There is a collection of Mac-related discounts happening today on Amazon, including solid sales on the 2020 MacBook Air, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro.
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.
Sales start with the 256GB MacBook Air at $899.99, down from $999.00. You can also get the 512GB model for $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00. These are both matching the lowest-ever prices we've tracked for the 2020 MacBook Air.
For the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Amazon has the 256GB model (1.4GHz, 8GB RAM) at $1,199.99, down from $1,299.00. Likewise, the 512GB notebook is on sale for $1,399.00 ($100 off) and the 1TB model is on sale for $1,799.99 ($200 off).
Lastly, you'll find the 512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,099.00 on Amazon, down from $2,399.00 (also matched at B&H Photo). If you're shopping for the 1TB model, you'll find this notebook on sale for $2,499.99 on Amazon, after you add it to your cart and see a $49.01 discount at checkout.
We've begun tracking the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.
Apple on Monday confirmed its widely rumored plan to switch from Intel processors to custom silicon for its Macs, promising "incredible" performance and features.
In a statement given to AppleInsider, Intel promised to continue supporting the Mac through its transition but insisted that its processors are still the best option for developers.
"Apple is a customer across several areas of business and we will continue to support them," said an Intel spokesperson.
"Intel remains focused on delivering the most advanced PC experiences and a wide range of technology choices that redefine computing. We believe Intel-powered PCs — like those based on our forthcoming Tiger Lake mobile platform — provide global customers the best experience in the areas they value most, as well as the most open platform for developers, both today and into the future."
Building on its industry-leading A-series chips for iPhones and iPads, Apple wants Macs with its custom silicon to have the highest performance with lower power usage. Apple says the vast majority of Mac apps can be quickly updated to be "universal" with support for both Intel-based Macs and those with Apple's custom silicon.
Apple said that it expects its first Mac with custom silicon to launch by the end of 2020, and it expects to transition its entire lineup within the next two years. "We plan to continue to support and release new versions of Mac OS for Intel-based Macs for years to come," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Developers can apply for a special Mac mini with an A12Z chip inside to help prepare their apps for Apple's custom silicon. This custom Mac mini will be running the macOS Big Sur beta and the latest version of Xcode.
On a related note, readers hoping to see imminent benchmarks of the Apple Silicon-powered Mac mini may be out of luck. Apple's terms and conditions for developers receiving the machines explicitly forbid benchmark tests on the Developers Transition Kit unless separately authorized by Apple.
In iOS 14 for iPhone and iPod touch, widgets can be pinned in different sizes on any home screen page, providing useful information at a glance. The same can't be said for iPad.
In iPadOS 14, the use of widgets is limited to the Today View sidebar that only appears on the first screen of apps when viewing in landscape mode. When viewed in portrait mode, Widgets disappear along with the Today View and the user's apps are automatically rearranged in a typical grid to fill the screen.
In other respects, Widgets in iPadOS 14 share the same new functionality as widgets in iOS 14. Users can create a Smart Stack of widgets, which uses machine learning to surface the right widget based on time, location, and activity. Widgets also can be customized for work, travel, sports, entertainment, and other areas of interest.
Currently, the App Library feature is missing in iPadOS 14, although it could possibly appear in a later beta. Apart from this and the limitation of widgets, iPadOS 14 shares the same new features as iOS 14, along with some additional ones that make better use of the larger screen, including new interface functionality for stock apps, universal Search, new Apple Pencil features, and more.
Apple has elected to drop support for Force Touch in watchOS 7, indicating that the Apple Watch Series 6 will not include the firm-press gesture from the outset.
Force Touch used in the Weather app on watchOS 6
Force Touch can be used in watchOS 6 to reveal hidden menus on Apple Watch, such as options to clear notifications and customize the current Watch Face. These options will no longer be accessed using the Force Touch gesture when watchOS 7 is released. Apple's new Human Interface Guidelines for developers making apps for watchOS 7 confirms the change:
Firm press and long press. In versions of watchOS before watchOS 7, people could press firmly on the display to do things like change the watch face or reveal a hidden menu called a Force Touch menu. In watchOS 7 and later, system apps make previously hidden menu items accessible in a related screen or a settings screen. If you formerly supported a long-press gesture to open a hidden menu, consider relocating the menu items elsewhere.
Several native apps in the watchOS 7 beta already reflect the gesture's removal. For example, the Force Touch gesture for the app layout Grid/List View has been replaced by a menu option in the Settings app. Similarly, changing the Calendar view must now be done in Settings, while the gesture to Change Move Goal in the Activity app has become just another menu item. The Customize Watch Face menu is now accessed via a long press.
