Apple seeded the initial iOS 15.3 beta to developers later than usual Friday, along with the iPadOS equivalent. And on Monday, Apple added iOS 15.3 beta 1 and iPadOS 15.3 beta 1 to the Apple Beta Software Program. So far, no one has been able to find any new features in them.
watchOS 8.4 beta 1 and tvOS 15.3 beta 1 also went to developers Friday.
The debut of HomePod mini brought a big jump in sales that continues almost a year later. Shipments of Apple’s smart speakers increased a whopping 92% last quarter when compared to the same period of 2020.
And HomePod mini was the second best selling smart speaker globally.
Several older iPhones and iPads reportedly won‘t be able to upgrade to iOS 16 when it debuts in 2022. While that’s sure to disappoint anyone still using these devices, the newest one will be 5 years old at that point. And one of them will be 8 years old.
Apple continues to offer operating system upgrades for its computers for many years, but iOS 16 will supposedly mark the end up of updates for the A8 and A9/A9X processor.
With Home Widget, it’s now possible to control your HomeKit accessories directly from your iPhone’s Home screen. Turn on and off lights or even run automated scenes with the quick push of a button. With the new app, you can make a bunch of HomeKit widgets to meet your needs.
I put Home Widget to the test in my smart house. I’m generally pleased with its usability.
AirPods make great gifts … especially when they’re nearly half off. You can get AirPods 2 for less than $90. That’s as low as they’ve ever been.
And there are deals on every type of Apple’s signature earbuds with significant savings. Even on the newest model.
Disney and Pixar characters drop their sweet facades and go for one another’s throats in Disney Melee Mania, a multiplayer action game that debuted Friday on Apple Arcade.
Ever wondered what would happen if Elsa and Moana took on Buzz Lightyear and Wreck-It Ralph? Now you can find out.
Apple began testing macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 on Thursday, just days after the release of macOS 12.1. An official list of what’s coming in the new version hasn’t yet been revealed by the Mac-maker, but tests with beta 1 have turned up a few changes. The much-anticipated Universal Control isn’t one of them, though.
This pre-release version seeded to developers was not accompanied by any iOS, iPadOS or watchOS betas on Thursday.
A Texas woman put Apple AirTags on her outdoor Christmas inflatables in case they were stolen. And when they were, she was able to use the item trackers to easily find them.
Getting them back wasn’t quite as easy, however.
Apple is reportedly hiring at a new office in Irvine, California, where the company will make 5G modems and other wireless chips for future devices.
It’s the latest move by Apple to expand the number of critical components for its products that it produces in-house.
The eerie sci-fi thriller Severance will follow a group of employees who’ve had their work memories surgically severed from their personal ones. It’s a creepy idea, especially as it’s something Apple might consider whenever its top-secret product details leak out.
A teaser trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ drama series starts the weirdness off.
Pixelmator Photo is one of the best photo editors for iPad, and it got even more mobile with an iPhone version debuting Thursday. It offers desktop-level editing tools on a mobile device.
And to celebrate the iPhone launch, the application is half off.
El Deafo, a sweet and poignant three-part animated series for kids and families, will premiere on Apple TV+ in early January. It’s based on an award-winning graphic memoir.
Watch a trailer for the series for a preview of the action.
The third season of Servant is now scheduled to premier on Apple TV+ in January. And the streaming service is so pleased with the horror (and sometimes darkly humorous) show it went ahead and committed to a fourth season.
A new trailer should whet fans appetites for the upcoming new season.
The latest Apple TV update adds new Aerials screen savers that will mesmerize you with rugged scenery. tvOS 15.2 also includes a fresh user interface for Memories in the Photos app, support for the new Apple Music Voice Plan and other cool new features.
If you’re using Apple’s streaming device, you don’t want to miss this update.
The Kensington StudioDock is now compatible with the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 thanks to a new version of the docking station that launched Tuesday. The desktop stand adds numerous ports to the tablet, and wireless chargers too.
There were already models for the 2020 and earlier versions of Apple’s largest tablet, as well as the 11-inch ones.
A growing number of Covid 19 cases has reportedly forced Apple to reinstate the face mask mandate at all its U.S. retail locations.
The Mac-maker had begun relaxing the mask requirement in the fall when cases were dropping. But Apple has now reversed course because of a surge.
Adobe added the smudge and sponge tools to Photoshop for iPad on Tuesday. These are just the latest improvements to the tablet edition of this image-editing application. They’re part of a long-term strategy the software developer has used since the touchscreen-enhanced version of Photoshop launched in 2019.
Thanks to a new feature in iOS 15.2, you can designate legacy contacts so your loved ones can gain access to data on your iPhone or iPad after your death without your passcode. The Digital Legacy feature means your personal images, files and other data don’t need to remain locked away after your untimely demise.
It’s easy to specify a Digital Legacy contact. And, like writing a will, it’s a smart move almost everyone should make sooner rather than later. Here’s how.
Apple TV+ received almost a dozen Golden Globe nominations on Monday. That includes the film CODA, which is up for best drama. And the The Morning Show was nominated for best drama series while Ted Lasso got a nom for best comedy series.
Plus, Jennifer Aniston and Denzel Washingon were nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for their roles on Apple TV+ shows. And there are plenty more.
macOS 12.1, the first major update to Monterey, went out Monday. The major new feature is SharePlay, but there are some other enhancements. But it does not include the much-anticipated Universal Control.
It comes on the same day as the release of iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3.
iPhone users can now upgrade to iOS 15.2. The update adds a cheaper Apple Music option, plus there’s a new App Privacy Report, and parents will be alerted if their children send or receive nudes.
iPadOS 15.2 is also available with these same updates. And there’s overlap with the just-released watchOS 8.3 and macOS Monterey 12.1.
Apple TV+ will produce Surfside Girls, a 10-episode live-action kids and family series. It’ll tell the story of two friends who solve a mystery about pirate ghosts.
The series will be based on the the best-selling graphic novel series of the same name by author Kim Dwinell.
The STM Goods MagPod is a beefy iPhone tabletop tripod that magnetically attaches to the handset. And it can do double duty as a handle. Use it for keeping an eye on your texts or making FaceTime calls.
I put the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 accessory to the test in this review.
Apple is doubtless hard at work on iOS 16, and concept artist Kevin Kal has suggestions that many iPhone users will agree with.
He created a video to demonstrate the proposed changes, including Split View, interactive widgets and more.
The Adonit Dash 4 is an iPad stylus well suited for writing or drawing. And it offers something the Apple Pencil doesn’t: iPhone compatibility. The stylus flips between Apple’s tablet and handset with the push of a button. Or use it with Android.
I tried the Dash 4 with a variety of devices. Here’s what I found out.