This article explains how to delete your Siri audio interaction history and opt out of sharing audio recordings with Apple on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Earlier this year, it was discovered that Apple hired contractors to listen to a small percentage of anonymized Siri recordings to evaluate the virtual assistant's responses with the purpose of improving accuracy and reliability.
The Guardianrevealed that Apple employees working on Siri often heard confidential details while listening to the audio recordings. Apple was subsequently criticized for not making it clear to customers that some of their Siri recordings were being used to improve the service.
Soon after the report, Apple suspended its Siri grading practices and promised users that it would introduce tools in a forthcoming update that would allow them to opt out of sharing their audio recordings.
With the release of iOS 13.2 in October, those new tools arrived. Apple now includes an option on iPhone and iPad that allows users to delete their Siri and Dictation history and opt out of sharing audio recordings. The following steps show you how to do both.
How to Opt Out of Siri Audio Sharing
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Scroll down and tap Privacy.
Scroll to the bottom of the Privacy screen and tap Analytics & Improvements.
If you don't want to let Apple review your recordings, toggle off the switch next to Improve Siri Dictation.
Note that you can tap the link under the toggle for more information relating to Apple's Siri analytics policy.
How to Delete Your Siri Audio History
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Scroll down and tap Siri & Search.
Tap Siri & Dictation History.
Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History.
Apple will inform you that your request was received and that your Siri and dictation history will be deleted. That's all there is to it.
In addition to these new Siri and Dictation-related privacy features, Apple also says it is making further changes to its human grading process that will minimize the amount of data that reviewers have access to.
If you lose or damage the AirPods Pro, the left and right AirPod will cost $89 each to replace in the United States, totaling $178 for a pair. The wireless charging case is also $89 to replace if lost or damaged.
The fees are lower if a customer has purchased AppleCare+ for Headphones. The plan costs $29 upfront, plus charges a $29 fee to replace a pair of damaged AirPods Pro or their case. This coverage applies for up to two years from the date AppleCare+ is purchased and is limited to two incidents.
AppleCare+ for Headphones does not cover lost or stolen AirPods Pro.
The reviewers were all impressed with sound quality and active noise cancellation, with Brownlee saying noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro is roughly on par with the new Beats Solo Pro. As for fit, Ahmedmia found the AirPods Pro with in-ear tips to be more comfortable than the regular AirPods.
Brownlee's video provides a first look at the new Ear Tip Fit Test, a feature that checks the fit of the AirPods Pro in your ear to determine which size ear tips provides the best seal and acoustic performance. Ear Tip Fit Test can be accessed by tapping the info icon next to your AirPods Pro in Settings > Bluetooth.
Apple says advanced algorithms work together with the inward-facing microphones in each AirPod to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what is coming from the speaker driver. In just seconds, the algorithm detects whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit, or should be adjusted.
AirPods Pro come with a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, compared to USB-A for the regular AirPods. Also included in the box is a wireless charging case, silicone ear tips in three sizes, and documentation.
AirPods Pro feature several improvements over the regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance. The higher-end earphones are now available to order for $249, compared to $159 for the regular AirPods, with deliveries beginning Wednesday.
Apple unveiledAirPods Pro on Monday via press release, and speculation is now rife that Apple plans to trickle out further product announcements this week, with Apple's widely anticipated 16-inch MacBook Pro rumored to be next.
Apple's plans to release a 16-inch MacBook Pro were first revealed by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo back in February. Kuo said Apple was working on a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new design, including the return of a more reliable scissor mechanism keyboard, for release by the end of 2019. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that the notebook is coming in 2019.
On Monday, Gurman noted that Apple's new AirPods require macOS 10.15.1 to work on Macs, but Apple hasn't released this to the public, despite launching iOS 13.2 with AirPods Pro support. Gurman speculates that Apple could be holding back the next macOS update until later today because it may contain references to the 16-inch MacBook Pro that Apple doesn't want to draw attention to just yet.
