Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1.1 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the first beta and two weeks after releasing the watchOS 6.1 update.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌‌Apple Watch‌‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To install the update, the ‌‌‌Apple Watch‌‌‌ needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 6.1.1 appears to be a minor update focusing on performance improvements and bug fixes that weren’t able to be addressed in watchOS 6.1.

No new features were found in the first beta of watchOS 6.1.1, but we’ll update this article should new features be found in the second beta.

This article, “Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 6.1.1 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.3 updates to developers, one week after seeding the first beta and two weeks after the release of iOS 13.2 with new emoji, Siri privacy controls, Deep Fusion, and more.

iOS and ‌‌‌iPadOS‌‌‌ 13.3 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.

iOS 13.3 introduces Communication Limits for Screen Time, a feature that Apple promised would be coming in an iOS 13 update. Communication Limits allow parents to control who their children are able to contact both during downtime and during Screen Time.

Communication Limits include FaceTime, Phone, and Messages, along with iCloud contacts. Calls to emergency numbers are always allowed and will turn off communication limits for 24 hours when placed.

The iOS 13.3 update also appears to address a multitasking issue where iOS 13.2 users were seeing poor RAM management that caused apps like YouTube and Safari to reload more frequently than normal.

After installing iOS 13.3, affected users are now seeing fewer refreshes when accessing these apps, doing another task, and then opening them again.

In the Keyboards section of the Settings app (under General), there’s a new toggle that prevents Animoji and Memoji stickers from being displayed as an option on the Emoji Keyboard, and when editing a video, there’s an option to save the edited version as a new clip rather than saving over the original.

Apple has also tweaked the Apple Watch app icon, changing the color of the Digital Crown from black to gray.

This article, “Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 13.3 and iPadOS 13.3 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple plans to announce its widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro this week, according to a tweet from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

In another tweet, Gurman suggested the announcement will be made by Wednesday. The news would likely be shared in the form of a press release on the Apple Newsroom and would also likely coincide with early hands-on impressions of the 16-inch MacBook Pro from select media outlets and YouTube channels.

It’s this week – that’s imminent from two weeks ago.

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) November 12, 2019

Only question remaining from multiple folks: is the announcement tomorrow (briefings day) or Wednesday (when review embargoes lift)? Also, 24 hours for a review seems like so little time, so I’d hope the stories are framed as “previews” or “first looks.”

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) November 11, 2019

9to5Mac recently reported that Apple appears to be holding private press briefings of some kind at its luxury loft mansion in New York City this week, likely to facilitate those 16-inch MacBook Pro first impressions. Multiple out-of-town tech reporters have tweeted that they are in or headed to New York City over the last few days.

Rumors suggest the 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature slimmer bezels around the display, a more reliable scissor switch keyboard, a standalone Touch ID sensor, and possibly a much-requested physical Esc key. Pricing is unknown, but would likely be higher than the $2,799 high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro.

For what it’s worth, 15-inch MacBook Pro models with AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics options became available to order on the Wednesday of this week a year ago, along with a (PRODUCT)RED version of the Apple Watch Sport Loop. Apple also launched its annual holiday gift guide on the same day.

After rampant rumors, supply chain clues, and leaked imagery from macOS Catalina, the 16-inch MacBook Pro might be 24 hours or less away.

This article, “16-inch MacBook Pro Announcement Expected by Tomorrow” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon has introduced a new sale on the Mid 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 1.4 GHz processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD, now priced at $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. At $199 off, this is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked for this model among the major Apple resellers online.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can purchase this configuration in both Silver and Space Gray at this price point. Amazon also has the model with a 128GB SSD on sale for $1,149.00, down from $1,299.00 (note that while this is among the lowest prices currently available, it’s not a lowest-ever price).

Our full Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains. Additionally, you can visit our Black Friday Roundup to stay updated on all of the most notable discounts that are coming later in November.

This article, “Deals Spotlight: 2019 13-Inch 256GB MacBook Pro Available for $1,299.99 on Amazon ($199 Off, Lowest Price)” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last week, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that Disney+ will launch in the United Kingdom and other select European countries on March 31, 2020.

Iger didn’t mention how much European customers would have to pay to access its 500 feature films and over 7,500 shows, including the entire Pixar library and a raft of original content.

However, one MacRumors reader appears to have discovered the British and French pricing plans ahead of time, simply by switching between Apple accounts on his iPhone.

Jean-Marc first downloaded the Disney+ app from the US App Store using his US Apple ID, and then switched to his French Apple ID, followed by his British Apple ID. The Disney+ subscription screen subsequently presented him with the following monthly and yearly pricing plans.

• France: €7.49 per month or €75.99 per year.
• UK: £6.99 per month or £68.99 per year.

Of course, these prices haven’t been officially announced by Disney and could be subject to change before the service launches in Europe next year.

However, given that Disney+ costs $6.99 per month in the U.S. (or $69.99 per year), it was pretty much expected that the dollar price would be mirrored in pound sterling.

As for the price in Euros, it’s unclear if this applies only to France or to other Euro-using countries as well. We do know that Disney+ costs €6.99 in the Netherlands (€69.99 per year) because of its early trial there, so perhaps we can expect some variation between EU territories.

Otherwise, the annual prices given are equal to 12 months at €6.33/month and £5.75/month, respectively, offering a 16 percent saving over the monthly plan.

(Thanks, Jean-Marc!)

This article, “Disney+ Likely to Cost £6.99 Per Month in UK, €7.49 in France” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Twitter is set to roll out a new feature called “Topics” that allows users to follow conversations about subjects of interest, similar to how they’d follow an account.

