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As it has done in the past, Apple has released the open source Darwin code for macOS 10.12 Sierra. The code, located on Apple’s open source website, can be accessed via direct link now, although it doesn’t yet appear on the site’s home page. The release builds on a long-standing library of open source code that dates all the way back to OS X 10.0. There, you’ll also find the Open Source Reference Library, developer tools, along with iOS and OS X Server resources....

Shortly after its acquisition of Shazam last year, Apple took the music tagging application ad-free. To follow-up on that change, Apple has now removed nearly all third-party SDKs from the app as well. Apple last week released a small update to the Shazam app on iOS, with the change log indicating that the update included “bug fixes and performance improvements.” AppFigures has now discovered, however, that the update also removed nearly all of the third-party SDKs that the Shazam app was using....

Things had gone very quiet since it was reported back in June that Apple would be part of a consortium bidding to buy Toshiba’s chip-making division. This would help Apple secure NAND chips in a market in which there is strong competition for components. More recently, it had appeared that Western Digital would emerge as the successful bidder. But a new report suggests today that Apple is back in the running, this time without Foxconn …...

MusicAlly notes Apple has published an extensive guide for indie artists attempting to get themselves signed up onto the ‘social network for music’, Ping. The move attempts to meet some critics who’ve panned the service for its pro major label slant. The Artist Ping – Guidelines document that gives tips on getting up and running. It includes the inevitable content policies, “no pornography, hate speech, racism, nudity or drug use”....

[Update: The new Neighborhood Beats collection is now available online in the US from Apple as well as Target. For now, Target has limited stock in stores, while most Apple Stores are showing availability for August 31. The new colors are available for the Solo3, Powerbeats3, and Beats Pill+. More info on the new collection on Beats’ website.] Apple has launched new color options for its Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones. The updated palette is reportedly going to be exclusive to Apple Stores, Target, and John Lewis in the UK....

Apple has launched a holiday gift guide microsite today, featuring Apple products and accessories targeted at a wide variety of audiences. The list is separated into six main sections: Gaming, Photography, Music, Fitness, Learning and Travel. Naturally, Apple prominently features its own devices in the recommendations (iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, Beats headphones) alongside third-party accessories and suggested apps. For example, in the Photography category of its gift guide, Apple lists the brand new iPhone 6s as the ‘world’s most popular camera’ alongside silicon cases, the olloClip Active Lens telephoto mount, a Gorillapod tripod as well as apps like Instagram, VSCO and Darkroom....

Following the release of iOS 12.3.2 to iPhone 8 Plus users yesterday, Apple today will release the fourth developer beta of iOS 12.4. The update doesn’t yet include any visible changes for users, but it’s likely laying the groundwork for future changes. Apple is also expected to release the third beta of watchOS 5.3 to developers today. iOS 12.4 likely includes the basis for the new Apple Card launching this summer....

If you’re still waiting for your bank to add support for Apple Pay, you may be in luck today. Several additional banks across the United States have joined Apple’s growing list of over a thousand partners that work with the mobile payment service. These are the latest banks to work with Apple Pay: Alabama State Employees Credit Union American National Bank Bank of the South Cabrillo Credit Union California Credit Union Classic Federal Credit Union Denali Federal Credit Union Dort Federal Credit Union First Federal Community Bank First Green Bank First National Bank of Catlin First Oklahoma Federal Credit Union First US Bank FMBank Gerber Federal Credit Union MassMutual Federal Credit Union Members Source Credit Union Morris County National Bank Muna Federal Credit Union Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Federal Credit Union Sabine Federal Credit Union San Diego Firefighters Federal Credit Union Scott Credit Union Security National Bank of Omaha Sound Credit Union Standing Stone Bank UW Credit Union Vista Bank Webster Bank Workers Credit Union The updated list also includes University of Toledo Federal Credit Union in place of University of Wisconsin Credit Union....

Apple has made a small but notable change to the web page for its upcoming wearable device. The page previously featured the tagline “Available 4.24.15,” but that notice has now been replaced with “The Watch is coming.” The change likely stems from the fact that many users have discovered they will be unable to actually get their devices on launch day due to shipping delays, low stock, or the inability to buy them at an Apple Retail Store on launch day....