In 2018, Apple did something similar when the iPhone XR was introduced with a Haptic Touch feature that replaced 3D Touch. While Haptic Touch (aka long press) is essentially a feedback mechanism, 3D Touch offered genuine input options like Peek and Pop. This change has since expanded to the entire iPhone lineup, which has allowed Apple to remove the capacitive layer integrated into the iPhone display.
Apple's reasoning behind the removal of the firm-press gesture on Apple Watch isn't clear, but it could be that not enough users were aware of it for it to be genuinely useful, or perhaps Apple decided that some of the functions it offered were replicated elsewhere and therefore redundant.
With no need for a Force Touch layer in future Apple Watch models, Apple could conceivably use the extra space to include a larger battery, but that's pure speculation at this point. We won't know until the Apple Watch Series 6 makes its debut in the fall. Will you miss Force Touch or was it something you didn't use? Let us know in the comments.
Apple has quietly started selling its 2-meter Thunderbolt 3 cable priced at $129, offering a braided design and active cable technology that supports full Thunderbolt 3 data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s. This marks the first time the cable has been available as a standalone purchase, as it is otherwise only available included with the Pro Display XDR.
Featuring a black braided design that coils without tangling, this 2-meter cable supports Thunderbolt 3 data transfer up to 40Gb/s, USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer up to 10Gb/s, DisplayPort video output (HBR3), and charging up to 100W. Use this cable to connect a Mac with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 3 devices such as Pro Display XDR, docks, and hard drives.
Passive Thunderbolt 3 cables like Apple's standard version are limited to shorter lengths of less than a meter, as they are unable to maintain maximum speeds over longer lengths. Active electronics in the cable connectors are required for longer-length cables, which adds significantly to the cost. Even so, Apple's Thunderbolt 3 Pro Cable carries a price premium over many other active cables, including an $80 Belkin one also carried by Apple.
Lengths beyond two or three meters require optical cables that are even more expensive, and optical Thunderbolt 3 cables are only just now starting to come to market with prices starting at several hundred dollars.
Apple plans to launch a 24-inch iMac with a new design in the fourth quarter of 2020, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note obtained by MacRumors.
Following years of rumors, Apple today confirmed its plans to switch to its own processors for its Macs, promising "incredible" performance and features. Apple said that it plans to release its first Mac with custom silicon by the end of 2020, and it expects to transition its entire Mac lineup away from Intel processors within around two years.
In the meantime, Kuo expects Apple to refresh its existing Intel-based iMac in the third quarter of 2020, which encompasses July through September. It is unclear if this model will feature a new design. Apple last redesigned the iMac in 2012.
A last-minute rumor suggested that Apple was going to unveil its redesigned iMac at WWDC, but the keynote did not include any specific hardware announcements.
iOS 14, released for developers today, includes an interesting new Accessibility option that's designed to allow users to double tap or triple tap on the back of the iPhone to perform various actions.
The feature can be used to do things like access Control Center, Notification Center, the Lock screen, the Home screen, or the App Switcher, or it can change the volume, bring up Siri, mute the iPhone, take a screenshot, or access a Shortcut.
It can also be set up to work with a number of Accessibility features like Assistive Touch, Magnifier, or VoiceOver.
The Back Tap options can be accessed in the Settings app by tapping Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Tapping to trigger an action appears to work fairly well when the iPhone's back is tapped in any spot on the device with either the double tap or triple tap gesture.
Back Tap is just one of many new Accessibility features that Apple has built into iOS 14. VoiceOver has also received major improvements with support for image descriptions, text recognition, and screen recognition, as well as Headphone Accommodations that can amplify soft sounds and adjust certain frequencies for music, movies, phone calls, podcasts, and more.
App Clips: New in iOS 14, App Clips surface information from relevant apps without requiring users to download an entire app. Apple describes App Clips as a "small part" of an app designed to be discovered the moment it is needed. Once inside the App Clip, users can easily install the full app with a single tap.
Widgets: iOS 14 features widgets that can be pinned in different sizes on any home screen page, providing useful information at a glance. For this, Apple has released a new SwiftUI API that allows developers to use the same code to build a widget for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Find My network accessory program: In iOS 14, the Find My app is gaining support for finding third-party products and accessories with the new Find My network accessory program. This will allow users to use the Find My app to locate non-Apple devices, complete with end-to-end encryption. A draft specification is available for accessory makers and product manufacturers starting today.
