After Samsung announced AirPlay 2 and an exclusive "iTunes Movies and TV Shows" app for their smart TVs
Other manufacturers were announced for AirPlay 2 support. LG, Sony, and Vizo will also have models in 2019 feature AirPlay 2.
So you'll be able to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to supported smart TV
Many of the models will also have HomeKit support meaning you can control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
More 2019 iPhone speculation
Last time we talked about the possible tri-lens camera and "cracker bump" prototype
There's an Austrian Apple supplier AMS who announced RGB light and IR proximity sensor designed to go behind an OLED display.
These are still only a couple of the sensors that make up Apple's TrueDepth camera system, so let's not get too excited.
Rumors are that Apple want to reduce or eliminate the notch in 2019.
WSJ ran a report saying Apple will feature a triple lens rear camera
Seems the triple lens system my be exclusive to the "Plus" model
Also claim Apple will have a three phone lineup with two OLED model and an LCD model
Does note Apple could drop the LCD model all together in 2020
Say the update to the iPhone XR will be updated with a dual lens camera.
The piece also notes that Apple may move away from 3D touch entirely in the lineup
Other features being speculated
Improved FaceID with better flood illuminators for operating in more lighting conditions
New antenna system
Support for WiFi 6(ax), but likely not 5G connectivity
Sort of wish we could get through 6 months with the current models before we start speculating, but oh well.
iPad Mini 5 rumors
9to5 Mac spotted a supposed prototype case design from a known Apple leaker on Twitter
Shows an antenna line in the same outlined shape as the iPad mini 4 around instead of the plastic "rectangle" of the current model.
Everything else looks the same including a headphone jack, side volume controls, Lightning connector, two speakers along the bottom
Still seems to possible have TouchID which is odd?
Same leaker speculates Apple may use an A9 chip, but that seems too old to me.
Theories on iPhone's sales decline
Analyst Ben Thompson on his [Strategery](https://stratechery.com/2019/apples-errors/) site cited three errors he thinks Apple made that led to them needing to adjust revenue guidance after underestimating iPhone demand.
China. Basically iOS doesn't have the "lock-in" on Chinese consumers. There it's more about integration with services like WeChat and others. So it's easy for consumers to switch. If they don't like the hardware offering (or prices) they just buy a different brand.
Apple can do OK with new "flagship" changes, but this was an "S" year for iPhone X.
Over estimating iPhone XRs ability to pick up slack for iPhone XS
Basically he says Apple's customers want "Flagship" phones, especially in China
If you didn't want to pay for a XS you didn't want to "settle" for a XR
Counting on iPhone growth
Not sure I buy that Apple was THAT naive about this one, but maybe?
Maybe in markets outside the US they were caught off guard.
Even with these "problems" Ben sees benefits
Next year won't be a "S" tear in China, so sales should be better there
Consumers seem to prefer the "flagship" models regardless of price.
No battery program and older phones kept this last year will more likely bu upgraded this year.
A Wall Street Journal piece called the iPhone XR the "phone that is failing Apple".
I said it when it was announced the iPhone XR is going to be a slow seller, but I think ultimately it will be one of Apple's most popular models this year.
Cook in an interview with Jim Cramer said he love to be selling more iPhone XRs, but that it has been the best-selling iPhone every day since its release.
In fact we've seen data from Counterpoint that suggests Apple's iPhone XR was the bestselling model in November
The numbers also showed year over year iPhone sales down on the whole 20 percent.
Cook also said Apple would launch new services this year.
Reports claim Apple has set itself a goal of reaching $50 billion in Services revenue by 2020
Apple seemingly is making moves to prepare for service growth. AirPlay 2 deals, Apple Music on Android and Amazon Echo.
Apple reduced the price of iPhone XR by $100 for channel partners in China
This would allow better pricing
If Ben's theories are correct seems like this might not do much to help.
