through another customer’s iPhone without consent.” A more detailed rundown might be provided in release notes accompanying a consequent watchOS security update. Whatever the case, the vulnerability is apparently serious enough to prompt Apple to deactivate a major platform feature.

The company told TechCrunch that while the bug has not been spotted in the wild, it has decided to temporarily disable Walkie-Talkie until a fix is in place. Apple will keep the Walkie-Talkie app on user devices as a patch is developed and deployed, suggesting the vulnerability at least partially impacts server-side assets.

We were just made aware of a vulnerability related to the Walkie-Talkie app on the Apple Watch and have disabled the function as we quickly fix the issue. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and will restore the functionality as soon as possible. Although we are not aware of any use of the vulnerability against a customer and specific conditions and sequences of events are required to exploit it, we take the security and privacy of our customers extremely seriously. We concluded that disabling the app was the right course of action as this bug could allow someone to listen through another customer’s iPhone without consent. We apologize again for this issue and the inconvenience.

Walkie-Talkie was introduced last year as a tentpole feature of watchOS 5. A modern take on push-to-talk communication methods popularized by two-way radios — and later transformed into a cellular service option by Nextel and other handset makers — Walkie-Talkie enables Apple Watch users the ability to send ephemeral audio messages to one another through the cloud.

Apple’s decision to disable Walkie-Talkie is reminiscent of its handling of the Group FaceTime fiasco earlier this year.

In January, teenager Grant Thompson discovered a particularly insidious bug that allowed any iPhone owner to eavesdrop on another user simply by adding that person’s number to a Group FaceTime call. The vulnerability granted access to a target device’s microphone without user intervention.

As word of the FaceTime exploit spread, Apple was forced to disable the feature until a fix was rolled in an update issued about a week later.

Thompson, whose mother attempted to inform Apple of the bug multiple times a week before it went viral, was ultimately paid a bug bounty and scholarship for finding the flaw.

Apple has not provided an estimated timeline of completion for the Walkie-Talkie fix.

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Apple launches ‘accelerator’ program for developers in China

 

By William Gallagher
Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 01:01 am PT (04:01 am ET)

Following a similar scheme in Bangalore, Apple has begun a Design and Development Accelerator program in Shanghai, which is designed to teach and support local developers.

Developers at Apple's new Accelerator program in Shanghai

Developers at Apple’s new Accelerator program in Shanghai

Apple has begun a series of lectures, workshops and networking sessions in the Pudong District of Shanghai as part of a program designed to help and support app developers in China. Called a Design and Development Accelerator, it sees local developers working alongside Apple experts.

“Developers here in China are leading the world with some of the most popular apps on the App Store, and we are proud to be providing this additional support for them,” said Enwei Xie, Apple’s head of developer relations, Greater China, in a statement.

“From education to health to entertainment, the innovation we see here is incredible,” he continued, “and we can’t wait to see what these talented developers will come up with next.”

The program is for developers across all of Apple’s platforms, and it began on Tuesday with a workshop dedicated to augmented reality. Alongside a lecture on ARKit 3, Apple provided one-to-one consultation sessions for attendees.

Apple says that Greater China has over 2.5 million app developers, and that since the 2010 launch of the App Store in the region, local developers have earned more than $29 billion. More than $10 billion of that was earned in the last year.

To attend the program, attendees must be registered members of the Apple Development Program and have an Apple ID registered in the region. Through Apple’s Developer site, they can then book sessions.

Apple has not said whether this is a short-term program, but it follows the similar App Accelerator scheme in India. That was launched in 2017 and is still running today.

This software development program comes as Apple, and very many other technology companies, are planning to move hardware production out of China.