Dell this week updated its Mobile Connect iOS app with new features that offer seamless integration between Apple iPhones and Windows PCs, including wireless screen mirroring.
Version 3.0 of the app lets users control their phone with their PC's touchscreen, keyboard and mouse, which also enables drag and drop for photo and video files to transfer them between devices.
In addition to screen mirroring, the update includes Windows support for taking and making iPhone calls handsfree, text messaging, notifications, contacts search, and more when paired with an iPhone.
The Dell Mobile Connect PC app has a few requirements: The Dell laptop needs to be a 2018 model or later with Bluetooth, and the supported Dell laptop ranges include XPS, Inspiron, Vostro, Alienware, and the G Series.
The Dell Mobile Connect app is a free download for iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Apple's iPhone factories in India are closing temporarily, after the Indian government ordered the country's population of 1.3 billion people to stay at home for at least three weeks in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
The factories in India have suspended production until at least April 14 following the nationwide lockdown ordered by President by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As reported by Bloomberg:
Foxconn and Wistron Corp. have suspended production at their India plants, which include the assembly of some Apple Inc. iPhone models, in order to comply with a nationwide lockdown ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., is suspending operations until April 14, the company said in a text message to Bloomberg News. It intends to resume India production based on further government announcements. A Wistron representative said the company is also adhering to the order, while declining to comment on exactly what products are affected.
The 21-day lockdown was announced by Modi via a televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening. "For a few days forget what it means to go out. Today's decision of a nationwide lockdown draws a line outside your home," the PM said.
Wistron's new plant in India was poised to assemble printed circuit boards (PCBs) for iPhones in April, a first for the Taiwanese contract manufacturer that will save Apple having to pay import taxes on the vital Indian smartphone component.
Wistron's other plant, located in central Bengaluru, has been pumping out iPhone SE, iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 models since 2017. Wistron's larger rival, Foxconn, began making iPhone XR models in India last year. Apple also has an office with thousands of employees in Hyderabad, working on Apple Maps data.
All of the plants and offices are likely to be impacted by the virus-fighting measures, which come into force just as Apple planned to ramp up efforts to bring online and in-store sales to customers in India for the first time.
Apple was the fastest growing premium smartphone brand in India last year with 41 percent annual growth, according to recent market research data. India also recently relaxed rules on local sourcing of components, paving the way for Apple to open an online store in India later this year and its first retail store in the country by next year.
Apple suppliers are reportedly ramping up production of hardware featuring Apple's scissor-switch Magic Keyboard, despite concerns over reduced orders owing to the global viral pandemic.
According to DigiTimes sources, suppliers have seen no cutbacks in orders for the products, which include the 16-inch MacBook Pro and Apple's recently announced 13.3-inch MacBook Air and new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.
The MacBook models mentioned above have integrated Magic Keyboards, while users of iPad Pro devices can benefit from the new scissor switch design by way of the Magic Keyboard case, which is sold separately and will launch sometime in May.
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is equipped with scissor switch keys with 1mm of travel and backlighting, making the new keyboard more similar to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro keyboard. It costs $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch model.
Apple is rumored to be planning to release a new 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook Pro with an updated scissor switch keyboard during during the second quarter of 2020.
YouTube Music has launched a new feature in its iOS app that allows users to read the lyrics to a song as it's playing.
To use the new lyrics feature, tap the Info (i) button beneath the video that you're currently watching, then scroll down. If lyrics to the song are available, you'll see them below the tracking bar.
Unlike some song lyrics available in Apple Music, song lyrics in YouTube Music don't advance in real time as the song progresses, so you'll have to scroll down manually if you want to keep in time to the music.
As noted by The Verge, not all tracks on YouTube Music come with lyrics, even if they've been published on official artist or record label accounts, but they could still be propagating as the feature continues to roll out.
The new lyrics feature in YouTube Music for iOS works for both paying and non-paying users. Customers who subscribe to Google Play Music are also automatically signed up to YouTube Music, which is expected to replace the former service soon.
Real-time lyrics were just added to Apple Music on Mac via an update. For a direct comparison between Apple Music and Google Play/YouTube Music, click here.
iPhone users in several countries who disconnect from WiFi on their devices will see a "Stay Home" message at the top of the Control Center where cellular network information is displayed.
According to reports on Twitter, the status bar messages are showing up in countries that include Germany, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Peru, Turkey, India, Luxembourg, Romania, Indonesia, Nigeria, and more.