Xcode 12: Apple's development tool has received a redesign to match macOS Big Sur. Apple says new document tabs make opening multiple files faster, while navigator fonts now match the system size, or can be set to small, medium, or large. In addition, Xcode 12 builds "macOS Universal" apps by default to support upcoming Macs with custom Apple silicon. Apple released the first beta of Xcode 12 today.
A new StoreKit tool in Xcode lets developers simulate subscription setup, in-app purchases, and refunds directly on a Mac.
Safari for Mac is adding support for the WebExtensions API used by Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, making it easier for extension developers to work with Safari and distribute through the Mac App Store.
App Store now supports Family Sharing for subscriptions and in-app purchases.
Developers now have the option to detail their app's privacy practices directly in the App Store for users to review, including the types of data the app might collect, whether that data is shared with third parties, and the option for users to opt out.
Apple is adding multiple new features to the Maps app in iOS 14, including Apple Maps icons that will let users know when they're approaching speed cameras and red-light cameras along a route.
Little detail is given about the new camera warning icons, but Apple says that they will let users see where individual cameras are located on the map.
Maps lets you know when you're approaching speed cameras and red-light cameras along your route. You can also see where individual cameras are located on the map.
It's not clear if this feature will be limited to select areas, countries or will have a wide rollout, and it does not appear to be implemented in the initial iOS 14 beta as an examination of the Maps app with various routes did not display icons for traffic cameras.
Apple Maps is gaining cycling directions, electric vehicle routing, and a new Guides recommendation that will help you find the best places to visit when taking a trip to a new location. Many of these features have not been added to the initial iOS 14 beta.
Apple today announced that it is launching an online version of its App Store lab, providing developers with another avenue to share feedback to help improve the App Store. Apple's new developer forums will also serve as a platform for developers to share their suggestions so that Apple can implement changes that benefit the community.
Additionally, two changes are coming to the App Store review process this summer. First, in addition to developers being able to appeal decisions about whether an app violates a given guideline of the App Store Review Guidelines, they will be able to "challenge" the guideline itself. Second, Apple says bug fixes for existing apps will no longer be delayed over guideline violations except for those related to legal issues. Instead, developers will be able to address the issue in their next submission through App Store Connect.
Apple's marketing chief and App Store lead Phil Schiller:
The Apple developer community inspires us all with apps that help more than a billion users, transform industries, and change the world. This WWDC, we've introduced innovative new APIs, frameworks, and tools designed to help developers take their app experiences further and reach even more users. The App Store ecosystem is more diverse, dynamic, and successful than it has ever been, but we know that to make it better for everyone, there is more we must do together. This year at WWDC20, we've added online App Store Labs, extended the annual App Store developer survey, and more because we want to hear directly from hundreds of thousands of developers on how they want us to improve the App Store for them, and for users.
These changes come days after Apple faced renewed scrutiny over its App Store practices, including the European Commission's announcement that it will be investigating Apple's in-app purchase system. In particular, Basecamp and some other developers have taken issue with Apple's long-standing 30 percent commission from in-app purchases.
Apple is inviting some AppleSeed members to test the new HomePod software as well as the new versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, according to reports on the MacRumors forums.
Those invited to test the new HomePod software will be able to try out new features ahead of release. With the update, the HomePod is gaining support for third-party music services for the first time, a feature that will allow the speaker to work with Spotify, Pandora, and other music options by default without the need to use AirPlay.
HomePod, which serves as a home hub option for HomeKit, is also getting a new feature that will let it announce when a HomeKit-connected doorbell has been rung.
Apple's HomePod software is usually tested internally and is not typically provided to developers, so we'll need to wait to see if a version is eventually added to the developer site or distributed to public beta testers. If not, most users will need to wait until the new software is released in the fall to try it out.
Apple's iOS 14 brings the QuickTake feature that was introduced for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max to Apple's 2018 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max.
Introduced with the 2019 iPhone lineup, QuickTake is a feature that lets you record video by holding down the shutter button in photo mode so you can capture a video-worthy moment right away without needing to swap camera modes.
At launch, QuickTake was only included in Apple's new iPhone lineup, but with iOS 14, the older iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max can use the option. QuickTake was also added to the new 2020 iPhone SE.
Apple is also introducing a new feature that lets you capture QuickTake video on compatible devices by holding the Volume Down button, which is an even faster way to record video.
