MacRumors

Apple appears to have pulled the latest macOS Mojave Security Update (2020-005), which was released on September 24 alongside the macOS Catalina 10.15.7 update. Apple has also removed Safari 14 for macOS Mojave from download.

Both the Mojave Security Update and the Safari 14 update were causing numerous problems for those still running macOS Mojave, as outlined by Mr. Macintosh.

macOS Mojave users who installed the updates have been noticing memory issues, slow boot times and Finder stalling, numerous system.log entires, and crashes when attempting to use Migration assistant, among other problems. Complaints about the update started shortly after it was released, but Apple did not pull the updates until yesterday.

Those who had already downloaded the Mojave Security Update or installed Safari 14 should soon be getting a fix in the form of updated software that addresses the bugs that were introduced. Reverting to a Time Machine backup, reinstalling macOS Mojave, or installing macOS Catalina also seem to successfully fix the issues.

(Thanks, Jeff!)

Update: Apple has released a supplemental update for Mojave which presumably addresses the issues above. It should become available in your macOS software update.

The new Apple Maps app that Apple has been rolling out over the course of the last year is expanding to the UK and Ireland as of today, according to Apple.

Apple's updated Maps app provides faster and more accurate navigation and richer, more detailed views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, malls, and more, to provide a better-than-ever navigation experience. In Apple's article announcing the availability of the new Maps in the UK and Ireland, Apple's services VP Eddy Cue said that Apple is "excited" to expand the new experience.

"Apple Maps is the best way to explore and navigate the world -- all while protecting your privacy -- and we're excited to bring the new map to our users in the UK and Ireland," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "We have rebuilt the map from the ground up, with better navigation, richer detail, more accurate information for places, and incredible features like Look Around, cycling directions, and curated Guides from trusted resources. We've reimagined how Maps can help users find the places they love and get to where they're going even faster and easier."

With the updated Maps app, Apple is launching Look Around in the UK and Ireland, allowing users in these countries to see a street level view of what's around, similar to the Google Street View mode. Apple first introduced Look Around in iOS 13 in a limited number of areas, but has since been expanding its availability. Look Around in the UK and Ireland is available in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin at launch, with more areas to come in the future.

Guides, an iOS 14 feature, provides a curated list of places to visit within a city, with resources created by Time Out Group, Lonely Planet, and The Evening Standard, and UK users in London also have access to cycling directions and routes with EV stops.

Apple has been testing the new maps in the UK and Ireland since August after finishing the rollout in the United States back in January.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.1 update to public beta testers, two days after providing the beta to developers.

The ‌watchOS 7‌.1 update can be downloaded after installing the proper profile from Apple's Public Beta website. Once the profile is in place, the ‌‌‌‌watchOS 7.1‌‌‌‌ beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌Apple Watch‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌.

There were no new features discovered in the first two betas of watchOS 7.1, so we don't yet know what new additions may be included in the update. It likely focuses on under-the-hood improvements and bug fixes for issues that weren't able to be addressed in the initial ‌watchOS 7‌ release.

Today's update does re-enable blood oxygen monitoring and watch faces that were disabled in the prior beta update.

AMC+, which includes content from AMC, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV, is available through the Channels feature in the Apple TV app as of today, according to AdWeek.

AMC+ provides access to ad-free programming from AMC channels and other streaming services like Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited, AMC library shows, and early access to AMC series before they air on TV. It also includes on-demand content and live feeds of AMC, BBC America, IFC, and Sundance, though live content will include ads.

Prior to today, AMC+ was limited to Comcast, Dish, and SlingTV subscribers, but there was no standalone option that did not involve a cable subscription. Subscribing to AMC+ through ‌Apple TV‌ Channels will cost $8.99 per month, with a 7-day free trial available to test it out. The service is also available through Amazon Prime Video.

Those who subscribe to AMC+ can get early access to the new "The Walking Dead" spinoff called "The Walking Dead: World Beyond," along with anthology series "Soulmates."

Apple introduced the Channels feature in a revamped ‌Apple TV‌ app that came out in early 2019, providing a way for ‌Apple TV‌ users to subscribe to standalone services right in the TV app. There are several Channels available such as CBS All Access, Showtime, Epix, Starz, Cinemax, and more.

