MacRumors

Apple's iOS 9.3 beta introduces major new features like Night Shift, but there are also dozens of little tweaks to be discovered in the operating system update. It appears that one of those minor changes applies to Wi-Fi Assist, adding a much-needed feature that allows users to see just how much data it's using.

Wi-Fi Assist data usage can be checked within the Settings app by choosing the Cellular section and scrolling down to the Wi-Fi Assist option. Next to the toggle that turns the feature on and off, there's now a data usage number that displays how much data has been consumed when it is in use.

wifiassistnewios9datafeature
Wi-Fi Assist was first introduced with iOS 9. It's a feature that allows an iPhone to seamlessly switch over to a cellular connection whenever a local Wi-Fi connection is weak. Enabled automatically when updating to iOS 9, Wi-Fi Assist proved to be unpopular with users who claimed it was eating up a lot of data. One recent news story even accused Wi-Fi Assist of causing a teenager to receive a cell phone bill for upwards of $2,000.

Concerns about Wi-Fi Assist led Apple to publish a support document on the feature, explaining how it works and assuring users that data usage should only be a "small percentage higher" than previous usage. Wi-Fi Assist only turns on in a limited number of circumstances and won't activate when data roaming, when apps are downloading background content, or when using third-party apps that stream audio or video.

Despite Apple's reassurances about Wi-Fi Assist, unhappy customers filed a $5 million class action lawsuit over the feature, with the plaintiffs claiming they were subjected to overage charges on their iPhones after updating to iOS 9. The lawsuit also claims Apple did not do an adequate job explaining the feature when iOS 9 was released.

Wi-Fi Assist is available on any iOS device running iOS 9 or later, with the exception of the iPhone 4s, the iPad 2, the third-generation iPad, and the original iPad mini. Wi-Fi Assist can be turned off using the Settings app for those who don't want to risk using extra data.

AgileBits today announced a new Mac version of 1Password, its popular cross-platform password management app. 1Password version 6.0 for Mac includes several new features like an All Vaults view, a new password generator, and iCloud sync for all versions of the Mac app.

1Password's new "All Vaults" view allows users to see all of their passwords and password vaults at a glance, both in the main 1Password app and the menu bar view. Many people use vaults to organize and share their passwords for different purposes, so this will be a handy feature for accessing the passwords from multiple vaults without needing to switch back and forth. All Vaults also incorporates information from the Teams Beta, and there's a new Teams-only mode.

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Along with a new vault view, the new 1Password update introduces a revamped Strong Password Generator that brings it inline with the 1Password for iOS app. Included is a new wordlist password generator with a "Words" option to create a password that is composed of random words. Wordlist passwords are useful because they're much easier to remember than a random assortment of characters, but are no less secure.

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For people who use the non-Mac App Store version of 1Password, there's an important new feature - iCloud syncing. Apple previously did not allow non-Mac App Store apps to sync with iCloud, but changes to CloudKit have now allowed AgileBits to implement iCloud syncing for the version of 1Password purchased directly from the AgileBits Store.

Being able to sync a non-Mac App Store app with iCloud is an achievement that took quite a bit of work to implement, and it's something that other non-Mac App Store Apps don't yet feature. As AgileBits explains, the feature in 1Password is built using CloudKit web services.

In addition to these new features, the 1Password for Mac update includes a long list of bug fixes and feature improvements, which can be found in AgileBits' full change log.

Customers who own the non-Mac App Store version of 1Password can update to 1Password 6 immediately. AgileBits is waiting for the Mac App Store version to be approved, at which point those customers will also be able to upgrade at no cost.

1Password can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]

The accompanying 1Password iOS app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

To mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of Skype's video calling feature, Skype today announced plans to bring group video calling to mobile devices, including the iPhone and the iPad. As with group video calling on desktop devices, group video calling on mobile devices will be free.

Group video calling has been available for free for Mac, PC, and Xbox One users since April of 2014. Prior to that, using the feature required users to have a Premium Skype subscription.