The message appears when WiFi is toggled off in the Control Center, causing cellular network connectivity information to appear, but it would also show up without turning off WiFi when leaving an available WiFi network and transitioning to cellular. No U.S. networks appear to be showing the Stay Home wording this time.
Countries where the Stay Home message is showing up are encouraging residents to stay inside and practice social distancing to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, with the text serving as a reminder.
Apple today informed developers that ARKit 3.5 is now available, with the update adding support for the LiDAR Scanner and depth-sensing system included in the new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.
According to Apple, the new LiDAR Scanner will allow for a "new generation of AR apps" that use Scene Geometry for enhanced scene understanding and object occlusion.
Existing AR experiences on iPad Pro can also be improved with instant AR placement and improved Motion Capture and People Occlusion.
The LiDAR Scanner uses reflected light to measure the distance from the sensor to surrounding objects up to five meters away, indoors and outdoors. Depth frameworks in iPadOS combine depth points measured by the LiDAR Scanner, data from the two cameras, and data from motion sensors with computer vision algorithms handled by the A12Z Bionic to create a detailed and complete understanding of a scene.
At the current time, the new LiDAR Scanner with its enhanced augmented reality capabilities is limited to the new iPad Pro models, but Apple is also expected to include the feature in the 2020 iPhone models set to be released this fall.
Apple last week introduced new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, which are set to arrive in the hands of customers starting this week. Apple introduced a nifty new Magic Keyboard with trackpad alongside the new iPad Pro models that's coming in May, but it also debuted a new Smart Keyboard Folio, which is available now.
We picked up the Smart Keyboard Folio for the designed for the 2020 iPad Pro models and compared it to the Smart Keyboard Folio that was released alongside the 2018 iPad Pro models to see if there are any notable differences.
Design wise, the two keyboard are close to identical, but the new model is slightly darker in color, though it's still a dark gray shade. The material on the outside feels the same, but there is one major exterior difference - an Apple logo. The new Smart Keyboard Folio is outfitted with an Apple logo, which the original did not have.
There's also a square-shaped camera cutout instead of the vertical camera cutout of the prior model, which allows it to accommodate the new square-shaped camera bump on the new iPad Pro models.
Apple's 2020 iPad Pro models feature a dual-lens camera setup with wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lenses along with a new LiDAR Scanner that's designed to scan the area around you for all-new augmented reality experiences.
When it comes to the keyboard and the typing experience, there's no change. The keys are shallow with little travel and have a fabric-like texture that's meant to be waterproof and spill proof. It's not the greatest typing experience, but it's passable.
The new Smart Keyboard Folio replaces the prior model and it is designed to work with both 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models. On 2018 iPad Pro models, the camera cutout will be larger than necessary, but it fits both. Apple is no longer selling the version with the vertical camera cutout.
Apple in May will release the new Magic Keyboard, which is equipped with scissor switch keys with 1mm of travel and backlighting, making the new keyboard more similar to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro keyboard.
The Smart Keyboard Folio is priced starting at $179 for the 11-inch version and $199 for the 12.9-inch version, which is a good deal cheaper than the $299/$349 asking prices for the new Magic Keyboard options.
Apple today informed employees that it plans to reopen its Apple retail stores starting in the first half of April, according to Bloomberg. Retail stores will not all reopen at once and will likely remain closed longer in areas with more widespread outbreaks.
We will reopen our stores on a staggered basis. At this time, we anticipate some stores may be able to open in the first half of April depending on the conditions in their community. We will provide updates for each store as soon as specific dates are established.
Apple closed all of its stores outside of China on March 14, and at the time of the closure, said that retail locations would remain closed until March 27. That date was later extended with vague wording on the Apple Store website that said stores would be closed "until further notice."
Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien apparently told employees today that remote work plans will be extended through at least April 5, but after that date, brick and mortar stores will be reopening on a staggered basis. Apple plans to reevaluate work from home arrangements on a weekly basis based on workers' locations.
With the new 2020 iPad Pro models set to arrive in the hands of customers tomorrow, accessory makers like Zagg and OtterBox are coming out with case and keyboard options for the new tablets.
Zagg is launching iterations of its Slim Book Go and Rugged Book Go for both the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The Slim Book Go is Zagg's slimmest keyboard option, offering a kickstand cover, laptop-like backlit keys, multi-device pairing, and a detachable keyboard.
The Slim Book Go is priced at $100 for the 11-inch model and $130 for the 12.9-inch model, both of which can be purchased from the Zagg website.
