The second season of popular Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind" launched today, with the first episode now available to watch on all devices where the Apple TV app or web access is available.
Developed and written by Ronald D. Moore, "For All Mankind" is a science fiction series that imagines what the world might have been like if the global space race had never ended and the space program had remained a priority in the United States.
Season two of "For All Mankind" picks up in 1983, which is jump of a decade after the first season. It's the height of the cold war, with the U.S. and the USSR fighting over resources available on the moon.
Season two of the space drama picks up a decade later in 1983. It's the height of the Cold War and tensions between the United States and the USSR are at their peak. Ronald Reagan is president and the greater ambitions of science and space exploration are at threat of being squandered as the US and Soviets go head-to-head to control sites rich in resources on the moon. The Department of Defense has moved into Mission Control, and the militarization of NASA becomes central to several characters' stories: some fight it, some use it as an opportunity to advance their own interests, and some find themselves at the height of a conflict that may lead to nuclear war.
Prior to the launch of the second season of "For All Mankind," Apple released a special "Time Capsule" augmented reality app that let users uncover memories from "For All Mankind" astronauts Gordo and Tracy Stevens in the decade between season one and season two.
Join Danny, teenage son of astronauts Gordo & Tracy Stevens, as he examines interactive keepsakes full of details about life, love, and the world of For All Mankind. Every object tells a story: a simple mixtape unveils how young love first began. A home computer holds the secrets to the teens' changing lives. And items as ordinary as a newspaper and answering machine shed light on impactful events in the lives of Gordo and Tracy Stevens, revealing more about the alternate world of For All Mankind and what's coming in season 2.
Apple also this week launched "For All Mankind: The Official Podcast," which will discuss the series as season two progresses. Hosted by Krys Marshall, who plays Commander Danielle Poole, the podcast will feature space experts, former astronauts, and "For All Mankind" cast and creators.
"For All Mankind" stars Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Shantel VanSanten, Sarah Jones, and Jodi Balfour.
Apple CEO Tim Cook tonight announced that Apple plans to donate to local, community-based organizations across Texas to support relief efforts in the state.
Texas has been enduring harsh winter weather this week, with freezing temperatures and snow. The infrastructure has been unable to keep up with energy demands, and power has been out across much of the state.
Our hearts are with everyone across Texas and around the US, including many of our team members, as they endure the impact of the harsh winter storms. Apple will be making a financial contribution to local, community-based organizations to support their relief efforts.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 19, 2021
Millions of people have been without electricity in cold temperatures, and in some areas, the water has become unsafe due to electrical failures. Pipes have also burst due to the extreme temperatures and lack of heat, leading to flooding in some homes.
Apple often donates money during natural disasters and has donated several times to fund wildfire relief in California over the course of the last year.
Over on our YouTube channel, we have an ongoing video series that's meant to highlight new, interesting, and useful apps for the iPhone and the iPad that we think are worth downloading and checking out.
There are so many apps in the App Store that it can be difficult to find new high-quality apps to download, plus it's easy to overlook awesome apps that are a bit older. Our February picks include apps for customizing your Apple Watch and iPhone, finding and managing Apple Music, keeping track of TV shows, taking notes, and more.
Soor ($4.99) - Soor is a music player that integrates with Apple Music and aims to make it easier to find new music. There are multiple themes, along with full Apple Music controls for searching for content, liking songs, sharing content, and adding songs to playlists. It comes with a set of widgets that can be added to either the Home screen or the Today center, and it has an attractive Now Playing interface.
TV Forecast (Free) - TV Forecast lets you keep track of the TV shows that you're watching, providing an easy way to mark which episode you're on. There are notifications when a new episode is about to air, and you can share progress with friends and family. There's information on actors in TV shows, and you can get recommendations for new shows to watch. TV Forecast is free for five shows, but costs $0.99 per month for more.
Moloko (Free) - Moloko is a theme app that makes it easier to customize your iOS Home screen by swapping out the icons. It offers up a range of themes that have customized icons for both built-in and third-party apps, and they're simple to install so you don't need to use the Shortcuts app and replace icons manually. Note that you will need to install a profile to use the quick icon swapping.
