If you needed any more proof that we were supposed to get a spring Apple event, Wednesday’s unexpected hardware launches via a pair of press releases and an Apple website refresh probably have you covered. We got a new dual-camera iPad Pro with a laser scanner (a first for Apple), a faster MacBook Air with scissor keys, a new pair of Powerbeats with “Hey Siri” and 3 additional hours of battery life, refreshed Apple Watch bands for the spring and other tidbits.
Welcome to a new installment of iDownloadBlog’s Editor’s Desk weekly column in which we round up various stories that were published on the site from March 16 through 22.
Table of contents
Interested in specific coverage? Use the links below to jump to sections that interest you:
- Podcast: Listen to the latest episode of our weekly “Let’s Talk iOS” podcast
- Wallpapers: Adorn your Apple devices with our gorgeous backdrops
- Deals: Save money with iDB’s curated deals
- News:Â Stay on top of the latest Apple news and rumors
- Tutorials: Tips, tricks and how-tos to master your devices
- Apps: New apps, games and updates to unwind
- Jailbreak: Latest jailbreak tweaks for your pwned iPhone
Our weekly recap follows right ahead.
Weekly recap: March 16-22, 2020
Let’s Talk iOS: Sunshine and puppy dogs
Episode #335 of iDownloadBlog’s “Let’s Talk iOS” podcast discusses WWDC 2020’s new online format and analyzes all the leaks that surfaced recently, including new capabilities coming to the Messages app, Apple Pencil, the iOS Home screen and much more.Subscribe to “Let’s Talk iOS” on Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Overcast • RSS
Be sure to follow your hosts @Sebastien and @melvco and don’t forget to send a tweet to @LTiOS_fm if you’d like your question answered at the end of next week’s podcast.
Wallpapers: 2020 iPad Pro and digital paint
This week’s collection packs two very different sets of wallpapers for your Apple devices.
The first featured collection includes the entire set of Apple’s advertising wallpapers for the just-announced 2020 iPad Pro models — in iPad, iPhone and desktop resolutions.
Our second wallpaper pack is focused on abstract digital paint wallpapers for iPhone that pop in contrasting colors, making an awesome addition to either your Lock or Home screen.
Deals and discounts
- Apple Refurbished: Discounts for refurbished 2018 iPad Pros and MacBook Airs
- iTunes movies:Â Popular flicks for less than $5, bundles starting at $15
Apple news and rumors
Here are the week’s most important Apple stories that we’ve covered:
- Apple hardware launches:
- 2020 iPad Pro:
- 2020 Magic Keyboard with Trackpad:
- 2020 MacBook Air:
- 2020 Mac mini:
- 2020 Powerbeats:
- Other:
- Apple news:
- Coronavirus and Apple:
- Tim Cook and Eddy Cue may have been exposed to coronavirus
- Apple Card owners affected by coronavirus can skip March payment
- Coronavirus may delay Apple’s rumored new AirPods model
- Culver City employee tested positive for coronavirus
- Apple Store in-store return period extended due to retail closures
- Some Apple Stores probably won’t reopen on March 27
- Apple confirms its stores are closed “until further notice”
- Smartphone location data may be used to track coronavirus spread
- How Apple’s culture of secrecy clashes with remote work
- AltConf 2020 gets canceled over coronavirus woes
- Entertainment:
- Universal to let you rent current releases, like “The Invisible Man”
- Pixar’s “Onward” and other new theatrical releases hitting digital platforms early
- Movies Anywhere may let you share up to three movies every month
- Conan O’Brien going back on the air with shot-on-iPhone shows
- YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV+ cutting streaming quality in Europe
- Video:Â Steve Jobs predicted home movie premieres more than 10 years ago
- iOS 14 spelunking:
- Code strings hint at iPhone 9 Plus powered by Apple A13 chip
- 5.4″ iPhone 12 may use OLED panels built by China’s BOE
- Two out of three new iPhone this year should have LiDAR scanner
- CarPlay may gain wallpapers with auto dark-light switching
- Maps with deeper Apple Store integration, movie theaters with IMAX sessions
- Tidbits:
Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTube
Tips, tricks and fresh tutorials to master your devices
Learn something new with our tutorials, tips and tricks for your Apple world:
- Mac:
- Calendar:
- Contacts:
- Miscellaneous:
- New to Mac:
Apps, games and new updates to unwind
Check out the following new and updated apps, games and related news:
- Apple Arcade:
- Roundups:
Follow iDownloadBlog’s Apps of the Week roundup
Accessories for your Apple world
We covered the following accessories this week:
- Logitech: $149 keyboard case with trackpad for 2020 iPad Pro and MacBook Air
- Review:Â Logitech’s 3-in-1 wireless charing stand for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods
- Roundup: Best products for keeping your Apple devices clean
Follow iDownloadBlog on YouTube
Jailbreak tweaks for your pwned iPhone
We covered the following jailbreak tweaks this week:
- B3rry: App launcher for accessing apps directly from the Lock screen
- Custom SW:Â Personalize your app switcher experience
- HideSurplus: Embrace Home screen minimalism
- Keyboard Plus: Make your iPhone’s stock keyboard more intuitive
- ModernBarz: Fun ways to theme your iPhone
- NotiVibe: See if you have missed alerts without actually looking at your phone
- PillVolume: Make Control Center’s brightness/volume sliders rounder
- SmarterLPM: Make iOS’s dumb Low Power Mode way smarter
- Spy: Curb privacy paranoia when lending that iPhone to someone else
- Weather-BottomToolBar: Add weather information to the BottomToolBar interface
- Roundup: B3rry, NotiVibe and other jailbreak tweaks of the week
Follow posts tagged with “Jailbreak Apps & Tweaks”
Your favorites?
Your favorite picks from this week’s roundup? Let us know in the comments down below!
Image: Apple’s new iPad Pro, seen sitting on my desk through augmented realityÂ