Zagg's Rugged Book Go is similar to the Slim Book Go but with a more durable outer casing that can survive drops of up to 6.6 feet. It features a wireless keyboard with detachable case, a built-in kickstand, backlit laptop-style keys, and multi-device pairing.
The Rugged Book Go for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro costs $150. Neither of the Zagg keyboards feature trackpads, a feature limited to the Magic Keyboard and keyboard solutions from Logitech, but both are designed to accommodate the new square-shaped camera bump.
For those who simply need a protective case for the new iPad Pro models, OtterBox has new Symmetry cases that can be purchased directly from Apple. OtterBox's Symmetry cases provide total device protection with a design that's not overly bulky.
The folio design protects the touchscreen when not in use, but can be converted into a stand with multiple viewing angles or folded out of the way at the back of the iPad Pro.
Safari in macOS 10.15.4 and iOS and iPadOS 13.4 includes enhancements to Apple's Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature that allow for full third-party cookie blocking, Apple's WebKit team said today in a new blog post.
Cookies for cross-site resources are blocked by default in the new versions of Safari, introducing significant privacy improvements because it further cuts down on cross-site tracking functionality.
It might seem like a bigger change than it is. But we've added so many restrictions to ITP since its initial release in 2017 that we are now at a place where most third-party cookies are already blocked in Safari. To keep supporting cross-site integration, we shipped the Storage Access API two years ago to provide the means for authenticated embeds to get cookie access with mandatory user control. It is going through the standards process in the W3C Privacy Community Group right now.
The new cookie blocking feature makes sure there's no Intelligent Tracking Prevention state that can be detected through cookie blocking behavior as it removes statefulness, and it also prevents an attacker from seeing ITP status.
Safari's default cookie policy requires a third-party to have "seeded" its cookie jar as first-party before it can use cookies as third-party. This means the absence of cookies in a third-party request can be due to ITP blocking existing cookies or the default cookie policy blocking cookies because the user never visited the website, the website's cookies have expired, or because the user or ITP has explicitly deleted the website's cookies.
Thus, the absence of cookies in a third-party request outside the attacker's control is not proof that the third-party domain is classified by ITP.
Safari is the first mainstream browser to fully block third-party cookies by default, and Apple's WebKit team wants to pave the way for other browsers to do the same, so it plans to report on the experiences of full third-party cookie blocking to W3C privacy groups in an effort to help other browsers make the change as well.
More info on the changes implemented in Safari for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS today can be found in the full blog post.
Plague Inc., a highly popular iOS game from Ndemic Creations that has seen its downloads surge in recent weeks, has announced a major update that will tweak the core gameplay to allow players to work to stop the outbreak of a virus.
Traditionally, the goal in Plague Inc. is to spread an infectious virus across the world, infecting and eventually killing the entire population as an end-game goal.
The new Plague Inc. game mode will let players manage disease progression and boost healthcare systems, as well as control actions like triaging, quarantining, social distancing, and the closing of public services. The new gameplay mode is being developed with the help of experts from the World Health Organisation, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and more.
The new update will be available for all Plague Inc. players for free and Ndemic Creations plans to release it as soon as possible.
Along with adding a new option that will let players fight a virus instead of spread a virus, Ndemic Creations has also donated $250,000, which is being split between the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
With schools closed in many countries due to the current pandemic, teachers and parents alike are navigating the new reality of educating students from home. To help with this, Apple has launched a new series of videos designed to help schools and educators use built-in features of their Apple devices like the iPad to enable remote learning.
There are currently two videos available, with more to follow:
PREPARE RESOURCES FOR REMOTE LEARNING This video will help educators learn how to get up and running for remote learning with iPad. We'll explore ways to access school resources and find apps that support remote learning. Tips will include using iPad built-in features to scan documents and stay organized, using Markup to annotate teacher materials and student work, getting set up with Voice Memos, and more.
CREATE AND SHARE PRESENTATIONS AND DEMOS Presenting information in compelling ways is even more important when you're not able to be face-to-face with your students. In this video we'll show you how to use iPad built-in features to create demos and instructional videos and share them with your colleagues and students. Using Keynote, or any presentation tool, you'll learn how to record content and create demos on iPad for use with your students.
Today we’re launching Apple Education Learning Series, a growing collection of videos designed to help schools and educators make the most of #RemoteLearning on their Apple devices.
