Adobe is now accepting applications to a beta version of its forthcoming Photoshop CC for iPad app, due to be released later this year.
The company has been sending out emails to Creative Cloud subscribers since Monday, inviting them to apply for the beta program and be among the first to try "Photoshop for the small screen."
CC customers who click the link in the email are sent to a Google Forms signup page where they're asked to enter their name, email address, and offer a brief explanation as to why they're interested in testing the beta.
First announced at Adobe's MAX 2018 conference, Photoshop CC for iPad aims to provide an equivalent experience to using Photoshop on desktop, bringing its most professional features to a touchscreen interface specially designed for Apple's flagship tablet line-up.
Photoshop users will be able to open and edit native PSD files right on the iPad using standard Photoshop image editing tools, including support for layers. Photoshop on iPad will look similar to Photoshop on the desktop, with all of the same toolbar options.
The iPad version of the app will allow projects started on the iPad to be transitioned seamlessly to the desktop and vice versa. According to Adobe, Photoshop for iPad uses the same code base as its desktop counterpart with no compromises on power, performance, or editing results.
Spotify is testing its own version of Snapchat/Instagram-style Stories, reports TechCrunch. The short-form sharing format now ubiquitous across social media platforms is to be called "Storyline" on the music streaming service, and enables artists to share their inspirations, insights, and provide further details about their work and creative process.
The format is being compared to Spotify's "Behind the Lyrics" feature which uses pop-up cards that load concurrently with the music, except users tap through different Storyline screens at their own pace and see segmented lines at the top of the screen to indicate how many slices of the story remain ahead of them.
A Spotify spokesperson told TechCrunch that Storyline is still in testing in the U.S. and in other markets on both iOS and Android, but there's no sign of it on desktop and no other details on a possible global rollout are available at this time.
Users participating in the test will see an indicator at the bottom of Spotify's player interface that alerts them to the additional content, which can include lyrics, text and images, and users can swipe up on the screen to reveal the story and start tapping through it.
The Storyline feature was first picked up on Reddit and covered by Android Police.
WhatsApp today disclosed a vulnerability that allowed hackers to remotely exploit a bug in the app's audio call system to access sensitive information on an iPhone or Android device.
According to The New York Times, attackers were able to insert malicious code into WhatsApp, allowing them to steal data, regardless of whether or not a WhatsApp phone call was answered.
Security researchers said that the spyware that took advantage of this flaw featured characteristics of the Pegasus spyware from NSO Group, which is normally licensed to governments who purchase the spyware for installing on the devices of individuals who are the target of an investigation.
Description:A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of SRTCP packets sent to a target phone number.
Affected Versions: The issue affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15.
The vulnerability was described by WhatsApp as "nontrivial to deploy, limiting it to advanced and highly motivated actors," but it's not clear how long the security flaw was available nor how many people were affected. It was used to target a London lawyer who has been involved in lawsuits against the NSO Group, and security researchers believe others could have been targeted as well.
WhatsApp engineers "worked around the clock" to address the vulnerability, and made a patch available on Monday. The initial vulnerability was discovered ten days ago after WhatsApp found abnormal voice calling activity following complaints from the aforementioned lawyer. WhatsApp says that it has notified the Department of Justice and a "number of human rights organizations" about the issue.
Update: Reader comments suggested that some of the wording in this article was confusing or misleading, so we have updated it to make sure the details of the vulnerability are clear. Specifically, this issue impacted WhatsApp, not the iOS operating system.
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.
Apple products have largely escaped the tariffs imposed on goods manufactured in China, but since earlier this year, Apple accessories like power adapters, cables, and cases have been subject to a 10 percent fee.
As noted by The Verge, the United States on Friday raised import taxes from 10 percent to 25 percent, a tax increase that's going to impact these Apple accessories.
Thus far, Apple and its suppliers have absorbed the additional 10 percent fee on Apple accessories and prices have not gone up, but with tariffs now at 25 percent, it's not yet clear if Apple will continue to eat the extra cost.
Apple may be making enough money to continue to sell its accessories at a normal cost, and as The Verge points out, it could have shifted manufacturing to different countries to avoid the fees all together. Apple has not commented on the extra tariffs at this point in time.
