Intel is planning to auction off its portfolio of patents related to cellular wireless connectivity, according to a new report from IAM.
Intel's upcoming auction follows the company's April decision to exit the 5G smartphone modem business. Intel stopped work on 5G modem technology after Apple and Qualcomm reached a settlement and a supply agreement that will see Qualcomm providing 5G modem chips for future iPhones.
Multiple rumors have suggested Apple and Intel have held talks about Apple's potential purchase of Intel's German modem unit. The two were in talks as early as this month, with Intel planning to sell its modem business off in pieces.
Intel is aiming to sell off 8,500 assets from its patent portfolio, including 6,000 patents related to 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular standards and an additional 1,700 patents on wireless implementation technologies.
The auction that Intel has planned is separate from its efforts to sell its smartphone modem business, though IAM speculates that an interested buyer could potentially pick up both. It's also possible that a group of companies could band together to purchase the patents that are up for grabs.
It could be that Intel's decision to sell its portfolio is part of a strategy to drum up interest in the modem business as a whole. There is no indication yet that Intel has ruled out selling the patent assets to a non-practising entity, which might encourage a group of operating companies to band together to take the assets off the assertion market.
Should Apple purchase either Intel's patent business, Intel's patents, or both, it would give the Cupertino company a leg up in its own mobile chip development. Apple is working on creating its own line of modem chips to reduce reliance on suppliers like Qualcomm, but it will be several years yet before Apple's own chips are ready to be used in iPhones and other devices.
Apple today updated its line of iWork apps for iOS and macOS, bringing new features to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers on both iOS devices and Macs.
All of the apps have a new feature designed to let you style text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. Images, shapes, and equations can be placed inline in text boxes so they move with text, and using face detection features, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
In Pages, Apple added new templates for novels, and the option to reapply text to a master page so text and placeholders return to their default style and position. Release notes for Pages are below:
iOS Version:
- Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more. - Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary. - Create links from text to other pages in a page layout document. - Copy and paste pages or sections between documents. - Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more. - Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll -- or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects. - Reapply a master page so text and media placeholders return to their default style and position. - Create books using new templates for novels (available in English only).
macOS Version:
- Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Create links from text to other pages in a page layout document. - Copy and paste pages or sections between documents. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects. - Reapply a master page so text and media placeholders return to their default style and position. - Create books using new templates for novels (available in English only).
Keynote for iOS and macOS has a new feature for editing master slides while collaborating on a presentation, while Keynote for iOS specifically has options like customizing lists with new bullet types, selecting what the Apple Pencil can do, and more. Release notes for Keynote are below:
iOS Version:
- Edit master slides while collaborating on a presentation. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects. - Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables. - Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll -- or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil. - Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more. - Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary.
macOS Version:
- Edit master slides while collaborating on a presentation. - Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
Numbers for Mac and iOS offers improved performance while editing and sorting tables and the option to add rows to filtered tables. For iOS, there are Apple Pencil options and customizable lists. Release notes for Numbers are below:
iOS Version:
- Greatly improved accuracy using the enhanced 128-bit calculation engine. - Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Create links from text to other sheets in a spreadsheet. - Add rows to filtered tables. - Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more. - Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects. - Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll -- or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil. - Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more. - Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary.
macOS Version:
- Greatly improved accuracy using the enhanced 128-bit calculation engine. - Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles. - Create links from text to other sheets in a spreadsheet. - Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text. - Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects. - Improved performance while editing and sorting tables. - Add rows to filtered tables.
All of the new updates are available from the iOS App Store and macOS App Store as of this morning.
Apple has explored the idea of adding a camera to the Apple Watch, although not in the way one might expect.
MacRumors mockup of Apple Watch with camera band
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent that describes an Apple Watch band with a camera or optical sensor affixed to the end of it. This would enable the Apple Watch to capture photos and video, with the Apple Watch's display serving as the viewfinder.
The band would be made with flexible materials, like many current bands, allowing the user to bend or twist it to aim the camera. Apple's patent includes various illustrations of how the band and camera could be positioned, including one where the camera hovers just above the Apple Watch's display.
A camera on the Apple Watch could enable basic photo capturing and FaceTime calls on the wrist. The patent also describes the possibility of multiple optical sensors, suggesting that a future Apple Watch band could have both front and rear cameras, allowing users to switch between views like on the iPhone.