The AirPods ship Wednesday and require macOS 10.15.1, which was not released today despite iOS 13.2 launching. So it probably has some 16-inch MacBook Pro references that Apple wants to hide. So the Pro should be tomorrow? Keyboard is a “delight,” though we’ve heard that before.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 29, 2019
Technically, that horse bolted earlier this month, when icons likely depicting a 16-inch MacBook Pro were found in the first two betas of macOS Catalina 10.15.1 released to developers. Still, it's possible Apple doesn't want to let the cat out the bag completely by shipping the update to the general public.
Stoking expectations further last week was hit-or-miss industry publication DigiTimes, which cited supply chain sources claiming the 16-inch MacBook Pro will be available by the end of October.
DigiTimes' sources said Quanta Computer had already begun volume shipments of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which would have an "ultra-thin bezel design," the aforementioned scissor keyboard, and Intel's latest Coffee Lake Refresh or Ice Lake processors (although Intel has yet to announce Ice Lake chips appropriate for a high-end MacBook Pro).
MacRumors confirmed files likely referencing a new MacBook Pro in the second beta of macOS 10.15.1 b2
The slimmer bezels would result in the 16-inch MacBook Pro being around the same size as the existing 15-inch model, despite having a larger display. IHS Markit analyst Jeff Lin believes the notebook's resolution will be 3,072x1,920 pixels.
Apple is expected to position the 16-inch MacBook Pro at the high end of its notebook lineup, with existing 15-inch and 13-inch MacBook Pro models remaining available and following suit with scissor keyboards in 2020, according to Kuo.
In his latest tweet, Gurman says he has heard that the new scissor keyboard on the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro is a "delight," although he also notes that "we've heard that before" in relation to Apple's much-derided butterfly mechanism keyboard. Hopefully it won't be long before the public can gauge any improvements themselves.
In March of this year, Apple quietly trickled out new AirPods, iPads, and Macs over the course of three consecutive days. Does the company have more staggered releases in store the same week it announces its September-quarter financial results? Could we see the new Mac Pro, so-called "AirTags," or something more in the lead-up to the official launch of Apple TV+ this Friday? Watch this space.
Apple has reportedly boosted component orders for the iPhone 11 after better-than-expected demand but reduced those for the iPhone 11 Pro Max after flat sales of the larger device, according to sources from Taiwan's supply chain (via DigiTimes).
Apple has increased iPhone 11 components orders by 15%, and cut those for iPhone 11 Pro Max by about 5%, the sources said.
Today's report corroborates a similar report earlier this month that said iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are seeing the strongest demand, with Apple revising orders for the iPhone 11 Pro Max down slightly to balance production with demand.
DigiTimes' sources speculate that brisk iPhone 11 sales could influence Apple's 2020 iPhone plans, suggesting the company could choose to keep an LCD-based smartphone in next year's flagship lineup instead of adopting OLED wholesale.
According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple intends to complete its transition to an all-OLED iPhone lineup in 2020 with new 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch devices.
Kuo also believes Apple will sell around 10 percent more iPhones in the first quarter of 2020, thanks to strong replacement demand for its iPhone 11 series devices and the launch of the "iPhone SE 2" in March.
In addition, sources in today's report indicate that King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) continues to see strong demand for Intel baseband chips that Apple uses for the iPhone 11, iPhone 8 and iPhone XR.
At the beginning of October, Apple reportedly asked suppliers to increase production of its new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro lineup by up to 10 percent, adding up to 8 million units to its earlier production plans as it sought to meet better-than-expected demand.
Apple today released new 13.2 software for the HomePod with long-awaited features like Handoff and voice detection for different family members, but unfortunately, some users are running into problems with the update.
According to multiple people on the MacRumors forums and Reddit, the 13.2 update "bricked" their HomePods, rendering them unusable. Users who are seeing problems are experiencing a "white swirl" on both of their HomePods, or an endless reset loop. From the MacRumors forums:
I have two HomePods with the same issue you describe after the update 13.2. HomePods both stopped responding after the update. I reset both HomePods hoping to fix the problem, but now I have a white swirl on top of both, and the install pop-up does not work on either HomePods, and I can no longer reset both HomePods because the long press on top no longer functions. Just an endless white swirl. I will wait a while to see if others have similar issues before contacting Apple support.
