Now that iOS 14.5 is available to the public, App Tracking Transparency is being enforced by Apple. Developers are no longer able to access the advertising identifier of your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV without your express permission, which will prevent developers from tracking you across apps and websites for ad targeting preferences.
If that sounds confusing, Apple has created an App Tracking Transparency video that's now available on YouTube, walking through what the changes mean. "It's a feature that gives you a choice," says the voiceover in the video. "A choice on how apps use and share your data."
The video goes on to describe the kinds of data that apps have access to like location, age, health information, spending habits, and browsing history. Apple says that data collection can be useful for tracking a run or letting a local shop advertise discounts when you're nearby, but "some apps are taking more data than they need," sharing it with advertisers and data brokers.
Apple explains that some apps collect "thousands of pieces of information about you" to create a digital profile that's then sold to others for ad targeting purposes and to "predict and influence behaviors and decisions."
"Your information is for sale, you have become the product," Apple says in the ad, explaining why the App Tracking Transparency feature exists. "Whatever you choose is up to you."
With Apple now enforcing its App Tracking Transparency rules with the release of iOS 14.5, The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern did an interview with Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi to talk about Apple's aim with the feature and how it works.
For those unfamiliar with App Tracking Transparency, it requires app developers to get express user permission before accessing a user's advertising identifier for ad tracking purposes.
According to Federighi, Apple wanted users to have a choice over when and how they're tracked and how their data is used.
"These devices are so intimately a part of our lives and contain so much of what we're thinking and where we've been and who we've been with that users deserve and need control of that information." He added, "The abuses can range from creepy to dangerous."
Stern also spoke to Facebook's vice president of Ads & Business Product Marketing, who said that people would opt out of ads "without understanding the impact" because of Apple's lack of explanation. He said Facebook is concerned people will opt out because of the prompt, leading to an internet with "more paywalls" and where small businesses are unable to reach their customers.
Facebook has been in a sustained campaign against the App Tracking Transparency changes in iOS 14.5, claiming that Apple is anti-small business and going as far as taking out newspaper ads. Federighi said that Apple was not surprised there was pushback from companies like Facebook, but was "confident it's the right thing." He says the delay in implementation (it was originally slated to be enforced months earlier) was not because of backlash but because Apple wanted to give developers time to adjust to the changes.
When a user declines to allow an app to access the IFDA of the iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, app developers are also prevented from using other means to create a profile of a user with device data and usage habits. App developers found trying to use covert tracking methods will violate Apple's rules. Federighi said that developers who don't follow the guidelines "might not be able to provide updates or their apps could even be removed from the store."
Users can turn off tracking all together in the Privacy section of the Settings app under "Tracking," or let apps ask on an app by app basis.
Business owners and ad industry executives told Stern that people should allow tracking to enable relevant ads that pertain to them, to support small businesses, and to keep the internet free. Users who allow apps to ask about tracking will see popups explaining why users should grant permission.
During the beta testing period, metrics gathered by AppsFlyer found a 26 percent opt-in rate per app across close to 550 apps, so some users may still opt to use tracking for their favorite brands.
Apple today confirmed to TechCrunch that the just-released macOS 11.3 software update patches a security vulnerability that reportedly could have allowed a hacker to remotely access a user's sensitive data by tricking a user into opening a spoofed document.
"All the user would need to do is double click — and no macOS prompts or warnings are generated," said security researcher Cedric Owens, who discovered the vulnerability in mid-March, according to the report. Owens developed a proof-of-concept app masquerading as a harmless document that exploits the bug to launch the Calculator app, but he said the vulnerability could be exploited for more nefarious purposes.
According to security researcher Patrick Wardle, the vulnerability was the result of a logic bug in macOS's underlying code.
"In simple terms, macOS apps aren't a single file but a bundle of different files that the app needs to work, including a property list file that tells the application where the files it depends on are located," explains TechCrunch. "But Owens found that taking out this property file and building the bundle with a particular structure could trick macOS into opening the bundle — and running the code inside — without triggering any warnings."