If you have an Apple Watch, chances are you've spent some time customizing your watch faces. Apple lets you adjust colors, choose complications, and select backgrounds so you can get watch to look just how you like, and you can share your personalized watch faces with others, too.

The ability to share watch faces with other people is a fun addition because it means you can impress your friends with your creations, and perhaps surprise someone who's new to Apple Watch by showing them just what's possible. You can also receive watch faces from others. It's easy to do, so keep reading to learn how it works.

How to Share a Watch Face With Someone

1. On your Apple Watch, swipe to the face you want to share.
2. Press and hold on the face until the Edit and Share buttons appear.
3. Tap the Share button (it looks like a square with an arrow pointing out).
   
   

4. Tap Add Contact.
5. If the person you want to share the face with is in the list of favorites and recent contacts, tap their name. Alternately, tap the Dictate button and say their name, then select it from the list that appears.
   
   

6. Select one of the suggested text messages or use Dictate, Scribble, or emoji to create your own.
7. Turn the Digital Crown to scroll down, then tap Send.
   

You can also share a watch face from your iPhone. Simply open the Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌, select a watch face in the My Watch tab or the Face Gallery tab, tap the Share button, then tap how you want to share it. You can send watch faces using Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or third-party apps like WhatsApp.

How to Share a Watch Face Online

You can also share watch faces online, via websites, blogs, and social media, although the process is a bit more convoluted. Here's how it works.

1. Launch Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌, then select the watch face you want to share.
2. Tap the Share button, then select Mail.
3. Email the watch face to yourself.
4. Open the email message that you receive, then touch and hold on the .watchface attachment at the bottom of the message.
5. Tap Share, then tap Save to Files.
6. Select a location, then tap Save.
7. Open the Files app and navigate to the .watchface file that you just saved.
8. Touch and hold the .watchface file, then tap Share.
9. Tap Add People.
10. Tap Share Options, then tap Anyone with the link if you want anyone to be able to download the watch face.
11. Tap the Back arrow to go back.
12. Swipe left on the sharing app icons, then tap Copy Link.
13. Use the link that you copied to share the watch face online.

How to Receive a Watch Face From Someone

When someone shares a watch face with you, you'll receive a link in Messages, Mail, or another app. Here's what you need to do with it.

1. On the ‌iPhone‌ that your Apple Watch is paired with, tap the shared watch face link.
2. When the Watch app opens, tap Add to My Faces.
   
   

3. If there are any complications included in the watch face that you don't have the apps for, you'll be offered App Store links to download them. If you don't want the complication, select Continue Without This App and the face will be modified for your Apple Watch.

The shared face will be added to the My Faces section in the Watch app, and will appear on your Apple Watch when you select a watch face.

The EU is planning to implement wide-ranging legal measures to compel major tech companies to share data with competitors and give no preference to their own apps and services, according to a new report by the Financial Times.

As part of its new Digital Services Act, the EU is planning to force the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Google to hand over customer data to smaller rivals in an effort to loosen the grip of big tech on consumers. A draft of the legislation stated that tech companies "shall not use data collected on the platform... for [their] own commercial activities... unless they [make it] accessible to business users active in the same commercial activities."

Likewise, "gatekeeper" platforms that wield their own online marketplaces, such as Apple's App Store, would be limited from using much of the data they collect. The draft states that "Gatekeepers shall not use data received from business users for advertising services for any other purpose other than advertising services."

Perhaps most controversially, big tech companies may be banned from preferring their own apps and services. As it stands, this means that companies will not be allowed to pre-install any of their own apps on devices, or force other companies to exclusively pre-install any of their software. There is also the ambition to allow users to uninstall any pre-installed apps.

The plan would be a major blow to Apple and Google, and result in fundamental changes to how operating systems ship and function. However, it is unclear how shipping an iPhone, for example, with no pre-installed Apple apps from would work, when presumably even the ‌App Store‌ itself could not be pre-installed as it would then be a "preferred" app. Downloading apps or using services of any kind on iOS and Android would have to be completely reworked to allow for user choice and third-party options at every level, with no preference for any of the device-maker's own apps and services at all.

The act contains over 30 paragraphs of specific prohibitions and obligations for tech giants, aimed at curbing their power and influence. The legislation is expected to be publicized in full by the end of this year, and Brussels reportedly hopes to lead global standards for the digital economy, improve competition, and prevent long-lasting antitrust cases.