Some people had issues immediately after installing the new software, while others have had problems after resetting their devices following the update. Some users have also reported that the problem happened installing the 13.2 software before updating to iOS 13.2. From Reddit:
Updated HomePod remotely through HomePod before updating phone, once back at home updated phone to 13.2. Now the phone update was complete I never saw the new features splash screen so started looking through menus to see if new features were showing, although maybe nothing had change in menu anyway on 13.2, either way I removed the HomePod from the home app to begin a hard reset. On powering back up to begin red ring reset, HomePod appeared to be constantly reboot every 8-10secs not allowing enough time for the red ring to reset.
We thought that the perceived HomePod issues may have been linked to an Apple Music outage lasting for a few hours today right after the 13.2 software came out, but that may not be the case.
Some people with affected HomePods have already contacted Apple Support and have been able to arrange replacement devices. From Reddit:
My update worked but the voice recognition wasn’t working so I removed it from Apple home. Then I tried to factory reset it and boom. Hit a brick wall. Quite literally. Home pod is now bricked. Been into support earlier this evening and they are sending me a box to send it in for repair.
Given the multitude of reports about malfunctioning HomePods, those that have not updated to the new software should avoid doing so. If you have updated, you should avoid resetting your HomePod at the current time or removing it from the Home app.
Update: It appears that Apple has pulled the 13.2 update, and in a support document, is recommending that those who have already upgraded to 13.2 avoid resetting their HomePod or removing it from the Home app. Those who have reset their HomePods will need to contact Apple support for help.
Earlier today, the public release of iOS 13.2 revealed information suggesting Apple may be planning to call its rumored Tile-like item tracking accessory "AirTags."
Looking into the status of any trademark activity surrounding the term, we've come across some curious recent developments that could be signs of Apple acquiring the trademark rights, although we've yet to find a smoking gun concretely linking Apple to the activity.
Citing an international application made in June 2016, a Russian entity known as "Intelligent Systems of Business Control" Ltd in October 2018 filed a trademark application on the AirTag name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The description of the goods and services to be covered by the trademark bear a remarkable similarity to Apple's rumored AirTags:
Systems of radio frequency identification comprised of RFID tags, RFID tag readers, and downloadable software for operating RFID readers; radio frequency identification (RFID) labels; RFID tags in form of cards, tags or key rings; RFID markers in the form of RFID signal receivers; RFID tag bracelets; RFID tag disks; RFID tag stickers; RFID tag stamps; RFID printed circuits; RFID tag boles; RFID ear tags; RFID tags in plastic or glass flasks; RFID tags in the form of keys; flexible cases especially adapted for RFID tags with a graphic image; RFID readers; blank smart cards with integrated circuit cards; computer software, recorded, for maintaining a record of issuance and control of RFID tags; all of the above designed to allow users to automatically identify them to obtain keyless access control for interlocking doors, access to various services, such as public transportation, banking, social events and various loyalty programs and not designed to work with data loggers
After an initial denial and some back-and-forth between the applicant's attorney and trademark examiners, the application was approved in August 2019 to be published for opposition, which gives third parties 30 days to object to the proposed trademark.
On August 28, the same day the USPTO officially served notice that the trademark application would be published for opposition on September 17, the attorney on the application was changed to the Moscow office of Baker & McKenzie, a major law firm that Apple has worked with on a number of occasions in several countries.
A month later, on October 1, ownership of the trademark application was officially transferred to GPS Avion LLC, a company that was only just created in July 2019 and appears to have no public presence. GPS Avion was created in Delaware through the Corporation Trust Company, which is a process Apple has used quite a few times to create shell companies in order to hide its identity when dealing with intellectual property issues.
So while there's no evidence directly linking Apple to this AirTag trademark application, the timing of the ownership change and the acquisition by a company seeking to remain anonymous certainly raise suspicions. The use of Baker & McKenzie as the new attorney is also consistent with Apple's past behavior, and at a minimum hints that a major player is behind the acquisition given the firm's prominence.
