It’s a big day for Apple fans — there are software updates for iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
With an update, iPhone 12 Pro gets support for Apple’s new ProRAW image format. And all iPhone and iPads display new privacy info about third-party apps.
But primarily, the new versions are about adding support for AirPods Max and Apple Fitness+ to a range of operating systems. And bug fixes too.
Head off with a little girl as she wanders a Mediterranean island rescuing animals in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. She’s supposed to be on vacation, but she’s ready to start an environmental movement instead!
The game, which hit Apple Arcade on Friday, is from Ustwo Games, the creator of the classic Monument Valley.
Julia Roberts is the latest star putting in an appearance on Apple TV+. She’ll reportedly take the lead in an adaptation of the mystery-thriller The Last Thing He Told Me.
Update November 12, 2021: Jennifer Garner has replaced Julia Roberts as the lead in this upcoming series.
Update: The wait for macOS Big Sur 11.1 is over. It and operating system updates for quite a few other Apple computers launched Monday.
Apple seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.1 Release Candidate to developers on Thursday. That’s good news for those who hold off upgrading their Mac to each new big new macOS release until after it gets its first major revision.
In addition, there are second release candidates for iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 available.
Jay Freeman, developer of the Cydia software store for the iPhone, filed a lawsuit accusing the Apple App Store of being a monopoly. His company asks a U.S. District Court to force Apple to let iPhone users get apps from rival software stores.
The Minix Neo P1 uses gallium nitride to pack three powerful USB ports into a tiny wall charger. It can provide up to 66W to an iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or other gear. And the power adapter is made for travel, with fold-down prongs and adapters for a wide variety of countries.
I tested the Neo P1 with a variety of devices. Here’s how it stood up.
Apple isn’t exempting itself from a new privacy rule requiring App Store software to reveal how users’ information is used. Even the applications that come pre-installed on iPhone and iPad will display their privacy info in the App Store.
The Apple online store just became the exclusive source of an updated version of Satechi’s foldable iPad stand. This holds a tablet at wide range of heights and viewing angles. And it makes the screen “hover” above a keyboard.
Apple is moving ahead with an autonomous vehicle. It’s reportedly already talking to component makers and might unveil the Apple Car in 2024 or 2025.
Apple TV+ is clearly confident about For All Mankind. The alternate-history sci-fi series got a green light for a third season on Tuesday. And that’s months before the second season debuts on Apple’s streaming video service.
The show depicts a different version of the space race — one that begins with the USSR beating the US to the Earth’s moon.
Apple’s self-driving car division is reportedly on the move, but not in the usual way. The project has been transferred into Apple’s artificial intelligence division.
The reorg comes at the retirement of Bob Mansfield, who’d been managing the company’s not-so-secret autonomous vehicle development.
Those with very deep pockets can make their AirPods Max colors even more personalized. Ear cushions for the headphones are replaceable and come in a variety of hues. They sure aren‘t cheap, though.
But save some money for a charger, because there’s no power adapter in the box.
Apple gave developers early access to iOS 14.3 on Tuesday, which will bring ProRAW support to the iPhone 12 Pro models. Plus, it and the iPad equivalent will give everyone more information about the privacy practices of the apps they use.
Apple also seeded to devs the release candidates for watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3 on Tuesday.
After Apple unveiled AirPods Max this morning, the internet jumped quickly into mockery mode. The pricey over-the-ears headphones come with a case that lots of jokesters think looks like a bra.
And that’s just the start.
OWC’s just-released Copy That application frees up space on iPhone or iPad by transferring images or videos to external drives. Alternatively, it can easily back up an collection of these files.
And it’s free, with an in-app purchase for extra features.
Both sizes of Apple’s smart speaker got an update to HomePod Software Version 14.2.1 on Monday. The new system software promises just general improvements. It’s not yet known if that includes squashing a reported bug in Wi-Fi connectivity for the HomePod mini.
Apple Watch offers watch faces that’s do much more than tell time. But a user thinks the extra snippets of information — called complications — junk up the appearance of the wearable. They created an Apple Watch concept that moves them off the display and onto the pop-up window that’s currently the Control Center.
Samsung is copying Apple again. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly will not come with a wall charger or a pair of headphones when the new top-tier handset debuts in January.
This despite Samsung mocking Apple in October for leaving these accessories out of the iPhone 12 box.
A faster version of the Apple TV set top box apparently isn’t going to unveiled Tuesday morning, despite significant speculation.
Apple is reportedly going to launch something on December 8, and earlier today a noted leaker seemed to hint about it being new Apple TV hardware. But that’s now been retracted, and other sources have stated that whatever gets announced tomorrow, it won‘t be an Apple TV.
UPDATE: Apple took the wraps off AirPods Max headphones and Apple Fitness+ on December 8.
Apple launched an iPhone 11 Display Module Replacement Program late on Friday. It’s intended to repair a small percentage of units that are experiencing problems with the touchscreen.
These units “may stop responding to touch due to an issue with the display module,” according to Apple.
Wristcam puts a camera into an Apple Watch band. That’s a product many people have been asking for, but this version seems impractically large. Much larger than anyone wants to wear on their wrist.
Take a look at a product video to see for yourself.
Dark forces are on the rise and your quest is the defeat them with the power of… pinball. OK, high fantasy this is not. Instead, Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes fuses pinball and tower defense into a deliberately wacky game that launched Friday on Apple Arcade.
And the in-app purchases that plagued the original version are gone!
Apple’s video streaming service is hitting the waves. It ordered a documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the aspirations, failures and accomplishments of the world’s best surfers as they compete in the World Surf League championship.
The Satechi USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable uses the magnets built into the iPhone 12 series to cling to the back of the handset, providing more reliable wireless charging.
That makes it similar to Apple’s MagSafe Charger. But Satechi’s cheaper alternative doesn’t offer faster powerups as Apple’s does.
Developers of iPhone applications that include in-app purchases and subscriptions can now make them part of Family Sharing. This allows a family to share an item or subscription — at the developer’s discretion.
This is already a feature of Apple’s own services. A family can share a subscription to Apple Arcade or Apple TV+, for example. With this change for third-party apps, the Family Sharing option should become more widely available.
