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In addition to the incoming OS X Mavericks Mail Update that we reported on previously, sources say that Apple is readying a slew of performance and bug fix updates for several other OS X Mavericks applications. According to the updates seeded today to Apple employees, Apple is preparing updates for iBooks, Safari, and the Remote Desktop Client apps: For iBooks, Apple says that the new version (1.0.1) “includes bug fixes and improvements to performance and stability....

Apple has just released iOS 13.6.1 and iPadOS 13.6.1 for all users, just one month after the release of iOS 13.6. The update fixes some known issues related to the Exposure Notifications and another one that could make the displays exhibit a green tint. iOS 13.6 was released in July with Car Key, a digital key that will work for locking, unlocking, and starting supported vehicles. The update also introduced Apple News+ Audio with professionally narrated audio stories curated from the Apple News team to your device....

In addition to iOS 8.4 and OS X 10.10.4, Apple has released a new version of iTunes for Mac that brings Apple Music to the desktop. The update also supports streaming Apple’s new Beats 1 24/7 live radio station and includes a refreshed icon. In addition to the My Music, Playlists, Radio, and iTunes Store tabs under Music on iTunes, the new update also adds Apple Music’s new For You section for viewing music similar to your taste, a New section for promoting newly released material, and a Connect tab for following artist activity including sound clips, videos, and photos shared....

Apple has released the third iOS 10.3 public beta for testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10.3.2 public beta 3 follows one day after the third developer version of the upcoming software update. Apple has also released the third public beta version of macOS 10.12.5. Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program. iOS 10.3.2 will be released to everyone in the future, and the public beta allows more users to test pre-release versions of the software update before it’s finalized....

At first, it appeared the iOS 14.5 public beta arrived without the watchOS 7.4 this afternoon. However, the latest watchOS beta is now available, it’s just slightly hidden as it only shows up after first upgrading to iOS 14.5. watchOS 7.4 brings the handy Apple Watch Unlock feature for iPhone when wearing a mask. watchOS 7.4 public beta 1 arrives after the developer beta was seeded this past Monday. Funny enough, while we didn’t see it as available alongside iOS 14....

The iPhone XR isn’t even out yet, but supply chain sources are claiming that Apple is ramping up manufacturing orders for the device in anticipation of higher sales than it initially forecast … Digitimes says that shipments of the cheaper of the three new iPhone models is expected to ramp up to 20M units in October, and that Apple is adjusting its production mix into December. As the iPhone XR isn’t yet available for pre-order, Apple won’t have any model-specific data – but will know how iPhone XS and XS Max pre-orders are going, and will be able to extrapolate from that likely demand for the XR....

The second wave of the month for new banks and credit unions supporting Apple Pay is happening now adding to the more than 60 institutions already supporting Apple’s mobile payment service. The mid-February wave includes 19 additional banks and credit unions bringing the total to more than 80 institutions. Here are the new banks listed as supporting Apple Pay as of today: Affinity Federal Credit Union Cabela’s CLUB Central Bank Credit Union of Southern California Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach First National Bank of Omaha First Sentry Bank FirstBank Grow Financial Federal Credit Union Ideal Credit Union Morgan Stanley Redwood Credit Union State Department Federal Credit Union Teachers Credit Union Technology Credit Union The Northern Trust Company TIB-The Independent BankersBank United Federal Credit Union Utah First Federal Credit Union...

Hong Kong residents have waited a long time for Apple Pay Octopus support to go live, but it’s finally happened. The rollout began yesterday, and officially launches today … The company made the announcement on its website. Octopus supports Express Transit, so you don’t need to unlock your iPhone or double-press the side button on an Apple Watch: just hold your device close to the reader. Octopus on iPhone or Apple Watch simplifies the way you ride transit and shop....

Apple’s interest in exclusive video programming is stretching beyond its original content TV show efforts. Digiday reports that Apple paid Buzzfeed to show the first three episodes of its ‘Future History’ video series on Apple News, a week ahead of Buzzfeed’s other distribution platforms. Apple gave Buzzfeed a cut of the ads shown on the videos, in addition to upfront payment. Apple has highlighted video stories more prominently in Apple News since iOS 11....

After more than three months in beta, iOS 8 brings actionable notifications, improved group chat support, new picture and voice messaging features in Messages, Continuity and Handoff, third-party Today widgets in Notification Center, sharing extensions and much more. Apple has released iOS 8 for almost all of its devices that run iOS 7. The full list of supported devices is as follows: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad with Retina Display, iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad mini with Retina Display iPod touch, fifth-generation iOS 8 is now available as an over-the-air update or through iTunes....

Apple has released Xcode 7.3 for developers, following a lengthy beta period, with several new features, enhancements and bug fixes. First and foremost, Xcode 7.3 includes the latest SDKs for iOS 9.3, watchOS 2.2, OS X 10.11.4. It also bundles the latest release of Swift version 2.2. Xcode 7.3 include several new features, including more intelligent code completion so developers can more quickly write their programs. It also lets developers more easily handle developing for Apple Watch, with quick switching between paired Watches....

Apple is preparing its supply chain for the onslaught of next-generation iPhone sales in the fall, expected to be a bumper year with much anticipation for the radical ‘iPhone 8’ redesign. According to ETNews, via Digitimes, Apple has agreed a two year contract with Samsung Display to supply curved iPhone OLED panels. Samsung is apparently upping capacity to as much as 92 million units in 2017, as demand from Apple rises....

Apple today is further expanding its legal battle against chipmaker Qualcomm. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has filed petitions with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to challenge four of Qualcomm’s patents… For Apple, the end goal of this move is to have the patent office cancel the four Qualcomm patents in question. All four are involved in the patent infringement lawsuit Qualcomm levied against Apple last year....

Apple just released iTunes 11.0.3 with several new features including enhancements to the MiniPlayer, an improved Songs View, and multi-disc albums. Apple’s new MiniPlayer, which it first introduced in iTunes 11, today gets a new “beautiful view that showcases your album artwork” as well as a progress bar viewable right from the MiniPlayer. The new view for MiniPlayer can also be expanded to show an entire playlist (as pictured above)....

Apple has just begun rolling out watchOS 3 beta 4 to developers today. Those looking to grab the new release can head over to the Watch app on their iPhones, select General and then Software Update. watchOS 3 beta 4 is available to download as a Configuration Profile from the Apple developer center for newer users looking to test out the upcoming system. Release notes fixes are now at the bottom of the post....

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....

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....