Apple filed the patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on September 16, 2016, a week after it unveiled Apple Watch Series 2 models. While both Series 3 and Series 4 models have launched without camera bands since then, Apple could certainly move forward with the idea in future models.
Apple files numerous patent applications every week, however, and many of the inventions do not see the light of day. Patents are also very detailed, encompassing many possible ideas, even ones that Apple might not have any plans to advance. So, the exact implementation if any remains to be seen.
Over the years, rumors have come and gone about the Apple Watch gaining a front-facing camera in the bezel above its display, but this has never come to fruition, perhaps because of the limited internal space available inside the device. A camera watch band is just one potential solution to that problem.
For the last few years, Amazon has been hosting an epic Prime Day sale that offers up deals and discounts on a huge range of products.
This year, Prime Day is actually going to take place over two days, kicking off at midnight on July 15 and lasting through July 16. Last year's Prime Day ultimately lasted 36 hours, but 48 hours will be the longest Prime Day event to date.
Amazon has some Prime Day event previews on its website, and Prime Day itself will include discounts on everything from tech products to home products, clothing, toys, and more. Amazon is also highlighting products launching on Amazon on Prime Day, such as the Mophie Juice Pack Air.
When Prime Day kicks off, Amazon's website will be filled with lightning deals that kick off at different times over the course of the day, with the available products rotating over time. Lightning deals last for as long as stock lasts, and some of the better deals can go quick.
Last year, we did a live blog covering all of the best Apple-related deals available during Amazon's Prime Day, and we plan to do similar coverage this year so make sure to tune in to MacRumors on July 15 and 16 for help sorting through all of the sales.
Prime Day sales are designed for Amazon Prime members, and a Prime membership is required to get the deals. Prime Day discounts will be available to Amazon customers in the United States, UK, Italy, India, Germany, France, China, Canada, Australia, Belgium, UAE, Austria, Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands.
Initial betas of macOS Catalina can only open the previously selected iTunes library on your Mac prior to updating, according to Apple. Before you install the macOS Catalina beta, choose the iTunes library that you want to use by fully closing iTunes and reopening it while holding down the Option key.
Apple split iTunes into three apps on macOS Catalina: Music, TV, and Podcasts. The iTunes library that you choose will be the one that opens in the beta versions of Music, TV, and Podcasts on macOS Catalina. Your other music files, media, and additional iTunes libraries will remain wherever you have saved them.
Apple's support document suggests that multiple iTunes libraries will be supported in the general release of macOS Catalina this fall.
iTunes has long allowed users to have multiple libraries. Borrowing Apple's examples, you could have a library of holiday music that would not appear in iTunes the rest of the year, or you could keep your music in a library on your computer and your movies in a library on an external storage device.
Twelve South today announced its latest HiRise accessory, called the "HiRise Wireless," and it's available to purchase now on Twelve South's website. The new accessory is a multi-purpose wireless charging stand with two distinct positions: you can charge your iPhone upright in a traditional stand position, or pop out the Qi-certified Power Disc for a miniature device that's perfectly sized to charge AirPods, or to bring with you when you travel.
The Power Disc is also USB-C compatible, so that when you bring it on a trip you can leave the included power cord at home and use the USB-C cable that comes with the latest MacBook and iPad Pro models to charge your iPhone or AirPods on the mat. Twelve South built the accessory with size in mind, ensuring that it has a small footprint in both charging positions: the main base of the accessory measures 3.5 inches across all sides, while the Power Disc is an oval that measures 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches.
Design
I've had a chance to use the new HiRise Wireless stand over the course of the past week, and it's quickly replaced the previous Choetech wireless charging stand I had next to my iMac. The design of the accessory matches the quality of Twelve South's previous HiRise products, with a soft-touch leather padding that looks nice alongside the device's chrome detailing.
The HiRise Wireless is reliably sturdy, and there's a small bump on the base to keep your iPhone upright when it's charging. The stand has a nice heft to it, which helps ensure that it won't budge when you interact with it; a rubberized coating under the stand aids this as well. There's also very little setup, since all you have to do is remove the Power Disc, pass the USB-A to USB-C cable through the oval opening, plug it into the Power Disc, and replace the Qi mat into its slot.
To remove the Power Disc, you simply apply a small amount of pressure to the back of the raised portion of the stand, and the Power Disc pops off with ease. It also remains in place with a firm grip when it's vertical, and I haven't seen the Power Disc fall off or move when I didn't want it to in my testing. After interacting with the accessory for a few days, the black leather and chrome areas do attract smudges and dust easily, but it's also just as simple to wipe clean once in a while.