— Apple Education (@AppleEDU) March 24, 2020
Apple is updating its privacy policy for the Apple Card because it wants to share more anonymized data with Goldman Sachs, the financial partner that backs the card. Apple plans to share additional data with Goldman Sachs for improving how credit is assigned to new customers.
According to TechCrunch, data that is collected is aggregated and anonymized, and there is an opt-out option for new customers.
Apple says that sharing more data could expand the kind of user that is able to apply for an Apple Card. For those who apply and are not approved, there's also a new option to share more personal data with Goldman Sachs, such as purchase history of Apple products. The new wording of the privacy policy is below:
"You may be eligible for certain Apple Card programs provided by Goldman Sachs based on the information provided as part of your application. Apple may know whether you receive the invitation to participate and whether you accept or decline the invitation, and may share that information with Goldman Sachs to effectuate the program. Apple will not know additional details about your participation in the program.
Apple may use information about your account with Apple, such as the fact that you have Apple Card, for internal research and analytics purposes, such as financial forecasting. Apple may also use information about your relationship with Apple, such as what Apple products you have purchased, how long you have had your Apple ID, and how often you transact with Apple, to improve Apple Card by helping to identify Apple metrics that may assist Goldman Sachs in improving credit decisioning. No personally identifiable information about your relationship with Apple will be shared with Goldman Sachs to identify the relevant Apple metrics. You can opt out of this use or your Apple relationship information by emailing our privacy team at dpo@apple.com with the subject line "Apple Relationship Data and Apple Card."
Applicants and cardholders may be able to choose to share the identified metrics with Goldman Sachs for re-evaluation of their offer of credit or to increase their credit line. Apple may share information about your relationship with Apple with our service providers, who are obligated to handle the information consistent with this notice and Apple instructions, are required to use reasonable security measures to protect any personal information received, and must delete the personal information as soon as they have completed the services."
Along with these privacy policy changes, Apple is introducing more detail to internal transactions. There will be no more ambiguity about charges that are labeled Apple Services, and it will now more clearly state exactly what has been purchased.
Apple's privacy policy changes are included in iOS 13.4, but the option to share data will not roll out immediately for new Apple Card users and will appear later.
Apple today released macOS Catalina 10.15.4, the fourth update to the macOS Catalina operating system that was released in October. macOS Catalina 10.15.4 comes a couple of months after the release of macOS Catalina 10.15.3.
macOS Catalina 10.15.4 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free using the Update feature in the System Preferences app.
The macOS Catalina 10.15.4 update introduces Screen Time Communication Limits, a feature that was first brought to the iPhone in the iOS 13.3 update. Communication Limits allow parents to put limits on who children can contact through FaceTime, Phone, Messages, and iCloud Contacts.
There's a new Head Pointer Accessibility option that allows the mouse cursor to be controlled with head movements using the Mac's camera, plus real-time lyrics are included for Apple Music. Real-time lyrics allow lyrics for a song to scroll by in real-time to the music so you can follow along with what's being sung. Apple has also added iCloud Folder Sharing, which can be done from Finder.
Though not directly related to macOS Catalina 10.15.4, Apple is adding a new universal purchase option for macOS and iOS apps, which will allow Apple device users to purchase one app that works across multiple platforms. These features will be available following the release of macOS Catalina 10.15.4 and iOS 13.4. Release notes for the update are below:
macOS Catalina 10.15.4 introduces iCloud Drive folder sharing, Screen Time communications limits, Apple Music time-synced lyrics view, and more. The update also improves the stability, reliability, and security of your Mac.
Finder - iCloud Drive folder sharing from Finder - Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link - Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
Screen Time - Communication limits for controlling who your children can communicate with and be contacted by throughout the day and during downtime - Playback control of music videos for your children
Music - Time-synced lyrics view for Apple Music, including the ability to jump to your favorite part of a song by clicking a line in lyrics view
Safari - Option to import Chrome passwords into your iCloud Keychain for easy AutoFill of your passwords in Safari and across all your devices - Controls for duplicating a tab and for closing all tabs to the right of the current tab - HDR playback support on compatible computers for Netflix content
App Store with Apple Arcade - Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
Pro Display XDR - Customized reference modes that you can tailor to specific workflow needs by selecting from several color gamut, white point, luminance, and transfer function options
Accessibility - Head pointer preference for moving a cursor on the screen based on the precise movements of your head
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. - High Dynamic Range output to HDR10-compatible third-party displays and TVs connected with DisplayPort or HDMI - OAuth authentication support with Outlook.com accounts for improved security - CalDav migration support when upgrading to iCloud reminders on a secondary device - Resolves an issue where text copied between apps may appear invisible when Dark Mode is active - Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly - Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders - Fixes an issue with screen brightness for the LG UltraFine 5K display after waking from sleep
macOS Catalina 10.15.4 could be one of the last updates to the macOS Catalina operating system as Apple shifts its focus to macOS 10.16, set to be released later this year.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 13.4, the latest major updates to the iOS 13 operating system that was released in September. iOS and iPadOS 13.4 come two months after the release of iOS and iPadOS 13.3.1 with Screen Time Communication Limits.