Aviary ($3.99) - Available on all Apple devices, Aviary is a third-party Twitter client that can be used in lieu of the default Twitter apps. It has a simple, clean interface that can be customized the way you like it, plus it supports modern features like polls, hashflags, trends, and more.
Craft (Free) - Craft is a document creation and management tool that you can use for taking notes and organizing your thoughts. It supports Markdown, backlinks, code snippets, images, and videos, and anything you create can be shared via a weblink. Craft is free, but there is a $4.99 per month "Pro" subscription option. The Pro version supports larger file options, offers more storage, and has a version history feature.
BuddyWatch (Free) - BuddyWatch is an app that makes it easier to create new watch faces for your Apple Watch. You can share watch faces, see watch faces designed by other people, and get watch face suggestions based on your preferences.
Kitty Letter (Free) - Designed by The Oatmeal's Matthew Inman, who also created popular game Exploding Kittens, Kitty Letter is a word game where you create words from a jumble of letters to form an exploding cat army to attack your neighbor and defend your home. You can play the single player campaign or go head to head against your friends.
Have a favorite iOS app? Let us know in the comments. We're always looking for new iOS app ideas, and we always check out suggestions from MacRumors readers. You can see our recommendations from previous months, and don't miss our Mac app series featuring great Mac apps worth taking a look at.
Apple in iOS 14 added cycling directions to Apple Maps, providing specific directions for bike riders with bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly routes that highlight steep inclines, stairs, and other obstacles.
Cycling directions have been limited to a handful of locations since launch, but as of this week, Apple appears to have expanded availability to San Diego, California and Portland, Oregon.
iPhone users in these areas began receiving notifications about cycling directions yesterday. Apple also sent out notifications in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, London and Los Angeles, where the cycling directions were already available. The notifications may suggest an expansion of cycling direction availability in these locations.
Apple maintains a list of all of the areas where cycling directions are available on its website, but Portland and San Diego have yet to be added. Cycling directions are officially available in China, London, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Besides Apple's first-party MagSafe cases, there are a few options for third-party cases that include magnets within each case that are built to align directly with iPhone 12 devices. An iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro placed within one of these cases can then connect to additional MagSafe accessories, like Apple's MagSafe Charger.
Of course, an iPhone 12 within a thin enough case that lacks magnets will be able to attach to other MagSafe accessories as well. For this reason, there aren't many companies who have released iPhone 12 cases specifically with magnets inside for MagSafe, but below we've rounded up a few options from some of the best third-party companies online.
The difference in construction on the cases should be noted as well. Nomad and Moment, for example, have built magnets directly into the backs of each case, similar in style to Apple. Otterbox, on the other hand, places an adhesive sticker inside its cases that acts as the "MagSafe" portion of the accessory. Although they function the same, this design is worth noting. You can see the adhesive strip in more detail in the Otterbox case in our video on the MagSafe Charger.
Nomad
Nomad is the company with the most recent launch for set of MagSafe compatible iPhone cases. It's selling versions of its existing "Rugged" branded cases, now all with MagSafe included in every case.
The new cases are available for all four iPhone 12 models, and include brown, black, and natural color variants. There's also two case styles: the Rugged Leather case or the Rugged Folio.
Rugged Leather cases range in price from $49.95 to $59.95, while the Rugged Folio ranges in price from $69.95 to $79.95. You can find all of the Nomad cases for purchase on the company's website.
Otterbox
Otterbox has a few iPhone cases with MagSafe, including the slimmer Symmetry Series+ line and the tough Defender Series Pro XT case. This week, when you purchase an iPhone case you can save ten percent by bundling in a screen protector.
Sandmarc's cases easily attach to the company's line of lenses and filters, and are priced at $49.99 in brown and black color options. They're only available for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Pad & Quill
Pad & Quill's line of MagSafe cases include one option made of leather and one made of wood. The Traveler LeatherSafe iPhone 12 case is made from artisan leather with a built-in magnetic ring and a secure tension fit that shapes to the iPhone 12.