The accessory's quality design extends to the Power Disc itself, which has a soft leather coating that won't scratch the back of your iPhone if you don't use a case, and a rubberized lining on its back to help make it a bit more stable. There's a small LED on the back to let you know if your device is charging, finished charging, or if there's a foreign object on the mat. Besides a HiRise logo on the back, a Twelve South logo on the front, and the USB-C port, the Power Disc is otherwise a plain and unobtrusive smaller-than-palm-size Qi mat.
Performance
In normal daily use, I've found the HiRise Wireless to perform at the same level of other 10W wireless charging mats. This means the stand provides a solid trickle charge to your iPhone and is perfect for overnight charging. I use Apple's Smart Battery Case on my iPhone X, and for the past few nights the HiRise Wireless has managed to fuel up my iPhone X from around 50 percent to 100 percent, and fully charge the Smart Battery Case.
The accessory works with most iPhone cases, similar to every other Qi mat, so you don't have to worry about taking off your silicone or leather cases to use the HiRise Wireless. With a Smart Battery Case extending my iPhone X's lifecycle I don't necessarily need a wireless stand on my desk when I work, but I prefer to have one since it provides super convenient at-a-glance notification readouts. Because of this, HiRise Wireless was perfect as a desktop companion to my iMac and iPad setup.
The accessory transitions seamlessly into a horizontal charging mat with the Power Disc removal, but there can be some awkward moments where you have to move your iPhone around a bit to find the Qi hotspot. Of course, your iPhone won't be as snug as it is on the full vertical stand, and a good portion of it will be hanging off the Power Disc. I wasn't worried about damaging my iPhone X, but it should be noted that anyone who prefers full-length horizontal mats will likely be disappointed with the tiny Power Disc.
On the other hand, if you plan to use the Power Disc for AirPods charging there are very little downsides. The oval Qi mat is a perfect match with Apple's 2019 AirPods update, which include the Wireless Charging Case. I leave my AirPods charging on a Qi mat in my kitchen so that they're easy to grab as I head out the door, and for the past week I've used the HiRise Wireless in only its Power Disc mode more than anything.
The small device blends perfectly into my kitchen's dark countertops, and it's so inconspicuous that it's easier to miss when compared to full-sized mats, like the Belkin accessory I was previously using to charge my AirPods. With the small design of the wireless earphones, there's also no problem with finding the Qi hotspot on the Power Disc, and I found the charging as reliable as it was for my iPhone X and Smart Battery Case.
Bottom Line
There's a lot of functionality to Twelve South's new HiRise Wireless stand that makes it easy to recommend, but you'll be paying a premium price of $79.99 for the new product. While this is around the same price as Twelve South's other Qi mat (the PowerPic), it exceeds the cost of low-to-average priced mats, which can be as cheap as $10, and still dependable thanks to companies like Anker.
But, if you're looking for a wireless charging mat with utility, you can get your money's worth out of the HiRise Wireless. The accessory offers solid iPhone and AirPods charging speeds in both horizontal and vertical positions, and the quality of its craftsmanship and small footprint make it an ideal desktop charging mat.
How to Buy
You can purchase the HiRise Wireless on TwelveSouth.com for $79.99 starting today.
Note: Twelve South provided MacRumors with one HiRise Wireless stand for the purposes of this review, and no other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Twelve South. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
OWC, a well-known maker of storage solutions for Macs and PCs, today debuted what it says is "the fastest USB-C SSD ever."
The new OWC Envoy Pro EX with USB-C is a bus-powered NVMe M.2 SSD with transfer speeds up to 980MB/s, one bay with up to 2TB of storage, and Thunderbolt 3 compatibility on both Macs and PCs. The external drive has a silver anodized aluminum housing with IP67-rated water and dust resistance.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple accessory maker Mophie today debuted a three-in-one portable battery pack, wall charger, and wireless charging pad.
The new Powerstation Hub is equipped with a 6,100mAh battery, one 5W USB-A port, one 15W USB-A port, one 18W USB-C Power Delivery port, and a Qi-enabled 5W wireless charging surface. The USB-C port can be used to recharge both the portable battery itself and connected devices like an iPhone or iPad.