Apple has made the first developer betas of iOS 12, watchOS 5, macOS 10.14, and tvOS 12 available. The updates are available to registered developers now via Apple’s online developer portal. Apple announced iOS 12, watchOS 5, macOS 10.14, and tvOS 12 on stage at WWDC earlier this morning. The updates each include their respective changes and new features: Apple announces tvOS 12 with immersive Dolby Atmos audio, iTunes content upgraded for free, more Apple unveils macOS 10....

Apple is releasing iOS 13.5.1 to the public today following last month’s release of iOS 13.5. Apple says that today’s update to iOS 13.5.1 provides important security updates. Update: Apple has added new details about iOS 13.5.1 to its security webpage, confirming that the update patches the vulnerability used by the Unc0ver jailbreak: Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch 7th generation...

[Update: Sixth beta versions of iOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, tvOS 12.2, and macOS 10.14.4 now available.] Apple is releasing iOS 12.2 beta 6 for iPhone and iPad today. The latest beta update should be released over-the-air at the top of the hour. Apple will also likely release the sixth beta versions of watchOS 5.2, tvOS 12.2, and macOS 10.14.4 today as well. We’ll update our coverage if any notable changes are discovered in the latest software updates....

Apple today is releasing the third developer beta of iOS 13.3 and iPadOS 13.3, following last week’s release of the second beta. The company is also running tests with macOS Catalina 10.15.2, watchOS 6.1.1, and tvOS 13.3. Update: Apple has also released the third beta version of macOS Catalina 10.15.2, watchOS 6.1.1, and tvOS 13.3 for developers. iOS 13.3 public beta 3 is also being released today. iOS 13.3 includes a new option in Settings to disable the Memoji keyboard from always appearing alongside the emoji keyboard....

Apple is apparently well underway in developing its own in-house power management chips for its iPhone models. Today, the integrated circuitry for power management is designed by Dialog, a UK company. Nikkei is reporting that Apple wants to use its own custom chips as soon as next year, meaning they could feature in some 2018 iPhones but the timeframe is not locked down. Apple has systematically taken on more silicon design in the last few years, ranging from its own A-series CPUs and GPUs found in iPhones and iPads, Apple Watch system-in-a-package and more....

After introducing the phone to the Indian market in January this year, The Times of India is reporting that Apple has reversed this decision, once more discontinuing the product which was originally released in June 2010. The paper says that new supplies of the iPhone 4 have been terminated at three leading trade partners in the country. It is weird for Apple to reverse plans so soon, but it was also uncharacteristic of the company to bring back the iPhone 4 in the first place....

Code/Mobile, Recode’s annual mobile technology conference, has become the norm for someone from Apple to appear. Last year, Apple VP Greg Joswiak took to the conference stage. This year, for the first time, Code/Mobile will feature Apple Pay head Jennifer Bailey. Bailey was most recently seen publicly on stage at WWDC and interviewed on CNBC. The conference usually takes the form of a Q/A interview, so no doubt Bailey will be quizzed by the Recode hosts on the uptake of Apple Pay as well as new features in iOS 9 like loyalty cards and the rebranding of Passbook as ‘Wallet’....

Apple Pay has officially launched in Spain, as predicted in a report yesterday. The service is now available to customers of Banco Santander, with support for both debit and credit cards, alongside cards issued by Amex, Carrefour and Ticket Restaurant. Apple lists 27 retail partners on its website, but with excellent support for contactless payments in the country, Santander said that Apple Pay can be used in around 75% of Spanish stores....

Following the launch of the new App Store privacy labels in December last year, Apple today published additional guidance for developers to better understand the information required for App Store privacy labels. The new App Store privacy labels went live in December 2020, and the feature has been making some developers unhappy ever since, either because they don’t want to report the data they collect from users or because they don’t understand how to fill out the privacy report correctly....

Following the Thunderbolt firmware update for Macs, Apple has published three new support documents pertaining to the new $49 Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt cable released Monday, using Thunderbolt with Boot Camp and Windows 7 and some tricks to get the best performance from Thunderbolt. Here’s what you need to know… Getting the best performance from Thunderbolt – Apple only says this update will “get the best Thunderbolt reliability and performance” on Thunderbolt-capable Macs (at the time of writing 2011 iMacs and 2011 MacBook Pros)....

Apple has refused to allow its iPhone to be included within a new UK ranking of environmental friendliness to be launched by original iPhone carrier, O2. The UK’s first-ever green ranking scheme for mobile phones gives handsets a rating between zero and five based on their environmental footprint. Handsets from competitors, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung are included in the scheme, which already covers 93 percent of the devices offered via O2....