Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced three years ago in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 95 includes bug fixes and performance improvements forShadow DOM, Images, WebRTC, Clipboard API, Picture-in-Picture Web API, Service Workers, Back-Forward Cache, and Web Inspector.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Mojave and MacOS Catalina, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released in October.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Apple today shared a new featurette for upcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series “See,” one of the first shows that will be available when Apple TV+ launches later this week.
The trailer gives an overview of the plot of the series, which is set 600 years after a viral apocalypse. The survivors are all blind and have reverted back to a tribal culture.
The series stars Jason Momoa as Baba Voss, the father of twins who are born with the mythic ability to see. Alfre Woodard is also in the series, playing the role of the spiritual leader of the tribe.
“See” has received less than stellar reviews from media sites so far. The Hollywood Reporter said that it “isn’t close to a good show thus far,” while Variety said that it wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard.
“Spiraling away from narrative control as its first three episodes unreel, this series, about a post-apocalyptic future in which nearly everyone is blind, wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, among others, on a story that starts from a position of fun, giddy strangeness and drags itself forward at a lugubrious pace.”
Apple TV+ will launch on Friday, November 1 with “See,” “The Morning Show,” “For All Mankind,” “Dickinson,” and more. Apple plans to add additional TV shows over time, but at launch, content will be limited.
Apple TV+ will be priced at $4.99 per month, but it is free for students with an Apple Music subscription and those who have recently purchased an Apple TV, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Ford today previewed its new SYNC 4 infotainment system, including support for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The new SYNC 4 system will be available on select Ford vehicles starting in 2020.
CarPlay on SYNC 3
The wireless solution works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing an iPhone to be connected to the CarPlay system without using a Lightning to USB cable. Ford joins BMW in offering wireless CarPlay, while brands like Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, and Pioneer also offer aftermarket receivers with wireless CarPlay.
CarPlay is Apple’s in-car platform that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, WhatsApp, and Downcast. Since iOS 12, third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze are also supported.
While Apple has started making the first AirPods Pro deliveries to customers in some countries, those hoping to make a purchase in person can head to Apple’s AirPods Pro product page and make a purchase for in-store pickup. Pickup is currently available in many countries where Apple has retail stores.
In the U.S., where most stores have yet to open, all stores we’ve checked are listed as having AirPods Pro available today, but if you want to guarantee to be able to walk in and pick some up, it’s probably best to place an online order and select pickup at your local retail store. Store staff will then set aside a pair for you and you won’t have to worry about supplies running out.
At one retail store we checked out this morning, there was a line of about four customers waiting roughly an hour before opening.
AirPods Pro became available for order on Monday with availability set for today. Many customers placing online orders were initially quoted delivery dates of Thursday, but quite a few of those have seen their orders move a bit more quickly and they will be arriving today.
Apple plans to introduce a new MacBook model with a scissor switch keyboard in the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2020, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggesting the notebook could be announced at either WWDC in June or with a press release in July next year.
16-inch MacBook Pro concept by MacRumors
In a research note today for TF International Securities, seen by MacRumors, Kuo said Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron will be the primary supplier of parts for the scissor switch keyboards in 2020.
It is unclear if this represents a delay of the widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro, which Kuo said would launch in the fourth quarter of 2019 with a scissor switch keyboard. There was some hope that Apple would announce the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a press release this morning, but that did not happen.
Kuo has previously predicted that Apple will transition its entire notebook lineup to scissor switch keyboards in 2020, including all MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. The last MacBook Pro to feature scissor switches was released in 2015 before Apple moved to its problematic butterfly mechanism.
At the Samsung Developer Conference this week, Samsung showed off a new conceptual design for a foldable smartphone, which could be technology that the company works on after the Galaxy Fold.
Rather than folding from tablet sized to smartphone sized like the Galaxy Fold, the design Samsung showed off today features a smartphone-sized device that folds in half much like a flip phone, collapsing down into a smaller size.
The device is also pictured folded in half in a way that would allow one half of it to serve as a stand for the other half, with a cooking video used as an example of a use case.
Samsung says that it plans to continue to explore a “range of new form factors” in the foldable category following the launch of the Galaxy Fold.
The Galaxy Fold finally debuted in September, months after its early 2019 unveiling. Samsung initially planned to launch the device earlier, but had to shelve it due to major issues that impacted the durability and performance of the device.