Holding the Volume Up button allows users to capture burst photos, which is another new feature.
Today's digital WWDC keynote event was jam packed with announcements, with Apple debuting iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS Big Sur, watchOS 7, tvOS 14, and, most notably, its work on custom-designed chips that will be used in Macs in the future.
For those that didn't have a chance to watch the keynote event and don't want to spend two hours listening to all of the announcements, we've condensed everything Apple announced into 13 minutes, providing a quick recap of everything notable. We also have a full transcript of the keynote available.
In addition to our video, we've also rounded up all of our coverage of Apple's announcements to give you a complete review of everything new that's worth knowing about.
Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors this week because we're going to be sharing in-depth videos and articles highlighting all of the new features in the software updates that Apple introduced today.
We'll also be publishing roundups on everything that you need to know about the new software, and we'll have coverage of each new feature as we delve further into the updates.
Apple today previewed macOS Big Sur with redesigned interfaces such as the Dock and Notification Center, the addition of a Control Center, several improvements to core apps like Safari and Messages, and much more.
macOS Big Sur is available in beta for registered Apple developers starting today, with a public beta to follow next month. The free software update will be released to all users with a compatible Mac in the fall, according to Apple.
Macs compatible with macOS Big Sur:
2015 and later MacBook
2013 and later MacBook Air
Late 2013 and later MacBook Pro
2014 and later iMac
2017 and later iMac Pro
2014 and later Mac mini
2013 and later Mac Pro
Accordingly, the following models capable of running macOS Catalina will not be able to be upgraded to macOS Big Sur:
iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur include some notable privacy updates that offer useful privacy protections for those that invest in and use Apple's range of iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
In an interview with Fast Company, Apple software chief Craig Federighi highlighted all of the new privacy features that users can look forward to when the new software updates come out this fall, plus he provided some insight into Apple's privacy philosophy.
According to Federighi, privacy is an important part of every software update because Apple wants to show customers that they can "demand more" and "expect more" from the industry when it comes to privacy protections. "We can help move the industry into building things that better protect privacy," said Federighi.
"I think that there are many instances where we started providing privacy protections of some sort, and then we then saw others in the industry-some of whom have different business models than we do-adopt those practices because users came to expect them," he says. "That's happening all over the place. I mean, look at whether it's apps protecting customer messaging with end-to-end encryption. Or some of the kinds of location protections we're talking about. Or some of our protections, like requiring apps to ask before they access your photo libraries, and so forth. You see those protections being added to other operating systems, inspired by our work and based on the fact that users demand them."
Privacy at Apple is guided by four core principles: data minimization, on-device intelligence, security, and transparency and control. All four of those principles were in play when Apple designed iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur, and all of the updates include significant privacy features, as outlined below.
Approximate Location - You can now choose to provide apps with your approximate location rather than your specific location, which is a great feature for protecting location privacy. Apps that provide info like weather, news, and restaurant recommendations don't need exact location data, making approximate location data an appropriate choice.
App Tracking Permission - Apps in iOS and iPadOS 14 won't be able to cross track you across the web without consent. Users will be able to see what apps they've granted permission to cross-track them and revoke that permission at any time. This feature also applies to Apple's own apps.
App Store Privacy Details - App Store listings for apps will include an easy-to-read list of privacy details so you know what data is collected before you download an app. Internally, Apple is referring to this as a "nutrition label for apps," and it will include details on the user data an app wants across 31 categories. This won't be available when iOS 14 ships, but it is coming before the end of the year.
Clipboard Restrictions - Apps no longer have full access to the clipboard. Previously, most apps could access the last data you copied, but that's no longer the case. Apps will require user permission to access the clipboard for the first time, so you can prevent apps that don't need that information from accessing it.
Compromised passwords - Apple's new software updates will notify you if a password stored in iCloud Keychain has been compromised in a data breach.
Microphone and Camera Notifications - When an app is accessing either the camera or the microphone on an iPhone or iPad, there will be indicator lights next to the cellular signal that will let you know. There's a green indicator light for the camera and an orange indicator light for the microphone.
Federighi told Fast Company that many of the new privacy features added to iOS each year are based on customer feedback and emails.
"I get emails from customers saying to me, 'I am sure this popular app I downloaded is secretly listening to me. I was just talking about this thing, and this ad came up that was just about what I was talking about. I'm sure it was listening to me,'" he says.