Skype plans to begin rolling out group video calling on mobile devices over the course of the next few weeks, but Skype is allowing customers to sign up with their email address and Skype user name to register for early access.

When signing up, Skype's registration process says access to mobile group video calling will be available in the next few days.

Tag: Skype

Apple updated its vintage and obsolete products list today with the addition of some older Beats wired headphones and accessories, including select first- or second-generation Heartbeats, Mixr, Powerbeats, Pro, Solo, Solo HD, Studio and Tour models. One old wireless model was also obsoleted.

Apple products on the vintage and obsolete list are no longer eligible for hardware service, with a few exceptions. Apple defines obsolete products as those that have not been manufactured for more than seven years, while vintage products are those that were discontinued more than five but less than seven years ago.

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The following Beats headphones and accessories are now obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America:

  • Heartbeats (2nd gen.): black, white

  • Mixr: black, white

  • Powerbeats (1st gen.): black, red, white

  • Pro: black, Detox, white

  • Solo (1st gen.): black, white, HTC white

  • Solo HD: black, black-gold, purple, red, white, Yao Ming

  • Studio (1st g.): Red Sox, black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, white

  • Tour (1st gen.): black, white

  • Urbeats (1st gen.): black, matte white

  • Wireless (1.5): black, white

Apple obsoleting many of the older Beats wired models listed above is largely unsurprising, but it comes at a time when the company is expected to make a big push towards wireless connectivity on its flagship product.

Multiple reports claim the iPhone 7 will not have a headphone jack, but rather an all-in-one Lightning port for docking and audio. iPhone 7 users would be able to pair wireless headphones over Bluetooth, use Lightning-equipped headphones or connect headphones with traditional 3.5mm jacks with a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.

Apple may release Lightning-equipped EarPods, and the company already offers Powerbeats 2, Solo2 and Studio wireless headphones through its Beats brand. It is also rumored the iPhone 7 will feature wireless charging, allowing for the smartphone to be charged at the same time Lightning-equipped headphones are being used.

iPhone-7-Headphone-vs-Lightning
Apple is also said to be developing new wireless headphones ahead of the iPhone 7's likely September unveiling.

Apple yesterday surprised us with new betas of iOS 9.3, OS X 10.11.4, watchOS 2.2, and tvOS 9.2. Of those betas, iOS 9.3 and tvOS 9.2 introduce important new features to iOS devices and the fourth-generation Apple TV.

iOS 9.3 includes a new Night Shift mode that cuts down on blue light in the evening for better sleep, plus it introduces new Quick Actions for several stock apps and brings new features for News, Notes, Health, CarPlay, and more. A full walkthrough of what's new in iOS 9.3 is available in the video below.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

tvOS 9.2 introduces features that have been sorely missing from the new Apple TV, including support for Bluetooth keyboards to make text entry a simpler process. It includes folders for organizing the Home screen much like one can do on an iOS device, and it introduces a new look for the Home screen, among other things. To see everything that's new in tvOS 9.2, make sure to watch our walkthrough video.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

watchOS 2.2 and OS X 10.11.4 include less obvious under-the-hood updates, but both bring important new features. OS X 10.11.4 introduces support for locked notes, while watchOS 2.2, paired with iOS 9.3, allows the iPhone to connect to multiple Apple Watches.

There's no word on when we'll see the public releases of iOS 9.3, tvOS 9.2, OS X 10.11.4, and watchOS 2.2, but there's undoubtedly several weeks of testing left before the updates will launch. Ahead of these major releases, we will see the launch of iOS 9.2.1 and OS X 10.11.3, both of which are also in testing.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Apple-Watch-Heart-Rate-SensorApple has posted at least four job listings since November seeking biomedical engineers and technicians to join the research and development arm of its Health Technologies team, reports BuzzFeed News.