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.

Last month Apple unveiled a redesigned iPad Air with slimmer bezels that it said would become available in October, but it didn't give an exact date for when it would start taking orders. With October now upon us, there are indications that the new ‌iPad Air‌ could launch imminently, rather than later on in the month.

According to a tweet late on Wednesday from well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, "Apple marketing materials for the new ‌iPad Air‌ are starting to land at retail stores, suggesting a launch sooner rather than later."

The new ‌iPad Air‌ is the first Apple device with Touch ID built into the power button. That has allowed Apple to add a fully laminated 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide color support, and an anti-reflective coating.

It's also the first time Apple has debuted a new AXX-series chip in an iPad before an iPhone. The new ‌iPad Air‌ is powered by the new 5nm-based, six-core A14 Bionic chip for up to 40 percent faster performance and up to 30 percent faster graphics than the previous-generation ‌iPad Air‌. It's the same chip expected to be used for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro models, which are expected to be announced this month.

Apple's ‌iPad Air‌ is also the first ‌iPad‌ to offer unique color options similar to ‌iPhone‌ colors. The ‌iPad Air‌ is available in silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue.

Like the iPad Pro, the new ‌iPad Air‌ features a USB-C port instead of a Lightning connector, and similarly features a 12-megapixel rear camera for higher-resolution photos and 4K video recording.

The new ‌iPad Air‌ will be available on Apple.com and the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions when it launches. Wi-Fi models will start at $599, while cellular models will start at $729, with 64GB and 256GB storage capacities available.

Popular writing app Ulysses receives its 21st major release on October 6, and will bring with it the revision mode that was introduced to Mac this summer to iPad and iPhone.

Revision mode, as the name suggests, aims to aid focused text revision by hiding unnecessary features, dimming the editor theme, and highlighting annotations and suggestions.

Revision mode also includes an advanced grammar and style check powered by the LanguageTool Plus service, which can analyze texts and provide informed suggestions in categories such as capitalization, punctuation, semantics, redundancy, typography, and style.

On top of the grammar and style suggestions, users can review annotations, comments, deletions and marked text passages in this mode.

In addition to the new mode, Ulysses' developers have reworked the app's appearance to match the look-and-feel of iOS 14.

Ulysses can be downloaded for free on the App Store, with version 21 rolling out to existing users today. After a 14-day trial period, a subscription is required to unlock the app on all devices. A monthly subscription costs $5.99, while a yearly subscription is $49.99.

Students can use Ulysses at a discounted price of $11.99 per six months. The discount is granted from within the app. Ulysses is also included in Setapp, the subscription-based service for Mac applications created by MacPaw.

Apple's upcoming macOS Big Sur operating system introduces HDR video support and allows Netflix users to watch content in 4K HDR for the first time. However, it turns out that only Macs with an Apple T2 Security chip are compatible with Ultra HD streaming.

Apple Terminal spotted a recently updated support document on Netflix's Help Center that now includes hardware requirements for viewing 4K HDR content in Safari on macOS Big Sur.

According to the web page, viewing Ultra HD content can only be achieved on a "select 2018 or later Mac computer with an Apple T2 Security chip." In addition to that, every monitor connected to the computer on which Ultra HD is streamed must be a 60Hz 4K capable display with a HDCP 2.2 connection.

It's not clear why Macs need a T2 security chip to play back 4K HDR content, given that Windows machines obviously don't, but it could be that this is Netflix's way of ensuring that viewers aren't trying to stream the high-definition content on older Macs, which could result in less-than-stellar performance.

The following Macs have the Apple T2 Security Chip, and can therefore stream Netflix in Ultra HD on macOS Big Sur:

• iMac introduced in 2020
• ‌iMac‌ Pro
• Mac Pro introduced in 2019
• Mac mini introduced in 2018
• MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
• MacBook Pro introduced in 2018 or later

macOS Big Sur is now up to its ninth public beta, and is likely to officially debut sometime this month.

As expected, Apple has added the seventh-generation iPod nano to its list of Vintage and Obsolete products, officially designating the last iPod in the iconic nano lineup as "vintage."

The vintage products list features devices that have not been updated for more than five years and less than seven years. After products pass the seven year mark, they are considered obsolete.

