HomeKit is getting a number of huge improvements alongside iOS and tvOS 14 this fall, including support for facial recognition and activity zones for cameras. It will also be easier to access your camera feeds, thanks to new shortcuts.
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iOS 14 compatible with iPhone 6s, iPhone SE and later
Wondering whether your iPhone will be compatible with iOS 14 this fall? You’re in luck as long as you’re using an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, or later. Every handset compatible with iOS 13 is getting another upgrade this year.
iOS 14 gives you the power to choose default browser, email apps
iOS 14 gives iPhone and iPad users the power to choose their default web browser and email app for the first time when it lands this fall. That means you’ll no longer be forced into Safari and Mail when tapping links.
tvOS 14 gets picture-in-picture support, deeper HomeKit integration
Apple showed off improvements coming to Apple TV during the WWDC keynote Monday, as execs detailed changes coming in tvOS 14.
The biggest tweak in the next-gen Apple TV operating system is platform-wide picture-in-picture. This means that users can continue playing Apple TV games or using fitness apps while also screening a movie, watching live sports or keeping tabs on the news.
iPadOS 14 brings huge Apple Pencil advances
iPad owners can use an Apple Pencil to write words into any text box thanks to iPadOS 14, which Apple announced Monday at its developers conference.
And there are other enhancements coming as well, like home screen widgets, improvements to search, and some user interface tweaks.
AirPods Pro’s Spatial Audio will give you surround sound-style audio on wireless airbuds
AirPods got some impressive-sounding (no pun intended) features announced at WWDC, including an upcoming “Spatial Audio” feature that will provide better 3D sound for its AirPods Pro wireless earpods.
The feature will use motion tracking to replicate a surround sound, movie theater-style listening experience, making it sound like the audio you’re listening to is coming from around the wearer. It will work by using the device’s in-built accelerometer to track the motion of users’ heads. It will then remap the sound field constantly as your head moves around.
CarKey feature will let you unlock and start your car using iPhone
Apple’s car-focused tech got a nifty update at WWDC, letting users start their cars with their iPhone. Announced Monday, Apple’s new CarKey digital car keys feature will allow you to unlock and start select vehicles using NFC technology.
Emily Schubert, Apple’s Engineering Manager for Car Experience showed off the feature, which promises to revolutionize the way you start your vehicle for the 21st century.
iOS 14 looks great with new with Home screen widgets, picture-in-picture, more
Apple just gave the world its very first glimpse at iOS 14 for iPhone. Available this fall, the massive update brings a plethora of new features, including long-awaited Home screen widgets, picture-in-picture support, a new App Library, and more.
macOS Big Sur, no iOS name change, zero new hardware and other last-minute WWDC rumors
iOS 14 won’t be called iPhone OS and the new macOS will be called “Big Sur,” according to Apple tipster L0vetodream.
In a series of tweets early Monday, the Apple leaker shared a number of “predictions” that may spill details of the virtual-only Worldwide Developers Conference keynote Apple will Monday.
How to watch the WWDC 2020 keynote again [Updated]
The upside to an online-only WWDC 2020 is that Apple is making its big keynote more accessible than ever this year. No matter where you are or what device you’re using, you should be able to tune in live.
The event kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific today. Here are your options for watching the stream. (Update: If you missed the WWDC keynote, or simply want to watch it again, you can see it in the YouTube embed below.)
ARM-based Macs could be 50% or even 100% faster than Intel ones
The first Macs running ARM-based processors designed by Apple could be out as early as the fourth quarter of 2020, according to trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This will supposedly bring significant performance gains.
We’ll possibly know for sure tomorrow, as Apple will supposedly reveal its plans to move macOS to its A-series processors at WWDC 2020.
There might be no new hardware at WWDC 2020
Rumors point to Apple using Monday’s keynote for its annual developers conference to unveil a new iMac, a new HomePod and the debut of AirTags. But on Sunday, a reliable leaker said that these WWDC 2020 plans have been “scrapped.”
That said, the company supposedly still plans to unveil a long-term plan to switch Macs from Intel processors to ones Apple designs itself.
Update June 22: Confirmed. The keynote for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference was all about software, and there was no new hardware.
Our WWDC 2020 predictions [Cult of Mac Magazine 354]
Are you as psyched for WWDC 2020 as we are? The cover story of this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine tells you what to expect from next week’s big keynote. (Spoiler alert: Sounds like some new hardware in addition to the mandatory look at upcoming software.)
Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find the latest Apple news and leaks, plus how-tos for your Apple devices. Finally, don’t miss our reviews and recommendations — including a look at new documentary Dads, the latest disappointment from Apple TV+.