Samsung has since fixed those early problems, though the Galaxy Fold still seems to be a niche, high-cost device that’s prone to damage and rather delicate, as we discovered in our hands-on.
There are rumors that Apple is exploring foldable display technology for the iPhone, but so far, we’ve seen no concrete evidence that Apple is seriously pursuing a foldable design at this point in time.
Apple is working on a Tile-like Bluetooth tracking device that’s designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets for tracking purposes, letting you find them right in the Find My app.
Based on assets found in iOS 13.2 and trademarking details dug up by MacRumors, Apple seems to be planning to call its tracking accessory the “AirTag.”
A mockup of what AirTags could look like
AirTags are still in the works and there’s no prospective release date yet, but signs of them have been found in iOS 13 betas so we do know a bit about what we can expect when they’re available. This guide goes over everything that we know about AirTags at the current time.
What are AirTags?
AirTags are small tracking tiles with Bluetooth connectivity that can be used to find lost items. There are several similar products on the market, such as Tile and Adero, but Apple’s version will be more deeply integrated with Apple devices.
How will AirTags work?
AirTags will have built-in chips that will allow them to connect to an iPhone, relaying the position of devices that they’re attached to. You will be able to use your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to track the location of AirTags much like you do to find missing Apple devices.
What will AirTags look like?
Based on images found within an internal build of iOS 13, AirTags are small, circular white tags with an Apple logo on the front. Presumably, these will attach to items via adhesive or an attachment point like a ring, and there may be multiple ways to use them with different items.
AirTags might not look quite like this because it could be a placeholder image, but this is the only information that we have at this time.
How will tracking items with AirTags work?
AirTags will show up in a new “Items” tab that will be available in the Find My app right alongside your Apple devices and your friends and family. With AirTags, the Find My app will be a one stop shop for anything that you want to find.
AirTags, like a lost iPhone or iPad, will show up on a map and will have an address listed where they can be tracked to.
What will happen if I lose an item that has an AirTag?
Based on code found in iOS 13, if you lose an item that has an AirTag on it, you’ll get a notification on your iPhone. You’ll then be able to tap a button in the Find My app that will cause the AirTag to chime loudly so you can locate something that’s lost nearby.
It also appears that augmented reality will play a role in tracking down lost items. The Find My app may include an ARKit feature that lets you use augmented reality to track down an item that’s nearby, with Apple using balloon assets to let you know visually where an item might be.
There’s a string of code in iOS 13 that reads “Walk around several feet and move your iPhone up and down until a balloon comes into view.”
Will AirTags still work if my item is far away?
Yes. If an item is not nearby and can’t be located, you can put it into Lost Mode. In this mode, if another iPhone user comes across the list item, they’ll be able to see your contact information so they can send you a text or give you a phone call to let you know the item has been found.
You’ll also receive a notification as soon as an iPhone comes across your lost item. This feature that lets any iPhone detect a lost item is part of iOS 13, and it leverages Bluetooth to locate lost Apple devices and when released, AirTags.
Will I be able to set boundaries for AirTags?
Yes. In the Find My app, you can create Safe Locations. If an item with an Apple Tag is in a safe location (such as your home), you’re not going to receive a notification when it’s left behind.
If it leaves the safe location, you’ll get a notification. You can also share the location of items with friends and family.
How accurate are AirTags?
AirTags are rumored to be more accurate than your average Bluetooth item tracker like Tile because they’re said to take advantage of ultra-wideband technology, which basically offers more accurate indoor positioning.
Apple’s newest iPhones have a U1 ultra-wideband chip so they’re going to be able to track ultra-wideband equipped AirTags more precisely than is possible with Bluetooth alone.
What will AirTags cost?
There’s no word on what Apple’s AirTags will cost at this point in time, but similar products from companies like Tile are priced in the range of $25 to $35 for a single Bluetooth tracker.
Tile Bluetooth tracking tags
Apple’s AirTags could be priced similarly.
When will AirTags be released?
There were signs of AirTags in an Apple internal build of iOS 13 and later versions of iOS 13, but we haven’t heard any rumors pointing towards a specific release date for AirTags.
For that reason, it’s not entirely clear when the AirTags will be released. They could potentially come before the end of the year, but Apple may also be waiting until 2020.