The hub features foldable wall prongs, LEDs that indicate battery level and charging status, and a rubberized, non-slip finish. A 1.5-meter AC power cable and a 0.5-meter USB-A to USB-C cable are included in the box.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Mophie. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has pushed out an update that introduces a number of new location-based features, including the ability to Add People Nearby.
Users of the chat app can open Contacts -> Add People Nearby to quickly exchange contact info with Telegram users who are standing next to them and also have the same section of the app open.
The new People Nearby section also has a new Groups Nearby option, which shows location-based group chats open for anyone around to join. Users can also Create a Local Group to unite people nearby in a new chat group.
In a previous update, Telegram also added a way for users to control who can see their phone number. This update builds on the new privacy setting by enabling users to add people to their contacts, even if they don't know their number.
This can be done simply by tapping the new Add to Contacts button at the top of every chat thread.
Elsewhere, this update also includes an option to transfer ownership rights over groups and channels to another user, a new toggle to allow message previews for specific chats, support for Siri Shortcuts, and revamped app theme settings.
Apple has released the first public beta of macOS Catalina, the next major version of its Mac operating system due to launch in the fall. The availability of the public beta means Mac users don't need to be part of the Apple Developer Program to be able to download and test the software. This article shows you how it's done.
macOS Catalina is a major update that introduces a range of new features including cross-platform app support for third-party apps, no more iTunes, iPad as a second screen functionality, Screen Time, and more.
But before you get too excited, a word of warning: We don't recommend installing the macOS Catalina Public Beta on your main Mac. The stability of beta software cannot be guaranteed, as it often contains bugs and issues that have yet to be ironed out, so you're better off using a test machine to avoid any potential data loss.
Will macOS Catalina Run on My Mac?
Every Mac that can run macOS Mojave will run macOS Catalina, with the exception of the mid-2010 and mid-2012 Mac Pro models, which will not be getting the update. The full list of compatible Mac models is as follows:
Bear in mind that if you decide you want to revert back to your previous setup after testing the Catalina beta, you will need to erase the beta partition and perform a new macOS Mojave installation.
Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 13 for compatible iPhone and iPod touch models, enabling users who aren't signed up for the Apple Developer Program to test the software update ahead of its official release in the fall.
That said, iOS 13 is pre-release software, so installing the Public Beta on a secondary device is highly recommended. The stability of beta software cannot be guaranteed, as it often contains bugs and issues that have yet to be ironed out, so installing it on your day-to-day device isn't advised.
Is iOS 13 Compatible With My iPhone or iPod touch?
Apple's list of compatible devices confirms that iOS 13 is compatible with all of these iPhones:
Installing the Public Beta shouldn't take longer than half an hour, but first you should create a backup of your device's contents and settings. The following step-by-step instructions are given for iPhone, but apply to iPod touch just the same.
How to Create a Backup of Your Device in iTunes
Connect your iOS device to a Mac or PC using a Lightning to USB cable.
Open iTunes.
Click the device's icon in the top-left menu.
Under Backups, click This computer.
Tick the Encrypt iPhone backup checkbox if you want to back up your login credentials and any Health and HomeKit data.
Click Back Up Now.
Click iTunes -> Preferences… in the macOS menu bar.
Click the Devices tab.
Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the new backup, and select Archive from the contextual dropdown menu.
How to Enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program
Now that you've backed up your device, you're ready to download the iOS 13 Public Beta. To do so, you must enroll your iPhone or iPod touch in the free Apple Beta Software Program.
Tap the Sign up button, or sign in if you're already a member.
Enter your Apple ID credentials and tap the Sign in button.
Agree to the Apple Beta Software Program terms and conditions if necessary.
A Guide for Public Betas screen will appear. Select the iOS tab, scroll down to the Get Started section and tap enroll your iOS device.
On the Enroll Your Devices screen, with the iOS tab selected, scroll down and tap the Download profile button.
Tap "iPhone" when prompted to choose a device.
Tap Allow.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device and then tap Profile Downloaded below your Apple ID banner.
Tap Install and follow the prompts to install the iOS Beta Software Profile.
Restart your device after installing the profile by tapping the restart popup.
How to Install the iOS 13 Public Beta
Once you're enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, you can install the iOS 13 Public Beta on your iOS device just as you would a regular software update.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPod touch.
If you come across any issues installing the iOS 13 Public Beta, it may help to clear any previous profiles lingering on your device. You can find these in the Settings app under General -> Profile.
Apple is planning to expand in Seattle with an additional 2,000 new hires over the course of the next five years, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced in a statement today.