According to an official Twitter blog post, Topic suggestions will soon start appearing in user timelines and in search, based on what they tend to look for and already follow on the social media platform.

When a user follows a topic, like a music band, sports team, or celebrity, they’ll see tweets from a broad range of accounts that share the same interest.

Previously, all of the work was on you to figure out the best way to keep up with what’s happening by following certain accounts, searching for it, or looking in the Explore tab for the latest. Now, you have the option of seeing the most relevant and interesting Tweets about what you care about with a single tap, and the conversation will come to you.

A Topics option already appears in the mobile app’s sidebar menu, but currently just shows an introductory screen for the feature. When the feature rolls out in full, it will list the topics you’ve followed.

Hot takes? Always. Hot topics? Brand new.

Now you can follow specific topics to discover the Tweets you care about. pic.twitter.com/3tVBRFuTYd

— Twitter (@Twitter) November 11, 2019

Future features will include the ability to preview the feed content of a topic before choosing to follow it, the ability to add topics to lists, and the ability to mute topics.

Twitter says that Topic suggestions will start showing up in timelines and in searches from November 13, with a worldwide rollout taking place over the coming months.

This article, “Twitter Introducing ‘Topics’ Feature That Lets Users Follow Subjects of Interest” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple premiered its limited drama series “Truth Be Told” at The Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Monday night.

Octavia Spencer

Set to debut on Apple TV+ next month, the show stars Octavia Spencer in the role of Poppy Parnell, a podcaster who aims to reopen a murder case that she was involved in solving 18 years earlier that put Warren Cave (played by Aaron Paul) behind bars.

Spencer’s character is unsure if she made a mistake when she helped put Paul’s character (Warren Cave) in prison, and with her podcast, she tries to discover the truth and determine whether Cave was wrongfully convicted.

Based on the novel by Kathleen Barber, “Truth Be Told” is said to offer a unique glimpse into America’s obsession with true crime podcasts and challenges its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice is placed on a public stage.

Beginning December 6, the first three episodes of “Truth Be Told” will be available to watch on ‌Apple TV‌+ in over 100 countries and regions around the world, with new episodes rolling out weekly, every Friday. You can watch the trailer for the series here.

Left to right: Haneefah Wood, Mekhi Phifer, Ron Cephas Jones, Annabella Sciorra, Elizabeth Perkins, Reese Witherspoon, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Michael Beach.

‌Apple TV‌+ costs $4.99 per month with a family of six able to watch for that price point. Apple is also providing customers who purchase an ‌Apple TV‌, Mac, iPad, or iPhone with a free one-year subscription.

This article, “Apple TV+ Drama Series ‘Truth Be Told’ Premieres in Los Angeles Ahead of December 6 Debut” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Following a report from The Information this morning summarizing a recent internal Apple meeting that pegged the release of Apple’s augmented reality headsets for the 2022–23 timeframe rather than the more aggressive 2020 window that has previously been rumored, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has shared additional information on the company’s AR roadmap that will initially focus on the iPad and iPhone before the glasses come to fruition.

“Apple Glasses” concept

Gurman says Apple is working on “a range of augmented and virtual-reality devices” based around a new 3D sensor system, which will arrive first on a new iPad Pro slated for release in the first half of next year, and followed by the 2020 iPhones later in the year.

A new ‌iPad Pro‌ for release as early as the first half of 2020 will feature a new module with two camera sensors, up from one on the current model, and a small hole for the 3-D system, letting people create three-dimensional reconstructions of rooms, objects and people. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant also plans to add the sensor to new high-end iPhones later in 2020, along with 5G networking capabilities, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.

Moving beyond existing devices, Apple is said to be targeting 2021 or 2022 for the release of a combination VR and AR headset focused on “gaming, watching video and virtual meetings.” A lighter weight set of AR glasses could follow as soon as 2023.

The 3D sensor system to be used in the upcoming is said to be a more advanced version of the current Face ID sensor, and Apple’s engineering teams are working on creating linkages to the new “rOS” operating system for these headsets that will let them work with existing iOS devices.

For more on Apple’s AR/VR project, check out the full report over at bloomberg.com.

This article, “New AR Sensor Coming to 2020 iPad Pro and iPhone Models, AR/VR Headset as Soon as 2021” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro is likely still coming based on recent supply chain checks by IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani and Forbes contributor Brooke Crothers, but release timing remains unclear. Crothers is a former contributor to CNET, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal in Asia.

16-inch MacBook Pro concept

“We were expecting an announcement in October,” Ubrani said in an email, according to Crothers. October came and went without an announcement, but Ubrani added that his research firm is “starting to see early signs” of the notebook within Apple’s supply chain. “However, the timing of this is still uncertain,” he said.

Crothers said he has heard similar, writing that “a source in Asia who talks to the Apple supply chain told me over the weekend that the 16-inch [MacBook Pro] is in production but the release date is unclear.”

This information lines up with a recent DigiTimes report that claimed Apple will begin receiving volume shipments of the 16-inch MacBook Pro this quarter, possibly to sidestep a 15 percent import tariff on notebooks slated to take effect December 15. If accurate, mass production is likely underway.

Rumors suggest the 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature slimmer bezels around the display, a more reliable scissor switch keyboard, a standalone Touch ID sensor, and possibly a much-requested physical Esc key. Pricing is unknown, but would likely be higher than the $2,799 high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro.

This article, “16-Inch MacBook Pro Production Reportedly Underway as Launch Timing Remains Uncertain” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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