It features two-meter drop protection and the design leaves ports and cameras accessible. The volume buttons are functional and accessible through the leather. The Traveler Case is priced from $59.95 to $69.95 and is available for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.
The Woodline Edition iPhone 12 Cases are made from a single piece of walnut or cherry hardwood and have a built-in magnet hidden in the wood case to make them compatible with Apple's MagSafe charger and accessories. The Woodline Case is priced at $49.95 and is available for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.
Moment
At Moment, you can pre-order a wide selection of iPhone MagSafe cases, with shipping estimates ranging from next week to March. Moment's cases have a built-in magnet array that's compatible with MagSafe.
Additionally, they're built for Moment's line of iPhone photography accessories. Each case has a wrist strap connection on the bottom and includes a drop-in lens mount in order to make them compatible with any M-Series mobile lens sold by Moment.
The full collection of Moment's MagSafe lineup, including mounts and cases, can be found on the company's website.
Cyrill
Cyrill has a few MagSafe iPhone 12 cases priced at $29.99, with designs including semi-transparent cases and premium vegan leather. Be sure to click on the cases that say "MagSafe Supported" to see the Cyrill cases with magnets built into them.
Casely
Casely has the most colorful collection of MagSafe cases for the iPhone 12, with the "bold" line of cases including designs like tie-dye, rainbows, florals, polka dot, animal prints, and more. When shopping for these cases, be sure to select an iPhone 12 model and the "Bold + MagSafe" option under "select a case type."
These cases include a built-in magnet that is compatible with Apple's MagSafe accessories. Currently, you can also save 40 percent on the cases by entering the code CAKE at the checkout screen, and Casely offers free shipping in the United States on orders over $20.
SwitchEasy
Lastly, SwitchEasy has a line of "MagEasy" iPhone 12 cases with built-in magnets and compatibility with Apple's MagSafe accessories. You can purchase a MagClear Case ($24.99), MagSkin Case ($29.99), and MagCrush Case ($24.99).
Buyer's Guide
Read our iPhone 12 Cases Buyer's Guide for more information on some of the best cases available for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
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.
The University Health Network today announced the launch of a new study that will aim to find out how the Apple Watch can help with the early identification of heart failure progression.
Cardiologist Dr. Heather Ross is teaming up with Apple to compare data collected by the Apple Watch to data routinely collected from the physical tests heart failure patients undergo. The study will determine whether the health sensors and features in the Apple Watch, including the Blood Oxygen app and mobility metrics, can provide early warning signs, and whether patients can perform traditionally clinic-based assessments in their own homes.
Patients from the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre will be asked to participate in a three month active monitoring study, with each patient using an iPhone and an Apple Watch Series 6, which is the Apple Watch model that offers the Blood Oxygen app.
Apple's vice president of Health, Sumbul Desai, said that studies like this and heart health insights have an important role in the evolution of the Apple Watch.
"Surfacing heart health insights has played a key role in the evolution of Apple Watch and we're continually humbled by the responses we hear from users on the impact it has had on their lives," says Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple's vice president of Health. "We're thrilled to be collaborating with UHN and Dr. Heather Ross to better understand how the powerful sensors in Apple Watch can potentially help patients better manage heart failure, from the comfort of their own home."
Dr. Ross, who is leading the study, said that she believes that biometric data from the Apple Watch "may provide comparable, precise, and accurate measurements of fitness, prognostic markers and early warning signals, compared to traditional diagnostics."
The Apple Watch has been the subject of multiple heart-related studies in the past, including a study Apple did in partnership with Stanford Medicine to determine whether the Apple Watch can detect atrial fibrillation.
The study determined that the Apple Watch can indeed detect irregular heart rhythms, and the Apple Watch has a built-in feature in many countries that allows it to alert wearers when an abnormal heart rhythm is detected. Other Apple Watch-related studies are under way, focusing on asthma, heart failure, early detection of COVID-19, and cognitive decline.