In addition to fixing the bug in macOS 11.3, Apple told TechCrunch it patched earlier macOS versions to prevent abuse, and updated macOS's built-in anti-malware system XProtect to block malware from exploiting the vulnerability. The report says the bug was exploited for months, but it's unclear how many users were impacted.
With the launch of iOS 14.5, apps are no longer allowed to access the IDFA or tracking advertiser on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV without your express permission, keeping your app data more private. Apps use your IDFA to track you across different apps and websites, keeping tabs on your preferences and app usage habits.
When an app wants to use your IDFA, you'll see a popup that says "Allow [app] to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites?"
When this prompt comes up, you can choose to select "Ask App Not to Track," which blocks all access to your advertising identifier, or "Allow," which lets the app access the information for tracking purposes. Apps are allowed to explain why they want access to the IDFA, but the ad industry largely expects most people to decline.
If you don't want to deal with these popups from ads and want to universally block access to the IDFA, there's a Privacy setting that allows you to do so. Follow these steps:
Open up the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap Privacy.
Tap on Tracking.
Toggle off "Allow Apps to Request to Track."
Depending on your prior privacy settings, this toggle may have already been turned off on your device. If it wasn't, this will make sure that you don't see tracking request popups and that apps aren't able to access your IDFA.
Developers are now required to adhere to Apple's privacy rules, so if you don't have this toggle turned off, you can expect to see quite a few more popups from apps that want to use your advertising identifier for ad targeting purposes.
It's worth noting that the anti-tracking rule also expands to other tracking methods, so app developers are not allowed to create workarounds that allow them to gather enough data about your device to create a profile even without the IDFA.
If for some reason you decide you want to turn tracking on for a particular app but had the auto-decline feature turned on, you can get the popup to come back by turning it off and then re-downloading the app.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.5, marking the fifth major updates to the iOS and iPadOS 14 operating systems that were initially launched in September. iOS 14.5 comes three months after the release of iOS 14.4, and a month after the release of iOS 14.4.2, an update that introduced security fixes.
The iOS and iPadOS 14.5 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
iOS 14.5 is a major update with a long list of new features, including the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch, 5G support for dual-SIM users, new emoji characters, an option to select a preferred music service to use with Siri, crowd sourced data collection for Apple Maps accidents, AirPlay 2 support for Fitness+, and much more.
The update also introduces support for AirTags and Precision Finding on the iPhone 12 models, and it marks the official introduction of App Tracking Transparency. There are a long list of bug fixes, with Apple addressing everything from AirPods switching issues to the green tint that some users saw on iPhone 12 models.
Everything new in the beta can be found in Apple's release notes for the updates, which are listed below:
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch - Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch Series 3 and later when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask
AirTag and Find My - Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items like your keys, wallet, backpack and more, privately and securely in the Find My app - Precision Finding uses visual, audible, and haptic feedback to guide you directly to your nearby AirTag using Ultra Wideband provided by the U1 chip on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models - AirTag can be located by playing a sound via the built-in speaker - The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help you find your AirTag, even when it isn't nearby - Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted
Emoji - Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji - New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji
Siri - Siri now includes more diverse voice options - Incoming calls can be announced with Siri, including who is calling, when you're wearing your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, and you can answer hands-free - Group FaceTime calls are supported by asking Siri to FaceTime a list of contacts or a group name from Messages - Emergency contacts can be called by asking Siri
Privacy - App Tracking Transparency lets you control which apps are allowed to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites for ads or sharing with data brokers
Apple Music - Share your favorite lyrics using Messages, Facebook, and Instagram Stories, and subscribers can play the snippet in Messages without leaving the conversation - City charts showcase what's popular in over 100 cities from all over the world
Podcasts - Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening - Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access - Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis - Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows
5G improvements - Dual SIM support enables 5G connectivity on the line that's using cellular data on iPhone 12 models - Smart Data Mode improvements further optimize your experience on 5G networks for better battery life and data usage on iPhone 12 models - 5G international roaming enabled on supported carriers on iPhone 12 models
News - Redesigned News+ tab enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues - All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories
Maps - Accidents, hazards, or speed checks along your route can be reported by telling Siri on your iPhone or on CarPlay - Estimated time of arrival (ETA) can be shared when cycling or walking, in addition to driving, by asking Siri or tapping on the route card at the bottom of the screen, then tapping Share ETA
Reminders - Ability to sort reminders by Title, Priority, Due Date, or Creation date - Option to print your reminder lists
Translate - Translation playback speed can be adjusted by long pressing the play button
Gaming - Xbox Series X S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSenseTM Wireless Controller support Fitness+ - Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices
CarPlay - ETA in Apple Maps can be easily shared while driving with new Siri or keyboard controls in CarPlay
This release also fixes the following issues: - Messages at the bottom of the thread may be hidden by the keyboard under certain circumstances - Deleted messages may still appear in Spotlight search - Messages may persistently fail to send texts in some threads - Mail would not load new emails for some users until restarting the device - Call blocking and identification section may not appear in Phone settings - iCloud Tabs may not appear in Safari - iCloud Keychain could be prevented from turning off - Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early morning hours - Battery health reporting system will recalibrate maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability on iPhone 11 models to address inaccurate estimates of battery health reporting for some users (https://support.apple.com/HT212247) - Optimization to reduce the appearance of a dim glow that may appear at reduced brightness levels with black backgrounds on iPhone 12 models - AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching - AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or duplicated For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 mark the biggest updates to the iOS 14 operating system to date, and we have a full in-depth guide with details on all of the new features in the software.
Alongside iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4, and macOS Big Sur 11.3, Apple has also released new software designed for the HomePod and HomePod mini. The HomePod 14.5 software includes performance and stability fixes, with no new features mentioned.
Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.3, the third major update to the macOS Big Sur operating system that launched in November. macOS Big Sur 11.3 comes two months after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.2, a bug fix update.
The new macOS Big Sur 11.3 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds additional customization options for Safari, introducing a way to rearrange the different sections on the Start Page like Favorites, Reading List, Siri Suggestions, Privacy Report, and more. Developers also have access to a new integration to develop features for the Start Page.
The update includes optimizations for using iOS apps on M1 Macs. When running iPhone and iPad apps on M1 Macs, there's a Touch Alternatives preference pane that allows users to set keyboard commands for touch input alternatives, plus iPadOS apps launch with a larger window if the Mac's display allows it. Touch Alternatives let you customize taps, swipes, and drags.
Apple has added a "Controller Emulation" feature that can be enabled for iPhone and iPad apps to map game controller buttons to keyboard keys and mouse buttons. Controller Emulation will allow iPhone and iPad games that have controller support built in to be accurately controlled with a keyboard and/or mouse when those games are played on an M1 Mac, plus there's also now hibernation support for M1 Macs.
In the Reminders app, reminder lists can be sorted by Due Date, Creation Date, Priority, or Title, and there is an option to print lists by going to File & Print, plus Apple is adding a new "Made For You" Library shortcut in Apple Music for finding personal mixes and replay playlists.
The Apple Music app also includes a new autoplay option that allows the streaming service to continue to play music after a playlist or music queue ends.
With this feature enabled, Apple Music audio will not end even after a playlist or album is over. To check that it's on, play a playlist or album and then click on the three dot/line menu button in the upper right hand corner. From there, make sure the infinity symbol is toggled on.
In the Apple News app, there's a redesigned Apple News+ tab with a dedicated "For You" section and a new Browse tab that makes it easier to browse through available content. The new For You section is designed to help Apple News+ users find favorite magazines and newspapers much faster, plus it adds new tools for managing downloaded issues.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X/S controllers for use with macOS games, and there's an updated "Support" interface when accessing "About This Mac." The new design includes details on your warranty and it allows for starting a repair right from the Mac interface.