Apple has been expanding its Apple TV app to other platforms like the Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and the Roku, and as of today, the Apple TV app is also rolling out to recent Sony TV sets.
As noted by 9to5Mac, owners of some 2019 Sony TV sets can install a firmware upgrade that introduces the Apple TV app.
Image via 9to5Mac
It’s not clear which Sony TVs are getting the Apple TV app, but it’s likely the same TVs that support AirPlay 2, which includes the Sony Z9G series, the Sony A9G series, the Sony X950G Series, and the Sony X850G series.
The firmware update is being gradually released to Sony TV users, and is probably going to roll out to most prior to the November 1 launch of the Apple TV+ streaming service. The Apple TV app appears to be rolling out worldwide, as a user in Brazil received the update.
On smart TVs, Apple’s TV app provides access to TV shows and movies bought through iTunes, Apple TV Channels, and, later this week, Apple TV+.
With the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, Apple introduced updated dual and triple-lens camera systems, respectively, and added quite a few new camera features that are worth knowing about.
In our latest YouTube video, we’ve highlighted all of the most useful camera features and functions included in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro for those who are coming from an older iPhone and want to know what’s new.
When you take a photo with the telephoto or wide-angle camera on the iPhone 11 Pro or the wide-angle lens on the iPhone 11, there’s a feature that automatically captures what’s outside the frame using one of the other lenses, just in case you accidentally cut something out.
You can turn this on in the Camera section of the Settings app and take advantage of it when editing pictures in the Photos app. Any photo with a square icon and a star has more outside the frame that can be used when changing the crop of the photo. It’s a bit of a niche feature, but it can come in handy for group shots, landscape images, architecture photos, and other situations where you might want to change the crop of the image after taking a picture.
Photos Outside the Frame doesn’t work on all images all the time and you’re not going to want to leave it on all the time because it disables another feature — Deep Fusion.
Deep Fusion
When you upgrade to iOS 13.2, you’ll get a new camera feature called Deep Fusion, which is something that works in the background and doesn’t need to be turned on. Deep Fusion uses machine learning and the A13 chip in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro for pixel-by-pixel processing of photos, optimizing for texture, details, and noise reduction in each part of an image.
You’re going to notice it most in photos of people and pets where fabric, hair, and other such textures are prominent. Deep Fusion is designed to work primarily on indoor photos and in situations where the lighting is kind of at a medium level – not too bright and not so dark that Night Mode is engaged. Deep Fusion is automatic and can’t be turned on or off, but it does get disabled when you have Photos Outside the Frame turned on.
Night Mode
Night Mode is one of the key features in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro so you’ve heard of it and probably tried it out if you have one of the new iPhones, but there are a few little tips worth knowing.
Night Mode comes on automatically in situations with low lighting, and you know that it’s activated when you see a yellow icon at the top of the iPhone’s camera with a little moon icon and a number.
With Night Mode shots, Apple requires you to hold the camera steady for a few seconds while it takes multiple images of a scene to get the best possible lighting, so that number on the icon is the number of seconds that the shot will last.
Apple automatically selects the best exposure period based on the lighting conditions, but if you tap that moon icon, you can adjust the slider to the left to turn off Night Mode if desired or to the right to choose a longer exposure, which can slightly change the look of the photo.
In general, Apple’s default settings are good and most people aren’t going to need to adjust their Night Mode exposure times. Knowing how to turn Night Mode off is useful, though, as there are times that you might want to get a quick night time shot.
To get the best Night Mode shots, make sure to hold your iPhone as steady as possible for the recommended number of seconds, and choose a scene with a subject that isn’t moving much.
In iOS 13 Apple will automatically group Live Photos in succession together, letting you watch them video style. If you have several Live Photos that you took at one time, you can press on the first of the bunch and it will show you the playback from all of the Live Photos that you took rather than just the few seconds from a single Live Photo.
You can also select all of the Live Photos that you took, tap on the Share icon (square with an arrow through it) and then choose to save that as a video.
This probably isn’t a feature that you’ll use too often, but it’s nice to know that it’s available if you’ve done something like take a bunch of photos of a pet or child and want to turn it into a little video instead.
These Live Photos changes are available on the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, but can also be used on older iPhones running iOS 13.