333 Dexter, where Apple is rumored to be expanding in Seattle
Apple has several offices in Seattle with teams working on iCloud, artificial intelligence, and Siri, and recent rumors suggested Apple was planning a major expansion, which has now been confirmed. From Durkan:
"These new jobs confirm what we already knew, we have the best talent and city anywhere. Apple's expanded footprint in Seattle is another example of the growing opportunity that exists for residents of Seattle and the economic powerhouse our City has become. Yet we know that as Seattle continues to grow, we must act urgently to address the pressures that follow - from tackling affordability to new affordable housing to increasing transit.
"By next year, an estimated 70% of jobs in Washington State will require some sort of post-secondary credential. It is my top priority that our kids growing up in Seattle today are prepared to fill the great engineering and computer science jobs that Apple announced today. That's why we created the Seattle Promise and the Opportunity Promise - so our youth are connected with resources and put on a path to the good paying jobs of Seattle's future."
Earlier this month, there were rumors that Apple was looking at leasing a large office complex in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. Apple is said to be planning to occupy a two-tower building at 333 Dexter Avenue, which offers around 630,000 square feet of office space and could accommodate 4,200 employees.
Apple in late 2018 said that it would establish a new site in Seattle, which could be the large office building mentioned in rumors.
Apple already operates a major Seattle engineering hub focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and in 2018, expanded its office space at Two Union Square in downtown Seattle.
Apple today started offering the watchOS 6 beta to select AppleSeed members, allowing some non-developers to test the software for the first time.
AppleSeed is a version of the public beta testing program that's invite only, making it more selective and limited than the open betas that are provided to all public beta testers. As AppleInsider notes, some AppleSeed members are now receiving invites for watchOS 6.
We are extending you an exclusive invitation to join the AppleSeed Program and to take part in shaping watchOS 6. As a participant, you'll get to test-drive pre-release software and provide your feedback.
Our program also includes a community discussion board, questionnaires, and a Feedback Assistant application that lets you report any quality and usability issues you find, directly to Apple. Help us improve the quality of our next release and join today.
There's no way to apply to be an AppleSeed member, so the watchOS 6 beta made available to AppleSeed participants will be limited in scale. Apple does not provide traditional watchOS public betas because there's no way to downgrade the software installed on the Apple Watch. Most people will need to wait for the fall release of watchOS 6 to give the software a try.
The watchOS 6 update brings a new App Store to the Apple Watch, so you can find and download new Apple Watch apps right on your wrist. Apple Watch apps are also no longer required to have an iPhone component, so developers can now create standalone Apple Watch apps.
There are quite a few new watch faces in watchOS 6, including Numerals Mono and Duo with huge numbers, Modular Compact, a Gradient watch face that shifts over the course of a day, a Solar Dial watch face that visualizes the sun in a 24 hour path around the dial, and the California watch face with a mix of standard numbers and Roman numerals.
watchOS 6 also includes new Audiobooks, Voice Memos, and Calculator apps, along with a new Noise app that warns you if you're exposed to sound that could damage your hearing and a new Cycle Tracking app for period tracking. Activity Trends, visible on the iPhone, is a new feature that lets you chart your fitness progress and make sure your fitness trends are improving.
New complications are available for wind speed, chance of rain, and the new Noise app, plus there's a Voice Memos complication for recording a memo quickly, a cellular strength complication, and a complication for the Calculator that opens up the app.
Siri can now provide full web search results right on the watch when asked a question, and for Mac users, the Apple Watch can now approve Mac security prompts.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 13 software update to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers a chance to try out the new software ahead of its fall public release. The first beta of tvOS 13 corresponds to the second tvOS 13 update made available to developers last week.
Public beta testers can download the new update by going to the Settings app on the Apple TV and navigating to the Software Updates section under "System." "Get Public Beta Updates" will need to be toggled on, and once it is, the Apple TV will download the beta software.
tvOS 13 includes a new Home screen that's aimed at making it easier to find new content, with support for autoplaying videos to show off new TV shows, movies, and apps, similar to Netflix.
Multi-user support is new in tvOS 13, letting each member of the family have their own customized Apple TV interface with separate recommendations, music playlists, and Watch Now lists. A new Control Center lets you swap between profiles.
tvOS 13 gets the Apple TV ready for Apple Arcade, Apple's new gaming service that's coming to the Apple TV, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. Apple Arcade will offer unlimited access to more than 100 new and exclusive games, for one subscription fee.
