developer

You won’t need iTunes to install the iOS 13, iPadOS public betas

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iPadOS-multitasking
Awesome news for public testers.
Photo: Apple

You won’t need iTunes to install the iOS 13 and iPadOS betas when they go public, Apple’s Craig Federighi has confirmed.

Registered developers who want to get their hands on the software now must download the update package and restore their device through iTunes. They must also have the new Xcode 11 beta installed.

That won’t be the case when Apple expands the reach of its betas next month.

Apple rolls out iOS 12.3 beta 6 for developers and the public [Updated]

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Apple TV app
The new TV app in iOS 12.3.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

Apple today rolled out its sixth iOS 12.3 beta for registered developers. It comes just days after testers got their hands on a fifth release.

It’s unlikely we’ll see any significant changes in this update. But there’s lots to look forward to in iOS 12.3 — including a revamped TV app with support for Channels.

Update: A version of this latest beta for the public was just released as well.

Apple News+ accused of violating App Store guidelines

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Apple News+ trial
Some aren't happy with Apple's tactics.
Photo: Apple

Apple has been accused of violating its own App Store guidelines within the new Apple News app.

The Apple News+ signup page is missing a number of important elements that would lead the app to be rejected if it was made by a third-party developer. A former Apple developer says he is surprised the company hasn’t been hit with an “an extremely public lawsuit” for its double standards.

App Store Search Ads expand to 46 more countries

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App Store Search Ads
Ads are coming to an iPhone near you.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

App Store users in a bunch of new countries will now see ads when searching for apps and games.

Apple on Tuesday expanded App Store Search Ads to 46 new territories. Developers can bid to have their titles appear in search results for specific keywords, which brings more attention to their apps.

Apple plans to merge iOS and macOS apps by 2021

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Office Mac App Store
Your favorite apps could soon be available on any Apple device.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make it easy for developers to merge iOS and macOS apps into one by 2021, according to a new report.

The project, dubbed “Marzipan,” hopes to encourage development and boost App Store revenue. It will start with a new software development kit that will let developers port their iPad apps to Mac later this year.

Apple’s new Entrepreneur Camp helps women in tech

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Apple Entrepreneur Camp
It also offers tickets to WWDC!
Photo: Apple

Apple is launching a new Entrepreneur Camp that’s specifically designed to help app-driven organizations founded and led by women.

The two-week technology lab, which takes place in Apple’s home town of Cupertino, offers one-on-one coding guidance from Apple experts and engineers, as well as “mentorship, inspiration, and insights from top Apple leaders.”

Apple wipes 11 categories from the Mac App Store

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Mac App Store
Apple's latest move is bad for macOS developers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has removed 11 categories from the Mac App Store. The Categories tab now displays just 10 options as opposed to 21, with Finance, Lifestyle, and Sports among those dropped.

The move is a disappointment to app developers who rely on specific categories for discoverability. Many initially believed that the change was a bug, but Apple has since confirmed that the removal of these items is “expected behavior.”

iOS devs can now create public beta links through TestFlight

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Apple's TestFlight is used to beta test apps before they're ready for prime time.
Expect easier access to iOS app betas.
Photo: Cult of Mac

It’s now easier than ever for iOS developers to distribute beta versions of their apps.

Apple is allowing them to share public URLs, which allow for quick enrollment when opened on an iPhone or iPad, through TestFlight. Developers no longer need an email address for every tester.

You won’t believe how many people are using Apple beta software

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notification centre iOS 12
Have you upgraded early to iOS 12?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple warns us that its beta releases should not be installed on our primary devices. Until just a few years ago, it only allowed registered developers to download them. But that doesn’t stop keen Apple fans from updating early to get their hands on its latest features.

You won’t believe how many people are already running the next versions of macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS months before their public debut.

Apple’s Craig Federighi explains how iOS apps will work on macOS

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macOS Mojave
Some of Apple's iOS apps will be available inside macOS Mojave.
Photo: Apple

Apple confirmed during its big WWDC keynote on Monday that iOS apps are coming to macOS.

The company has spent two years developing the frameworks required to make the ports possible. Several of its own iPhone and iPad apps, including Apple News and Voice Memos, will be available inside macOS Mojave this fall.

In a new interview, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, reveals more about how iOS apps will work on a Mac. He also promises that they won’t make your Mac feel like a super-sized iPhone.

Apple warns macOS users that it will drop support for 32-bit apps

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macOS update
A macOS update adds support for Messages in iCloud.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has begun issuing notifications to macOS users that confirm plans to drop support for 32-bit applications.

“This app needs to be updated by its developer to improve compatibility,” reads the warning users will see when they load a 32-bit app for the first time in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4. This is the final version of macOS that will allow 32-bit apps to be opened “without compromise.”

Apple seeds macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 beta 2 to developers

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macOS High Sierra
A new High Sierra beta is available now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has seeded its second macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 beta to registered developers.

The release comes just one week after developers got their hands on the first macOS 10.13.3 beta. There are no significant user-facing changes in this update; it is mostly focusing on ironing out bugs and issues with High Sierra.

Apple drops big batch of new beta updates

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iOS 11
iOS 11.2 brings Apple TV support to Control Center.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Developers received a bunch of new beta software updates from Apple today that included the third beta of iOS 11.2 and macOS 10.13.3 beta 3 as well.

The new betas contain a number of bug fixes and performance improvements as Apple prepares to launch Apple Pay cash and other new additions to the public later this year.

The first iOS 11.2 beta is already here

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iPhone
iOS 11.1 isn't even out yet.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple surprised developers today with the release of the first beta for iOS 11.2.

iOS 11.2 beta 1 was seeded to developers even though iOS 11.1 still hasn’t been released to the public. The update comes with a number of new features as well as bug fixes and performance improvements.

Apple seeds fifth macOS 10.13.1 beta

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macOS High Sierra
Apple is said to be working on a fix.
Photo: Apple

Developers received a new beta build for Macs this morning after Apple seeded the fifth beta for macOS 10.13.1.

The new beta build comes just three days after Apple released the fourth macOS 10.13.1 beta alongside new betas for iOS 11.1 and tvOS 11.1.

iPhone X makes apps look horrible … for now

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iPhone X wild
This photo of iPhone X highlights an ugly problem.
Photo: EddiOS42/Reddit

The edge-to-edge display on iPhone X is going to make everything we do look spectacular. That’s what Apple tells us, at least. But the truth is, a lot of your favorite apps are going to look downright horrible when you first start using one.

This picture of an iPhone X in the wild highlights an ugly problem Apple’s new smartphone will face when it makes its big debut next month.

Apple rolls out tvOS 11 beta 10 for registered developers

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apple tv and siri remote
Grab the latest tvOS 11 update now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has rolled out its tenth beta of tvOS 11 for registered developers ahead of a public release this fall.

The release comes just under one week after developers got their hands on beta 9, and it mostly includes bug fixes and performance improvements at this point.