Samsung has issued a software patch for its Galaxy S10 smartphone to fix a flaw in the under-screen fingerprint sensor that allowed anyone to unlock the device with the help of a cheap screen protector (via Reuters).

The problem was brought to light last week, when a British user who applied a gel screen protector to her Galaxy S10 subsequently discovered that unregistered fingerprints could be used to unlock the device.

Samsung later admitted the issue can happen when patterns appearing on certain protectors that come with silicon cases are recognized along with fingerprints.

On Wednesday, Samsung issued an apology via its customer support app Samsung Members and told Galaxy phone owners to update their biometric authentication to the latest software version.

“Samsung Electronics takes the security of products very seriously and will make sure to strengthen security through continuing improvement and updates to enhance biometric authentication functions,” the company said via the support app.

The Galaxy S10 is the latest in Samsung’s flagship S series, which is updated each year and regarded as the iPhone’s main rival, but the fingerprint recognition problem in its latest smartphone has already caused reputational damage, with some banks pulling their apps from the Play store in response to the security flaw.

Good morning Robert, We’ve removed the app from the Play Store for customers with Samsung S10 devices. This is due to reports that there are security concerns regarding these devices. We hope to have our app available again shortly once the issue has been resolved. SY

— NatWest (@NatWest_Help) October 20, 2019

Samsung originally aimed to bring an under-display fingerprint sensor to its smartphone line-up in 2018, but canceled the feature at the last minute due to similar technical issues surrounding the use of screen protectors.

In March, the Korean company launched the S10 with much fanfare and promoted its first commercial under-screen fingerprint recognition solution as “revolutionary” at the time.

This article, “Samsung Issues Software Patch to Fix Screen Protector Flaw in Galaxy S10 Fingerprint Sensor” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today updated its Mac Configuration Utility for authorized technicians with instructions on how to place the new Mac Pro in DFU mode, according to a reliable source. For existing Macs, this software is used to pair components like the logic board to the Apple T2 security chip after a repair is completed.

We have elected not to share any screenshots to protect our source, but a generic image of the Mac Configuration Utility is below. An option for the new Mac Pro has been added alongside the iMac Pro, Mac mini, and notebooks.

Mac Configuration Utility via The iPhone Wiki

Our source was informed that this move likely means the new Mac Pro will be released imminently. Apple previewed the new Mac Pro at WWDC 2019 in June and said the computer will be available to order at some point this fall, but it has yet to specify a release date.

The all-new ‌Mac Pro‌ is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics with 64GB of HBM2 memory. The computer also has eight PCIe expansion slots for maximum performance, expansion, and configurability.

A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. The housing also has a unique lattice pattern to maximize airflow and quiet operation.

Apple says the new ‌Mac Pro‌ provides over 300W of power to the CPU and has a “state-of-the-art thermal architecture” to allow the processor to run “fully unconstrained all the time.” This is a significant change from the previous ‌Mac Pro‌, which Apple eventually admitted led it “into a bit of a thermal corner.”

Facing mounting criticism that it had abandoned its professional customers, Apple made the rare move of announcing that it would be releasing a new Mac Pro in April 2017, over two years before the computer was unveiled.

The new ‌Mac Pro‌ will start at $5,999 in the United States with an eight-core Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of ECC RAM, Radeon Pro 580X graphics, and 256GB of SSD storage. Apple will also be selling the 32-inch Pro Display XDR with 6K resolution for $4,999, although the stand for the monitor costs an extra $999.

With the chances of an October event becoming increasingly slim, Apple could announce Mac Pro availability via press release.

This article, “New Mac Pro Nearing Release as Apple Advises Technicians How to Place Computer in DFU Mode” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released the fourth betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.2 updates to developers, a week after seeding the third betas and a month after the release of iOS 13.1.

iOS and ‌iPadOS‌ 13.2 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper developer profiles have been installed.

iOS 13.2 introduces Deep Fusion for the cameras in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models. Deep Fusion is a new image processing system that uses the A13 Bionic and the Neural Engine. Deep Fusion takes advantage of machine learning techniques to do pixel-by-pixel processing of photos, optimizing for texture, details, and noise in each part of the image.

The feature is aimed at improving indoor photos and photos taken in medium lighting, and it’s a feature that will automatically activate based on the lens being used and the light level in the room.

In the second beta, Apple added support for dozens of new emoji characters on iOS and ‌iPadOS‌. Orangutan, sloth, otter, skunk, and flamingo are the new animals included in the update, while new food items include garlic, onion, waffle, falafel, butter, oyster, maté, and ice cube.