Apple's current health and fitness initiatives include the Apple Watch, launched last April with a heart rate sensor and activity tracking, and ResearchKit, an open source medical research framework for clinical trials on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The rumored Apple Watch 2 is expected to launch in March with several improvements, possibly including a FaceTime Camera and expanded Wi-Fi capabilities, but Apple's health and fitness ambitions beyond its next-generation smartwatch remain open to speculation.

Apple CEO Tim Cook stirred speculation in November when he said that while Apple does not want to subject the Apple Watch to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, the company is not against the idea of putting adjacent products like apps or "something else" through the FDA.

Since then, Apple has made a number of hirings that suggest it may be working on a new health and fitness project.

Apple-AnneBuzzFeed News also found that over the last three or so months, Apple has snapped up employees from the medical world, according to LinkedIn. For example, Anne Shelchuk, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering, left ultrasound software company ZONARE Medical Systems for Apple’s health technology team in November. […]

Craig Slyfield, a mechanical engineer who’s co-authored several papers related to measuring and visualizing human bones in 3D, also joined Apple as a product development engineer in November. A hire in October was system design engineer Nathan Clark, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering and a patent for a device that separates cells.

Last March, ABC provided a closer look at Apple's top-secret health and fitness lab where it collected more than 18,000 hours of health and fitness data from over 10,000 workout sessions by Apple employees. Apple COO Jeff Williams is known to lead the Apple Watch team internally, while Director of Fitness for Health Technologies Jay Blahnik, a former Nike FuelBand consultant, also plays a key role.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Following a lengthy beta testing period, VideoLAN has announced that its VLC app is now available for the fourth-generation Apple TV on the tvOS App Store.

The app is a full port of the VLC media player and supports virtually all video formats in line with the VLC for iOS app. There are also many tvOS-specific features.

VLC-Apple-TV
- Content Discovery: The app automatically discovers video files stored on your local network, using the SMB, UPnP media server, FTP and PLEX protocols. You can browse through videos with the Siri Remote and select content for playback. During playback, subtitles can be added from OpenSubtitles.org.

- Saved Logins: Login credentials can be securely stored on the Apple TV and will be synchronized to and from your iPhone and iPad.

Remote-Playback-VLC-Apple-TV
- Remote Playback: VLC displays an IP address under the Remote Playback menu on Apple TV. This address can be typed into your computer's web browser, and an interface will pop up allowing you to drag and drop a file to play it on your TV remotely.

You can drag and drop multiple files to queue them. The files will remain available locally on the Apple TV until its internal storage is maxed out. The web interface can be used for remote play, pause and seeking.

For playback of a network stream URL on your TV, just paste it to the field and push return. Once playback concludes, you will find it in the Network Stream view for future use. Like for files, you can send multiple URLs rows in a row and they will be attached to the playback queue.

VLC-Playback-Apple-TV
- Playback: VLC for the Apple TV supports basic play, pause and seek controls. You can navigate the app by chapter and titles or select from multiple audio and subtitles tracks. Other features include custom playback speed and hatchet.is integration for artist imagery and biographies.

VLC is currently beta testing Apple TV support for cloud services Dropbox, OneDrive and Box. The feature will be available in the near future.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tags: App Store, VLC
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

The QardioBase is a Wi-Fi connected smart scale created by Qardio, the same company that produces the well-known medical-grade QardioArm blood pressure monitoring accessory. QardioBase, Qardio's second product, was first introduced at CES in January of 2015 and began shipping out to customers in the fall.

Qardio's new scale includes features for measuring weight and analyzing body composition to provide details on a person's overall health. It bundles these health-management features into a friendly package that's meant to provide gentle guidance towards a healthier life. I've been testing the QardioBase for several weeks now, and while I'm a fan of the minimal design and the health features it provides, there are some flaws that will prevent it from appealing to all users.

qardiobasemain

Design

At first glance, the QardioBase is one good looking scale. Circular in shape, it features a plain white glass-covered top that's unmarred by numbers or other adornments. Underneath that glass is an LED screen, which is what displays body weight and other information using green pixels.