While we've seen increasing signs of Apple's work on AirTags in recent months, we still don't know when they will debut. An October event would have been a good opportunity to introduce, perhaps as an iOS 13.2 feature, but with that software having been released today and Apple apparently not planning a media event until early next year, it doesn't necessarily look like an AirTags launch is imminent.
Apple is planning to host an Apple TV+ premiere event for "The Morning Show" in New York City, according to a stage and banners that have been erected at the Lincoln Center plaza in Manhattan.
Based on multiple images shared on social media, Apple has a stage and multicolored signs that alternately highlight Apple TV+ and "The Morning Show," an upcoming series starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell. The show is set to premiere tonight, with additional premiere events happening later in the week.
Apple TV+ reviews came out this morning and critics were not particularly kind to "The Morning Show" despite its all star cast. The Hollywood Reporter, for example, called the pilot "brutally dull," while Variety said Witherspoon and Aniston couldn't "salvage this politically muddled, underthought, and underwhelming streaming misfire."
Apple appears to be planning to hold a red carpet launch event at the Lincoln Center plaza tonight along with additional showings at the Paley Center tomorrow evening, which will also include a Q&A session with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.
A recent Instagram story from "The Morning Show" suggests Apple TV+ is going to debut at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, though earlier reports suggested the service would be launching at midnight Pacific Time on November 1.
Apple TV+ will also launch with "See," "Dickinson," "For All Mankind," "Ghostwriters," "Snoopy in Space," and more.
Update: Apple has shared details about the official New York premiere of "The Morning Show" in a Newsroom article.
The outage has been ongoing since 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, and Apple says that some users may be experiencing issues with "certain features of the music service."
According to multiple reports on Twitter, there are a good number of users who appear to be unable to access the entirety of the Apple Music service at this time.
There's no word on when full Apple Music functionality will be restored, but we'll update this post when the outage ends.
Update: According to Apple, the Apple Music outage has ended.
LIFX earlier this year teased the Candle Color, a candelabra bulb that uses Polychrome Technology, which is a fancy way of saying it can display more than one color at once. Now the Candle Color is available for purchase.
LIFX has used Polychrome Technology in the Tile, Beam, and Z Strip light strip, but this is the first time the color blending feature has been available in a light bulb.
The Candle Color is a candelabra bulb that fits in E12 sockets, which are on the rarer side as far as home lights go. These are often in smaller table lamps or chandelier-style hanging lamps, but aren't as common as standard A26 bulbs.
LIFX uses multi-colored LEDs inside of the Candle Color to create different lighting zones, which is what allows for the multiple colors and the different lighting effects that are available like mimicking a real candle. There are 26 customizable color zones inside the tiny bulb, which can be set to one of 16 million colors.
Design wise, the Candle Color looks like a standard candelabra bulb, so there's not much to look at before it's added to a compatible lamp. After it's powered on, setup is as simple as scanning a HomeKit code in the included manual. The Candle Color requires a 2.4GHz connection, which is something to be aware of before attempting to set it up.
This is a WiFi connected bulb, so it can be controlled over WiFi and no hub is required for it to function. Using the capabilities in the LIFX app, the Candle Color can be set to multiple different colors at one time, with an option to "paint" the bulb as you see fit.
I put the Candle Color into a small candelabra lamp with a soft white lampshade that I bought on Amazon to test how it works in a lamp. In general, it's difficult to see more than one color in any kind of lamp that diffuses the light. When painting different colors on each area of the bulb, it was hard to tell that there was more than one color involved just because it's such a small bulb.
Blues and reds, for example, blend together into purple, and the same goes for other color combos - it tends to make a blend of light. It's easier to see a slight difference in person with colors that are opposite, but for the most part, the lighting effects aren't super impressive when the bulb is obscured.