Apple Arcade preparations include support for the Xbox Wireless Bluetooth Controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 Controller, both of which can be connected to an Apple TV over Bluetooth.
Apple is also adding new under-the-sea themed screensavers made in partnership with the BBC Natural History unit, also known for "Blue Planet," and the new software brings support for a picture-in-picture mode that lets you watch TV while doing other things on the Apple TV.
Apple today released the first public betas of iOS 13 and iPadOS to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers a chance to test out the software ahead of its upcoming fall release.
The first public beta of iOS 13 corresponds to the second developer beta released last week. Apple originally said that the public beta would be coming in July, but has apparently decided to release it a few days early. Apple's public beta testing website is still down, so public beta testers will not be able to install the software until it's up.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will receive the iOS 13 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on an iOS device.
Those who want to join the beta testing program can sign up on Apple's beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. Before installing a beta, make sure to create a full encrypted iTunes backup or an iCloud backup. It's best to install iOS 13 on a secondary device because beta software is not always stable and can include bugs.
iOS 13 is a major update to the iOS operating system that runs on the iPhone and the iPad, but this year, iOS 13 and iPadOS, the version of iOS 13 that runs on the iPad, are separate downloads as they've been split up.
iPadOS is identical to iOS 13 in almost every way, though there are some iPad-specific features such as new multitasking capabilities. For the most part, the two operating systems share the same features.
iOS 13 introduces a long list of new features. Dark Mode changes the entire look of the operating system, shifting it from light to dark, while an overhauled Photos app makes it easier to relive your memories with new Days, Months, and Years viewing options.
There's a new photo editing interface that makes it easier to edit photos than ever before, plus there are new tools to work with and options to edit the intensity of the built-in filters.
You can edit video right in the Photos app for the first time, and on the newest iPhones, there's a new High-Key Mono lighting effect and an option to adjust the intensity of Portrait Lightning effects.
There's a less obtrusive volume HUD, a new Find My app that combines Find My iPhone and Find My Friends and lets you track your devices even with they don't have an LTE or WiFi connection.
A Sign In with Apple feature (not yet active) gives you a convenient and data safe way to sign into apps and websites, providing an alternative to Facebook and Google sign in options.
Maps has a new street-level "Look Around" mode and a Collections feature for making lists of places, Reminders has been entirely overhauled to make it more functional, there's a profile feature in Messages along with new Memoji and Animoji stickers, and Siri has a new voice.
There are a ton of additional new features and changes coming in iOS 13, and for a full rundown of what you can expect, you should check out our iOS 13 roundup.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.4 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the fourth iOS 12.4 beta, and over a month after releasing iOS 12.3, a major update that introduced a revamped TV app.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
There were no new features discovered in the first four iOS 12.4 betas, so it's not entirely clear what's coming in the update. As a more significant 12.x update, it's possible that the update is focusing on a feature that's not yet available -- the Apple Card.
Apple is planning to release the Apple Card in the summer, so iOS 12.4 could be the update that prepares the iOS operating system for that launch, adding hidden features that will be unlocked when the update becomes available to the public. If we find new features in the fifth beta of iOS 12.4, we'll update this post.
iOS 12.4 may be one of the last updates to the iOS 12 operating system as Apple transitions to iOS 13, set to launch this September.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.6 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second macOS Mojave 10.14.6 beta and more than a month after the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.5, which brought AirPlay 2 support for third-party TVs.
The new macOS Mojave 10.14.6 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from Apple's Developer Center.
There were no new features or significant changes discovered in the first two betas of macOS Mojave 10.14.6, which indicates it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't able to be addressed in the macOS Mojave 10.14.5 update.
If new features are found in the third beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.6, we'll update this post with details.
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 is likely to be one of the last updates to the macOS Mojave operating system as Apple will soon transition to work on macOS Catalina, announced at WWDC.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.3 update to developers, two weeks after releasing the third watchOS 5.3 beta and a month after the launch of watchOS 5.2.1, an update that expanded ECG availability and introduced new pride watch faces.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
There were no new features discovered in the first three watchOS 5.3 betas, suggesting that it focuses on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements.
There could also be hidden changes that will be available after the update is released, such as support for the upcoming Apple Card, set to debut this summer. If new features are discovered in the fourth watchOS 5.3 beta, we'll update this post with details.
Encrypted messaging platform 
Apple has released the first public beta of 
