Apple updated AirPods Pro to firmware version 2D27 on Tuesday. Users of these truly wireless headphones have since had a chance to install it, but there’s no consensus about whether it makes active noise cancellation as good as it was when this product first launched.
Monday’s WWDC 2020 keynote was very polished and a little fast-paced for me. This year, the entire Worldwide Developers Conference is virtual due to COVID-19, and the presentations flowed seamlessly from presenter to presenter, leaving little time for someone drawing to catch a breath. I ended up with five pages of drawings in my notebook.
I sketched out the important new features coming in iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS Big Sur, watchOS 7 and more. For a quick visual recap of the highlights of the WWDC 2020 keynote, check out my sketchnotes below.
YouTuber Jared Busch is a tech reviewer so when it comes to desk setups, he doesn’t mess around. Most of his gear is for gaming — and for making tech reviews on his YouTube channel.
He runs this setup off a 2016 MacBook Pro. He has a testoserone-filled 35-inch Acer Predator Z35P Curved Monitor, which he calls “one of the best 21:9 gaming monitors available right now!” But he might change it because it has a “bit too much of an aggressive look” to it.
The wallpapers in Apple’s latest macOS Big Sur update look positively stunning. Featuring the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge, the aerial shots highlight the jaw-dropping scenery at different times of the day — from dawn to dusk — and at night.
This place truly is paradise on Earth. And you can load it onto your Mac right now.
There are some fantastic new abstract wallpapers in the new beta OSs for iPhone and iPad, and they can be downloaded right here.
A couple of TV industry virtuosos are reportedly prepping an unusual comedy for Apple TV+. Phil Lord and Chris Miller will create The Afterparty for this streaming service. It about a murder seen from a variety of viewpoints, each in a different film genre.
Listening to music on AirPods at too high a volume can damage your hearing. As a reminder of this, iOS 14 offers an optional icon in the Control Center to show just how loudly the song is playing on a connected pair of AirPods or earbuds at that moment. And it measure the sound pressure down to the exact decibel.
Safari users soon will be able to securely log into websites using Face ID and Touch ID. The new feature, which Apple is rolling out in iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and macOS Big Sur, should take away one of the most irritating things about using the web — remembering, and then typing in, user names and complicated passwords.
On websites that support the feature, users can opt in to use Apple’s biometric ID systems, making that irritating login dance a thing of the past.
Some people who already gave Apple Arcade a try and passed on this gaming service are getting a second shot. Apple sent emails to an unknown number of former users with an offer of “How about another month on us?”
iOS 14 will ship with a bunch of built-in widgets that put helpful information on your Home screen (with many more coming from third-party developers this fall), and most are customizable in some way.
Here’s how you can edit widgets so that they display the information that’s most relevant to you.
The Department of Justice is considering a possible antitrust probe of Apple, according to three sources who spoke with Politico, the publication notes in a report published Wednesday.
Like the European Union, which recently launched an antitrust investigation of Apple, the DoJ is reportedly focused on Apple’s control of the App Store. Multiple companies have complained that the App Store raises prices and reduces options for customers.
The iPhone 12 could boast a 20-watt USB-C power adapter, according to images posted online Wednesday by Apple leaker Mr White. By comparison, the iPhone 11 Pro comes with an 18-watt USB-C power adapter, while the regular iPhone 11 ships with a 5-watt charger.
It’s not clear from the tweet whether the new charger, provided this report is correct, will come with all new models of the iPhone 12 — or whether it will be an exclusive for the high-end iPhone 12 Pro.
There is some data that can’t be kept safe enough. Personal finances, professional project files, digital family pictures — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sensitive files.
How best to stash all that safely? Cloud storage is easy, but it’s not exactly 100% reliable. SSDs are great, but if they fall into the wrong hands, your data is as good as gone. However, this SSD packs PIN protection so only you can access your data.