The tab works similarly to the AppleCare coverage menu in the iOS Settings app, which lets users request repairs, buy an AppleCare plan, and check their coverage.
macOS Big Sur now works with AirTags, Apple's newly introduced item trackers. AirTags can be tracked inside the Find My app, and there's a networking feature that can help you find your lost AirTag by utilizing the iOS devices and Macs of others.
There are a handful of new emoji, and Siri now offers more diverse voice options. The update includes several bug fixes, addressing issues like iCloud Keychain refusing to switch off and problems with AirPods Automatic Switching.
Apple's full release notes for the macOS Big Sur 11.3 update can be found below:
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for AirTag, includes iPhone and iPad app improvements for Macs with M1, introduces separate skin tone variations for emoji with couples, and adds more diverse voice options for Siri.
AirTag and Find My - Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items like your keys, wallet, backpack and more, privately and securely in the Find My app - The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help you find your AirTag, even when it isn't nearby - Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted
iPhone and iPad apps on Macs with M1 - Option to change an iPhone and iPad app's window size - Support for displaying the highest resolution version of an iPhone or iPad app in full screen - Keyboard support for iPhone and iPad games designed to use device tilt - Keyboard, mouse and trackpad support for iPhone and iPad games that support game controllers
Emoji - Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji - New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji
Siri - Siri now includes more diverse voice options
Apple Music - Autoplay keeps music playing by automatically playing a similar song, once you've reached the end of a song or playlist - City charts showcase what's popular in over 100 cities from all over the world
Podcasts - Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening - Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access - Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis - Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows
News - Redesigned News+ feed enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues - All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories
Safari - Start Page section order can now be customized - Additional WebExtensions API lets developers offer extensions that replace the new tab page - Web Speech API lets developers incorporate speech recognition into their web pages for real-time captioning, dictation, and voice navigation - WebM and Vorbis video and audio format support
Reminders - Ability to sort Today Smart list - Support for syncing the order of reminders in lists across your devices - Option to print your reminder lists
Gaming - Xbox Series X S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSenseTM Wireless Controller support
Mac computers with the M1 chip - Hibernation support
About This Mac - About this Mac displays Apple warranty status and AppleCare+ coverage in the Service tab when signed in with Apple ID - Support for purchasing and enrolling in AppleCare+ for eligible Mac computers from About This Mac
This release also fixes the following issues: - Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early morning hours - iCloud Keychain might not turn off - AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching - AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or duplicated - External 4K monitors may not display in full resolution when connected over USB-C - Login window may not display properly after restarting Mac mini (M1, 2020) - The Dwell feature may not work in the Accessibility Keyboard
Apple today released watchOS 7.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September 2020. watchOS 7.4 comes three months after watchOS 7.3, an update that introduced a new watch face, a Time to Walk feature, and expanded ECG availability.
The watchOS 7.4 update 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.
Paired with iOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4 brings a new "Unlock with Apple Watch" feature that lets an iPhone with Face ID use an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch as a secondary authentication measure when you're wearing a mask, alleviating the need to enter a passcode to unlock the iPhone.
Because Face ID does not work when wearing a mask, it can be a hassle to use an iPhone with a mask on. The new Apple Watch feature provides an easy but still secure way to access the iPhone without hassling with a passcode. It's almost identical to unlocking on Mac and can be enabled in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode.
An unlocked Apple Watch paired with Face ID can unlock the iPhone when a mask is worn, but the entire face cannot be covered and the eyes still need to be visible. Apple Watch mask authentication can't be used for Apple Pay or App Store purchases, nor can it be used to unlock apps that require a Face ID scan. In these situations, the mask will need to be removed or a passcode/password will need to be used instead.
When the Apple Watch unlocks the iPhone, you'll feel a haptic tap on the wrist and will receive a notification on the watch to let you know when your iPhone has been unlocked, similar to how it works when using the watch to unlock a Mac. There is a proximity feature as well, to ensure that you must be near your iPhone for it to unlock with the Apple Watch.