The same is not true for a naked bulb. With the bulb sans shade, it's easy to see the different colored areas, so I think this is the kind of light bulb that's going to work best in a lamp with no shade, such as a chandelier or similar style. I loved the look of the multicolor bulb when it was just the bulb itself -- it's easy to see the different color zones and it's fun to paint on different colors.
Due to a lack of brightness, this is more of an accent lighting option that anything that you're going to want to use to put off significant light, though if you paired up several in a multi-bulb lamp it could put off enough light to be more than just a special effect bulb. You can set these lights to be either colored or various shades of white, so they can be used like more traditional bulbs.
Along with being able to be painted different colors, the LIFX app supports different animated modes like a fire (shifting reds), a spooky theme (the light flickers off and on), morphing colors (shifts through different colors), candle (mimics a flickering candle), and more.
There are options in the app for changing colors, swapping between white and color, setting the aforementioned effects, selecting different colored themes that are available (which are just preset colors), and setting the light to a schedule to turn on and off at specified times.
Most of the control for the LIFX Candle Color will need to be done in the LIFX app because it's the only location that supports the bulb painting options and effects. That said, this is a HomeKit-enabled bulb so you can use Siri or the Home app to turn it on/off, dim it or brighten it, or set it to a solid color.
I had no problems with connectivity with the LIFX Color Candle, and the app worked well for control purposes. It stayed connected to my HomeKit setup, worked with Siri, and offered a painless setup process.
Bottom Line
As someone who has a whole Hue setup, multiple Nanoleaf products, and other smart home lighting installed, I'm a big fan of the Candle Color. I love the way that the naked bulb looks when different colors are painted on, and the effects are a neat bonus that look awesome in any lamp.
This is a bulb that works best in a lamp where it can be shown off, and it's fun to change the colors and the available animation options. That said, it's still usable when a lamp shade is involved, but the different colors won't be quite as visible.
Unfortunately, this is a candelabra bulb so it's not going to go in just any lamp, but I'm hoping LIFX will come out with additional bulbs that offer the same color painting features in the future. That said, you can get an E12 to E26 adapter if you want to use it in a larger lamp, but I also think the color painting feature will ultimately work better in a bigger bulb.
Apple is working on new Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro according to assets found by MacRumors in the latest version of iOS 13.
There are three different model numbers for the battery cases, and each battery case image found by MacRumors has a slightly different look, indicating Apple will release separate Smart Battery Cases for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.
Design wise, the battery cases are similar to the cases created for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, but with a larger square-shaped camera cutout to accommodate the new dual and triple-lens camera design.
There's no word on when Apple plans to release new battery cases for its latest iPhones, but last year, Apple launched battery cases designed for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR January following the September/October debut of the devices.
The appearance of battery case images in the iOS 13.2 beta suggests this year's release could perhaps come earlier, maybe even before the end of the year.
Apple is rumored to be working on Tile-like Bluetooth trackers that can be used to keep track of items that are often lost, such as keys, wallets, and more.
Hints of the Bluetooth tags have been seen multiple times in prior iOS 13 updates, and iOS 13.2 adds another piece of the puzzle - Apple could call the accessory "AirTags."
The name was spotted in today's iOS 13.2 release by 9to5Mac. A folder in the iOS 13.2 filesystem uses the "AirTag" name. There's also a "BatterySwap" video asset in today's update, which suggests the AirTags will have batteries that can be swapped out.
Multiple rumors have confirmed Apple's work on AirTags, which are expected, based on leaked assets, to be little round circles that can be attached to your items to make them locatable through the Find My app right alongside your Apple devices.
AirTags will connect to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more via Bluetooth, and will leverage the ultra-wideband U1 chip in the newest iPhones for more precise indoor tracking that's unmatched by competitors.
As we found earlier this year, there will also be an augmented reality component that will let you use your device's camera to pinpoint exactly where a lost item might be. Longer-range tracking will also be available, and AirTags will likely take advantage of the offline crowd-sourced tracking feature that was added in iOS 13.
There is no word on when AirTags will be released, but given that Apple has been adding new details to each beta, there's a possibility that the accessories are coming this year, perhaps even quite soon.