Grab your copy of the free iOS mag today (or hit the links below for the stories.)
Apple Developer Forums redesigned just ahead of WWDC
Apple rolled out a redesign of its developer forums Friday intended to make them easier to navigate, and help coders find answers they need.
This comes just days before the opening of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.
Redesigned iMacs to iOS 14: Everything we expect to see at WWDC 2020
Apple execs won’t get to feed off the usual live audience’s energy during next Monday’s WWDC 2020 keynote, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to get excited about.
As usual, Apple will stream the big event for all the world to see. But, due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire Worldwide Developers Conference will take place online this year. Read on for our rundown of what we expect to see during the WWDC 2020 keynote, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific on June 22.
New Macs? One more thing? Get our WWDC 2020 predictions on The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: We discuss our WWDC 2020 hardware and software predictions, and there’s a lot to say. Plus: A new leak details a next-generation iPhone with dual displays; the new 5600M MacBook Pro GPU is an absolute monster; and Apple’s back-to-school promo is back for the summer, but with an interesting twist.
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Apple’s exclusive WWDC jackets feature an awesome emoji pattern
The exclusive WWDC 2020 jackets that Apple sent to winners of its Swift Student Challenge feature a nifty plaid pattern made of emojis.
Brayden Gogis, a 16-year-old game developer who lives in Indianapolis, is one of 350 winners in this year’s youth coding competition. He described the experience of unwrapping his Apple prize package — and gave us a closer look at the unique emoji pattern.
Set your reminder for Monday’s keynote via WWDC’s YouTube livestream link
Apple has posted the YouTube live stream link that will allow viewers to tune in to its WWDC 2020 keynote next week.
The June 22 event will kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific, streaming directly from Apple Park. This is the second time Apple has streamed a special event on YouTube, following last year’s iPhone unveiling.
Macs get their own version of Apple Developer app the week before WWDC
The Apple Developer app is the one-stop-shop for all the information devs need, but until now there’ve only been versions for iPhone and iPad. On Monday, the company finally brought out a version for Mac. This guide to the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference comes a week before WWDC kicks off.
And while this event will be entirely online, Apple is sending out press invites anyway.
Why HealthKit needs an iCloud upgrade [Cult of Mac Magazine 353]
Giving HealthKit an iCloud injection would make Apple’s health-tracking framework much more powerful. Will this be the year Apple takes HealthKit to the next level?
Find out why it should be, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. You can download it now from the iOS App Store. Grab it now and get the week’s top Apple news, including some juicy new bits about what’s coming next from Cupertino’s product pipeline.
P.S. Don’t miss the big Father’s Day Sale in the Cult of Mac Store.
HealthKit needs a health check at WWDC
As a fitness writer and app developer, there’s just one thing I’m hoping to see at WWDC next week: a major upgrade to HealthKit.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Apple’s health-tracking framework is great, but there’s so much more it could do. Moving HealthKit to iCloud would finally set Apple Watch free from its iPhone dependency, launch a brand-new Apple subscription service, enable users to access health and fitness data on all their devices, create a whole new class of TV fitness apps, and much, much more.
We talk ARM Mac and the incoming new iMac, this week on The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: An all-new iMac, and the mythical ARM Mac, will likely be unveiled at WWDC. We’ll tell you what we know! Plus, we wrap up with our favorite new 360 camera, feather-light carbon fiber bike wheels, and a must-have Ethernet testing tool in an all-new Under Review.
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Apple details exactly how WWDC 2020 will go down
Apple laid out its plans for “the biggest WWDC to date” in a press release Wednesday, detailing exactly how the first online-only developers conference will go down.
With live streams available on Apple’s website, YouTube and other platforms, everyone can watch the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 22. During the highly anticipated event, Cupertino’s execs will showcase what the future holds for iPhone, Mac and other Apple devices.
9 new iPhone models, a new Mac head for certification before WWDC
A bunch of new Apple products have appeared in the Eurasian Economic Commission database ahead of their official debuts. There are nine new iPhone models and a new Mac, all of which are expected in 2020.
Many Apple fans will be hoping the mystery Mac is an all-new iMac that’s expected to appear at WWDC 2020 later this month.
iOS 14 call recording is an internal feature not intended for public use
iOS 14’s new call recording feature, which was spilled by a leaked screenshot earlier this week, was designed for internal debugging and will not be made available to the public, according to a new report.
Many immediately questioned the authenticity of the screenshot, which reveals a new “Enable Audio Call Recording” toggle for iPhone, when it surfaced. It seems the image is genuine, but we shouldn’t get our hopes up for a new feature.