For Apple Fitness+ users, the watchOS 7.4 update enables AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness+, so workouts can be streamed to an AirPlay 2-enabled TV or set-top box. Apple Watch metrics do not show up on the screen when AirPlayed, however, and that feature is limited to iPhone/iPad/Apple TV.
watchOS 7.4 introduces an option to choose a Bluetooth device type in settings to correctly identify audio notifications, and it introduces ECG support and irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam. Apple's full release notes with additional features are listed below:
watchOS 7.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask - Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications - Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices - Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Australia and Vietnam - Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam
More information on the watchOS 7 operating system that runs on modern Apple Watch models can be found in our watchOS 7 roundup.
Apple today released tvOS 14.5, the fifth update to the tvOS 14 operating system that was released in September 2020. tvOS 14.5 comes three months after the release of tvOS 14.4.
tvOS 14.5, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 14.5 automatically.
With the introduction of the second-generation Apple TV 4K, Apple announced a new Color Balance feature, which also happens to be available for existing Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. Available by opening up the Settings app on Apple TV, selecting Video and Audio, and clicking on "Color Balance" in the Calibration section, the new feature uses the iPhone's front facing camera to match the color shown on the Apple TV with industry standard specifications used by cinematographers.
With this data, Apple TV tailors video output to deliver more accurate colors and improved contrast with no need to adjust television settings. Color balance is available on all Apple TV models that run tvOS, and it can be used with tvOS 14.5 and iOS 14.5. Note that it does not work when Dolby Vision is enabled, and an iPhone with Face ID is required.
The tvOS 14.5 update adds support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers, which can be used to play games from the tvOS App Store and Apple Arcade.
Other new features include frame rate options of 29.97Hz and 59.94Hz instead of 30Hz/60Hz, an optional "Type to Siri" Accessibility feature that can be enabled, which mirrors the Type to Siri feature on iOS devices, a new option for choosing "Other Wireless Speakers" as the Default Audio Output, and tweaks to the Podcasts app to bring it in line with the changes introduced in iOS 14.5.
The release of tvOS will see Apple begin enforcing its new App Tracking Transparency rules, with developers now required to ask for and receive a user's permission to access their random advertising identifier (known as the IDFA) to track user activity across apps and websites for ad customization purposes.
Going forward, when an app wants to access a person's advertising identifier on tvOS, users will have a prompt with options to "Allow Tracking" or "Ask App Not to Track." Selecting "Ask App Not to Track" will prevent the app's developer from accessing the user's IDFA, and developers will also have to respect the user's tracking preference and refrain from using other invasive cross-app tracking methods.
With the update, customers in Austria, Ireland and New Zealand will also be able to use the Siri remote with their voice thanks to expanded access.
The main tvOS 14 update released in September brought expanded Picture in Picture support, new HomeKit integration with HomeKit Secure Video cameras, support for multiple Apple Arcade profiles, and more, with details available in our tvOS 14 roundup.
iOS 14.5 is now available, and a key new feature is the ability to unlock an iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask, so long as you are wearing an Apple Watch. Read on to learn how this feature works.
Apple introduced its Face ID facial recognition system in November 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, offering users an even simpler way to unlock their smartphone than traditional fingerprint recognition.
Following the now-mainstream usage of face masks, however, Apple's biometric feature has been handicapped, leaving many users having to enter their passcode to unlock their device when in public spaces.
Fortunately, Apple has responded to this change in our everyday lives by introducing a new feature that allows iPhone users wearing an Apple Watch to unlock their smartphone via Face ID through a partial face scan, when they're wearing a mask.
The process is similar to how it works when unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch. When the unlock happens, the user receives a haptic buzz and a notification on the Apple Watch informing them that the unlocking procedure has been successful. However, bear in mind that you can only use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask – it can't be used for authenticating Apple Pay or App Store purchases.
Before you can take advantage of the new feature, you'll need to make sure that you're running iOS 14.5 on your iPhone and watchOS 7.4 on your Apple Watch. You can update your iPhone by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. To update your Apple Watch after installing iOS 14.5, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen, then select General -> Software Update.