The QardioBase looks nice, but in my experience, it has a not-insignificant design flaw. It has a funnel-shaped design where the outer edges of the scale extend further outwards than the base, making it unstable. When I stepped on or off the scale near the edge, it felt like it was going to tip over, taking me along with it. I didn't fall when using it, but I did have a few "Oh my gosh!" moments where I had to grab on to something to steady myself. I'm no designer, but this instability seems like a big oversight.

qardiobasesideview
Measuring in at 12.6 inches across, the QardioBase is similar in size to the average house scale, but its round shape means it doesn't fit as neatly up against a wall or in a corner when not in use.

qardiobaseedge
Underneath, the QardioBase opens up to allow batteries to be inserted. It takes 8 AAA batteries, likely due to the LED display under the glass. That's a lot of batteries to have to keep on hand, and a significant ongoing cost. My existing scale uses half that number of batteries. According to QardioBase, the batteries last a year with regular usage, and I had no issues with battery during the time that I tested the scale.

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iPhone6s-back-frontFollowing rumors claiming that iPhones will adopt OLED displays in less than three years, Taiwanese website Focus Taiwan cites local media reports stating that Apple is planning to invest in AMOLED display supplier AU Optronics.

According to the reports, Apple is likely to transform AUO into an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) screen supplier for production of future iPhones, and if AUO agrees with Apple's fund injection plan, the Taiwanese firm could see its sales and gross margin grow significantly.

AU Optronics declined to comment on its potential investment deal with Apple, but the supplier's shares of the company gained 5.15% on Tuesday to close at NT$9.53 on the Taiwanese stock market amid the rumors.

AU Optronics, which has supplied LCD panels to Apple in the past, has reportedly been developing AMOLED displays for more than a decade, and last year it began shipping AMOLED panels to Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers. Apple currently uses LCD panels for iPhones, sourced primarily from Sharp and Japan Display.

Last month, it was reported that Apple has been recruiting talent from AU Optronics and Qualcomm to work at a Taiwanese factory, where the company is purportedly developing thinner, lighter and brighter displays for future Apple devices. The secretive lab may be specifically focused on OLED and Micro-LED technologies.

Samsung, LG and Japan Display have also been rumored to provide Apple with OLED displays for iPhones starting in 2018.

OLED displays typically have brighter colors and deeper blacks, and the lack of a backlight increases power efficiency, but the panels can also have shorter lifespans and higher manufacturing costs compared to LCD technology. Apple has reportedly been consulting with OLED panel makers to eliminate potential drawbacks.

Samsung is the most popular smartphone maker that uses AMOLED displays, while the Apple Watch became Apple's first AMOLED device last April.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple is planning to open a retail store on the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, reports French site MacGeneration [Google Translate] citing information shared by French newspaper Le Figaro. Rumors about a store on Champs-Élysées have been circulating since 2012, but it appears Apple has finally secured a lease for a storefront on the famous avenue.

applestorechampselysees

Google Maps view of prospective Apple Store location, via MacGeneration

Apple is said to have signed a 12 year lease for a building at 114 avenue des Champs-Élysées in December of 2015. The store will reportedly encompass an area of 6,200 square meters, with offices located above the retail space.

At the current time, 114 avenue des Champs-Élysées is home to several shops and a law firm, but Apple has leased the entire building. According to Le Figaro, Apple will not open the Champs-Élysées store until 2018 or 2019 because it needs time to create a building plan with architectural design partner Norman Foster and obtain authorization for a remodel.

If a store does indeed open on Champs-Élysées, it will be the 20th Apple retail store in France.

In an interview with the BBC, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it is an "open secret" that Apple is developing an electric car. Musk made the statement when asked if he had heard anything about Apple's car development plans and went on to highlight the huge number of hires Apple has made as evidence.