Apple is planning to make a donation to help wildfire relief efforts in the state of California, Apple CEO Tim Cookannounced on Twitter this morning.
It is fire season in California right now, and Sonoma County in Northern California is currently facing the Kincade fire, which has burned more than 65,000 acres and has required hundreds of thousands of people in the area to evacuate.
Over the weekend, winds that reached close to 100 mph drove the fire further towards Santa Rosa, a major city in the area, and additional high winds are expected later this week. Combined with dry conditions, the higher winds California sees in October and November can be disastrous.
Our hearts are with those affected by the wildfires across California, including members of our Apple family. Thank you to the first responders who are working tirelessly to control the fires. Apple will be donating to relief efforts. To everyone in harm’s way, please stay safe.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 28, 2019
In Northern California, power company PG&E has been cutting power to millions of customers in an effort to avoid fires (PG&E was found responsible for last year's Camp Fire), but that didn't stop the Kincade fire.
There are fires raging in both Southern and Northern California at this time, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency.
Apple today released iOS 13.2, the second major update to the iOS and iPadOS 13 operating systems. The new software updates come two weeks after the release of iOS/iPadOS 13.1.3 and over a month after the initial release of iOS 13.
The iOS and iPadOS 13.2 updates are available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. For older iPhones still running iOS 12, Apple has also released an iOS 12.4.3 update with security improvements.
iOS 13.2 is a major update that introduces support for the new AirPods Pro earbuds that were just announced as there are new Control Center features for Active Noise Nancellation.
iOS 13.2 brings support for new Unicode 12 emojis, with more than 230 characters when different genders and skin tones are taken into account.
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.
For the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models, iOS 13.2 brings Deep Fusion, a new camera feature. Deep Fusion is an image processing system that leverages the A13 Bionic and the Neural Engine to take advantage of machine learning techniques for pixel-by-pixel processing of photos.
Deep Fusion optimizes for texture, details, and noise in each part of an image, resulting in better overall photographs. Deep Fusion is aimed at improving indoor photos and photos taken in medium lighting.
When taking a photo on an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max following the update, Deep Fusion will activate automatically when the lighting conditions require it.
iOS and iPadOS 13.2 bring a promised privacy option that lets users opt out of sharing their Siri and dictation audio recording with Apple, plus it adds an option to delete Siri and dictation history.
These settings, which you can find under Privacy > Analytics and Improvements and Siri > Search, provide users with more control over how their Siri voice recordings are used.
Apple has reintroduced the Announce Messages with Siri feature in the update, which lets Siri read incoming messages without having to unlock the iPhone. The feature works with the second-generation AirPods and the Beats Pro.
Deleting apps from the Home screen is an option for the first time, with the delete button coming up when long pressing or Haptic Touching on an app's icon. The Rearrange Apps option has also been changed to "Edit Home Screen."
On the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, there's a new option to change video recording settings right from the Camera app, and there are privacy settings for Apple's upcoming Research app, which could potentially see a launch alongside iOS 13.2.
There's a new Transfer to HomePod toggle in the Settings app to turn on HomePod handoff, there's an updated volume bar in Control Center that displays AirPods and Beats icons, and an option to display multi-function HomeKit products as either multiple tiles or a single tile.
Apple's full release notes for the update are below:
iOS 13.2 introduces Deep Fusion, an advanced image processing system that uses the A13 Bionic Neural Engine to capture images with dramatically better texture, detail, and reduced noise in lower light, on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Additional features include updated and additional emoji, Announce Messages for AirPods, support for AirPods Pro, HomeKit Secure Video, HomeKit enabled routers, and new Siri privacy settings. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.