Microsoft today announced the upcoming launch of Office 2021, which is set to launch later this year for both Windows and Mac machines. The 2021 version of the software is aimed at customers who do not want to use the cloud-based Microsoft 365 options.
There's no detail on the features that might be included in Office 2021, but Microsoft plans to support it for five years through its one-time purchase model. More detail will be provided closer to when the software launches.
Office 2021 will be accompanied by Office LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel), which is a new version of Microsoft Office that's being introduced for commercial customers.
The software is designed for regulated devices that cannot accept feature updates for years at a time or for devices that are not connected to the internet. Like the one-time purchase Office 2021, Office LTSC will be supported for five years.
Microsoft says that it is committed to serving customers who need or prefer one-time purchase software, even though the cloud is where the company invests and innovates.
Apple today shared an updated version of its Platform Security Guide [PDF], providing a comprehensive overview of the latest security advancements across iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS Big Sur, tvOS 14, watchOS 7, and more.
For example, the guide provides security details about Safari's optional Password Monitoring feature on iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur, which automatically keeps an eye out for any saved passwords that may have been involved in a data breach. Apple also outlines the security of its new digital car keys feature on the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple updated its "commitment to security" preamble, touting the security advantages of Apple-designed chips across the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac:
Apple continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in security and privacy. This year Apple devices with Apple SoC's across the product lineup from Apple Watch to iPhone and iPad, and now Mac, utilize custom silicon to power not only efficient computation, but also security. Apple silicon forms the foundation for secure boot, Touch ID and Face ID, and Data Protection, as well as system integrity features never before featured on the Mac including Kernel Integrity Protection, Pointer Authentication Codes, and Fast Permission Restrictions. These integrity features help prevent common attack techniques that target memory, manipulate instructions, and use javascript on the web. They combine to help make sure that even if attacker code somehow executes, the damage it can do is dramatically reduced.
New sections have been added for Macs with Apple silicon, outlining the security of the boot process, boot modes, startup disk, Rosetta 2 translation process for running Intel-based Mac apps, FileVault, Activation Lock, and more.
As expected, the guide confirms that kernel extensions will not be supported on future Macs with Apple silicon (emphasis ours):
In addition to enabling users to run older versions of macOS, Reduced Security is required for other actions that can put a user's system security at risk, such as introducing third-party kernel extensions (kexts). Kexts have the same privileges as the kernel, and thus any vulnerabilities in third-party kexts can lead to full operating system compromise. This is why developers are being strongly encouraged to adopt system extensions before kext support is removed from macOS for future Mac computers with Apple silicon.
macOS Catalina was the last version of macOS to fully support kernel extensions. Apple says kernel extensions are no longer recommended for macOS, noting that they pose a risk to the integrity and reliability of the operating system.
Starting with macOS Catalina, developers have been able to use system extensions that run in user space rather than at the kernel level. System extensions running in user space are granted only the privileges necessary to perform their specified function, which increases the stability and security of macOS, according to Apple.
Apple includes a document revision history section in the Platform Security Guide with a list of all new and updated information.
Accessory maker Sonnet today introduced the Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, which greatly expands a Mac's connectivity options for storage drives, external displays, and more. The dock is equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-A ports (three 3.2 and one 2.0), one Gigabit Ethernet port, one 3.5mm combo audio jack, and one SD card slot.
The dock is compatible with all Intel-based and M1-based Macs with Thunderbolt 4/Thunderbolt 3 ports, and provides up to 90W of pass-through charging with a single-cable connection. Depending on the Mac, the dock also supports connecting one external display with up to 8K resolution or up to two external displays with up to 5K resolution.
Given that Thunderbolt 4 shares the same connector design as USB-C, the dock can also be used with 2018 and newer iPad Pro models, as well as the fourth-generation iPad Air. It can also connect to USB-C external displays.
