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Following the release of macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 with fixes to a bug that prevented MacBook Pro battery from charging, Apple has just announced that the company will replace for free the batteries of 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models that won’t charge past 1%. According to a new support article published on Apple’s website, a small number of MacBook Pro users have experienced an issue with the battery not charging past 1%....

An interesting Apple patent application published today describes how an AI system could help car drivers identify pedestrians and other hazards when driving at night or in poor visibility … The patent application spotted by Patently Apple describes three different elements to the safety system. First, when it detects a hazard, the system may adjust the beam of the headlight to better light the danger. Second, it could use the headlight beam to warn other road users of the car’s planned path....

A new report out today from global brand consultancy BrandZ places Apple as the second most valuable brand in the world, with Google holding the lead. The rankings are based on a combination of customer sentiment and financial performance… BrandZ uses a combination of data from Kantar Millward Brown and Bloomberg to assign “brand equity” to each company. Coming in at the top is Google with a brand valuation of $302....

After releasing the Release Candidate version last week, iOS 14.2 is now available to all iPhone users. Apple has also released iPadOS 14.2 as well as iOS 12.4.9 for older devices. iOS 14.2 includes a variety of changes and new features, including over 100 new emoji as well as new wallpapers. There is also support for the iPhone 12 Leather Sleeve with MagSafe, although we still don’t have a release date for that accessory....

Two new reports today provide some intel on Apple’s future retail store plans. First, a report from SocketSite (via sfist.com), citing a “plugged-in tipster,” claimed Apple is eyeing an old Bank of America building at 400 Castro Street and the corner of Market for a new San Francisco retail store: Apple also plans to open its first retail store in Berlin in the capital’s upscale shopping district known as Ku’Damm, according to a report from Bloomberg that cited “a person with knowledge of the plan....

South Korea has stated that it is still not satisfied with Apple’s App Store plans to comply with a new antitrust law requiring developers to be able to choose third-party payment platforms. The regulator has also expressed concern at Google’s plans, which include just a 4% reduction in the company’s app store commission if a developer uses a different payment processor … Background We’ve previously explained the background. Apple’s App Store plans lack detail Reuters reports that the regulator wants more detail from Apple about what the company will do to comply with the law....

Apple’s Clips app for iPhone and iPad has been updated with new creative assets including content from Pixar’s Incredibles 2 movie. The latest update includes six more Selfie Scenes that use the TrueDepth camera on the latest iPhones and iPad Pros, and the new version powers them with the Neutral Engine on the new A12 Bionic Chip. Apple first teased today’s release with a quick mention back in September at the iPhone XS event....

As we head into the holiday season, Apple is continuing to push its latest iPhone 7 lineup. This evening, the company shared a new advertisement highlighting the dual-camera capabilities of the iPhone 7 Plus and its real-world applications. The ad starts by showing a professionally shot clip of kids reenacting Romeo and Juliet. The video then cuts away to show that what we’re actually seeing is a school production of the play with a parent proudly video taping their child in the play....

Apple’s record-breaking holiday quarter catapulted the stock north of $500 a share for the first time, and now the company’s market size is skewing some pretty important market indices, including the S&P 500 index. Already Apple of California passed 10 percent of all of NASDAQ value and now the company won an “ex-” designation on the S&P 500 index. Beginning in 1957, S&P has published prices of 500 large-cap common stocks actively traded in the United States through the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ....

All of today’s best deals are now up for the taking and headlined by Apple’s new MagSafe Leather Wallet with Find My at $50. That’s alongside a new Bose flash sale and the Logitech MX Master 3 for Mac at $80. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break. Apple’s new MagSafe Leather Wallet with Find My on sale for the first time AT&T is now offering the new Apple MagSafe Leather Wallet with Find My for $50....

Apple Maps detail now beats Google Maps in many respects, from things like building shapes to vegetation coverage. That’s the conclusion of Justin O’Beirne, who used to work for Apple’s maps division and has now put together an exhaustive comparison … O’Beirne begins with one complaint: that Apple’s more detailed mapping only covers 3.1% of the land area, and 4.9% of its population. Apple has promised 100% coverage by the end of next year....