China today retaliated and announced increased tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods, which will take effect in June. China will be introducing import fees on petrochemicals, soy oil, peanut oil, and more.
Apple CEO Tim Cook last July said that Apple is hoping "calm heads prevail" and that the company is "optimistic" the tariff issue will be sorted out. That hasn't happened yet, but so far, the bulk of Apple products continue to be unaffected.
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.
Last week, Adobe announced that older versions of Creative Cloud apps such as Photoshop and Lightroom would no longer be available to its subscribers, and today, Adobe started sending out warning emails encouraging customers to update or potentially risk legal action.
Adobe today started sending out warning emails to customers who are using older versions of Creative Cloud apps, letting them know those older versions are no longer licensed.
"Please be aware that should you continue to use the discontinued version(s), you may be at risk of potential claims of infringement by third parties," warns the email.
Adobe goes on to suggest that customers upgrade to the latest versions of the Creative Cloud apps using the Creative Cloud Desktop application.
I just got an email from @Adobe that I'm no longer allowed to use the software that I'm paying for. Time to cancel my subscription I guess.
Share plz. pic.twitter.com/ZIIdqK5AkM
— Matt Roszak 🍞 (@KupoGames) May 10, 2019
Adobe last week said that going forward, Creative Cloud members will only have direct download access to the two most recent major versions of Creative Cloud desktop applications rather than multiple earlier versions.
Focusing our efforts on the latest two major releases of Creative Cloud applications, which the vast majority of Adobe customers are already using, will further enable us to develop the features and functionality most requested by customers and ensure peak performance and benefits across Windows and Mac operating systems. Business customers in need of an older version of a Creative Cloud application should contact their IT Administrator to see if one is available.
In a statement to AppleInsider, Adobe said that it could not comment on the third-party infringement issue because it "concerns ongoing litigation."
Adobe recently discontinued certain older versions of Creative Cloud applications. Customers using those versions have been notified that they are no longer licensed to use them and were provided guidance on how to upgrade to the latest authorized versions.
Unfortunately, customers who continue to use or deploy older, unauthorized versions of Creative Cloud may face potential claims of infringement by third parties. We cannot comment on claims of third-party infringement, as it concerns ongoing litigation.
Adobe is in the midst of a lawsuit with Dolby and has accused Adobe of copyright infringement and breach of contract, which could be the reason why past versions of Creative Cloud apps are now restricted.
Each of the emails that are going out to customers are customized and will list the older versions of the apps that are still in use. Most users are likely to be unaffected by the change, but some who preferred to use older versions will likely need to update.
At the TRANSACT Conference in Las Vegas back in early May, Apple VP of Apple Pay Jennifer Bailey detailed some new Apple Pay features that Apple will be rolling out in the future.
As noted by Scott Harkey and Steve Moser on Twitter, Bailey outlined support for new NFC stickers or tags that will trigger Apple Pay for a payment without needing to have an app installed.
When you tap these stickers, you will be able to make an Apple Pay payment quickly and easily. Apple is partnering with Bird (a scooter company), Bonobos (a clothing store) and PayByPhone parking meters for the rollout of the service.
With the latter service, you can pay a parking meter with Apple Pay and then add more time to your meter from anywhere so your parking doesn't expire.
Apple is also planning on an instant enrollment feature for loyalty cards in the Wallet app in the near future. Dairy Queen, Panera Bread, Yogurtland, Jimmy John's, Dave & Busters, and Caribou Coffee are all planning to launch services later this year that will use NFC tags allowing customers to sign up for loyalty cards.
Apple announced support for NFC stickers/tags that trigger Apple Pay for payment without having an app installed. Imagine tapping your phone on a scooter or a parking-meter and paying for it without signing up or downloading an app first. #ApplePayhttps://t.co/owgOsH3N7Lpic.twitter.com/jpxUf7H6v6
— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) May 13, 2019
The new Apple Pay features use NFC features that Apple first began allowing access to in iOS 11. We may hear more about these new features at WWDC, set to kick off on June 3.