The iOS and iPadOS 13.4 updates are available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple is also releasing iOS 12.4.6 for older iPhones, with the update adding security improvements.
iOS and iPadOS 13.4 are significant updates, bringing several important new features to the iPhone and the iPad. Most notably, the iPadOS 13.4 update introduces mouse and trackpad support for the iPad to allow for greater precision and improved navigation.
Mouse and trackpad support comes ahead of the May release of Apple's new Magic Keyboard, which is a keyboard for the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro that includes a trackpad. The update adds support for Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party USB and Bluetooth mouse options, plus it introduces multi-touch gestures when using the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2.
There's a new toolbar available in the Mail app that's available when viewing an email, with the updated design featuring a more logical layout to address complaints about the Mail app in earlier versions of iOS 13.
The revamped design moves the reply icon away from the delete icon, making it harder to accidentally delete an email. It also adds Folder and Compose icons.
iCloud Folder Sharing, which is designed to let users share iCloud Drive folders with other people, is included in iOS 13.4. iCloud Folder Sharing was initially announced at WWDC as an iOS 13 feature last year, but it has taken Apple several months to implement it. The feature shows real-time updates so file changes will sync across the devices of all people with access to a specific folder.
Apple has added nine new Memoji and Animoji stickers in the update, with the new stickers featuring emoji-style poses like shocked face, face with hearts, eyes rolling, and more.
Apple has also made a subtle but notable change to the way the URL bar works in Safari. In iOS 13.4, you can tap into the URL bar right away even when a URL is highlighted, which is different behavior from iOS 13.3.1. In iOS 13.3.1, an extra tap outside of a URL was required to deselect it before it could be tapped to be edited.
New settings in the TV app allow users to control streaming and downloading over Wi-Fi and cellular, adding new data saving options for those who don't have unlimited streaming plans.
Hints of a new "CarKey" API were found in iOS 13.4, which would allow the iPhone to be used to lock, unlock, and start a car that has NFC capabilities. Sharing features will also be available for assigning keys to friends and family members through the Messages app.
CarKey functionality hasn't been announced by Apple as of yet, and it's not mentioned in the release notes for the update, but when launched, it will iPhone owners to use their devices in lieu of a car key. CarKey could be coming as an iOS 14 feature, and BMW could be one of the first partners.
Though not an iOS specific feature, Apple with iOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, tvOS 13.4, and Xcode 11.4 is allowing developers to create apps with universal purchase support, which means Apple device users will be able to purchase one app that works across multiple platforms.
iOS 13.4 includes third-party navigation app support for the CarPlay Dashboard along with support for in-call information. There are new keyboard shortcuts for the Photos app on the iPad and AR Quick Look supports audio playback for USDZ files.
Apple also added a new Shazam Shortcuts action, options for remapping hardware keys of a keyboard connected to the iPad, there's a new status indicator to display when a VPN has disconnected on iPhones with all-screen displays, and Apple has introduced a number of bug fixes.
A bug that could cause the camera viewfinder to appear as a black screen has been addressed, as has an issue that could cause Photos to appear to use too much storage. The update addresses a problem that could cause Mail message to appear out of order, fixes a Settings issue that resulted in cellular data incorrectly displaying as off, and fixes an issue that could cause CarPlay to lose connection in certain vehicles.
Apple's full release notes for the iOS 13.4 update are below:
iOS 13.4 introduces new Memoji stickers and iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.