What You'll Need
iPhone X or later with Face ID
Apple Watch Series 3 or later
iOS 14.5 or later installed on iPhone
watchOS 7.4 or later installed on Apple Watch
How to Set Up Unlock iPhone With Apple Watch
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select Face ID & Passcode.
Enter your iPhone's passcode.
Scroll down to the section labeled "Unlock With Apple Watch" and toggle the switch next to Apple Watch to the green ON position. (If the option is greyed out, you need to update the version of watchOS on your Apple Watch.)
How to Unlock Your iPhone With Apple Watch
To use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone, your watch needs to be nearby, on your wrist, unlocked, and protected by a passcode. If you haven't set up a passcode yet, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, select Passcode -> Turn Passcode On, then enter the passcode you want to use (you'll have to do so twice to confirm.)
The first time you attempt to unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch when wearing a mask, your iPhone will ask you to enter your passcode. Once you've done that, all subsequent attempts to unlock your iPhone when wearing a mask will be swift and seamless, with each successful unlock accompanied by a short haptic buzz on your wrist. You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.
Apple today announced its Voice Control accessibility function has been expanded in iOS 14.5, gaining English support in Australia and Canada and adding support for Spanish in Mexico, Spain, and the United States.
First introduced in iOS 13 and macOS Catalina, Voice Control allows users to navigate and interact with their iPhone, iPad, or Mac using voice commands to tap, swipe, type, and more. To use this function, open the Settings app, navigate to Accessibility > Voice Control > Set Up Voice Control, and follow the on-screen instructions.
iOS 14.5 also introduces support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, new Waze-like features in Apple Maps, AirPlay 2 streaming for Apple Fitness+ workouts, new emoji, new Siri voices, support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X game controllers, a redesigned Apple Podcasts app, a Battery Health bug fix for iPhone 11 models, and more.
Apple has a support document with more information about Voice Control.
Microsoft is out with yet another ad highlighting the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, but rather than primarily focusing on the features of the machine, Microsoft has chosen to pit it against Apple's MacBook Air.
In the spot, the same Windows user who was in previous ads, shows off his new Microsoft laptop to his sister. She continually asks questions about how it compares to the MacBook Air.
"Is the MacBook Air touch screen?" she says. "How could you not have a touch screen?" After a description of the ports on the Surface Laptop, which has USB-C and USB-A, she says "better bring your dongle."
Microsoft has been running ads pitting its devices against Apple's devices since January, comparing the laptops to the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro. Most of the prior ads have highlighted the Surface Pro 7, but this one focuses on the Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft's ultra-thin touchscreen laptop, priced starting at $999.99, which is similar to the $999 price of the MacBook Air.
Measuring in at 13.5 inches, the Surface Laptop 4 features an AMD Ryzen 5 or an Intel chip, depending on configuration, while Apple's laptop uses the M1 chip. Apple is rumored to be putting additional ports in next-generation MacBook Pro machines, adding an HDMI port and an SD card reader in addition to USB-C ports, though there are no plans to add USB-A ports.
In the complaint, the industry associations reportedly predicted a 60% fall in advertising revenues for app developers, as they believe the requirement will make it harder for third parties to gather the data they need to place ads.
Starting with iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which will reportedly be released later today, Apple will be requiring apps to receive a user's permission to track their activity for targeted advertising purposes. Apple says this App Tracking Transparency requirement is designed to give users control and transparency in regards to their personal data, and previously outlined privacy-preserving ad measurement alternatives.
SKAdNetwork, for example, lets advertisers know how many times an app was installed after ads for it were seen, without any user or device data being shared. Likewise, Private Click Measurement allows advertisers to measure the impact of ads that lead users to a website while minimizing data collection using on-device processing. Apps can use Private Click Measurement starting with iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5.
Starting today, all iPhone and iPad apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 12 and the iOS 14 SDK or later, and must adhere to the App Tracking Transparency requirement to collect permission to track users.