Lenovo today unveiled a new foldable ThinkPad, marking the first foldable PC that we've seen. The new foldable PC made its debut at the Lenovo Transform event at the Accelerate conference in Florida.
Lenovo's new device is in the ThinkPad X1 family, but it has no specific name as of yet, nor is work on it finished as of yet. The new PC is not unlike some of the foldable smartphones that we've seen, but in a larger form factor.
The new PC was described as a full performance Intel Windows device with a flexible 13-inch 2K OLED display. It's always on, always connected, and supports a pen. It uses LG Display's foldable screen technology.
The form factor allows it to "transition with you from day to night," with a tablet mode for watching and consuming content, a book mode for reading with the two sides folded in like a book, and a productivity mode that turns it into a laptop with a digital keyboard. It weighs less than two pounds and is about the size of a hardcover book.
Lenovo says that foldable PC combines laptop productivity with smartphone portability. "This is the only device you'll need in the future to be productive all day long," said a Lenovo executive introducing the device.
At Accelerate, we're unveiling a preview and demo of the world's first foldable PC1. Made for highly mobile, tech-savvy professionals who demand the best tools, the new foldable PC joins the premium ThinkPad X1 family, promising that the unprecedented portability will in no way compromise productivity and reliability. This is not a phone, tablet, or familiar hybrid; this is a full-fledged laptop with a foldable screen.
This space-saving ThinkPad combines laptop productivity with smartphone portability to fold into your lifestyle like never before.
Multiple media sites were able to go hands-on with the foldable PC to give some early first impressions. The Verge said that the screen folds "as advertised" and Windows "worked well enough," but there's still a lot of hardware refinements that need to be implemented.
Engadget says that when the PC was flat on the table, it "didn't have an obvious crease." The hinge was "sturdy" but still easy to open and close, and thanks to the leather exterior, Engadget felt that it resembled a Moleskine notebook when closed. It was comfortable to hold with one hand, and the stylus "felt intuitive."
Lenovo is planning to provide more details on its foldable PC in 2020.
Foldable display technology is in the early stages, and the first foldable smartphone - the Galaxy Fold - has been delayed by Samsung due to multiple review unit failures.
It's not really clear if Apple is seriously considering foldable display technology at this point in time, but the company has registered patents and there have been a few rumors, including one suggesting Apple would work with LG Display, the same company supplying displays to Lenovo for the new foldable PC.
Powerbeats Pro launched last week, and the first orders are now in the hands of customers. We already did a Powerbeats Pro vs. AirPods hands-on comparison, but we got requests for a video detailing how the new Powerbeats Pro compare to the previous-generation Powerbeats 3 Wireless Earphones.
Today, we're taking a look at whether it's worth upgrading to the Powerbeats Pro if you've already got the Powerbeats 3, or if it's worth spending the extra cash if you're trying to decide between the two.
Powerbeats 3 have been around for a few years now, and are available at prices as low as $90, making them much more affordable than the $250 Powerbeats Pro, but feature wise, the Powerbeats Pro pack in a lot of functionality for that extra price increase.
When it comes to design, the Powerbeats 3 and the Powerbeats Pro look rather similar as both feature earhooks to keep them in place along with in-ear earbuds that block out ambient noise, but the designs aren't quite the same.
The Powerbeats 3 have an earhook that's angled upwards and an earpiece that's slightly shorter, while the Powerbeats Pro have an earhook that better contours to the ear. The biggest design difference is, of course, the cable that connects the Powerbeats 3 as these are not wire-free headphones like the Powerbeats Pro.
A wire-free design is unquestionably better than a wired design in most situations, but a wire does make sure you're not going to lose a single earbud because they're tethered together. That might be preferable for some people.
Both Powerbeats 3 and Powerbeats Pro are comfortable thanks to the four eartips in different sizes, but we preferred the fit and the feel of the Powerbeats Pro. The new angle just gives them a better fit in the ear, but there's not a huge amount of difference between the two. The earhooks on the Powerbeats Pro seem durable and more sturdy compared to the earhooks on the Powerbeats 3, and we didn't get the impression that they're going to be prone to breakage.
