Apple has delayed the introduction of iCloud Folder Sharing in macOS Catalina until spring 2020, according to its website.
The key cloud storage feature has spent months in development and would have allowed users to share folders in their iCloud Drive with other Apple users via a private link.
It first appeared in early beta versions of iOS 13, before it was pulled prior to the official release for iPhones and iPads last month after problems arose during testing. As expected, iCloud Folder Sharing hasn’t made it to the Mac either. macOS Catalina was launched on Monday.
In early beta versions of macOS Catalina, right-clicking a folder in iCloud Drive revealed a submenu that allowed you to generate a private link to the folder and share it via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or with people in your contacts.
Anyone who received the link was able to access the folder in iCloud Drive, add new files, and stay up-to-date with the latest file versions.
On its macOS Catalina features page, Apple says iCloud Drive folder sharing is now “Coming this spring.” In contrast, on its iOS 13 features page, Apple says the feature is coming to iPhones and iPads “later this fall,” although it’s still unclear whether Apple just hasn’t updated the page to reflect the extended delay. Either way, the latest iOS 13.2 beta 1 still does not appear to support the function.
As it stands, it’s only possible to share individual files in iCloud Drive, which puts it at a significant disadvantage when compared to rival cloud-storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox, which have provided folder-sharing capabilities for years.
If you still want to use iCloud to share multiple files, you could try sharing a compressed zip containing several files, or creating a sparseimage file using Disk Utility and putting files in that for sharing over icloud. Otherwise, an alternative cloud service is suggested for now.
Following the release of iOS 13.1.2 last week, Apple today stopped signing iOS 13.1, meaning downgrading to this version of iOS is no longer possible.
Apple last Friday stopped signing iOS 12.4.1, iOS 13.0, and iOS 13.1.1, but continued signing iOS 13.1 until today.
iOS 13.1.2 was a bug fix release that quickly followed iOS 13.1.1, which primarily addressed issues with battery drain, Siri, and access permissions for third-party keyboards.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.
iOS 13.1.2 is now the current public version of iOS, but developers and public beta testers can download iOS 13.2, an upcoming update with features like the Deep Fusion image processing system for the new iPhone 11 lineup.
Popular social networking app Instagram was today updated to add Dark Mode support for iOS 13, introducing a darker theme that activates when Dark Mode is turned on.
The new Dark Mode option is available throughout the app, from viewing the main feed to browsing to the profile. Dark Mode can be accessed by activating Dark Mode on an iPhone running the iOS 13 update.
To get Dark Mode, the latest version of Instagram is required, even though the release notes don’t mention the new feature.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10+, the company’s newest flagship device, was unveiled just a month ahead of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, and it’s one of the main competitors to Apple’s newest iPhone devices.
Both have triple-lens camera setups, so we thought we’d compare the camera quality of the iPhone 11 Pro Max with the camera quality of the Galaxy Note 10+ to see if one has an edge over another.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has 12-megapixel telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra wide-angle lenses. The Galaxy Note 10+ has the same general lens setup, but with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens, so it wins out when it comes to megapixels for the ultra wide-angle camera.
When it comes to photo quality, both of these cameras can take some amazing photos and a lot of the variance is going to depend on your personal shooting conditions, including subject, lighting, and other factors, but there are some differences to be aware of.
The Galaxy Note 10+ seems to overdo highlights, washing out photos and overexposing them in some situations, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max doesn’t tend to do that. The Galaxy Note 10+ also has a tendency to oversaturate images somewhat, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max offers more true to life colors.
Some people prefer that slight oversaturation and the brighter light areas that the Samsung device can produce, even if it’s not quite as accurate to what you’re seeing in front of you when taking a photo. You can, of course, tone down saturation in post processing for Galaxy Note 10+ photos or bump it up for iPhone 11 Pro Max photos, but out of the camera, colors can tend to look a bit more vibrant on the Galaxy Note 10+.
Though the Galaxy Note 10+ has a higher megapixel ultra wide-angle camera than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, it doesn’t really produce better pictures. Quality seems similar between the two devices, and on the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the new ultra wide-angle sensor is lacking some of the better features of its wide-angle camera, such as a lower aperture, larger sensor, optical image stabilization, and support for Night Mode.
So while the ultra wide-angle camera can get you some great wide shots of landscapes, architecture, and people, it’s best for better lighting conditions, and the same seems to be true of Samsung’s ultra wide-angle lens.
The Note 10+ and the 11 Pro Max each offer a nighttime mode for low-light photography, and both do a great job in poor lighting conditions using this feature. The Galaxy Note 10+’s penchant to overexpose can result in some brighter night time shots in some situations, but that’s not always a desired effect. Night mode on the iPhone 11 Pro Max is designed to make sure a night time photo feels like it was taken at night, and that’s an area where Apple excelled.
Samsung offers a feature called Live Focus, designed to offer an adjustable live background blurring effect for front and rear-facing photos, while the iPhone offers Portrait Mode. Both of these are similar, and have seen improvements over prior-generation smartphones from each manufacturer. Edge detection is better than ever, and the background blurring is better, so it’s tough to pick a winner in this category.