Sonnet says the dock will be available in early April in the United States, priced at $249.99, with international availability to follow in May. For a limited time, customers in the United States and Canada may sign up on Sonnet's website to receive a promotion code that will allow them to purchase the dock for $199.99 when it is available.
OWC and CalDigit also introduced Thunderbolt 4 docks recently, priced at $249 and $179.99, respectively, so it's worth checking out all three options. Those two brands also announced availability of Thunderbolt 4 cables today.
Apple today seeded the second public beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur 11.3 update to its public beta testing group, with the new software coming two weeks after the first public beta.
Public beta testers can download macOS Big Sur 11.3 from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 introduces more customization options for Safari, adding 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 can be enabled for iPhone or iPad apps by clicking on the app's name in the menu bar and then selecting the Preferences option. Touch Alternatives let you customize taps, swipes, and drags.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 also adds support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X/S controllers for use with macOS games.
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. Reminders can also be moved manually across lists with drag and drop, something that wasn't possible before.
Apple is adding a new "Made For You" library shortcut in Apple Music for finding personal mixes and Replay playlists, and the Listen Now section has been updated with support for highlighting live events. In the second beta, there's a new autoplay feature in the Apple Music app that allows the streaming service to continue to play music after a playlist or music queue ends. Apple Music sources music similar to what's in a person's Apple Music library, similar to the autoplay feature added in iOS 14.
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.
There's also 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.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for HomePod Stereo pairs, allowing a set of paired HomePods to be set as the default sound output option, with the two HomePods showing up as a single selectable speaker rather than separate as in prior versions of macOS.
Code in the update suggests that the Optimized Battery Charging feature will now make sure the Mac's battery is fully charged before a scheduled calendar event. The Mac will charge to 100 percent three hours before a calendar event's start time.
Optimized Battery Charging is designed to preserve the lifespan of the Mac's battery by limiting the amount of time that a Mac sits at 100 percent battery.
In Safari, there's support for WebM video playback, allowing users to play WebM videos using Apple's browser. WebM is a niche video format designed to be a royalty-free alternative to the H.264 codec used in the MP4 format. WebM allows video files to remain small without sacrificing quality and can be played with little processing power, making it ideal for webpages and browsers.
More on macOS Big Sur can be found in our macOS Big Sur roundup. The software is expected to see a release this spring.
Google today announced that the Apple TV app has launched on the $50 Chromecast with Google TV, which is the latest version of the Chromecast dongle.
Google said in December that the Apple TV app would be coming to Chromecast early in 2021, with the app set to expand to other Android TV devices in the future.
With the Apple TV app now available, Chromecast users can access Apple TV+ content with an Apple TV+ subscription, watch content from Apple TV channels, and access purchased and rented TV shows and movies.
TV shows and movies from Apple TV+ can be added to the Google TV Watchlist, and Google Assistant voice commands are available.
Apple appears to be planning a meeting-friendly improvement to its Optimized Battery Charging feature on the Mac in macOS 11.3.
New code in the second beta of macOS 11.3, discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, suggests that the upcoming software update will ensure a Mac is fully charged to 100% prior to a scheduled calendar event, such as a meeting.
macOS 11.3 will ensure that a Mac finishes charging to 100% three hours prior to a calendar event's start time, the code suggests, although the exact timing may vary depending on whether an alert is set for the calendar event.
Macs running macOS 10.15.5 or later have an Optimized Battery Charging feature that helps to reduce wear on the battery and improve its lifespan by learning the user's daily charging routine. The feature delays charging the battery past 80% when it predicts the user will be connected to power for an extended period of time, and aims to charge the battery before they unplug from power, according to Apple.
Optimized Battery Charging can be toggled on or off in System Preferences > Battery > Battery on both Intel-based and M1-based Macs, but there are certain other battery health management features that cannot be disabled on M1-based Macs.
Popular Mac accessory makers CalDigit and OWC have today announced new all-in-one Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 cables, promising maximum data and power transfer over a single cable, as well as full compatibility with older USB devices.
Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 is the latest connectivity specification present in the newest Macs and high-end external hardware, offering performance up to 40Gb/s, making it ideal for eGPUs, SSDs, external displays, and more.
CalDigit and OWC's new Thunderbolt 4 cables feature maximum power and data transfer capability. The cables deliver power up to 100W, making them appropriate for docking stations or monitors that can supply power, and support external displays with resolutions up to 8K.
Many previous generations of longer Thunderbolt cables lacked compatibility with USB-C devices, resulting in reduced transfer speeds, but both of the new CalDigit and OWC cables are fully compatible with USB-C. This also guarantees full compatibility with both Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors, the best possible performance for USB-C devices, and the ability to connect USB-C devices to Thunderbolt ports, giving users a large amount of versatility from a single cable.
The CalDigit cable is available in a length of 2m and the OWC cable is available in 0.8m only. CalDigit also supports its new cable with a two-year warranty, while OWC's features a three-year warranty.
The OWC 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C Cable is available now for $27.99 on MacSales.com, while the CalDigit 2m Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C Cable is available on the CalDigit website for $79.99.
Today we're tracking offers on the Apple Watch Series 6 and official iPhone 11 cases. In the sales below, you'll find up to $60 off Apple Watch Series 6 and up to $22 off various iPhone 11 cases.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Watch Series 6
To start, you can get the (Product)RED 40mm GPS Apple Watch Series 6 for $339.00, down from $399.00. Only the (Product)Red color option is seeing a discount to this price for the 40mm GPS model.
This is $10 off from the lowest price that we've ever tracked for this model of the Apple Watch Series 6, so it's a solid deal if you're shopping for the wearable this month. For the larger sizes, 44mm GPS models are getting about $50 off original prices, with most sitting around $379.99.
iPhone 11 Cases
Amazon has introduced a new collection of discounts on iPhone 11 silicone and leather cases, with the lowest price hitting the Black Silicone Case for the iPhone 11 Pro, priced at $16.49. You can also save on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max cases.
The second beta of iOS 14.5 seeded to developers and public beta testers this week enables users to stream Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs, allowing the videos to be watched on the big screen without an Apple TV.
One caveat of using Apple Fitness+ with AirPlay is that Apple Watch metrics are not displayed on the screen, as they are when using the service with an Apple TV, iPhone, or iPad. Activity rings, calories burned, workout time remaining, and burn bars will not show up on the TV when streaming workouts with AirPlay 2, but users can still glance at their connected Apple Watch and iPhone or iPad to view that information.
AirPlay 2-enabled TVs are available from a variety of brands, including Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio. Roku TVs sold by brands like TCL, Sharp, and Hisense also support AirPlay 2, or users can connect a Roku streaming stick to their existing smart TV via the HDMI port as a cost-effective way of streaming Apple Fitness+ workouts via AirPlay 2.
iOS 14.5 should be released to all users by late March or early April, but anyone can sign up to be a public beta tester for free to access this feature early.
Apple Fitness+ launched in December, providing subscribers with access to a library of workout videos updated on a weekly basis. The service is currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, with pricing set at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year after a one-month trial.
Safari features support for WebM video playback in the second beta of macOS Big Sur 11.3 Beta, indicating that Apple's browser will finally support the format after failing to do so for almost 11 years.
The added functionality, first spotted by The 8-Bit, allows users to play WebM videos in Safari for the first time.
WebM is a video format designed to be a royalty-free alternative to the H.264 codec used in the MP4 format. WebM allows video files to remain small without sacrificing quality excessively, and can be played with little processing power, making it ideal for webpages and browsers.
WebM was launched by Google in 2010, but has never been supported in Safari. This meant that Safari users have been forced to download WebM content and play it in a compatible media player, or simply use another browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Today, WebM is among the more niche video formats, primarily being used on sites such as imageboards and forums. It is also often chosen for its support for transparent video playback.