Memoji - Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
Files - iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app - Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link - Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
Mail - Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view - Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
App Store with Apple Arcade - Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - List view for See All Games
CarPlay - Third-party navigation app support for the CarPlay Dashboard - In-call information appears on the CarPlay Dashboard
Augmented Reality - AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
Keyboard - Predictive typing support for Arabic
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update: - Adds status bar indicator to display when VPN has disconnected on iPhone models with all-screen displays - Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch - Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage - Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled - Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order - Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows - Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look - Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off - Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active - Resolves an issue where text copied from web content may appear invisible when pasted when Dark Mode is active - Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly - Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed - Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders - Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in - Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality - Resolves an issue where CarPlay may lose its connection in certain vehicles - Fixes an issue in CarPlay where the view in Maps may move away briefly from the current area - Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording - Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot - Improves the Burmese keyboard so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols
Apple has also provided separate release notes for the iPadOS update, which are available below and cover all of the new mouse and trackpad features.
iPadOS 13.4 introduces support for mouse and trackpad with iPad for greater precision and navigating the system with Multi-Touch gestures, and adds iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app and new Memoji stickers. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.
Mouse and Trackpad Support - All-new cursor design highlights app icons on the Home Screen and Dock and buttons and controls in apps - Magic Keyboard for iPad support on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later) - Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party Bluetooth and USB mouse support - Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Keyboard for iPad and Magic Trackpad 2 enable you to scroll, swipe between app spaces, go Home, access App Switcher, zoom in or out, tap to click, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages - Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Mouse 2 enable you to scroll, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages
Files - iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app - Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link - Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
Memoji - Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
Mail - Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view - Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
App Store with Apple Arcade - Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - List view for See All Games
Augmented Reality - AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
Keyboard - Live Conversion for Zhuyin automatically transforms Zhuyin into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates - Live Conversion for Japanese automatically transforms Hiragana into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates - Predictive typing support for Arabic - Swiss German keyboard layout supported on iPad Pro 12.9-inch - On-screen keyboard layout for iPad Pro 12.9-inch now matches Smart Keyboard
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update: - Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch - Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage - Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled - Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order - Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows - Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look - Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off - Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active - Resolves an issue where text copied from web content in a third-party app may appear invisible when pasted if Dark Mode is active - Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly - Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed - Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders - Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in - Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality - Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording - Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot - Improves the Burmese keyboard so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols
iOS 13.4 is likely to be one of the last major updates to the iOS 13 operating system as Apple begins to shift focus to iOS 14, which is expected to be previewed in June ahead of a fall release. There have already been quite a few iOS 14 leaks, which can be found in our iOS 14 roundup.
Apple today released watchOS 6.2, the sixth update to the watchOS 6 operating system that's designed to run on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 6.2 comes a month after the release of watchOS 6.1.3, a minor update.
watchOS 6.2 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 6.2 update introduces Apple Watch App Store support for in-app purchases, which lets developers create and sell Apple Watch apps that offer in-app purchase options and subscriptions. watchOS 6.2 also brings ECG support and irregular heart rhythm notifications to Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey, plus it fixes an issue that could interrupt music playback when switching from WiFi to Bluetooth connectivity.
During the testing period, code in iOS 13.4, the companion update to watchOS 6.2, had signs of a feature called "CarKey" that will let the iPhone and Apple Watch be used in lieu of a car key to unlock NFC-cable vehicles. Based on the watchOS 6.2 release notes this feature is not included in the update, but it is at least in the works and perhaps coming soon.
Apple's full release notes for the watchOS 6.2 update are below:
watchOS 6.2 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes: - Introduces in-app purchases for Apple Watch apps - Fixes an issue where music playback could pause when switching from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth connectivity - ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey - Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/
watchOS 6.2 could be one of the last major updates to the watchOS 6 operating system as Apple begins to shift its focus to watchOS 7, which is in development ahead of a fall release. Apple is likely to preview watchOS 7 in June ahead of releasing it alongside new Apple Watch models later this year. Details on watchOS 7 can be found in our watchOS roundup.
Apple today released tvOS 13.4, the third major update to the tvOS operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 13.4 comes a couple of months after the release of tvOS 13.3.1.
tvOS 13.4, 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 13.4 automatically.
tvOS updates are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes.
tvOS 13.4 introduces some small design changes to streamline the look of the TV app and it adds Family Sharing integration so users can access iTunes content purchased by family members without having to leave the app.
Apple has also released an Apple TV Software Update 7.5 for the third-generation Apple TV, which lets you control the Apple TV from Control Center on iOS and iPadOS devices.
Alongside iOS and iPadOS 13.4, Apple has released new 13.4 software for the HomePod, with minor under-the-hood changes and no notable new features.
According to Apple's release notes, HomePod Software Version 13.4 includes "general improvements for stability and quality" with no other details.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.
Safari in macOS 10.15.4 and iOS and iPadOS 13.4 includes enhancements to Apple's Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature that allow for full third-party cookie blocking, Apple's WebKit team said today in 