Powerbeats 3 have a single physical button to power them on and off and they come with a remote on the wire for controlling media playback. Powerbeats Pro have no wire, so there are physical buttons on the earbuds themselves for controlling media and changing the volume.
Powerbeats Pro come with a battery case that provides extra power, and while the Powerbeats 3 have a case, it's a flimsy little silicone thing that's only meant to give you a way to carry them around. Powerbeats 3 boast 12 hours of battery life while Powerbeats Pro are limited to nine hours, but you do get up to 24 hours of additional battery life with the aforementioned battery case.
Powerbeats 3 have a W1 chip, much like the original AirPods, which allows for simple device pairing and switching, but it's not as simple as the Powerbeats Pro pairing. With Powerbeats Pro, you just open the case near an Apple device and the pairing process is initiated, but with Powerbeats 3, you need to hold down the power button for five seconds.
Powerbeats Pro have an updated H1 chip that allows for faster pairing than with the W1, hands-free "Hey Siri" support (you need to push a button to use Siri on Powerbeats 3), and improved range, plus the Powerbeats Pro support Bluetooth 5 so you're going to get a better connection and longer range.
As for sound, we thought the Powerbeats Pro sounded better than the Powerbeats 3 because they're more balanced. The Powerbeats 3 are bass heavy and that muddies the sound in some songs, a problem the Powerbeats Pro don't have. Powerbeats 3 don't sound bad, but they don't sound as good as Powerbeats Pro.
Sweat and water resistance is going to be a major question, and it's not something that can be addressed properly without longer periods of testing and moisture exposure over time. Powerbeats Pro have an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they've been tested and can hold up to splashes of water, while the Powerbeats 3 have no specific Ingress Protection rating.
That suggests the Powerbeats Pro are going to better hold up to moisture than the Powerbeats 3, but it's going to take more testing and exposure to sweat over time to get a clearer picture of how durable these new earbuds are.
There have been a lot of complaints about Powerbeats 3 failing due to sweat exposure, so hopefully this is a problem adequately addressed by the sweat and water resistance Apple promises in Powerbeats Pro.
Overall, the Powerbeats 3 are fine headphones, but the Powerbeats Pro are better in almost every way. There's a huge price difference between the two, but if price isn't much of a factor and you're aiming for convenience, the Powerbeats Pro are the clear winner and are worth the purchase or the upgrade.
The watchOS 5.2.1 update released today includes several rainbow-colored Pride watch faces that are new to the Apple Watch face gallery.
There's a new 2019 digital pride Apple Watch face, which, like the 2018 pride watch face features rainbow stripes that wiggle when tapped or when your wrist is raised. Instead of six spaced out rainbow lines with black behind them, the new watch face features rainbow stripes that take up the entirety of the watch face in eight colors.
Apple has also added two new Pride Analog faces, one that's square shaped and one that's round, both with analog hands. The new analog watch faces change colors each time the wrist is raised, and wiggle like the rainbow stripe face. Each of the new watch faces support a limited number of complications.
For the last several years, Apple has debuted new pride Apple Watch bands during WWDC, and the company is likely to introduce another new rainbow design this year, which could feature solid stripes like the watch face.
Apple participates in the San Francisco Pride Parade every year in support of the LGBTQ community. Apple employees march in the parade, Apple creates dedicated t-shirts, and also hosts other celebrations throughout the month of June.
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.
Twitter today announced that it has addressed an iOS bug that caused the service to inadvertently collect and share location data.
On the Twitter support site, Twitter says that for iOS users who had more than one account on Twitter and opted into sharing location information on one account, location data may have been collected when using any other account on the same device, even if location features were not activated.
Twitter also says that some of that location data was mistakenly sent to one of its advertising partners, but the data was "fuzzed" so that only zipcode or city data was shared. The location data was not able to map precise movements nor was it tied to Twitter handle.
Separately, we had intended to remove location data from the fields sent to a trusted partner during an advertising process known as real-time bidding. This removal of location did not happen as planned. However, we had implemented technical measures to "fuzz" the data shared so that it was no more precise than zip code or city (5km squared).