Apple debuted a refreshed version of the seventh-generation iPod nano in mid-2015, and that was the final iPod nano that came out. Now that the device is five years old, it is being added to the vintage list.

Apple launched the first iPod nano in September 2005, and over the course of the nano's lifetime, it got several redesigns. The first iPod nano model was similar in design to a standard iPod but with a slimmer, easier to pocket shape.

Fast forward seven years to October 2020 and the seventh-generation iPod nano, which ended up being the final model that was introduced. It had an iPod touch-style multi-touch display and a Home button, but the nano and touch product lines were ultimately so similar that Apple did away with the iPod nano.

Apple refreshed the seventh-generation iPod nano in 2015 to add new colors, but the design remained the same. The iPod nano was discontinued along with the iPod shuffle in mid-2017, leaving the iPod touch as the only iPod Apple sells.

Devices on Apple's vintage list are able to receive hardware service from Apple and Apple service providers, but it is subject to the availability of repair components and where required by law. Obsolete products have no hardware service available with no exceptions.

In addition to the seventh-generation iPod nano, the 5th-generation ‌iPod touch‌, which was originally released on October 11, 2012, has also been added to the Vintage and Obsolete list.

Shortly after the release of iOS 14 and watchOS 7, many users ran into problems with their iPhone and Apple Watch.

Multiple online support threads including our own found GPS data was not being properly recorded during activities. The issue appeared to affect all models of Apple Watches.

In the majority of cases, users record a workout on their watch while leaving their iPhone at home, but when they later look at the Activity app it only shows the workout's starting point on the GPS map, and nothing else.

In addition, some users have been reporting excess battery drain of their Apple Watch, ‌iPhone‌ or both under iOS 14 and watchOS 7. In the support threads, the unofficial fix seemed to be unpairing and restoring your Apple Watch. Jack Taylor from our forums reported resolving both issues with this method:

Both the GPS and severe battery drain issues on watchOS 7 were fixed for me simply by in-pairing and re-pairing my watch. Both issues resolved themselves immediately after as noted in many of the support groups

It appears that Apple has adopted this advice as the official solution to this problem. In a newly published support document titled If you're missing Workout GPS routes or Health data after updating to iOS 14 and watchOS 7, Apple writes that users may see the following issues after upgrading to iOS 14 and watchOS 7:

Possible Symptoms

• Your workout route maps are missing in the Fitness app on ‌iPhone‌ for previous GPS-enabled workouts from your Apple Watch.
• The Activity, Heart Rate, or other health-related apps fail to launch or load data on your Apple Watch.
• The Fitness app or Health app fail to launch or load data on your ‌iPhone‌.
• The Health app or Fitness app is reporting an inaccurate amount of data storage on your ‌iPhone‌.
• The Activity app is reporting an inaccurate amount of data storage on your Apple Watch.
• Your environmental sound levels data or headphone audio levels data from Apple Watch is missing in the Health app on ‌iPhone‌.
• Increased battery drain on your ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch.

If you are experiencing two or more of these symptoms, Apple suggests unpairing your Apple Watch, backing up both your ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, wiping both devices and restoring from backup. Apple provides steps to accomplish these tasks in their support document which was published today.

In iOS 14, Apple overhauled widgets and introduced an option for adding widgets to the Home Screen, but in the process, a well-loved Favorites widget that existed in iOS 13 was removed.

The Favorites widget allowed users to set certain contacts and contact methods as favorites that were easily accessible, so you could, for example, add a favorite option for messaging Eric or calling Dan, with those actions executed with a tap on the widget.

Why the Favorites widget was removed is a mystery and it could be a simple oversight with Apple planning to reintroduce it later, but for now, those who relied on the widget can recreate its functionality with Shortcuts. It takes some effort, but it may be worth the time investment if you often relied on your Favorites.

Creating a Favorites Shortcut

Making a shortcut that replicates the behavior of the Favorites widget isn't too tough, but if you want multiple favorite options, you'll need to create a separate shortcut for each one in the Shortcuts app.

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap on the "← Shortcuts" label in the upper left hand corner.
3. Tap on the folder icon in the top right to create a new folder. Your favorites shortcuts need to be in a folder if you want to use them with the Shortcuts widget.
4. Name the folder ("Favorites" in our case) and choose an icon.
5. Tap on the new folder ("Favorites") and then tap the "+" icon to start creating shortcuts.