"Well, it's pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it," he said, before adding that he believed Apple was serious about the project. "This is an open secret."

Musk went on to say Tesla welcomes participation by any company that wants to create electric vehicles, but he cautioned that it's "quite hard to do." He brushed off the interviewer's question of whether an Apple car would be a threat to Tesla, and said that he believes Apple will develop a "compelling" electric car because "it seems like the obvious thing to do."

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"Tesla will still aspire to make the most compelling electric vehicles, and that would be our goal, while at the same helping other companies to make electric cars as well."

Musk is aware of Apple's hiring efforts because Apple has made an effort to hire former Tesla employees for its car project. The two companies have developed something of a rivalry as they compete for talent, leading Musk to take a jab at Apple in an October interview, saying "If you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple," a statement he later retracted.

The first rumors surrounding Apple's car project, allegedly codenamed "Project Titan," surfaced in early 2015. Since then, Apple has recruited dozens of engineers and researchers from the automotive industry and other car-related fields, poaching employees from companies like Tesla, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Samsung, and more.

Over the past few months, there's been a growing body of evidence pointing towards work on a car. Apple sought out a secure testing facility for testing electric vehicles in May of 2015, and met with DMV officials to discuss the laws and regulations surrounding self-driving vehicles in California in September. Most recently, Apple registered three auto-related top-level domain names, including apple.car, apple.cars, and apple.auto.

Little is known about Apple's car project, but the company is rumored to be working on an electric vehicle. Rumors have disagreed on the topic of autonomy, but the most recent information suggests that while Apple is exploring self-driving technology, it is a feature that may come in a later version of the Apple Car.

Over the weekend, The Telegraph published a questionable rumor suggesting Apple was planning to develop a tool to help iPhone users switch to Android to appease major European telecoms operators. Citing a "senior industry source," the site said Apple had agreed to create a feature that would let customers transfer contacts, music, and photos from an iPhone to an Android device.

The rumor gained enough traction to prompt Apple to step in and make a statement to Buzzfeed, clarifying that no iPhone to Android switching tool is under development.

androidappleswitch

"There is no truth to this rumor," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great."

As the Apple spokesperson says, Apple has been working hard to encourage Android users to switch to iPhone over the past few months, making the development of a tool to encourage the opposite nonsensical.

In September, Apple launched a "Move to iOS" app to make it easier for Android users to switch to an iPhone, and before that, the company debuted a trade-in program that allows Android users to trade in their Android-based devices to receive a gift card towards the purchase of an iPhone.

Apple's efforts have been successful, and Apple often shares details on the sizable number of Android users that have switched to the iPhone. During Apple's October earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that 30 percent customers who purchased an iPhone and replaced a smartphone in Q4 2015 had switched from an Android device.

Tag: Android

Apple's iOS 9.2.1 update is still in testing, but that didn't stop the company from surprising us with an iOS 9.3 beta this morning. The iOS 9.3 beta is one of the biggest updates to iOS 9 yet, introducing a new Night Shift feature and improving several existing apps, including Notes, Apple News, Health, CarPlay, and more.

We've gathered up a full list of the changes and new features in iOS 9.3, to give MacRumors readers a clear picture of what they can expect to see when iOS 9.3 is released to the public.


Night Shift - Night Shift is a new feature that's designed to automatically cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS user is exposed to at night by shifting to more yellow tones for the iPhone or iPad's display. Studies have suggested blue light exposure at night can disrupt the circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

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Night Shift settings are available in the "Display & Brightness" section of the Settings app. In this section, there's a new option to toggle on Night Shift and set the display to be Less Warm or More Warm. A Schedule option lets users set a custom schedule or choose to turn on Night Shift from sunset to sunrise.

iOS 9.3 beta 2 included a Night Shift Control Center option, which was refined over the course of the beta testing period. Night Shift is denoted by an icon featuring a moon inside of a sun, and tapping on the icon turns Night Shift on until sunrise or turns it off until sunset. Night Shift does not work with Low Power Mode.