This location data could not be used to determine an address or to map your precise movements. The partner did not receive data such as your Twitter handle or other unique account IDs that could have compromised your identity on Twitter. This means that for people using Twitter for iOS who we inadvertently collected location information from, we may also have shared that information with a trusted advertising partner.
Twitter says that its partner did not retain the location data and it was only available on their systems for a short time before it was deleted.
Due to a bug in Twitter for iOS, we inadvertently collected and shared location data (at the zip code or city level). We have fixed the bug, but we wanted to make sure we shared more of the context around this with you. More here: https://t.co/n04LNt62Sa
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) May 13, 2019
The bug that caused the inadvertent data collection has been fixed and Twitter says it is "working hard to make sure it does not happen again." People with accounts who were impacted with this issue are being notified.
Apple today updated its Apple Support app to version 3.1, adding a new feature that's designed to let you chat with an expert to get support help using the Messages app.
Apple says that this feature is limited to the United States and is available for select topics only.
Today's update also introduces an improved experience for scheduling reservations at the Genius Bar and Authorized Service Providers, and it includes other unspecified bug fixes and performance improvements.
The Apple Support app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
One of today's Gold Box deals on Amazon includes ten Anker accessories that make perfect companions to Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. The Gold Box includes discounts on Anker's portable battery packs, USB-C wall chargers, wireless chargers, and more.
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.
Shoppers should note that this sale will last one day only, May 13, and each discount will expire later tonight. You can find all of the accessories on sale in the list below, and be sure to head to Amazon soon to place your order if you're interested in any of the items.
Just one week after Apple surprised us all with its first iPhone game since 2008, starring billionaire investor Warren Buffett, the game has been pulled from the App Store outside of the United States with no confirmed reason.
Warren Buffett's Paper Wizard is a simple game that tasks players with flinging newspapers to collect Warren Bucks. The game gradually increases in difficulty as players make their way from Buffett's native Omaha, Nebraska to Apple's hometown of Cupertino, California, including a visit to Apple Park.
Buffett was a childhood newspaper carrier who for years held newspaper-tossing contests during Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholders meeting.
Cook makes a brief appearance in the game himself, welcoming players to Cupertino, referred to as the home of Apple.
Did Apple pull their new game, Warren Buffett’s Paper Wizard from the App Store already? It tells me it’s not available (but I was able to download it a few days ago) cc @MacRumors@rsgnlhttps://t.co/9fNi9ZLktb
— Julian Schiavo (@justJS_dev) May 13, 2019
Given that Warren Buffett's Paper Wizard only takes minutes to complete, and that Buffett's high score of 15,350 is seemingly unbreakable, the game appears to be little more than a short-lived novelty. As such, it is not all that surprising that the game has already been pulled internationally.
Apple today released iOS 12.3, the third major update to the iOS 12 operating system that first launched in September 2018. iOS 12.3 comes over a month after the release of iOS 12.2, an update that introduced the Apple News+ service, brought new Animoji, and included dozens of other changes.
The iOS 12.3 update is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.3 is free to download, but it may take some time for iOS 12.3 to propagate to all iOS users.
Much of the iOS 12.3 update focuses on the TV app, which has been overhauled and enhanced with a new look and fresh functionality. Apple first introduced the updated TV app at its March 25 event, and after several weeks of beta testing, the new app is ready for its launch.
In the overhauled TV app, "Watch Now" and "Up Next" are still front and center for keeping track of the TV shows and movies that you're watching, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that offers up customized content suggestions based on your viewing preferences and history.
The TV app's interface has been streamlined with sections for movies, TV shows, sports, and children's content, and on iOS devices, there's a bottom navigation bar for accessing the library, search, and Watch Now options.
Apple added a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is a major component of the company's new services push. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app, and when you use them, Apple gets a cut of the subscription revenue.
As an example, if you come across a show you want to watch on iPhone or Apple TV that's on HBO, Showtime, or Starz and you don't already have a subscription, you can tap to subscribe right in the TV app and then watch the show right away without having to open a third-party app.
Some of the new Channels that will be supported include Acorn TV, CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, Tastemade, Cinemax, Sundance, EPIX, Smithsonian, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now.