After this step, there are slightly different Shortcut creation methods that can be used to create quick contact options for calling, FaceTiming, and messaging someone.

Making a Shortcut to Call Someone

1. Tap Add Action and then search for "Phone" or "Call."
2. Tap the Phone app.
3. Tap on one of the suggested contacts that Shortcuts offers or tap on the "+" button to select a different contact.
4. Make sure the Shortcut you've created says Call [Contact Name].
5. Tap Next.
6. Give the Shortcut a name. ("Call John" in our case)
7. Tap the icon to the left to the name to select both a color and an icon for your Shortcut.
8. Tap "Done."

After you tap Done, your shortcut to make a phone call to one of your contacts will be listed in the appropriate folder in the Shortcuts app. To activate it, just tap it and it will automatically call the intended person. Repeat these steps for anyone you want to create a call shortcut for.

Making a Shortcut to FaceTime Someone

1. Tap Add Action and then search for "FaceTime" or "Call."
2. Tap the ‌FaceTime‌ app to get to the Shortcut editing options.
3. Tap on "‌FaceTime‌" to select either standard ‌FaceTime‌ or ‌FaceTime‌ Audio.
4. Tap on the [Contact] blank to select a contact from the list.
5. Make sure the Shortcut you've created says ‌FaceTime‌ [Contact Name].
6. Tap Next.
7. Give the Shortcut a name.
8. Tap the icon next to the name to select both a color and an icon for your Shortcut.
9. Tap "Done."

When you tap this Shortcut, it will initiate a ‌FaceTime‌ call to the person that was added as the contact.

Making a Shortcut to Message Someone

1. Tap Add Action and then search for "Messages."
2. Tap on "Send Message."
3. Tap on the [Recipients] blank to select a contact.
4. Type in the name of the person you want to be able to message.
5. Make sure the Shortcut you've created says Send "Message" to [Contact].
6. Tap Next.
7. Give the Shortcut a name.
8. Tap the icon next to the name to select both a color and an icon for your Shortcut.
9. Tap "Done."

Tapping the finished Shortcut will open up the Messages app with a compose window for the person who you added as your target contact. Note that if you want to send a message to more than one person, just type in multiple names at the part where you're entering the name of your contact.

Adding the Shortcuts Favorites Widget to Your Home Screen

Once you've created all your shortcuts for quickly sending a message, calling, or FaceTiming your contacts, you're ready to add a widget that can be accessed from the widget interface or right from the ‌Home Screen‌.

1. Go to the iPhone's ‌Home Screen‌.
2. Swipe over to where you want to place your new Favorite Widget.
3. Press and hold on the ‌Home Screen‌ to enter "Jiggle" Mode, and then tap the "+" button in the upper left hand corner.
4. Search for Shortcuts and tap the icon.
5. Choose the widget you want. If you made a single favorites Shortcut, tap the single option. If you have two to four, tap the size with four, and choose eight if you have more.
6. Tap Add Widget.
7. Tap on the widget to customize it.
8. Tap on the folder where you put all your favorites shortcuts.
9. Tap out of the interface and tap "Done."

That's all there is to it. Once the Shortcuts widget is set up with the appropriate folder that contains all of your contact shortcuts, a tap on any one of the widget options will initiate the action right from the widget interface, just like the prior favorites widget.

Note that the Shortcuts widget has limited space when it comes to names, so you may need to shorten some of the Shortcut names you've created to make it clear who's going to be contacted if you have multiples.

If you need more detailed instructions on adding widgets, see our dedicated Widgets how to.

Favorites Still in the Contacts App

Just to be clear, it's the Favorites widget that's been removed, not the Favorites functionality in its entirety. You can still create and access your previously made favorite options in the Phone app under the "Favorites" tab if that's easier than making a whole bunch of Shortcuts.

For more on how to make use of widgets and the new ‌Home Screen‌ changes in iOS 14, make sure to check out our widget how to and our Home Screen guide.

Ahead of Apple's rumored October event that will see the unveiling of the new iPhone 12 lineup, Google today held a virtual event to unveil its latest flagship smartphones, the 5G-enabled Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G.