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Verizon Wi-Fi Calling - iOS 9.3 includes Wi-Fi calling support for Verizon users, allowing them to place calls over Wi-Fi when cellular connectivity is poor.

iBooks - The purchased tab within the iBooks app has been revamped, including a deeper breakdown of books between different genres. It also now supports audiobooks, and purchased audiobooks are included alongside standard e-books in the "Automatic Download" section of the Settings app.

ibookspurchasedios93
Quick Actions - On the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, there are new 3D Touch Quick Actions for several of the stock apps, including Weather, Settings, Compass, and Health. Weather's Quick Actions allow you to see the weather at your current location or for saved locations in the app. Settings includes useful shortcuts for accessing Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Battery, and Wallpaper options. Health's Quick Actions provide access to the Medical ID or a user's dashboard, while Compass now features options to open directly to the compass or the level.

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There are also new Quick Action options for the App Store and iTunes Store apps. For the App Store app, Quick Actions now include "Update All" to update all apps at once from the Home screen, and "Purchased" for opening up to a list of all purchased apps. For the iTunes Store, new options include "View Downloads" and "Purchased."

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In the App Store app, there are Peek and Pop gestures that can be used to preview apps from the main App Store view. Using a Peek gesture on an app in the Featured, Top Charts, or Explore section brings up a preview of the app and a full Pop gesture will open the app preview page.

Notes - There's a new option to use Touch ID or a password to protect notes within the Notes app. With this enabled, Notes will ask for either the user's password or a fingerprint when opening Notes that have been protected with a password. Password Protection for Notes can be set on a note-by-note basis within the Notes app. There are also new options in Settings to organize notes by Date Edited, Date Created, or Title.

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With iOS 9.3, Apple is introducing a number of new features that are specifically geared towards the education market. Outlined on a new Education Preview site, education-oriented features in the iOS 9 beta include shared iPads for students, a new classroom app, an Apple School Manager feature, and an improved Managed Apple IDs function.

Apple's new Shared iPad feature is designed for educational systems where a 1:1 student-to-iPad ratio isn't possible. It gives each student an Apple ID that can be used to log into any iPad in the classroom, with all of the student's content readily available on any device. That means students can switch from classroom to classroom, logging into an iPad in each class while the iPad remains in the classroom for all students to use during class time.

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Students have access to all of their apps, books, and documents when logging on, and for a student that uses the same assigned iPad in a class each day, an intelligent caching system keeps all of their content at the ready. Shared iPad uses a photo login system to make it easy for kids to find their assigned iPad, and a PIN system for logging in makes the system easy for younger children.

Along with Shared iPads, there's a new Classroom app. With Classroom, teachers can launch the same app on all student iPads at the same time and guide students through the app. A Screen View feature lets teachers see what's on any student's iPad at any given time, and it allows teachers to lock apps to keep students on task. There's also a feature for helping reset student passwords directly within the classroom app.

Apple School Manager, a web-based feature, is designed to give admins a central location for creating Apple IDs, building courses, and managing accounts for students, teachers, and admins. It allows administrators to make volume purchases of books and apps and distribute the content quickly.

Within the Apple School Manager, there are new tools for Managed Apple IDs, which are Apple IDs created specifically for schools. Managed Apple IDs have all of the functionality of a standard Apple ID, but they allow administrators to reset passwords, audit accounts, and assign customized roles to each ID.

Apple has been working on overhauling its iPad in Education program since early 2015, when a leaked email suggested the company was planning on unifying deployment programs, simplifying app distribution, and updating the way student Apple IDs work.

Apple's new educational features will be available to schools with the launch of iOS 9.3. iOS 9.3 was provided to developers this morning.

Related Forum: iOS 9

Apple has published an official master list of CarPlay vehicles available in the U.S. and other countries. The list contains over 100 new 2016 and 2017 models from 21 auto manufacturers, including Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Opel, Porsche, Peugeot, Seat, Škoda, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Volvo.