"Now, in many cases, this, in fact, was not happening," says Federighi of concerns over iPhone users being unwittingly recorded. "We know it was not happening. But they believe it is. And so, providing that peace of mind through a recording indicator that will always let you know whether an app, at that moment, is accessing your camera or accessing your microphone is important."
He wrapped up the conversation by saying that he believes Apple's work on privacy protections will be one of the legacies that it's remembered for centuries from now.
Federighi's full interview on privacy can be read over on the Fast Company website, and it's well worth reading because it provides a look at Apple's efforts to improve privacy protections for users over time as well as Apple's thoughts on how developers perceive its privacy features.
Apple today announced ARKit 4 alongside iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. The new version of ARKit introduces Location Anchors, a new Depth API, and improved face tracking.
Location Anchors allow developers to place AR experiences, such as life‑size art installations or navigational directions, at a fixed destination. Location Anchoring leverages the higher-resolution data in Apple Maps to place AR experiences at a particular point in the world, meaning AR experiences may now be placed at specific locations, such as throughout cities or alongside famous landmarks. Users can move around virtual objects and observe them from different perspectives, exactly as real objects are seen through a camera lens.
ARKit 4 also takes advantage of iPad Pro's LiDAR Scanner with a brand-new Depth API with advanced scene understanding capabilities, creating a new way to access detailed per-pixel depth information. When combined with 3D mesh data, this depth information makes virtual object occlusion more realistic by enabling instant placement of virtual objects within their physical surroundings. This can offer new capabilities for developers, such as taking more precise measurements and applying effects to the environment.
Finally, face tracking is expanded in ARKit 4 to support the front-facing camera on all devices with the A12 Bionic chip or newer. Up to three faces may now be tracked at once using the TrueDepth camera to power front-facing camera experiences like Memoji and Snapchat.
Apple today unveiled iOS 14 with major new features like widgets for the Home screen, App Clips, a new App Library view that shows you all of your apps at a glance, new @mentions and pinned chats in Messages, Maps updates, and more, but there are also tons of smaller changes and tweaks that went unmentioned.
Below, we've rounded up many of the minor updates and feature changes that Apple has added in the iOS and iPadOS 14 updates.
Emoji picker - iOS 14 includes the same emoji search interface that's available on the Mac, making it easier to find a specific emoji that you're looking for.
Messages Threaded Conversations - Apple introduced conversation threads as a feature for group chats in the Messages app, but this feature also works in standard chats with just one other person. You can tap on any message to reply to that message directly, providing more organization for conversations.
Photos Privacy - In iOS 14, when apps ask for access to your Photos app, you can give them access only to select photos rather than the entire Photo Library.
Local Network Privacy - Apps in iOS 14 need to ask permission to find and connect with devices on the local network.
Home screen - Home screen settings can be customized in the Settings app, where you can choose to add new apps to the Home screen or only to the new App Library.
Music App Redesign - The Music app's interface has been overhauled with a "Listen Now" feature front and center. A bottom navigation menu includes tabs for Browse, Radio, Library, and Search, with the "For You" option replaced by "Listen Now." Search has also been improved, and there's a new Autoplay feature that automatically finds new music when you reach the end of a song or a playlist. The Now Playing background also shows album art from the current artist playing.
Exposure Compensation in Camera - There's a new exposure compensation control in Photos that lets you lock an exposure value while separately locking camera focus. Apple says taking photos is also faster with a faster time to first shot and shot to shot performance.
Health Checklist - A Health Checklist in the Health app lets you manage health and safety info in one place, and there are new data types for mobility, health records, symptoms, and ECG.
Notes - With on-device intelligence, search in the Notes app is faster, and you can capture sharper document scans. A touch and a hold on the Aa button lets text styles be edited quickly. On the iPad, Notes has shape recognition to turn imperfectly drawn shapes into perfect ones.
Photos - Photos can be organized with new options to filter and sort, and it's easier to navigate using pinch and zoom gestures. Captions can be added to photos and videos to add context, and Memories have been enhanced. Apps also feature an updated image picker with smart search to make it easier to find what you're looking for.
Reminders - There's a new Quick Entry option for the Reminders app, as well as smart suggestions for capturing new reminders more quickly. Shared list members can also assign reminders to each other to make it easier to split up tasks, and multiple reminders can be edited at once.
AirPods API - Developers can access a Motion API for the AirPods Pro that allows access to orientation, user acceleration, and rotational rates for AirPods Pro, which will be useful for fitness apps and games.
Third-Party defaults - Third-Party mail and browser apps can be set as the default in iOS and iPadOS 14.