Priced starting at $699, the Pixel 5 features a 6-inch OLED display, 8GB RAM, 128GB of storage, a 4080mAh battery, an aluminum body, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip with 5G connectivity. Google is not using the latest Qualcomm chip technology, likely in order to keep the price down.

The Pixel 5 also includes a two-lens camera setup with a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens, and it supports bilateral wireless charging for charging Qi-based accessories like headphones.

The more affordable Pixel 4a with 5G is priced starting at $499. It features a 6.2-inch OLED display, the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip, a dual-lens camera, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and a 3.5mm audio jack, which is missing from the Pixel 5.

Compared to the 5G Pixel 4a, the higher-priced Pixel 5 offers IPX8 water resistance, a Gorilla Glass 6 display, the aforementioned reverse wireless charging feature, larger battery, and a bump in RAM.

Pre-orders for the Pixel 5 are available now from Google's website, while the Pixel 4a 5G will be available for purchase in November.

Google today also unveiled a new Nest Audio speaker and an updated Chromecast with Google TV service. The Nest Audio is 75 percent louder than the Google Home, with 50 percent stronger bass. It features a 19mm tweeter and a 75mm mid-woofer for what Google says is "full, clear and natural" sound.

A Media EQ feature lets Nest Audio tune itself to the music that's being played, and Ambient IQ lets it adjust the volume of Assistant, news, podcasts, and more based on the background noise in the home. Google designed the fabric-covered Nest Audio with a slim profile and multiple color options.

Google's redesigned Chromecast with Google TV combines Chromecast features with the new Google TV experience. The TV service features a "For You" tab for finding content suggestions across subscriptions, and it is designed to work with the YouTube TV membership with live TV recommendations and curated content from other services.

The updated Chromecast has a thin design with 4K HDR support and a new remote to control it. It supports Dolby Vision and HDMI pass-through of Dolby Audio content. The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant button for answering queries and finding content, plus there are dedicated buttons for launching YouTube and Netflix.

The Chromecast with Google TV is available as of today for $50, as is the Nest Audio, which can pre-ordered for $100.

Apple today seeded a new beta of the upcoming macOS 11 Big Sur update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to give the software a try ahead of its public release this fall. The new beta release for public testers comes a few weeks after the last beta, and a day after the ninth beta was seeded to developers.

Beta testers who signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the macOS Big Sur beta through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper profile.

Mac users who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate on the beta website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS betas. Potential beta testers should make a full backup before installing ‌macOS Big Sur‌, and it may not be wise to install the update on a primary machine because betas can be unstable.

macOS Big Sur introduces a refined design for the macOS operating system, which is more similar to iOS but immediately familiar to Mac users with tweaks to window design, color palette, app icons, system sounds, menu bars, and sidebars.

The update brings Control Center to the Mac for the first time, providing quicker access to system controls for things like volume, keyboard brightness, screen brightness, Wi-Fi connection, and more.

An updated Notification Center includes more interactive notifications and redesigned widgets that mirror the new widgets in iOS 14. Notifications are now grouped by app, and you can customize which widgets show up.

Safari has a new customizable start page, built-in translation, and a Privacy Report feature that lets you know which trackers each website is using to follow you across the web. There's a new Mac App Store category for extensions, and you can now control the specific sites that extensions are able to work with for more privacy.

The Messages app for Mac has been overhauled to bring it more in line with the Messages app for iOS and it supports features like pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, Messages effects, and Memoji creation and Memoji stickers. Search is also better to make it easier to find old conversations, photos, links, and more.

A redesigned Maps app in macOS Big Sur adds support for Look Around, indoor maps, Guides, and Shared ETA updates, plus it can be used to generate cycling routes and routes with charging stops for electric vehicles, which can be sent to iPhone.

There are also smaller updates for apps like Photos, Music, and Home, with a full list of everything new in macOS Big Sur available in our roundup.

Apple today seeded the second public betas of upcoming iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 updates to its public beta testing group, two weeks after releasing the first betas and a few day after providing the second betas to developers.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS‌ 14.2 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website on an iOS device.

Apple in iOS and iPadOS 14.2 is adding new Emoji 13 emoji characters, with options that include smiling face with tear, ninja, pinched fingers, anatomical heart, black cat, mammoth, polar bear, dodo, fly, bell pepper, tamale, bubble tea, potted plant, piñata, plunger, wand, feather, hut, and more, with a full list available here.

iOS 14.2 introduces a new Music Recognition control for the Control Center, deepening the integration of the Apple-owned Shazam app in the iOS operating system. Music Recognition lets you discover music playing around you and it can recognize music playing in apps even when you're wearing AirPods.