Quick Take
The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro have a neat Quick Take feature that makes it easy to take a video without having to swap over into video mode. If you’re shooting photos and decide to make a video instead, just hold down on the shutter button and it will start recording.
If you want to keep recording for more than a few seconds, keep holding and swipe over to the right side of the screen to continue the video in the video mode.
Burst Mode
Holding down the shutter button is actually how Burst Mode works in older iPhones, so if you’re missing Burst Mode, don’t worry, there’s still a method to use it.
Hold down the shutter button for Quick Take mode and then just swipe over to the left instead of the right to activate Burst Mode. Burst Mode takes multiple photos in quick succession and then lets you choose the best of the bunch.
Portrait Mode
When using Portrait Mode on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, you’re no longer limited to just one lens. On the iPhone XS and XS Max, only the telephoto lens worked with Portrait Mode, but with the new iPhones, Portrait Mode works with both the telephoto and wide-angle lenses.
To swap lenses, swipe over into Portrait Mode, and then tap on the little “2x” or “1x” icons on the left side of the screen to zoom in or out. Using 1x mode will let you fit more into the photo and it’s perfect for scenes with multiple people or objects, while 2x mode is great for zooming in on a single person, pet, or other item.
The iPhone 11 doesn’t have a telephoto lens, so it is limited to the wide-angle lens and no zooming in is possible.
Wider Selfies
The front-facing camera has also been updated with an option that lets you get more in the frame, which is perfect for group selfie shots.
With the front-facing camera activated, tap on the little arrow towards the bottom of the screen to zoom in or zoom out. Zooming in and out only works in standard Photo mode, and you can’t use it with front-facing Portraits.
For more on what’s new in the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro, make sure to check out our dedicated roundups (linked above) that go over all of the features in the new devices.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about iPhone 11 and 11 Pro camera features or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple in August filed a lawsuit against Corellium, a mobile device virtualization company that supports iOS, with Apple accusing Corellium of copyright infringement for replicating the operating system that runs on the iPhone and iPad.
As noted by Motherboard, Corellium today filed its response to Apple’s lawsuit, accusing the Cupertino company of owing $300,000 and claiming that its software helps Apple by making it easier for security researchers to track down iOS bugs.
A virtual iPhone on Corellium’s website used as evidence in Apple’s lawsuit against the company
According to Apple, Corellium’s product infringes on its copyrights by creating digital replicas of iOS, iTunes, and other apps and software. “Corellium has simply copied everything: the code, the graphical user interface, the icons – all of it, in exacting detail,” reads Apple’s lawsuit.
Corellium designed its software to create virtual iOS devices able to run iOS, and has encouraged researchers and hackers to use it to find and test vulnerabilities.
According to Corellium, Apple’s code in its product is “fair use” and the software makes the world better by allowing security researchers to look into iOS, find flaws, and inform Apple so the bugs can be fixed.
Corellium argues it’s easier for researchers to find and test bugs in iOS using virtual instances of iOS rather than physical devices. With this lawsuit, says Corellium, Apple is aiming to control who is allowed to find vulnerabilities in its software. This is a position that is also supported within the security community, according to Motherboard, and many security researchers were surprised by Apple’s initial lawsuit.
Through its invitation-only research device program and this lawsuit, Apple is trying to control who is permitted to identify vulnerabilities, if and how Apple will address identified vulnerabilities, and if Apple will disclose identified vulnerabilities to the public at all.
One of Corellium’s key arguments is that its customers are seeking bugs with the intention of alerting Apple of their existence, which Motherboard points out is just an assumption and, based on evidence, not true. One customer highlighted in Corellium’s legal response, for example, is Azimuth, a company that does not report bugs to Apple.
Instead, Azimuth sells hacking tools based on those bugs to law enforcement and intelligence agencies in countries like the United States and Canada.
Corellium also argues that Apple has known about the company for years and has been friendly to Chris Wade, one of Corellium’s founders. Corellium says that Wade was invited to join Apple’s bug bounty program. Wade has since reported seven bugs to Apple without receiving payment, which is why Corellium argues that Apple owes $300,000.
Apple declined to provide Motherboard with a comment on Corellium’s legal response. Apple is continuing to seek a permanent injunction to prevent Corellium from offering a product that replicates iOS. Apple also wants Corellium to destroy all infringing materials that it’s collected, and pay Apple damages, lost profits, and attorney fees.