Image via Emojipedia

New faces, gestures, and poses include yawning face, pinching hand, person kneeling, person standing, and new people holding hands options that are both gender and skin tone inclusive, plus accessibility-related emoji like deaf person, person in wheelchair, guide dog, and more. There are also tons of other emoji characters coming, outlined in our iOS 13.2 emoji article.

The update brings a promised privacy option that allows users to opt out of sharing their Siri and dictation audio recording with Apple, and it adds an option to delete ‌Siri‌ and dictation history. These settings provide users with more control over how their ‌Siri‌ recordings are used.

Apple has reintroduced the Announce Messages with ‌Siri‌ feature, which lets ‌Siri‌ read incoming messages without having to unlock the iPhone. The feature works with the second-generation AirPods and the Beats Pro.

The betas include new privacy settings for Apple’s upcoming Research app, a new Transfer to HomePod toggle in the Settings app to turn on ‌HomePod‌ handoff, an updated volume bar in Control Center that displays ‌AirPods‌ and Beats icons, and an option to display multi-function HomeKit products as multiple tiles or a single tile.

Also included is an option to delete apps right from the Home screen, and on the ‌iPhone 11‌ and 11 Pro, an option to change video recording settings right from the Camera app.

Both betas of iOS 13.2 have also included hints of Apple’s third-generation ‌AirPods‌, expected in 2020. The ‌AirPods‌ have a fresh look with a body that resembles the current ‌AirPods‌, but with rubber tips, likely for the rumored noise cancelation feature.

Additional details on what’s new in iOS 13.2 can be found in our iOS 13.2 tidbits articles for beta one and beta two.

This article, “Apple Seeds Fourth Betas of iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 13.2 update to developers for testing purposes, a week after seeding the third tvOS 13.2 beta and a month after releasing the tvOS 13 update.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 13.2 developer beta can be downloaded onto the ‌Apple TV‌ via a profile that’s installed using Xcode.

tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. Apple provides little to no information on what’s included in tvOS updates, so we may not discover anything new during the beta testing process.

Though we don’t often know what’s been added in tvOS updates, we let MacRumors readers know when new software is available so developers are able to download it upon release.

We didn’t find anything new in the first three tvOS 13.2 betas, but will update this post should we find new features in the fourth tvOS 13.2 beta.

tvOS 13, released in September, introduced multi-user support, a new Control Center, Apple Arcade and controller support, new screensavers and more. More info on ‌tvOS 13‌ can be found in our tvOS 13 roundup.

This article, “Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of tvOS 13.2 Update to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1 beta to developers, a week after seeding the fourth watchOS 6.1 beta and over a month after releasing the watchOS 6 update with full App Store, new Apple Watch faces, and more.

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 over 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

There were no major changes found in the first four watchOS 6.1 betas, so it’s not entirely clear what’s included in the update, but we’ll update this article should new features be found in the fifth beta. The update may be focused on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements.

watchOS 6.1 does work with the Series 1 and Series 2 ‌Apple Watch‌ models, which were excluded from the watchOS 6 release.

Apple said that ‌watchOS 6‌ would come to the older ‌Apple Watch‌ models at a later date, so it’s possible watchOS 6.1 will be the first version of ‌watchOS 6‌ to work with the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watches.

This article, “Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of watchOS 6.1 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Foxconn and Compal Electronics have obtained orders to assemble 2020 models of the Apple Watch, which would be Series 6 models if Apple sticks to its naming scheme, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes. The report adds that Luxshare Precision will likely take orders for older Apple Watch models.

A preview of the upcoming report:

Compal, Foxconn land orders for next-gen Apple Watch:

Compal Electronics and Foxconn Technology Group (Hon Hai Precision Industry) have obtained orders for the 2020 series of Apple Watch, while China-based Luxshare ICT will likely take orders for old-generation Apple Watch devices, according to industry sources.

This news follows another DigiTimes report that claimed Quanta Computer will likely stop assembling the Apple Watch in 2020 due to alleged “profit concerns.” Quanta has been a primary Apple Watch manufacturer since 2015.

Apple Watch Series 6 rumors are still slim, but it has been reported that Apple has a team of biomedical engineers working on a method for non-invasively monitoring blood glucose levels using optical sensors, technology that could potentially make its way into the Apple Watch at some point in the future.

MacRumors also discovered references to sleep tracking on the Apple Watch being developed internally, with Bloomberg claiming the functionality could be released in 2020 if testing is successful. Apple accidentally mentioned an unreleased Sleep app for watchOS in an App Store screenshot earlier this month.

