According to Bloomberg, Apple is currently considering the purchase of Hulu. The popular online video playing service has reportedly been up for sale for a few months now, with potential buyers like Google in the running. Adding Apple to the mix just spices things up with Apple’s $76 billion in the bank and hints at some “neat” new iTunes-related features. Apple also has their Apple TV platform, which they are still exploring, and this potential Hulu purchase would take that to the next level....

We may finally have a reason for why Apple Stores and some other stores are installing new NFC payment hardware ahead of the iPhone 6 launch. Apple is reportedly planning on implementing a security feature called tokenzation in the system, which removes the necessity to transmit account numbers or other critical personal details wirelessly (via Bank Innovation). This tokenization system employs secure codes become useless after being used once. That boosts security by ensuring that any information captured by nefarious third-parties doesn’t give them access to your account or money....

[Update: Apple says the issue is now resolved after roughly seven hours.] If you’re having trouble setting up Apple Pay this morning, it’s not just you. Apple is currently reporting an hours-long issue with adding credit cards and debit cards to the mobile payment service. The issue only appears to be affecting Visa cards, not American Express, MasterCard, or Discover cards, which suggests it could be an issue on Visa’s side....

Earlier this year, Apple announced that it would be relocating its flagship Downtown San Francisco to the Union Square District. The new store, with a fully glass front, would be larger, and it would be able to serve more customers and employee more workers. Since then, the new store design came under scrutiny from San Francisco officials because it would remove a famous fountain designed by Ruth Asawa. In late August, Apple submitted redesigned renderings of the upcoming store that retain the historical fountain....

Last year, Apple debuted a short film entitled “Apple at Work” to promote the enterprise integration of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Now, “The Underdogs” from that video are back, this time focused on working from home — and the associated struggles — amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this wacky, 7-minute short film is to highlight how Apple hardware and software help people working from home “unleash their creativity and productivity....

Apple has released firmware updates for the AirPort Base Station and Time Machine, Camera RAW, and MacBook Pro this evening. The AirPort Base Station and Time Machine have been updated to version 7.6 which issues a fix with performance on overlapping wireless networks, AirPlay audio streaming, and configuring multiple entries for DNS servers. The MacBook Pro has been updated to firmware version 1.5 featuring a fix for random shutdown issues when under a high load....

Apple has seeded a new preview version of the upcoming OS X Server version 3.1. The update has a build number of 12S4122. OS X Server 3.1 is expected to be released at some point in the near future to accompany OS X 10.9.2, which was released last month. Developers can grab the beta now from Apple’s Developer Center. The seed notes are below: OS X Server Preview (Build 13S4122) Seed Note OS X Server Preview (Build 13S4122) is now available for testing on OS X Mavericks 10....

Apple has released new beta versions of iOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS for developers to test. iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2, macOS 10.13.3, and tvOS 11.2.5 beta 4 are all available now on the developer center and rolling out over-the-air. We’ll update to the latest versions and note any changes below. The latest betas follow the official release of iOS 11.2.2 for iPhone and iPad. We haven’t seen version numbers in between the official release and the beta release (so maybe these are placeholder numbers pending additional bug fix updates)....

Following today’s event, Apple has just released the third iOS 14.2 beta developer. The update is now available to developers via an over-the-air update in the Settings app. Update: iOS 14.2 beta 3 is also now rolling out to public beta users as well. As usual, if the update does not immediately appear for download, keep checking as it sometimes takes a few minutes to roll out to all registered developers....

As expected, Apple has released iOS 8 beta 5 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to developers this morning. This update, like the past betas, includes various performance and bug fixes. The previous beta brought various minor user-interface touch-ups and a new Tips app to iOS 8. We’ll be updating this post as new discoveries are made in iOS 8 beta, and you can send us what you find to tips@9to5mac....

Apple today has officially released more information on the Apple Music API available in iOS 9.3. Entitled Apple Music Best Practices for App Developers, the documentation today solidifies what the Apple Music API can do and sets a precedent that developers of music apps should follow. At the original release of iOS 9.3, there seemed to be some confusion as to what the Apple Music API would entail exactly. We had reached out to Ben Dodson, developer of Music Tracker, to better understand the limitations and new features the API could introduce....

A few weeks following the previous beta, Apple has released build 1498g of the upcoming OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 release. The next Mac software update includes support for the new iCloud-based Photos app, improved Gmail login, and new, more diverse emojis. To support the new Force Touch trackpad in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and the new 12-inch MacBook, this new build also adds APIs: We’ll keep updating this post with new changes as they are discovered....

Less than a week after the release of OS X 10.11.1 beta 2, Apple has followed up with a new release that was pushed out to both developers and public beta testers at once. The 10.11.1 update will introduce bug fixes and a new collection of emoji icons. Yesterday Apple seeded a new beta of iOS 9.1 to public testers and developers. Like the OS X update, that software will also include the new emoji set and many bug fixes....

Apple this evening has released the fourth developer beta of macOS 10.14.2. The release comes two weeks after the third beta release. The fourth beta of iOS 12.1.1 has not yet been released. macOS 12.14.2 focuses primarily on bug fixes and performance improvements. iOS 12.1.1 brings improvements to the iPhone XR, FaceTime, and additional watchOS complications. It’s unclear when we might see the fourth beta of iOS 12.1.1 and the third beta of watchOS 5....

Apple has begun rolling out the second beta of iOS 10.3.2 to developers. The latest iOS beta sees the re-introduction of support for 32-bit devices following iOS 10.3.1’s release. Release notes aren’t yet available for this update, but be sure to check back as we discover anything new. Today’s update is available to beta testers through Apple’s Developer Center as either a download or an over-the-air update through the developer profile....

As Tim Cook announced over the weekend, Apple has designed and is shipping a custom Face Shield to medical workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. Now, Apple has shared a support document with more details on the Face Shield. The document goes into detail on how the Face Shield is assembled. There is also a printable PDF of the instructions that are also included in the Face Shield box as well as a video demonstration....

The Computer Emergency Readiness Team, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, issued security alert (TA16-105A) on Thursday calling for all Windows users to uninstall the program. Trend Micro says it hasn’t discovered any active attacks that target the newly found vulnerabilities (at least not yet). According to Trend Micro’s security bulletin: However, since Apple has abandoned QuickTime for Windows and will no longer support it, the only way to protect yourself from an attack is to get rid of it....

It’s a serious protest at the Chamber’s ineffectiveness at accepting and acting on the dangers of climate change. In a letter to the Chamber president, Apple VP, Catherine Novelli said: “Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in this effort.” As a result, Novelli said, “we have decided to resign our membership effective immediately.” The Chamber has opposed legislation designed to reduce emissions....

Yesterday, we reported the 2012 Mac mini, Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro, and iMac were unable to update to OS X 10.8.2 after Apple pulled the first update from the App Store last Friday. Today, the folks in Cupertino have released their second supplemental update for OS X 10.8.2 that should allow those users to install the update. Additionally, Apple said the update “is recommended for all Mac systems introduced in 2012” and mainly “fixes an issue with Keychain that can affect 2012 Mac systems....

Apple has released the third iOS 11 public beta for iPhone and iPad. This allows users who are not registered developers to test pre-release versions of iOS with new features for free. In terms of stability, the same warnings apply to any pre-release software: apps may crash, battery life won’t be optimal, and expect performance to be sluggish. Still tempted to try the iOS 11 public beta? Check out our guide for how to install the iOS 11 public beta on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch here....