Apple today rolled out the student discount tier of Apple Music to over 20 new countries around the globe. As noted by The Financial Post, Apple Music’s student discount offering is now available in Canada, Italy, Japan, and 22 other countries. With today’s new additions, the tier is available in over 30 countries in total. Apple Music’s student pricing has been available in the United States Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Denmark for a while now, but today’s countries are all new....

Apple today announced that it is removing the USB power adaptor from Apple Watch boxes going forward, citing environmental concerns. Next month, the company will announce the iPhone 12 … and is rumored to no longer be bundled with a power adapter nor wired EarPods. The company’s announcement today for the Apple Watch will help customers get used to the idea of having no bundled accessories in the box, and soften the blow when the same thing happens to the iPhone in October....

Apple has started alerting WWDC 2017 scholarship applicants of their award status ahead of the developer conference scheduled for June. WWDC scholarship winners receive free access to the conference which usually has a $1599 ticket cost for entry. This year Apple’s application process included a stronger emphasis on using Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app rather than supplying a finished app. Apple has also expanded the scholarship program to cover both the cost of entry for everyone and travel accommodations for some as well as lodging for the first time....

Back in March, app developer Qbix thought it had hit on a great new way to make money from its Calendar 2 app for the Mac. Instead of charging users, or including intrusive ads, it offered users access to pro features in return for allowing cryptocurrency mining in the background. Apple quickly put a stop to that, and has now updated its app guidelines to explicitly ban background currency mining …...

After a quiet period between the last set of new banks and iOS 9’s public release, Apple has updated its list of Apple Pay participating banks to include more than two dozen more additions. If you bank with one of these banks or credit unions, you should now be able to setup Apple Pay in your Wallet app for use on supported iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch: Advia Credit Union AIM Bank Alma Bank American Bank & Trust Company Armstrong Bank Arvest Bank BankIowa Central National Bank Clear Mountain Bank EECU First Advantage Bank First Kentucky Bank John Marshall Bank Justice Federal Credit Union Kern Federal Credit Union Kinecta Federal Credit Union Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union Martin Federal Credit Union Northern Bank & Trust Company Partners 1st Federal Credit Union Radius Bank Republic Bank & Trust Scottrade Sharefax Credit Union Signature Federal Credit Union Sussex County Federal Credit Union The First National Bank in Sioux Falls Velocity Credit Union Washington Trust Bank...

Apple has been using murals created by well-known artists to launch new Apple Store a lot recently. In Hangzhou, China the company debuted a calligraphy mural alongside a new retail location, while a store in Chongqing, China got a similar treatment. Earlier this month, Apple revealed that its upcoming retail location in Miami would launch with a mural designed by internationally acclaimed artist HENSE. Apple this evening has updated its website with an image of the mural at its new Miami store, as well as specific opening information....

After a handful of how-to videos last week, Apple has now published a new HomePod video on its Apple Support YouTube channel covering how to get the most out of the smart speaker, noting that Siri will be your main interface with the device. The guide goes in-depth on what commands to use, such as asking Siri to play a song, artist, genre, or playlist. It goes on to say that Siri is capable of playing podcasts, while asking for a specific episode or the latest episode of a show....

Last year, Apple agreed to pay retail workers in California $30 million to settle a lawsuit over its bag check policy. That settlement has now been approved by a US District Court judge and will see workers receive an average payment of $1,328 while the lawyers in the case will rake in $10 million. This has been an incredibly long-running lawsuit, with employees first filing the class action suit against Apple in 2013....

It’s no secret that the iPhone has become one of the most used cameras on the market purely due to the fact that the device is in the pockets of millions of users. Not to mention the quality of images taken with the device. Every year, Flickr releases its annual report breaking down the cameras used most often by its users. And every year, the iPhone is at the top and this year is no different…...