CarPlay-dashboard
CarPlay provides hands-free or eyes-free access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and third-party apps including Spotify, Rdio, iHeartRadio, CBS Radio and MLB At Bat. The platform uses Siri and interfaces with your vehicle's knobs, dials and buttons for safer access to common iPhone features. The software is compatible with iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8 or above.

Apple CarPlay Vehicles

Audi

  • 2017 Q7

  • 2017 A4

Buick

  • 2016 LaCrosse

  • 2016 Regal

Cadillac

  • 2016 ATS

  • 2016 ATS Coupe

  • 2016 ATS-V

  • 2016 ELR

  • 2016 CTS

  • 2016 CTS-V

  • 2016 XTS

  • 2016 Escalade

  • 2016 Escalade ESV

  • 2016 CT6

Chevrolet

  • 2016 Spark

  • 2016 Cruze

  • 2016 Malibu

  • 2016 Camaro

  • 2016 Camaro Convertible

  • 2016 Silverado

  • 2016 Silverado HD

  • 2016 Impala

  • 2016 Volt

  • 2016 Corvette

  • 2016 Corvette Convertible

  • 2016 Colorado

  • 2016 Tahoe

  • 2016 Suburban

Citroën

  • 2016 C3

  • 2016 C4

  • 2016 C5

  • 2016 Berlingo Multispace

DS Automobiles

  • 2016 DS 3

  • 2016 DS 3 Cabrio

  • 2016 DS 4

  • 2016 DS 5

Ferrari

  • 2016 California T

  • 2016 488 Spider

  • 2016 488 GTB

  • 2016 F12 Berlinetta

  • 2016 F12 tdf

  • 2016 FF

Ford

  • 2017 Ford Escape

GMC

  • 2016 Canyon

  • 2016 Yukon

  • 2016 Yukon XL

  • 2016 Sierra

Honda

  • 2016 Accord

  • 2016 Civic

  • 2017 NSX

Hyundai

  • 2016 Sonata

  • 2017 Elantra

Mercedes

  • 2016 A-Class

  • 2016 B-Class

  • 2016 GLE-Class

  • 2016 CLA-Class

  • 2016 CLS-Class

  • 2016 E-Class Coupe

  • 2016 E-Class Cabriolet

  • 2016 GLA-Class

Mitsubishi

  • 2016 Pajero

  • 2017 Mirage

Opel

  • 2016 Adam

  • 2016 KARL

  • 2016 Corsa

  • 2016 Astra

  • 2016 Insignia

Porsche

  • 2016 911

  • 2017 Macan

Peugeot

  • 2016 208

  • 2016 Partner Teepe

Seat

  • 2016 Ibiza

  • 2016 Leon

  • 2016 Toledo

  • 2016 Alhambra

Škoda

  • 2016 Superb

  • 2016 Fabia

  • 2016 Rapid

  • 2016 Octavia

  • 2016 Yeti

Suzuki

  • 2016 Baleno

  • 2016 Vitara

  • 2016 SX4 S-CROSS

  • 2016 Ciaz

Volkswagen

  • 2016 Jetta

  • 2016 Passat

  • 2016 CC

  • 2016 Beetle

  • 2016 Beetle Cabrio

  • 2016 Golf

  • 2016 GTI

  • 2016 Golf R

  • 2016 e-Golf

  • 2016 Tiguan

  • 2016 Golf SportWagen

  • 2016 Fox

  • 2016 Polo

  • 2016 Scirocco

  • 2016 Sharan

  • 2016 Spacefox

  • 2016 Touran

  • 2016 Lamando

Volvo

  • 2016 XC90

  • 2017 S90

Starting with iOS 9.3, CarPlay will support the New and For You sections in Apple Music along with a Nearby feature in Maps for discovering the best local restaurants, coffee shops and more.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Apple's latest beta, iOS 9.3, brings quite a few changes to iOS 9, including a new "Night Shift" feature. Night Shift is designed to cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS device is putting out during the evening hours, based on studies that have demonstrated that blue light can negatively impact sleep by altering the body's circadian rhythm.