As for video, both photos produced impressive 4K footage at 60 frames per second, though the 11 Pro Max had better auto stabilization features without having to delve into settings.
Both smartphones have similar front-facing setups. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 12-megapixel front-facing lens while the Galaxy Note 10+ has a 10-megapixel front-facing lens. There’s a caveat with the iPhone’s front-facing camera – in zoomed in shots (there’s an option to zoom in and out now), the photos that you’re getting by default are seven megapixels. You need to use the zoomed out mode to get the full 12-megapixel resolution.
When it comes to quality, the front-facing camera of the Galaxy Note 10+ seems to be a bit sharper than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, with more detail, while the iPhone 11 Pro has better color accuracy. Sometimes the Galaxy Note 10+ may be a bit too sharp for some people, so preference between the two will come down to how sharp you want your selfies to be.
Of course, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has Face ID for 3D facial biometric authentication, which the Note 10+ can’t match. It does offer iris scanning and facial recognition capabilities, but neither are secure enough to serve as the sole authentication method for payments so there’s still a fingerprint sensor.
When it comes down to it, both the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Galaxy Note 10+ are capable of producing incredible, crisp photos that can often rival what you’ll get out of a dedicated camera. Neither one is clearly better than the other, and choosing one will come down to platform preference more than anything else.
That said, the Galaxy Note 10+ appears to be better for those who prefer a more saturated, color rich image and exaggerated highlights, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max appears to be better at producing colors and lighting that’s more true to life.
Do you prefer Note 10+ or iPhone 11 Pro Max and think there’s a clear winner? Let us know in the comments.
Devoted Health, a private medicare provider that offers Medicare Advantage plans in Florida, now provides the Apple Watch as a benefit to its members, reports CNBC.
Devoted Health says it is the first private Medicare provider to offer the Apple Watch as a fitness option, providing its members with up to $150 to put towards an Apple Watch model. Apple sells the Apple Watch Series 3 for as little as $199.
Plans from Devoted Health now list a $150 per year benefit in “Wellness Bucks” that can be put towards classes, programs, and “wearable devices like an Apple Watch” with the aim of offering members options to “keep healthy outside of the doctor’s office.”
“We are pleased that CMS agrees that there is a wide variety of ways that older Americans can keep healthy, including fitness and nutrition classes, and activity monitoring devices such as the Apple Watch,” said Devoted Health spokesman Kenneth Baer. “We are thrilled to be the first Medicare Advantage plan to collaborate with Apple, and give our members the chance to use their Devoted Health Wellness bucks towards purchasing an Apple Watch. Using innovative technologies to improve the quality of care is core to our mission.”
According to CNBC, Apple has been talking with companies like Devoted Health “for months” about subsidizing the cost of the Apple Watch, with Medicare Advantage plans potentially offering an untapped market for Apple, allowing the company to get its devices in the hands of more senior users.
CNBC contacted other Medicare Advantage plans that said they are also considering offering the Apple Watch as a fitness benefit in the future.
macOS Catalina eliminates the iTunes app in favor of new Music, TV, and Podcasts apps, but the lack of iTunes will impact DJs who relied on the software, reports The Verge.
Along with nixing iTunes, Apple is removing support for the method many DJ app developers had been using to access XML playlist files that let users access their iTunes music libraries.
DJs use XML file support to sort tracks into playlists and use iTunes’ “Share iTunes Library XML with other applications” to transfer data between apps. The new Music app, though, uses a new, more modern library format that isn’t compatible with XML.
Developers still have access to frameworks for accessing Music on the Mac, but XML file support is no longer available in macOS Catalina and developers need to update their apps to take advantage of the new methods that are compatible with music libraries on the Mac. Many DJ app developers are in the process of doing so, but customers using an XML app that is not supported should continue to use macOS Mojave until developer updates are implemented.
We spoke with Michael Simmons of Algoriddim, the developer behind the djay Pro apps, and he provided us with more insight into the issue, pointing to a previous report outlining how Apple launched an official SDK for delivering programmatic access to users’ music libraries with the launch of iTunes 11 a number of years ago. Apps like djay Pro that previously transitioned to the SDK will have no problems continuing to integrate with Music libraries in macOS Catalina.
App developers who have continued to rely on the earlier undocumented XML integration and have not updated in time will find that their users will be unable to access their Music libraries after upgrading to Catalina. Companies like Serato and Native Instruments have warned their users not to upgrade to macOS Catalina yet, although Native Instruments has a public beta of its Traktor Pro app available that will support Catalina.
Hulu today updated its iOS app to add support for offline viewing for the first time, which will allow Hulu content to be downloaded so it can be viewed when you don’t have an internet connection available for streaming.
Hulu rival Netflix has long offered offline viewing as an option, but until today, Hulu didn’t offer the feature.
According to Hulu, downloading of offline content is available to subscribers of the more expensive ad-free Hulu plan. Those with the ad-supported Hulu plan will not be able to download shows for offline viewing as it would presumably be easier to skirt commercials.
Downloaded content can be accessed through a new Downloads tab in the Hulu app, and there’s an option to “See What’s Downloadable” to browse through available downloadable content.