Rumors suggest 2020 could also be the year the Apple Watch gets a MicroLED display, and if true, Series 6 models could potentially have thinner, brighter, and more power efficient displays compared to current OLED models.

Apple just released Series 5 models in September, with key new features including an always-on display, a new Compass app, international emergency calling on cellular models, 32GB of internal storage, and new titanium and ceramic casing options. Series 6 models would likely arrive in September 2020.

This article, “Foxconn and Compal Will Reportedly Assemble ‘Apple Watch Series 6’ Models Next Year” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today marks the 18th anniversary of Steve Jobs unveiling the original iPod at a small event on Apple’s Infinite Loop campus. While the iMac started Apple’s renaissance in 1998, it was the launch of the iPod in 2001 that truly set Apple on a path towards becoming the world’s most valuable company.

Jobs famously pitched the original iPod as offering “1,000 songs in your pocket.” The combination of its 5GB hard drive and 0.75-inch thickness was impressive at the time, with the device also featuring a two-inch screen, up to 10 hours of battery life, a FireWire port, and the first iteration of the iconic click wheel.

“With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go,” said Jobs in Apple’s press release from October 23, 2001. “With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again.”

While many people were thrilled about the iPod, others were not so impressed. Here is a sample of some comments from the MacRumors forum thread about the iPod from the day it was announced, with some light editing for clarity:

I still can’t believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player?

Hey – here’s an idea Apple – rather than enter the world of gimmicks and toys, why don’t you spend a little more time sorting out your pathetically expensive and crap server line up? Or are you really aiming to become a glorified consumer gimmicks firm?

We live in the YEAR 2001… not 6,000 years from now when ridiculously awesome technology will exist. No other MP3 player has a hard drive like this… 5 gigs… Rio of the same size offers 64 megs… get over your moping… this is revolutionary… plus it’s just the beginning.

This is not like any other MP3 player on the market, imagine being able to store several days worth of music at once! The iPod will be great for travelers, students, heck anyone who is really into music.

There are already two products similar to this on the market. The Nomad Jukebox and the Archos Jukebox which can come with a 20 gig hard drive. The iPod is obviously a lot cooler and has FireWire, but it is far from revolutionary. I for one am disappointed and think that Apple is making a mistake by trying to get into this market.

This is a nice product. A firewire MP3 player/HD with 5 GB capacity in such a small package. It is a little overpriced for such a device, though.

Opinions are similarly split in this Slashdot thread from the day the iPod was announced.

In an October 2001 column for The New York Times, well-known tech writer David Pogue described the iPod as “the most beautiful and cleverly engineered MP3 player ever,” suggesting that it would become a smash hit if Apple lowered its price and made it compatible with Windows:

Apple clearly believes that the iPod’s advances in size, speed, function and elegance are worth the $150 price premium, but not everyone feels that way. In an informal poll at the Macworld.com Web site, 40 percent of Mac fans indicated that they would not be buying an iPod, and every single one cited the price.

It should also be noted, however, that the remaining 60 percent had either already ordered iPods or were virtually drooling into their keyboards. They are among the first to succumb to the lure of the most beautiful and cleverly engineered MP3 player ever. But if Apple ever lowers the iPod’s price and develops Windows software for it, watch out: the invasion of the iPod people will surely begin in earnest.

In July 2002, Apple did just that, lowering the price of the 5GB iPod to $299 and extending compatibility to Windows. iPod went on to become the best-selling digital music player in history — at least until smartphones.

More links related to the original iPod:

• Apple Presents iPod press release
  
• Apple’s homepage on October 23, 2001
  
• The New York Times announcement coverage
  
• WIRED announcement coverage
  
• UPenn Computing announcement coverage

Apple discontinued the iPod classic in September 2014, followed by the iPod nano and iPod shuffle in July 2017. The only model still available for purchase is the iPod touch, which received a minor refresh last May.

This article, “iPod Turns 18: Here’s What People Thought in 2001” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Mophie this week launched new Juice Pack Access cases for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. This is Mophie’s first set of battery cases for the new 2019 iPhone lineup, which were announced back in September.

Like other Juice Pack accessories, the Juice Pack Access case for iPhone 11 provides up to an additional 15 hours of audio or 5 additional hours of video to your ‌iPhone 11‌. The ‌iPhone 11‌ and 11 Pro cases have a 2,000 mAh battery while the iPhone 11 Pro Max case has a 2,200 mAh battery.

You can charge the accessory wirelessly on Qi-compatible charging mats or through USB-C, and then activate it by pressing the button on the lower bottom of the back of the case.