Still Nikkei reports that has cut production volume in the iPhone XS and XR models by another 10 percent for the January to March quarter.
Will Apple rollback on price increases as well? Offer fewer choices?
Mac sales also on the slide
The latest Gartner data shows Apple shipments of Macs coming in at 4.9 million in the December quarter. That's down from 5.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. A 3.8 percent decline.
The numbers a bit more concerning considering Apple introduced the new MacBook Airs and Mac minis in November
They are still doing slight better then the overall PC market.
The industry in general continuing to take hits as more an more people use tablets and phones for their daily computing needs.
In fact the PC industry has been in decline for the last seven years.
International news
A few regional stories from outside the US
If you're Canadian your iTunes TV, movie, music, and audiobook purchases on iTunes now include sales tax.
Due to recent regulation changes Apple is now required tax on TV, movies, music, and audiobooks and also Apple Music subscriptions.
GST, HST, PST, and/or QST will be applied, depending on your location.
HomePod will start shipping in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland on Jan. 18
The price in China is 2799 yuan, or about $414 USD
Not really international, but I had no place else to stick this story
A report from ChargerLab claims Apple has begun production of the AirPower charging mat.
They cite two partners Luxshare and Pegatron are starting production with Luxshare providing components and Pegatron handling assembly.
They did not mention the AirPod wireless charging case, but it's assumed it will arrive at the same time as the AirPower
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
Messages videos, fullscreen
Ok, so other of you may already know this, but I didn't and it's something that often bugged me.
Many times when I received a video in Messages and tapped on it to play it would play small in the tiny chat bubble.
I could sometimes tap it again to get it full screen, but could never quite figure out the magic incantation to make it happen consistently.
Here's the trick, tap the video (outside the "play" button) to get it to open full screen first. then tap play if needed.
I did notice Youtube videos, seem to be different. tap to play and then tap the bubble to open full screen.
I can't find a way to get YouTube video to play fullscreen in Messages on the Mac
"Attached" videos will have the "fullscreen" icon in the upper left corner.
Story of a bent iPad Pro
So this has been a "thing" in our community since the new iPad Pros hit the streets.
The new iPad Pros seem to be a bit more prone to bending then maybe prior editions.
The new design basically create a thin hollow "frame" of aluminum with no interior structural support and where there are areas that need wireless transparency, like around the Apple Pencil, there are just thin strips of aluminum.
I personally have not had any issues and so far no one in the Maccast community has come forward either.
I want to be 100% clear on my position. I don't think there is any major issue with the new iPad design (could it benefit from being structurally stronger, yes) and I also don't think the problem are widespread.
I do believe that some small percentage of customers are having the problem and I do think that in some cases, iPads are arriving with a bend that is outside Apple's own states tolerances.
I think in some of these cases Apple is not handling the customer relations side of things very well.
I had wanted to talk with someone who has been through the process of dealing with a bent iPad and found Justin Seeley when he tweeted about having the problem on Twitter.
Justin is a graphic designer, photographer, and online instructor and YouTuber and I asked him to come on the show and share his story.
So what do you think? As I stated in the interview i feel like the issue here is more about how Apple is responding to the few incidents here vs any actual problem with the iPad.
When AppleCare isn't covering it
We were talking recently on the iOS Show about our AirPods and how it seems like now, about 2 years in, we're starting to have battery issues.
I have my right AirPod which seems to not charge as well and depletes faster then my left one.
My resolution will likely to be have it replaced at a cost of $69 USD (or battery service at $49/ea), but then I've got one new one and one two years old that too will probably need replacement soon.
With a possible new AirPod release in the near future I sort of feel like just dealing with my failing ones for another few months and replacing them is a viable option
Still that seems crazy for a product I paid $170.00 for just about 2 years ago.
Well if you're in the EU you may have a different option if you're willing to exercise your rights.
Gavin was able to do just this when is slightly less then 2 year old AirPods started having battery issues,