Up to 25 titles can be downloaded across five different devices, and users will have 30 days to watch downloaded content. Content that’s been watched will expire two days after playback has begun, and downloaded content can be renewed by accessing Hulu over an internet connection.
Downloadable shows are available on Hulu for iOS starting today, with an App Store update required.
Sprint is continuing to offer new and existing customers a few select iPhone and Apple Watch-related discounts this month. Below we’ve rounded up each of these offers and explained how you can get them, so be sure to check out each deal before they expire.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sprint. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iPhone XR
Sprint has an ongoing flash sale on the 64GB iPhone XR, priced at $8 per month when you sign up for an 18-month Sprint Flex lease and add a new line of service. Within two bills you’ll see a bill credit of $17 per month added onto your account.
For the latest iPhone 11, Sprint is offering the 64GB iPhone 11 for $0 per month with eligible device trade-in, an 18-month lease, and new line activation. After this, you’ll get $29.17 credited to your account every month.
The same offer can be applied to the more expensive 64GB iPhone 11 Pro and 64GB iPhone 11 Pro Max, which would end up priced at $12.50 per month and $16.67 per month, respectively.
You can get the 64GB iPhone 8 for $10 per month or the iPhone 8 Plus for $14.17 per month, when you sign up for an 18-month lease and add a new line of service. Both iPhone 8 models will see a credit of $8.75 added to your bill each month, beginning within two bill cycles.
If you’re looking to add a tablet to your Sprint account, you can get the 32GB 10.2-inch iPad for $4.17 per month once you agree to a 24-month billing agreement, add a new line on a qualifying plan, and have one active handset on your account.
At this discounted rate, the total cost of the new 7th generation iPad is reduced to $99.99. The deal is available in all three iPad colorways: Space Gray, Gold, and Silver.
Finally, Sprint has discounted the Apple Watch by 50 percent off this month, including the new Series 5 models. The offer requires you to sign a 24-month Installment Billing agreement, activate a new watch plan, and have one active handset on your Sprint account.
Once you meet all of these criteria, you’ll see 50 percent off your cellular Apple Watch model of choice (excluding the 44mm Stainless Steel case with Milanese Loop band) via monthly bill credits. For Series 5 models, this means you can pay as low as around $10 per month for the device.
Intel today launched new W-2200 Cascade Lake-X Xeon chips that are potentially suitable for a new iMac Pro should Apple be planning to refresh the machine in the near future.
Right now, Apple uses custom Intel Xeon-W chips for its iMac Pro models, but could use a stock version of the W-2200 Xeon chips or a custom version.
There are up to 18 AVX 512 enabled cores in the new W-2200 chips, along with up to 48 PCIe lanes, Turbo Boost Max 3.0, and AI acceleration (Intel Deep Learning Boost) for visual effects, motion graphics, 3D rendering, and more. The chips are similar to Intel’s X-Series chips but with Intel vPro for support for up to 1TB ECC RAM, VROC, and RAS (reliability, availability, and serviceability) features.
According to Intel, its new chips offer 2x faster 3D architecture rendering, 97% faster 4K video editing, and 2.1x faster video game compile times.
Intel is introducing a new, more affordable pricing structure for the updated chips, dropping prices by up to almost 50 percent compared to prior-generation Xeon chips. The pricing cuts could drive the cost of future iMac Pro models down should Apple pass those savings along to consumers.
Apple released the iMac Pro in 2017 and hasn’t updated it since then, so it’s due for a refresh. There are no rumors that an updated model is in the works, but we often don’t hear much about minor Mac refreshes, so upgraded processors and other hardware could still come in a 2019 update.
Intel says the new Xeon W-2200 chips will be available starting in November.
The new version of Final Cut Pro X has a new Metal engine that’s designed to take advantage of the power of the new Mac Pro while also delivering performance gains across a wide range of Mac systems.
Apple says the new Metal-based engine improves playback and accelerates graphic tasks like rendering, real-time effects, and exporting.
On the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which Apple says is the most popular system for Final Cut Pro X users, the software is up to 20 percent faster. On the iMac Pro, the software is up to 35 percent faster.
As for the Mac Pro, Final Cut Pro X is 2.9 times faster at rendering than the previous 12-core Mac Pro and 3.2 times faster at transcoding. Final Cut Pro X also takes advantage of the Afterburner card in the new Mac Pro for “unparalleled performance” when working with ProRes and ProRes RAW.
Final Cut Pro X works with the Sidecar feature in macOS, which is designed to allow the iPad to work as a secondary display for a Mac.
Other new features added to the software are listed below:
– Grade high dynamic range video with enhanced color mask and range isolation tools.
– View high dynamic range video tone-mapped to compatible standard dynamic range displays when using Final Cut Pro, Motion or Compressor on macOS Catalina.
– Select which internal or external GPU is used to accelerate graphics processing.
Apple is also releasing updates to Motion and Compressor with the same new refreshed Metal engine that offers performance optimizations for the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.
Final Cut Pro 10.4.7 is a free update for existing users, while new users can download it for $299.99 from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]