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot constitutionally force a person to unlock their smartphone by giving up their passcode. The ruling, made Tuesday, has been praised by the Electronic Frontier Fountain (EFF).
Get ready for Apple’s big watchOS 7 update this fall by treating yourself to Apple Watch Series 5 at its lowest price yet. Prices now start at just $299 (down from $399) for a 40mm model with GPS connectivity.
You can also enjoy $20 off Apple Watch Series 3 (also compatible with watchOS 7), which is now down to just $179.
Looking for a new Pokémon game to while away your commute now that some workplaces are reopening following lockdown? Pokémon Café Mix is ready to oblige. In the game, which launched Wednesday, players are charged with running an eatery frequented by everyone’s favorite Pocket Monsters.
To fulfill orders, you have to solve various puzzles, while also running the café. As you complete puzzles, you’ll be joined by additional Pokémon, while also having the opportunity to expand your premises. You can check out a trailer for the game below.
For many iPhone users, the biggest and most exciting change in iOS 14 is the addition of Home screen widgets. It’s a feature we’ve been waiting years to get — and a feature Android has offered since the very beginning. But there’s something you should know before you start using them this fall.
iOS 14 Home screen widgets aren’t quite as powerful as you might think they are.
The iPhone’s seesaw year in China continued in May as sales declined 7.7% from the previous month, CNBC reports. It suggests that the period of pent-up demand for the iPhone following lockdown may have worn off already. In total, Apple reportedly sold 3.6 million iPhones in China, down from 3.9 million one month earlier.
By comparison, Apple sales rose by a massive 160% month-on-month in April, after lockdown conditions in China eased up and Apple Stores were reopened. In February, iPhone sales in China declined by 60% as COVID-19 swept the country and hurt both supply and demand for Apple’s handsets.
One of many hidden new features in iOS 14 is an option to set new shortcuts that are activated by tapping the back of your iPhone. It’s a new accessibility option that can be used for things like returning to the Home screen, snapping a screenshot, muting your device, and more. Here’s how it works.
Republican senatators have proposed a new bill that would end the use of unbreakable encryption by tech companies on the basis that it helps “terrorists and other bad actors to conceal illicit behavior.”
The so-called Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act is proposed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee).
When accountant and realtor Tausif Hussain built his setup he was looking for wellness and nature themes.
He uses a Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk, which is both eco-friendly and joint-friendly. He also has a Muvmat, an anti-fatigue mat that is also a foot massager. The Muvmat simulates standing in a forest; it is filled with bumps that imitate rocks, branches, and twigs. And pretty much every device rests on top of some wooden accessory or stand.
Apple finally brought handwriting recognition to iPad. With Scribble built in iPadOS 14, it’s possible to enter text simply by drawing on the screen.
My testing with the first version shows its an amazing feature. But one with room for improvement.
This Instagram management post is presented by OpenMedia, maker of 4K Stogram.
The download world is filled with third-party tools intended to enhance your experience with other tools, apps and services — and sometimes they really do help. One such case is 4K Stogram, an Instagram viewer and download app for macOS, PC and Linux.
On today’s special edition of The CultCast: Catch our reactions to all the great stuff announced at the WWDC 2020 keynote. We highlight our favorite features from iOS 14, MacOS Big Sur, tvOS, iPadOS and watchOS, and so much more.
Today’s episode is supported by CleanMyMac X, an all-in-one utility from MacPaw that takes care of your Mac’s health. It’s a macOS cleaner, a performance monitor, a malware remover and occasionally, a lifesaver. And until July 5, you can go to macpaw.com/cultofmac to get CleanMyMac X with a 30% discount.
Third-party item trackers will be able to connect to the Find My Network created by iPhone, Mac and other Apple devices, the company announced Monday during its annual developers conference.
This will be a huge benefit to Tile, who recently complained to the EU Commission that Apple is making it harder for customers to use Tile’s location-aware tracking tags even as Apple prepares to launch its own.