Anker today introduced a new collection of discounts on select charging, audio, and smart home accessories. You can find all of the markdowns in the list below, which includes Anker's PowerWave Magnetic Pad for $16.99, Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Bluetooth headphones for $99.99, and a few Eufy accessory sales.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
A few of these accessories require a coupon code, but many have been automatically discounted on Amazon this week. For the SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Pro Bluetooth Headphones, you'll need to clip an on-page coupon before heading to the checkout screen in order to see the sale price.
iCloud Mail has been experiencing an outage that began a few hours ago, and some users may be experiencing intermittent issues with accessing their inbox as a result, according to Apple's system status page.
Only some users are affected by the outage, according to Apple, so your mileage may vary. We'll update this story once the issue is marked as resolved.
There was also an iCloud Keychain outage over the weekend that is now resolved.
Update: Apple says the iCloud Mail outage is resolved.
Last week Apple announced brand new updates to its 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the faster M1 processor and a brand new mini-LED 12.9-inch display. Both models will become available for pre-order starting on April 30, and Apple says they'll be shipping in the second half of May.
Now, according to Apple leaker Jon Prosser, the 11-inch iPad Pro, which features a faster M1 processor and improved cameras compared to the previous model, will be shipping on May 22. The larger 12.9-inch model, which features the M1 chip, better cameras, and a new mini-LED display, will ship a day earlier, on May 21.
It is worth noting that May 22, which is when Prosser claims the 11-inch iPad Pro will be shipping, is on a Saturday. Apple typically refrains from product launches during the weekend.
Before Apple's product announcement last week, reports had suggested that Apple was suffering from considerable supply restraints. The ongoing chip shortage is reportedly impacting several of Apple's suppliers, and the delay between the announcement and shipments of the new devices has appears to back up these reports.
Apple has in the past announced products only to ship them weeks later, so the situation is not entirely peculiar. While we know the dates for the new iPad Pros, we're still in the dark on the redesigned 24-inch iMac, which Apple also says will begin shipping in the second half of May.
A ransomware group that last week stole schematics from Apple supplier Quanta Computer and threatened to release the trove of documents has mysteriously removed all references related to the extortion attempt from its dark web blog, MacRumors can confirm.
The ransomware group known as REvil claimed last Tuesday that it had accessed the internal computers of Taiwan-based Quanta and managed to obtain several images and schematics of unreleased Apple products.
BleepingComputer reported that the group initially demanded Quanta pay $50 million for recovery of the files. However, according to an April 20 statement posted on the hacker group's site, Quanta refused to pay the ransom, which led the criminals to go after Apple for the money instead.
To prove it had hacked into Quanta's servers and in order to turn up the pressure on Apple, the hackers publicly posted a handful of images depicting unreleased product schematics, including details on Apple's unreleased next-generation MacBooks.
The group threatened to publish new data every day leading up to May 1, unless Apple paid the $50 million ransom demand in exchange for deleting the files.
The extortion attempt was timed to coincide with Apple's April 20 "Spring Loaded" digital event, where Apple announcedAirTag item trackers, new iPad Pro models, and new iMacs. Despite the threat, however, no additional stolen documents have been leaked online since the original demand was made public.
Historically, REvil isn't known for bluffing and routinely posts stolen documents if its victims don't pay up, so it's unclear why the group has failed to follow through on this occasion, and Apple has so far not commented on the breach. The group actively continues to extort other companies, so what has prompted it to remove all content linked to the Quanta hack remains unknown. We'll update this article if we learn more.
Apple today reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to create jobs and opportunities in the United States by announcing a $430 billion investment over the next five years.
The new investment will help create more than 20,000 new jobs across the country and beats its previous investment of $350 billion announced in 2018. The new round of job creation will focus on innovations from 5G, next-generation silicon, and AI. CEO Tim Cook says that as countries slowly recover from the global health crisis, Apple is doubling down on its own responsibility to build a better tomorrow.
