Posts

Apple last week pulled the first watchOS 5 beta due to it bricking certain Apple Watch models. Today, Apple has re-issued the first beta that will hopefully resolve any bricking issues. The initial watchOS 5 beta launched just after the WWDC keynote last week, adding new features such as Walkie-Talkie and Activity Competitions. As per usual, we highly advise against updating to the watchOS beta. Unlike Apple’s other platforms, there is currently no way to revert back to a public stable version of watchOS after updating to the beta without sending your Apple Watch off to Apple....

Apple has released the first iOS 10.3 public beta for testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10.3 public beta 1 follows two days after the first developer version of the upcoming software update. Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program. iOS 10.3 will be released to everyone likely this spring, and the public beta allows more users to test pre-release versions of the software update before it’s finalized....

Apple’s streaming service Apple TV+ has officially renewed the series for a second season ahead of the season finale, which will be released this Friday. The drama series stars Justin Theroux in the lead role, and is loosely based on the characters from relative Paul Theroux’s book The Mosquito Coast. The seven-part first season was originally planned to have nine episodes but was cut short partly to COVID scheduling issues. The show is the latest Apple TV+ original to get a second season renewal as the company continues expands its catalog of titles....

Apple has released the fifth iOS 10.3.2 beta for testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (and the second this week). The version number suggests we should only see under-the-hood bug fixes and security improvements in these releases when ready. iOS 10.3.2 beta 5 is currently only available in beta for registered developers. The public beta version of each update usually follows a few days after the developer version if not the same day....

Coming just a day after Apple released the iOS 10.1 developer beta 1 with the new depth of field effect, the iOS 10.1 public beta is also now available. Users installing the public beta on the iPhone 7 Plus will see the new beta Portrait mode under their camera settings. Users on the macOS Sierra public beta will also be seeing the first macOS 10.12.1 public beta update rolling out too....

As rumored last week, Apple has today released a new model of iMac. These machines are considerably cheaper than their predecessors, priced at $1099. Previously, the cheapest iMac SKU was priced at $1299 (which is now the mid-range model). The cheaper iMac features a 1.4 GHz dual-core i5 CPU, which represents a significant worsening in performance over the previous base model of iMac, which featured a processor clocked at 2.7 GHz....

Apple has today shared refreshed assets for to help affiliates promote and share music, movies, and TV content that can be found on Apple Music and the iTunes Store. Apple shared the news in an email sent to members of the affiliate program. The new assets feature a cleaner design in line with Apple’s recent MFi branding update that we discovered over the weekend. Notably, the iTunes Store logo now features the star logo, like the iOS app, as opposed to the previous use of the Apple logo....

Earlier this week, Apple released a HomePod 13.2 software update. After installing that update, however, some users reported bricked HomePod units, causing Apple to pull the update. Now, Apple has released HomePod 13.2.1 to the public. HomePod software version 13.2.1 is rolling out now via the Home app. The update includes all of the features of the HomePod 13.2 update, but with a fix for the bricking problem. As we explained at the time:...

It certainly seems like Apple is approaching original content more seriously now, with Eddy Cue reportedly wanting to challenge the likes of Game of Thrones with Apple’s TV shows. The Financial Times is reporting that Apple is bidding on a new drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, battling against Netflix for rights. The concept of the show relates to morning television chat shows, pitched by HBO’s former head of drama....

Apple Pay has officially gone live in Italy today, as earlier rumors had anticipated. As the clock has already turned to Wednesday in the country, users are now able to add their credit and debit cards to the mobile payment platform and pay in-app, online, and in store using their Apple devices. In Italy, Apple Pay is supported by three banks: Boon, Carrefour Banca, and UniCredit. MasterCard and Visa credit and debit cards are supported....

Apple is planning to adopt a new connector type for accessories for iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices through its official Made-for-iPhone (MFi) licensing program. Dubbed the “Ultra Accessory Connector” (UAC), Apple has recently launched a developer preview of the new connector type to prepare manufacturing partners for the component that in some cases will replace the use of Lightning and USB connectors, according to sources familiar with the program....

Apple just released a third beta version of the upcoming iOS 5.1 firmware (Build 9B5141a). The software is available as an over-the-air update for existing iOS 5.1 beta users, but is not yet available (update: now available) as a standalone download through Apple’s developer portal. As you might imagine, it contains the obligatory bug fixes and improvements. According to the tips we’ve received, it also restores the Enable 3G toggle in the Settings app which has been strangely absent on the iPhone 4S since it’s mid-October release....

Bloomberg reports this evening that Apple has secured a new deal with Warner Music Group for Apple Music. The deal is Apple’s first since introducing Apple Music two years ago, while the company hopes it will set precedent for future negotiations with other labels. Today’s report explains that Warner will provide Apple with a catalog including recent stars like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars, as well as older artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, for both the iTunes Store and Apple Music....

Having originally planned to add a new transit directions feature to Maps last year, only to pull the feature before WWDC 2014, Apple now hopes to launch its Transit service with iOS 9, according to sources. Apple currently plans to debut bus, subway, and train route navigation as the central upgrade to the Maps app in iOS 9 at WWDC, using a user interface similar to the one intended for last fall’s launch, as depicted in the screenshots above…...

Alongside iOS 14.4, Apple today has also released HomePod Software 14.4 with new features for HomePod mini users. The update brings a revamped Handoff experience, new personalized listening suggestions, and more. The leading change with HomePod Software Version 14.4 is an all-new Handoff experience powered by the Ultra Wideband, or U1 chip, in the iPhone. Previously, users would just hold their iPhone near the top of a HomePod to transfer audio to or from the device....

In addition to releasing software updates across iOS, Mac, and watchOS, Apple today has released an update to iTunes. The update brings iTunes to version 12.4 and includes the design tweaks that were initially rumored earlier this month. iTunes 12.4 introduces a variety of interface tweaks that Apple says make it easier to navigate the app and switch between different kinds of content. First off, there’s a new media picker that allows users to quickly switch between Music, Movies, TV shows, and more....

Ahead of the April 24th launch of its first wearable, Apple has started removing competing health and fitness products from its retail stores. Re/code reports that the company is pulling fitness bands from Nike and Jawbone from its shelves. It’s not the first time Apple has stopped selling a product to avoid competition. Last year the retailer removed Bose products from its stores after the NFL banned Apple-owned Beats headphones from appearing on camera to accommodate a Bose sponsorship deal, and Bose filed a lawsuit against Beats....

Apple Pay Sparkasse, Commerzbank and Norisbank support has today been added in Germany… Sparkasse is an umbrella brand for more than 400 banks, most of which are nonprofits owned by local regions or charitable foundations. Macerkopf reports that support has been added for both Visa and Mastercard credit cards, but not yet for debit cards, which is promised for next year. Sparkasse customers have been waiting more than a year after Apple Pay was first launched in Germany....

Update: Apple has since informed us that the comment by a local representative was not an official statement and has been mistranslated from the Chinese by Caixan. The correct information is that the ability to add cards was being made available on a rolling basis throughout the day. With many Chinese iPhone owners reporting they they are unable to register for Apple Pay, an Apple spokesman representative has said the issues are due to too many people trying to sign-up a planned gradual rollout throughout the day....

Apple has continued to make steady progress on its new headquarters, and this week provided KQED News with a special “sneak peek” at the construction site. The news outlet has released several photos of some of the major structures on the upcoming campus, and has promised additional photos from the tour will be published later this month. Last week we got an drone’s-eye view of the progress, which gave us our first look at some of these buildings....