Mophie said that the case provides a compact design with high-impact protection. It includes internal rubberized support pads to protect the iPhone from drops, and raised corners to prevent scratches on the display.

Apple is believed to be working on Smart Battery Cases of its own for the ‌iPhone 11‌ line, but as of yet the company has not announced any solid details about new versions of its charging case accessory. For the iPhone XS generation, Apple didn’t release Smart Battery Cases until January 2019, months after the September 2018 iPhone launch.

The Juice Pack Access is available for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, all priced at $99.95. Colors for all models include Black, Blush Pink, and Product(Red), although stock availability fluctuates on some options.

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

This article, “Mophie Launches Juice Pack Access Cases for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today marks the completion of Apple Entrepreneur Camp’s first year. Apple designed the program to help female entrepreneurs with developing apps, with the camp offering hands-on technology labs, one-on-one guidance from Apple employees, mentorship from Apple leadership, and ongoing support.

In a press release, Apple says the first year of the Entrepreneur Camp saw female leaders and their teams from 42 companies take part. Apple engineers worked directly with participants on topics including app development, design, machine learning, augmented reality and, if desired, tips for public relations and marketing. Participants are also invited to attend Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC.

Esther Hare, Apple’s senior director of Worldwide Developer Marketing and executive sponsor of Women@Apple:

I’m in awe of the passion and drive of our first year of Entrepreneur Camp innovators. They are using apps to impact peoples’ lives and solve problems, from building connections for underrepresented groups in tech to making solar power affordable and giving people tools to improve mental health. It’s great to hear incredible women leaders telling us their experience at Camp has helped them make their apps even better, and given them the confidence and the tools to build new connections, form support networks and raise rounds of venture capital. And we’re just getting started.

Ketaki Shriram, chief technical officer of Krikey, Inc:

Working directly with the Apple team, we got feedback on design methodology that helped us solve a problem in our app we knew we had, but had no idea how to fix. We made some significant improvements based on what we learned, including adding a preview mode so players can try the game before they sign up. That’s been really successful for us.

The next Apple Entrepreneur Camp is planned for January 28 to February 5, 2020, and applications will be accepted until November 15 on Apple’s website.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

This article, “Apple Highlights Women’s Entrepreneur Camp, Applications for 2020 Session Open Until November 15” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Anyone on the hunt for an iPad this week is in luck, thanks to Amazon’s latest discounts on both the 2018 9.7-inch iPad and the 2019 10.2-inch iPad. The retailer has marked down all of the cellular versions of the former tablet, while sales on the latter device are focused on Wi-Fi only models.

9.7-Inch iPad

Amazon has both the 32GB and 128GB 9.7-inch iPad with cellular support in all color options. Shoppers should note that the 128GB Space Gray iPad is the cheapest 128GB model in this sale at $399.00, but all of the colors for the 32GB size are the same price.

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.

Because of its lower price, stock for the 128GB Space Gray iPad is limited and it won’t ship until around October 29. Across the board, these are the lowest prices we’ve tracked for the previous-generation iPad.

• Cellular 128GB, Space Gray – $399.00, down from $559.00 ($160 off, lowest ever)
  
• Cellular 128GB, Gold – $429.00, down from $559.00 ($130 off, lowest ever)
  
• Cellular 128GB, Silver – $429.00, down from $559.00 ($130 off, lowest ever)
  
• Cellular 32GB, Space Gray – $349.00, down from $459.00 ($110 off, lowest ever)
  
• Cellular 32GB, Gold – $349.00, down from $459.00 ($110 off, lowest ever)
  
• Cellular 32GB, Silver – $349.00, down from $459.00 ($110 off, lowest ever)

10.2-Inch iPad

Those on the hunt for the latest iPad can still save a bit of money thanks to Amazon’s $29 discount on the Wi-Fi only models of the 128GB 10.2-inch iPad. All colors are also on sale here, priced at $399.99.

• Wi-Fi 128GB, Space Gray – $399.99, down from $429.00 ($29 off, lowest ever)
  
• Wi-Fi 128GB, Gold – $399.99, down from $429.00 ($29 off, lowest ever)
  
• Wi-Fi 128GB, Silver – $399.99, down from $429.00 ($29 off, lowest ever)

For more sales on iPads, Macs, accessories, and other Apple-related devices, be sure to head to our full Deals Roundup.

This article, “Deals Spotlight: Amazon Discounts 9.7-Inch iPad and 10.2-Inch iPad to Lowest-Ever Prices (Up to $160 Off)” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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