You're still going to get recommendations for content from services that aren't part of the Channels feature, but non-channel content will still need to be watched in a third-party app. You'll also find all of your iTunes TV shows and movies available in the TV app, and you can purchase new content too.
The new Apple TV app is available in more than 100 countries starting today, and with Family Sharing, up to six family members are able to share subscriptions to Apple TV channels. Channels content can be watched both online or offline.
Today's update also includes support for AirPlay 2-enabled TVs, allowing you to AirPlay content like TV shows and movies to compatible television sets from companies like LG, Samsung, Vizio, and more.
iOS 12.3 includes support for AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and features a redesigned Apple TV app. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.
AirPlay 2 - AirPlay 2 now supports sharing videos, photos, music and more from your iPhone and iPad directly to your AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV - One tap playback automatically plays your chosen TV show or movie on the last screen you used based on time and location - Siri Suggestions to watch movies and TV shows now include an option to AirPlay - Intelligent suggestions are all done on-device so your personal information stays private
Apple TV app - The Apple TV app features an all new design that highlights expertly curated collections and personalized recommendations - Apple TV channels offer subscriptions to HBO, Showtime, Starz, and more, available to watch directly in the Apple TV app, online or off - Subscriptions to Apple TV channels can be shared with up to six family members, with no new apps, accounts, or passwords needed - New release movies are available to buy or rent in the Apple TV app, including the full catalog of 100,000+ movies and the largest selection of 4K HDR titles - A new dedicated kids section helps you discover editorially-handpicked shows and movies safe for kids of all ages - The Apple TV app can now intelligently suggest playing to the most likely Apple TVs or AirPlay 2-enabled TVs nearby
This update also includes bug fixes and improvements. This update: - Adds the ability to follow a magazine from the Apple News+ catalog browsing view - Apple Music’s For You tab now updates multiple times a day suggesting music based on themes like genres, artists, and moods you love - Fixes an issue that could prevent Apple TV Remote from pausing video, controlling video, or changing volume on supported receivers - Addresses an issue that could cause calls made using Wi-Fi calling to drop - Fixes an issue where song information from a connected iPhone may not appear in a car’s display
Apple today released tvOS 12.3, the seventh update to the tvOS 12 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 12.3 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 12.2.1, a minor bug fix update.
tvOS 12.3 is a free update that can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System -> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.3 automatically.
tvOS 12.3 is the biggest tvOS update Apple has released for quite some time because it introduces an overhauled TV app, which Apple first showed off earlier this year at its March 25 event. The new TV app is similar to the old TV app but it has a refreshed, modern look along with new features.
There are dedicated sections for TV shows, movies, sports, and children's programming, along with access to your iTunes content. There continues to be a "Watch Now" section with an "Up Next" feature for keeping track of the TV shows and movies you're watching, and there's a new machine-learning based "For You" option that surfaces content recommendations based on what you've previously watched.
Apple has included a "Channels" feature, which is a major part of the company's new services push. With Channels, you can subscribe to paid TV content from services like HBO, Showtime, and Starz, and watch that content right within the TV app without having to swap over to a third-party app.
When you subscribe to a service through the TV app, Apple gets a cut of the subscription price and it makes it easier to access third-party content. While Channels are available, the TV app will continue to recommend content that's also only available through third-party apps, so it will work the same way that it did before, but with better recommendations.
The new Apple TV app is available in more than 100 countries starting today, and with Family Sharing, up to six family members are able to share subscriptions to Apple TV channels. Channels content can be watched both online or offline, including HBO content.
In the future, Apple plans to make its new TV+ subscription service available through the TV app, with TV+ offering up access to Apple's original TV shows and movies. The TV app is available on the Apple TV and iOS devices, and in the future, it will expand to the Mac.
Apple has also released new 7.3 software for the third-generation Apple TV models.
Apple today released watchOS 5.2.1, the sixth update to the watchOS 5 operating system that runs on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 5.2.1 comes more than a month after the release of watchOS 5.2, an update that added AirPods 2 support.
watchOS 5.2.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
The watchOS 5.2.1 update is minor in scale and focuses on performance improvements and bug fixes discovered since the release of watchOS 5.2. There were no changes discovered during the watchOS 5.2.1 beta testing period, and according to Apple's release notes, the update makes the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications available in Croatia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Poland, and Slovakia.