With Night Shift mode enabled, when the sun goes down, the iPhone's screen will automatically change towards the warmer (yellower) colors in the spectrum, reducing blue light. In the morning, the display automatically turns to its normal temperature color, mimicking natural daylight.

nightshift
Many people who use f.lux on the Mac are likely already familiar with the type of visual changes to expect with Night Shift mode. f.lux is an app that has been available for free on the Mac for several years, successfully cutting down on the amount of blue light that users see at night.

In fact, f.lux recently attempted to introduce an iOS app that featured the same functionality, but because it used private APIs, it skirted the App Store by asking users to side-load the app on their devices using Xcode, something Apple asked f.lux to put a stop to shortly after it was released.

At the time, Apple said that asking users to side-load an app violated the Developer Program Agreement, and f.lux was forced to stop providing the app to iOS users. F.lux appealed and asked Apple to allow the necessary APIs for a legitimate App Store app, but it appears Apple was working on its own in-house solution instead.

Night Shift is currently available to developers who have downloaded the iOS 9.3 beta. Today's beta also includes several other important features, including the ability for an iPhone to connect with more than one Apple Watch and improvements to Apple News, Notes, Health, and CarPlay.

Update: The Night Shift feature appears to be limited to iOS devices that have a 64-bit processor. That includes the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad Air and later, and the iPad mini 2 and later.

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Tag: iOS 9.3
Related Forum: iOS 9

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan update to developers for testing purposes, just over one month after releasing the second OS X El Capitan update, OS X 10.11.2. OS X 10.11.3 is also in testing and has been provided to developers and public beta testers.

The new OS X 10.11.4 beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center.

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It is not known what improvements the fourth update to OS X El Capitan will bring, but like prior updates, it's likely to focus on security enhancements, performance improvements, and bug fixes to address issues have been discovered since the release of OS X 10.11.2 and were not able to be included in the OS X 10.11.3 beta.

We'll update this post with any changes that are discovered in the beta.

Related Forum: OS X El Capitan

Apple today provided developers with the first beta of an upcoming update to tvOS, the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV and powers its built-in App Store. Today's tvOS beta comes just over one month after the release of tvOS 9.1, the first update to tvOS since it was released in October alongside the new Apple TV.

tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes.

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We don't know what's included in the new version of tvOS, but it's likely to bring expanded features, bug fixes, and performance improvements to Apple's youngest operating system.

The first tvOS update, tvOS 9.1, introduced Siri support for Apple Music, allowing the personal assistant to play content from Apple Music when requested. Siri for Apple Music on the Apple TV works similarly to Siri for Apple Music on iOS devices, enabling queries like "What was the top song in 1980?" or "Play Adele's latest single." It also brought support for the iOS and Apple Watch Remote app, which is now compatible with the new Apple TV.


What's new in tvOS 9.2:

Bluetooth keyboard support - tvOS 9.2 now supports Bluetooth keyboards, allowing a keyboard to be paired to the Apple TV for text entry. This is a major feature that was missing from previous versions of tvOS and its addition should make it much easier to do things like enter passwords.

Folders - tvOS 9.2 includes support for grouping apps in the Home screen into Folders, much like one can do on an iOS device. Folders are a bit buggy on the Home screen, but this will improve in subsequent betas.

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MapKit - tvOS 9.2 supports MapKit, allowing developers to implement maps into their tvOS apps.

Siri - Siri now includes support for US Spanish (in the US only) and French Canadian (in Canada only). UK English, Australian English, and US English are now available in the UK, Australian, and US Storefronts when English is set as the tvOS language.

App Switcher - There's a new look for the App Switcher interface in tvOS.

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Podcasts - The Podcasts app is now available on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)