The Shazam Music Recognition feature can be added to Control Center through the Control Center options in the Settings app. To use the feature, open up Control Center and then tap on the Shazam icon to initiate a single recognition.

The new update brings a redesigned Now Playing widget for the Control Center that lists recently played albums that you might want to listen to when you have no music playing. There's also a redesigned interface for AirPlay, making it easier to play music across multiple ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled devices in the home.

For those who have low vision, Apple added a "People Detection" feature in the Magnifier app that uses the camera to let iPhone users know how far away other people are, which can be useful for social distancing purposes.

As for smaller but interesting tweaks, iOS 14.2 brings a new icon for the Apple Watch app, with the watch now sporting one of Apple's new Solo Loop bands.

The new iOS 14.2 beta will likely be in testing for some time as Apple works on releasing new iPhones, with the new iPhones expected to debut sometime in October.

Apple with the Apple Watch Series 6 introduced a new feature for monitoring blood oxygen level, using the LEDs at the back of the Apple Watch to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood. A low blood oxygen level can be indicative of a serious health issue that needs immediate attention.

Taking a blood oxygen reading is rather straightforward, but there are automatic measurement settings to be aware of as well as necessary tips for getting an accurate measurement, all of which can be found in the guide below.

How Blood Oxygen Readings on Apple Watch Work

The Apple Watch Series 6 is equipped with green, red, and infrared LEDs that shine light onto the blood vessels in the wrist, with photodiodes measuring the amount of light reflected back.

Apple's algorithms use this information to calculate the color of the blood, which is an indication of how much oxygen is in the blood. Bright red blood is well oxygenated, while darker blood has less oxygen.

The Apple Watch Series 6 can measure blood oxygen levels between 70 and 100 percent. Most healthy people have blood oxygen levels that range from 95 to 100 percent, though those with COPD and other lung diseases may have a lower average percentage.

Apple does not expect the Blood Oxygen function in the Series 6 to be intended for medical use, and so the Apple Watch will not send a notification if a lower than normal blood oxygen level is detected.

Hardware Requirements

Using the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature requires an Apple Watch Series 6 running the latest version of watchOS along with an iPhone 6s or later with the latest version of iOS.

The Blood Oxygen app is available in almost all countries around the world, but if you're not seeing it, it might not be in your country. Apple has a list here.

Note that the Blood Oxygen app is not available to users under 18 and it is not enabled when an Apple Watch has been paired to an ‌iPhone‌ using Family Setup.

Enabling Blood Oxygen Measurements

When you set up a Series 6 Apple Watch, you'll be asked during the setup process if you want to enable Blood Oxygen measurements. If you tap "enable" when asked, the feature will be turned on automatically and will be usable through the Blood Oxygen app.

How to Take a Blood Oxygen Measurement on Apple Watch

1. Make sure your Apple Watch Series 6 is snug but comfortable on your wrist.
   
   

2. Open the Blood Oxygen app on your Apple Watch.
   
   

3. Keep still, and make sure your wrist is flat with the Apple Watch facing upwards.
   
   

4. Tap Start, then keep your arm steady for 15 seconds.
   
   

5. Wait for the measurement to be taken - you'll see the result when it's complete. Then tap Done.
   

You can view blood oxygen measurements taken over days, weeks, months, and years in the Health app on your ‌iPhone‌. Simply search for "Blood Oxygen."

Automatic Blood Oxygen Readings

In addition to on-demand readings, the Apple Watch Series 6 takes automatic blood oxygen readings throughout the day. Automatic blood oxygen measurements are enabled as long as Blood Oxygen Measurements are turned on and enabled, which is the default setting on the new Apple Watch.

Automatic blood oxygen readings are taken infrequently during the day, so you may only see these measurements a few times throughout your day, a departure from the frequency of heart rate measurements. Blood oxygen readings aren't taken as often simply because the wrist needs to be held still and in a specific orientation for a measurement.

Enabling Automatic Blood Oxygen Readings in Theater Mode

The Apple Watch has a Theater Mode that keeps the display of the Apple Watch dim to prevent it from being a nuisance in dark places like movie theaters, and there's a blood oxygen setting that can enable or disable readings during Theater Mode.