This update includes new features, improvements and bug fixes:
- ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 now available in Croatia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Poland and Slovakia - Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Croatia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Poland and Slovakia - Fixes an issue where the numbers on the Explorer face would not appear for some users
Work on watchOS 5 is set to wind down over the course of the next month as Apple transitions to watchOS 6, which is expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Apple today released macOS Mojave 10.14.5, the fifth update to the macOS Mojave operating system that first launched in September. macOS Mojave 10.14.5 comes more than a month after the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.4, an update that introduced Apple News+ support.
macOS Mojave 10.14.5 can be downloaded by going to the "Software Update" section of System Preferences and selecting the Update Now option.
macOS Mojave 10.14.5 focuses on performance improvements and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the launch of macOS Mojave 10.14.4. We didn't find any major feature changes or updates during the beta, but according to Apple's release notes, the update includes support for AirPlay 2 along with bug fixes including improved audio latency on 2018 MacBook Pro models.
This update: - Adds AirPlay 2 support for sharing videos, photos, music and more from your Mac directly to your AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV - Adds the ability to follow a magazine from the Apple News+ catalog browsing view - Improves audio latency on MacBook Pro models introduced in 2018 - Fixes an issue that prevented certain very large OmniOutliner and OmniPlan documents from rendering properly
The prior update, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, included Apple News+, automatic Dark Mode for Safari along with new Safari features, and a number of other smaller changes and updates. For more on macOS Mojave, make sure to check out our macOS Mojave roundup.
With the launch of iOS 12.3, both AirPlay 2 and the new Apple TV app are available on compatible Smart TVs, Samsung announced today.
All 2019 Samsung Smart TVs and select 2018 TV models with a firmware update will be able to access Apple TV channels and iTunes movies and TV shows through the TV app and will support AirPlay 2. Samsung says that the TV app offers content in more than 100 countries, while AirPlay 2 is available in 176 countries.
On compatible Samsung TVs with the Smart TV platform, users are able to select the Apple TV app icon to access their Apple content. With the Channels feature in the Apple TV app, Samsung users can subscribe to services like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and more, and watch content from those services directly in the Apple TV app.
Samsung users will also have access to more than 100,000 TV shows and movies to buy or rent from iTunes, including content that's available in 4K HDR.
"For the last decade, Samsung has been at the forefront of offering the broadest selection of content available to consumers on our Smart TV platform," said Won-Jin Lee, Executive Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "As the first TV manufacturer to integrate the Apple TV app on a Smart TV platform, Samsung continues to offer our customers incredible value and access to the Apple TV app experience on the largest screens available today."
The TV app available on Samsung Smart TVs will allow Apple customers who are already in the Apple ecosystem to access their previously purchased content without needing to have an Apple TV set-top box, which is a first.
All iTunes content and other content from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac can also be AirPlayed right to a Samsung TV for the first time, making it easier to get content from Apple devices to the TV. Samsung TVs compatible with AirPlay 2 and the TV app are listed below:
- Samsung FHD/HD 4, 5 Series (2018) - Samsung QLED 4K Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9 Series (2018 & 2019) - Samsung QLED 8K Q9 Series (2019) - Samsung The Frame Series (2018 & 2019) - Samsung The Serif Series (2019) - Samsung UHD 6, 7, 8 Series (2018 & 2019)
Samsung says that the Apple TV app will "work seamlessly" with other Smart TV services, including Universal Guide, Bixby, and Search for a consistent experience across Samsung's platform.
Samsung is the only TV manufacturer that's getting the TV app at the current time, but other smart TVs are gaining AirPlay 2 support. It's likely we'll be hearing about AirPlay 2 compatibility from Vizio, LG, and Sony now that iOS 12.3 with AirPlay 2 support and the new Apple TV app has officially launched.
Other TV sets are also expected to integrate with HomeKit, allowing users to control them via Siri commands and through the Home app, but this is not a feature that is coming to Samsung TVs.
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