In 2010, Steve Jobs implied that WebM was "a mess" and "not ready for primetime." It is unclear why Apple has finally deemed WebM a format worth supporting 11 years after its launch, but it may be partially due to the fact that Apple officially backs the H.264 codec.
WebM also has a sister project called WebP for images. Last year, Apple added support for WebP in Safari 14, so the company's approach to more niche media formats appears to be softening. WebM support still appears to be unavailable on iOS, but in light of these developments it would be unsurprising if Apple's WebKit engine added support for it too in due course.
Instagram has confirmed that a bug is preventing proper Instagram URL previews from appearing in iMessage conversations. In a statement to Mashable, Instagram says the behavior is not normal, and that it's "working to resolve Instagram link previews in iMessage so that they load normally."
The lack of link previews was first brought up on Reddit around two months ago, so it seems the issue has been going on for a long time. Mashable implies that Instagram was not aware of the bug until it reached out for comment, which triggered the Facebook-owned social network to conduct an investigation.
Normally, sending an Instagram URL on iMessage generates a preview of the photo/video, alongside the account which posted it, and a snippet of the caption. Now, the bug is causing links to appear without the thumbnail preview or related information.
Thankfully, there is a logical explanation as to why this is occurring. Security research team Mysk did some digging at the behest of Mashable to backward engineer iMessage and Instagram. The team found that when iMessage attempts to fetch the metadata for the link, Instagram directs the request to its login page. Instagram's login page doesn't hold metadata, which includes a thumbnail of the post.
Mysk is the same security team that, earlier this month, found that Facebook and Instagram link previews could be violating EU privacy laws. Mysk believes that the preview of the link that is generated when a URL is sent in Facebook Messenger and Instagram may be infringing on multiples articles of the ePrivacy directive, which states that personal data can only be accessed by authorized personnel for legal purposes.
As a result, Facebook no longer generates link previews for EU users in Messenger and Instagram. There's no indication, however, that the bug with iMessage is related to the reported breach of privacy law, so it certainly seems to be an issue on Instagram's side.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple is hiring engineers to work on next-generation 6G wireless technology, based on job listings spotted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The listings are for positions at Apple's offices in Silicon Valley and San Diego, where the company works on wireless technology development and chip design, according to Gurman's report.
"You will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft next generation wireless technology that will have deep impact on future Apple products," according to the job announcement. "In this role you will be at the center of a cutting-edge research group responsible for creating next generation disruptive radio access technologies over the next decade."
People hired for the positions will "research and design next generation (6G) wireless communication systems for radio access networks" and "participate in industry/academic forums passionate about 6G technology."
Apple only adopted 5G connectivity in its iPhones last year, and 6G isn't expected to roll out until around 2030, but the job listings indicate Apple is eager to get involved at the earliest stages in the development of the new technology.
Late last year, Apple joined the Next G Alliance, an industry group set up by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) that seeks to "advance North American mobile technology leadership in 6G and beyond over the next decade, while building on the long-term evolution of 5G."
The Next G Alliance held its first meeting for members in November to set the initiative's overarching direction and strategy. The other members of the group include Charter, Cisco, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Keysight Technologies, LG, Mavenir, MITRE, and VMware.
In September, AT&T said that it already has engineers working on next-generation 6G networking. Some analysts say the technology could enable speeds more than 100 times faster than 5G, but again, the technology isn't expected to arrive for several years to come.
The move continues a trend of Apple preferring to develop in-house hardware for its devices, rather than relying on third-parties. In 2019, Apple and Qualcomm settled a legal battle and reached a multiyear chipset supply agreement that paved the way for Apple to use Qualcomm's 5G modems in iPhone 12 models.
Beyond that, a court document from the settlement revealed that Apple will likely use the the Snapdragon X60 modem for 2021 iPhones, followed by the world's first 10 Gigabit 5G modem, the Snapdragon X65, in 2022 iPhones.
The Snapdragon X65 could be the last Qualcomm modem used in iPhones, however, as Barclays analysts and multiple other sources have forecasted that Apple will switch to its own in-house 5G modem for iPhones by 2023.
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