Camera - Deep Fusion for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max uses the A13 Bionic Neural Engine to capture multiple images at various exposures, run a pixel-by-pixel analysis, and fuse the highest quality parts of the images together resulting in photos with dramatically better texture, details, and reduced noise, especially for mid to low light scenes - Ability to change the video resolution directly from the Camera app for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
Emoji - Over 70 new or updated emoji, including animals, food, activities, new accessibility emoji, gender neutral emoji, and skin tones selection for couple emoji
AirPods support - Announce Messages with Siri to read your incoming messages aloud to your AirPods - AirPods Pro support
Home App - HomeKit Secure Video enables you to privately capture, store, and view encrypted video from your security cameras and features people, animal, and vehicle detection - HomeKit enabled routers put you in control of what your HomeKit accessories communicate with over the internet or in your home
Siri - Privacy settings to control whether or not to help improve Siri and Dictation by allowing Apple to store audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions - Option to delete your Siri and Dictation history from Siri Settings
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update: - Fixes an issue that may prevent passwords from autofilling in 3rd party apps - Resolves an issue that may prevent the keyboard from appearing when using Search - Addresses an issue where swipe to go home might not work on iPhone X and later - Fixes an issue where Messages would only send a single notification when the option to repeat alerts was enabled - Addresses an issue where Messages may display a phone number instead of a contact name - Resolves an issue that caused Contacts to launch to the previously opened contact instead of the contact list - Fixes an issue that may prevent Markup annotations from being saved - Resolves an issue where saved notes could temporarily disappear - Fixes an issue where iCloud Backup might not successfully complete after tapping Backup Now in Settings - Improves performance when using AssistiveTouch to activate App Switcher
For more on all of the new features that are included in the iOS 13 update, make sure to check out our iOS 13 roundup.
Alongside of the release of iOS 13.2, a major new update that introduces a long list of new features and changes, Apple has also debuted a new software update that's designed for the HomePod.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod after you update to iOS 13.2, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.
After installing the software update, the HomePod will be able to distinguish between different voices for the first time. That means Siri is able to recognize the voices of everyone in the family, which will allow each person in the home to listen to their own music, playlists, radio stations, and more.
HomePod now supports Handoff, so you can hand off music, phone calls, and podcasts from the iPhone to the HomePod and vice versa. If you come home from work, for example, and are listening to music on the iPhone, you can beam it right over to the HomePod so you can continue listening without missing a beat. You can also add music to your HomeKit scenes after upgrading to iOS 13.2.
The new software brings a new Ambient Sounds feature that lets you play relaxing soundtracks like rain falling, nature sounds, white noise, and more, plus you can set sleep timers to fall asleep to these new Ambient Sounds or to music.
iOS 13.2 provides support for new HomePod features:
- The ability for HomePod to recognize the voices of different family members to provide a personalized experience - Handoff music, podcasts, or phone calls by bringing your iPhone close to HomePod - Add music to your HomeKit scenes - Play relaxing high-quality soundtracks with Ambient Sounds - Set sleep timers to fall asleep to music or Ambient Sounds
Apple today released tvOS 13.2, the first major update to the tvOS 13 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 13.2 comes more than a month after the launch of tvOS 13.
tvOS 13.2, which is a free update, 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 13.2 automatically.
We didn't find any new features in tvOS 13.2 during the beta testing period, making it unclear what's included in the update, but it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements.
tvOS 13 was a major update introducing multi-user support, a Control Center, ocean-themed screensavers, and more. Details on tvOS 13 can be found in our tvOS 13 roundup.
Apple today announced that it is releasing new AirPods Pro earbuds on October 30. As rumored, updated new accessory features an all new-design with an AirPods-style shape and silicone ear tips to support active noise cancellation technology, along with a $249 price point.
Apple says that the AirPods Pro have been engineered for "comfort and fit" and each earbud ships with three different sizes of silicone ear tips that conform to the contours of the individual ear, offering up a comfortable fit and a "superior seal."
Apple has designed an Ear Tip Fit Test to make sure that users get the best audio experience. After putting the AirPods Pro in each ear, Apple's software will leverage the built-in microphones to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what's coming from the speaker driver. Apple says that in just seconds, its algorithm will be able to tell whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit or should be adjusted for a better seal.
Inside, there's an "innovative vent system" that's designed to equalize pressure to minimize discomfort common with other in-ear designs. Apple also says that the AirPods Pro are both sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating. That means they'll hold up to some light splashing and sweating, but submersion should be avoided.