"At this moment of recovery and rebuilding, Apple is doubling down on our commitment to US innovation and manufacturing with a generational investment reaching communities across all 50 states," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We're creating jobs in cutting-edge fields — from 5G to silicon engineering to artificial intelligence — investing in the next generation of innovative new businesses, and in all our work, building toward a greener and more equitable future.
As part of today's announcement, Apple also unveiled its plan to invest over $1 billion in North Carolina and build a new engineering and research center in the Research Triangle area. This investment alone will create at least 3,000 new jobs, in addition to a $100 million support fund for local schools and communities.
Apple will also establish a $100 million fund to support schools and community initiatives in the greater Raleigh-Durham area and across the state, and will be contributing over $110 million in infrastructure spending to the 80 North Carolina counties with the greatest need — funds that will go toward broadband, roads and bridges, and public schools. When up and running, Apple’s investments are expected to generate over $1.5 billion in economic benefits annually for North Carolina.
At a private meeting on the sidelines of an informal gathering of tech and social media executives in July of 2019 in Sun Valley, Idaho, Apple CEO Tim Cook urged Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg to delete all user information his company has collected from third-party apps, according to The New York Times.
According to the Times, the executives met annually at the conference organized by investment bank Allen & Company to "catch up" and attempt to "repair their fraying relationship."
In particular, this meeting in the summer of 2019 came as Facebook was embroiled in a massive scandal involving Cambridge Analytica. Facebook had come under intense scrutiny for sharing the information of more than 50 million users, without their consent, with voter-profiling firm Cambridge Analytica to use for political ads during the 2016 Presidental election.
During their meeting, Zuckerberg reportedly asked Cook how he would deal with the situation. He responded that Facebook should delete user information it has collected from third-party apps.
At the meeting, Mr. Zuckerberg asked Mr. Cook how he would handle the fallout from the controversy, people with knowledge of the conversation said. Mr. Cook responded acidly that Facebook should delete any information that it had collected about people outside of its core apps.
According to people with direct knowledge of the meeting, Zuckerberg was "stunned" by Cook's answer given the fact that Facebook's business model consists of user data and using the data to provide more personalized ads. Zuckerberg interpreted Cook's answer as the CEO saying his business was "untenable."
During a TV interview with MSNBC in 2018, Cook was pressed on how he would deal with the situation Zuckerberg found himself in. "I wouldn't be in this situation," Cook responded.
The two executives and companies have rarely seen eye-to-eye, and the tension between the two is likely to reach its peak this week. In the coming days, Apple will release iOS and iPadOS 14.5 with ATT or App Tracking Transparency, which will crack down on apps tracking users across other apps and websites without their consent.
Once the iOS update is released, all apps, including Facebook, will be required to ask for a user's permission before tracking them across apps and websites owned by other companies. Users can accept to be tracked or not. If the latter, Apple will block that app from collecting data about the users from other apps and services.
Facebook has blasted the new change as unfair, calling it a severe blow to small businesses which use the Facebook platform and its accompanying ad business to run personalized ads for users. Facebook expects the majority of users to opt-out of tracking, which will, in turn, lead to less effective data for the social media giant to use to deliver tailored, personalized ads.
Despite his initial rejection of ATT, Mark Zuckerberg has recently changed tones on Apple's upcoming change. In a Clubhouse meeting earlier last month, the CEO says that Facebook may "be in a stronger position" due to the upcoming change possibly encouraging more businesses to "conduct more commerce on our platforms by making it harder for them to use their data in order to find the customers that would want to use their products outside of our platforms."
In public appearances and interviews in the run-up to the launch of ATT, Cook has said Apple is looking to provide users a choice about whether they wished to be tracked or not. In a recent speech at a privacy conference, Cook indirectly called out social media companies, including Facebook, that fuel disinformation and conspiracy theories with their algorithms.
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iCloud Mail has been experiencing an outage that began a few hours ago, and some users may be experiencing intermittent issues with accessing their inbox as a result, according to 
