Top Stories: Epic vs Apple Rises, AAPL Worth $ 2T, iOS 14 Beta 5 Changes

The dispute between Apple and Epic Games continued to rage with no signs of de-escalation. The conflict hasn’t dampened investor enthusiasm for Apple’s stock, however, as Apple this week became the first U.S. company to achieve a market cap of $ 2 trillion.

Other news this week includes rumors about future updates to the iPad Air and iPad Pro, other changes in the latest beta of iOS 14, and a policy update. Apple which will give users up to one year to purchase AppleCare + warranty and accidental damage coverage for a wide range of Apple products in the United States and Canada.

Read below for more details on all of these stories and more from the past week!

Epic Games sought side deal for Fortnite ahead of trial, Apple says in court

Just a week ago, things exploded between Apple and Epic Games, and a lot has happened since then, so we’ve regularly updated our timeline of events leading up to and major developments in the showdown. between the two companies.

In short, Epic Games strategically violated Apple and Google’s rules for in-app purchases, launching its own in-game currency payment system in its hit game Fortnite. Apple and Google pulled Fortnite from their app stores, and Epic quickly responded with lawsuits and public relations campaigns against the companies, with a focus on breaking Apple’s firm control over app distribution. on iOS and the share of revenue it takes.

For its part, Apple said it “would not make an exception for Epic” and terminate Epic’s developer accounts if Fortnite was not brought into compliance with App Store rules by the 28th. August, a move that would affect the many developers who rely on Epic’s Unreal Engine game engine. Apple is also taking issue with Epic’s claims that it was not seeking a special deal with Apple to allow its own in-app purchase mechanism, as a new filing from Apple says that’s exactly what Epic wanted.

With Fortnite removed from the App Store, some enterprising eBay sellers have started offering iPhones with Fortnite already installed, in some cases asking for thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Epic is hosting a “#FreeFortnite Cup” this weekend as a final hurray for cross-platform play before existing Fortnite players on iOS are “left behind” in the game’s next update.

Apple’s market value hits $ 2 trillion

Just two months after becoming the first U.S. company to achieve a market cap of $ 1.5 trillion, Apple took another step forward by being the first to reach $ 2 trillion.

Apple’s stock price has more than doubled from its low point just five months ago, and the company will complete a four-for-one stock split at the end of this month. This should bring Apple’s share price down to between $ 100 and $ 125, but with four times as many shares outstanding, it won’t affect the overall market value of the company.

And Apple may not have finished yet, as the company’s stock price has continued to climb towards $ 500, with one analyst saying a bullish scenario could take the stock to $ 600 (on a pre-fractionated) thanks to an iPhone 12 “supercycle”.

New in iOS 14 Beta 5: Bigger Apple News Widget, Alarm Clock Wheel, Hidden Photo Album Changes and More

This week, Apple released a fifth beta of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers and public beta testers, and the company continues to tweak things as the official launch approaches.

There is a new “high” Apple News widget size option for Today view, new privacy settings for widgets, a new “wheel” design to set alarm times in the Clock app, a new option to prevent the hidden album in Photos from showing. in the album list, and more.

Apple also launched new beta versions of macOS Big Sur, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 this week.

The iPad Air 4 is set to launch in March 2021 with the A14 processor, an update to the iPad Pro possibly next month

Apple will launch the iPad Air 4 in March 2021 with an A14 processor, according to sources who also corroborate previous rumors that Apple will bring the iPad Air 4 closer to the current iPad Pro in terms of design and features.

The iPad Air 4 is said to have a smart connector on the back to support the new Magic Keyboard, while it’s apparently configured to switch from the Lightning connector to USB-C and has four stereo speakers.

The report also claims that an updated ‌iPad Pro‌ could arrive as early as next month, presumably alongside new iPhones at Apple’s usual fall event. However, rumors have been mixed on when an updated MiniiPad Pro‌ sports Mini-LED display tech might arrive, with the first projections calling for this fall and the last claiming the first half of 2021.

Five Mac Apps to Discover – August 2020

Apps designed for the Mac often don’t get as much coverage as apps designed for iPhones and iPads, which is why we have a series here at MacRumors that highlights some interesting Mac apps worth checking out.

This month’s picks include Panelicious and Tuck app organizer utilities, MacDroid Android device file transfer tool, Poolside FM retro summer music playlist app and app. TextSniper text recognition tool.

Apple offers users in the United States and Canada up to one year to purchase AppleCare +

Apple is significantly expanding the window in which users in the United States and Canada can purchase an AppleCare + extended warranty with accidental damage coverage. Apple has generally allowed users to purchase AppleCare + for up to 60 days after purchasing a device, but that window will now be extended to one year, although users will need to visit an Apple store to have their devices examined. for any damage.

The one-year AppleCare + purchase window applies to a wide range of Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, iPods, HomePods, AirPods, Apple Watches, and more.

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