Podcasts - There's a new Up Next feature in Podcasts that lets you make an episode queue, plus you can find new recommended content.
Voice Memos - There's a new Enhance Recording feature that lets you improve the sound quality of your recordings with a tap, plus there are new organizational options.
Weather - The Weather app provides info on severe weather events as well as upcoming shifts in weather. In the U.S., there's also a chart with a minute-by-minute forecast of precipitation intensity, which appears to take advantage of functionality in Dark Sky, an app Apple recently purchased.
AirPods Battery Notifications - iOS 14 will provide battery notifications that let you know if you need to charge your AirPods.
QuickTake for iPhone XR and XS - QuickTake, the feature that lets you capture video by holding down the button in Photo mode, is now available on iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max in addition to Apple's newer iPhones.
QuickTake Volume Buttons - There's a new option that lets you capture QuickTime video by pressing on the Volume Down button. Pressing on Volume Up lets you take burst mode photos.
Video Mode Quick Toggles - All iPhones now have quick toggles for changing video resolution and frame rate.
Night Mode Improvements - When using Night Mode on iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, the camera now uses the gyroscope to provide a guidance indicator that helps you hold the camera steady. There's also a new option to cancel a photo mid-capture.
Mirrored Selfies - There's a new option in Settings that lets you capture mirrored selfies that reflect the front camera preview rather than flipped selfies.
FaceTime Picture in Picture - You can do other things on your iPhone or iPad while continuing your FaceTime call thanks to a new picture in picture option.
FaceTime Eye Contact - Apple is reintroducing the Attention Aware feature that was removed from an iOS 13 beta with a new "eye contact" feature that Apple says helps you establish eye contact even when you're looking at the screen instead of the camera.
APFS Support for Files - The Files app now supports external drives that use APFS encryption.
Magnifier UI - There's an updated interface for the magnification feature
Sound Recognition in Control Center - There's a new Control Center toggle for Sound Recognition, a feature that continuously listens for certain sounds and attempts to notify you when sounds are recognized.
Sleep Mode in Control Center - A new Sleep Mode toggle lets you put your iPhone in Sleep Mode, which darkens the screen and turns on Do Not Disturb.
HomeKit Favorites in Control Center - Your favorite HomeKit scenes now show up in the Control Center for quick access.
Back Tap Accessibility Option - Back Tap lets you create a double tap or triple tap gesture that activates an action when you tap on the back of the iPhone.
WiFi Private Address - When connected to a WiFi network, there's a new option to "Use Private Address" to prevent network operators from tracking your iPhone. The feature can be found in Settings under WiFi when tapping on a WiFi network you're using.
Have you found other new features in iOS and iPadOS 14 that went unmentioned by Apple? Let us know in the comments and we'll add them to this list. We'll be updating the hidden features list as we discover new changes and updates in the software releases.
To help developers prepare for the Mac transition from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, Apple has launched a Universal App Quick Start Program, which "includes all the tools, resources, and support you need to build, test, and optimize your next-generation Universal apps for macOS Big Sur."
The program requires a brief application, with limited availability and priority for developers with an existing macOS application. The program costs $500 and includes access to beta software, developer labs, private discussion forum, technical support, and other resources.
On the hardware side, participants will receive exclusive access to a Developer Transition Kit (DTK), which resembles a Mac mini but uses Apple's A12Z Bionic chip from the latest iPad Pro as its brains. In addition to the A12Z Bionic, the DTK includes 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, a pair of 10 Gbps USB-C ports, a pair of 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port. Thunderbolt 3 support is not included.
On the communications side, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet are also supported. An FCC filing for the DTK reveals that it carries an Apple model number of A2330, which was the lone new Mac model number that appeared in the Eurasian Economic Commission's database earlier this month.
Notably, the DTK remains the property of Apple and must be returned at the conclusion of the program. Participants must also agree to a number of restrictions against tearing the machine down, using it for work other than development related to the program, or renting or leasing it out.
The Universal App Quick Start Program is similar to one Apple launched for the transition from PowerPC chips to Intel processors back in 2005. In that case, the program cost was $999 and participants were provided with loaner machines based on the Power Mac G5. As with the new DTK machines, those Macs also had to be returned at the end of the program, although Apple did provide participants with a free first-generation Intel iMac upon returning the developer kit as bonus.
Apple has made no promise of a similar bonus this time, so it remains to be seen whether program participants will get any hardware to keep.
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