Apple says that blood oxygen readings require the use of a bright red light, which has the potential to be distracting in a dark room. Here's how to enable or disable readings in Theater Mode.

1. Open up the Settings app on the Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and tap on the Blood Oxygen app.
3. Scroll down and tap the toggle next to "In Theater Mode" to turn the feature on or off.

Enabling Automatic Blood Oxygen Readings During Sleep

As with Theater Mode, Apple has an option to disable blood oxygen readings when the Apple Watch is in Sleep Mode because the bright light might be distracting in the dark. Here's how to enable or disable readings for Sleep Mode.

1. Open up the Settings app on the Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and tap on the Blood Oxygen app.
3. Scroll down and tap the toggle next to "In Sleep Mode" to turn the feature on or off.

Viewing Blood Oxygen Data

No blood oxygen data can be viewed on the Apple Watch outside of the reading that you just took if you have the app open. Historical data needs to be viewed on the ‌iPhone‌, and it can be a little bit hard to find.

Here's the easiest way to get to your data.

1. Open up the Health app on the ‌iPhone‌.
2. Tap on Browse at the bottom of the app.
3. Tap on Vitals or at the top of the app, search for Blood Oxygen.
4. Tap on the reading that comes up.

From here, you can see your average Blood Oxygen measurements by day, week, month or year, tapping on the chart to see specific information about each reading in day view or ranges for the other view options.

Tapping on "Show More Blood Oxygen Data" provides the latest reading, range over time, daily average, and readings in a High Elevation Environment or during sleep if those apply.

If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the app, there's a "Show All Data" option that you can tap to see all of the blood oxygen measurements that have been taken with specific information on date, barometric pressure, and more.

Turn Off Blood Oxygen Monitoring

Don't want to use blood oxygen monitoring at all? It can be disabled in the Settings app.

1. Open up the Settings app on the Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and tap on the Blood Oxygen app.
3. Tap on the toggle next to "Blood Oxygen Measurements" to turn the feature off.

If you want to reenable blood oxygen readings at a later date, just turn the toggle back on. It's enabled by default when you set up the Apple Watch, so the only reason you might need to enable it is if you've previously disabled it.

Blood Oxygen Troubleshooting

The sensors that measure oxygen level in the blood on the Apple Watch are highly sensitive and the reading will fail even if there's minor movement. If you're frequently getting an "Unsuccessful Measurement" warning, make sure to follow these steps.

1. Hold your wrist flat and face up, with your fingers also resting open. Blood oxygen measurements will not work if the arm is hanging down or if your fingers are in a fist.
2. Make sure the Apple Watch is snug against the wrist with a band that fits well and is not too loose or too tight.
3. Make sure the Apple Watch is flat against the wrist and not impeded by the wrist bone. If it is over the wrist bone, adjust the positioning of the watch.
4. For more stability, put your wrist on a table or flat surface such as your lap.
5. Minimize all movement for 15 seconds. The stiller you are, the better.
6. Don't tap or otherwise engage with the Apple Watch. A tap on the screen or touching the Digital Crown can cause minute movement that disrupts the reading.

If you're following all of the above steps and are still having trouble, Apple warns that there are a few scenarios that can cause poor readings.

• Tattoos - Dark tattoos in the area where the sensors are located can cause the light that shines through the skin to measure oxygen level to fail to work properly. There's no fix for this, unless there's a non-tattooed wrist area available. Note that lighter tattoos may not interfere with the sensor, and it may also work with those that leave a good amount of skin visible.
• Cold weather - If it's cold outside, it can affect how much blood flows through your arm at any given time, which in turn can cause blood oxygen measurements to fail.
• Skin perfusion - Regardless of weather, sometimes the blood flowing through the skin is slower, and this can vary significantly from person to person. Skin perfusion is a factor in how well the blood oxygen measurements work.
• High heart rate - If your heart rate is above 150 beats per minute at rest, the blood oxygen measurement feature will not work.
• Motion - As mentioned above, blood oxygen measurements tolerate little to no motion at all, and arm position is a factor. Hold the arm straight with your fingers out and try not to move if you're having issues.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about blood oxygen monitoring on Apple Watch Series 6 or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.