Despite rumors of multiple color options that include black and green, it appears that Apple is selling the AirPods Pro only in white. Due to the larger in-ear design, the AirPods Pro also feature a larger, redesigned charging case to accommodate them.
“AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world. The one-tap setup experience, incredible sound and iconic design have made them a beloved Apple product, and with AirPods Pro, we’re taking the magic even further,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family.”
The AirPods feature an Active Noise Cancellation feature that uses two microphones (one outward facing to detect environmental noise and one inward facing towards the ear) combined with "advanced software" to adapt to each ear and headphone fit and customize sound signal 200 times per second. Apple says that this setup removes background noise for a "uniquely customized, superior noise-canceling experience."
A built-in Transparency mode offers users the option to listen to music while still hearing the environment around them, for situations like biking in traffic or listening for an important train message. Transparency mode takes advantage of the vent system in the AirPods to leave just the right amount of noise cancellation.
Swapping between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode can be done using a new force sensor system that Apple has added to the stem of the AirPods Pro. This force sensor can also be used to play, pause, or skip tracks and answer and hang up phone calls. The mode can also be controlled through the Control Center on iPhone and iPad, or by tapping the AirPlay icon on Apple Watch while music is playing.
According to Apple, AirPods Pro have been engineered to deliver superior sound quality with Adaptive EQ, a feature that automatically tunes the low and mid frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual's ear for what Apple says is a "rich, immersive listening experience."
There's a custom high dynamic range amplifier that's able to produce clear sound while also extending the AirPods Pro battery life, plus it powers a custom high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver designed to optimize audio quality and cut down on background noise.
AirPods Pro are equipped with the Apple-designed H1 chip featuring 10 audio cores able to power real-time noise cancellation and deliver high-quality sound while also processing "Hey Siri" commands. Battery life is the same as the AirPods 2, lasting for up to five hours in standard mode. When Noise Cancellation is active, AirPods Pro offer up to four and a half hours of listening time and three and a half hours of talk time.
The H1 chip also supports hands-free "Hey Siri" commands and it allows for Audio Sharing so two people who have AirPods Pro can watch the same movie or listen to the same song with an iPhone or iPad.
The included Wireless Charging Case (which does indeed support Qi-based wireless charging) can deliver more than 24 hours of listening time and over 18 hours of talk time. A USB-C to Lightning cable is also included in the box for charging purposes.
The AirPods Pro can be ordered immediately from Apple.com and the Apple Store app and will be arriving to Apple retail locations on Wednesday, October 30. The first orders are offering up Thursday, October 31 arrival dates.
Apple plans to continue to sell the AirPods with Charging Case ($159) and the AirPods With Wireless Charging Case ($199) alongside the AirPods Pro.
Update: Fitbit today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Google for approximately $2.1 billion.
James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit:
More than 12 years ago, we set an audacious company vision – to make everyone in the world healthier. Today, I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved towards reaching that goal. We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more active life. Google is an ideal partner to advance our mission. With Google's resources and global platform, Fitbit will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearables category, scale faster, and make health even more accessible to everyone. I could not be more excited for what lies ahead.
Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Devices & Services at Google:
Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created terrific products, experiences and a vibrant community of users. We're looking forward to working with the incredible talent at Fitbit, and bringing together the best hardware, software and AI, to build wearables to help even more people around the world.
Fitbit will continue to remain platform-agnostic across both Android and iOS, and the company says Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.
The transaction is expected to close in 2020, subject to regulatory approvals.
Google is in talks to acquire popular fitness tracker maker Fitbit, according to Reuters, which could help the company better compete with the Apple Watch along with its existing Wear OS smart watch platform.
The report claims there is no certainty that the negotiations between Google parent company Alphabet and Fitbit will lead to any deal, and the exact price that Google has offered for Fitbit is unknown at this time.
Google does not currently sell any own-brand fitness trackers or smart watches, but its Wear OS platform runs on smart watches sold by several third-party brands, such as LG, Huawei, and Fossil.
