MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

Apple today released a new update for tvOS 11, the operating system designed to run on fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 11.2.5 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit bug. tvOS 11.2.5 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System -> Software Update. Apple TV owners who...

Apple today released watchOS 4.2.2, a minor update to the watchOS operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 4.2.2 comes over a month after the release of watchOS 4.2, an update that introduced Apple Pay Cash. watchOS 4.2.2 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch...

Following a small test of GIF stickers within stories that began last November, Instagram has announced the feature will be available to all users beginning today. When you tap to add a sticker to a picture or video in your story, there will now be a new GIF button with options powered by GIPHY. Similar to other apps that include GIPHY support, you can browse currently trending GIF stickers...

Drone maker DJI today unveiled the "Mavic Air" at an event in New York City, stating that the new drone combines the "best features" of the Mavic series into an ultra-portable and foldable drone in line with last year's Spark model. Mavic Air includes a 4K camera, QuickShot and SmartCapture modes for simpler photo and video capturing, and FlightAutonomy 2.0 with Advanced Pilot Assistance...

Apple today updated its HomePod product page with new details about the speaker's gesture controls for Siri and audio playback. Apple has confirmed that users can tap the top of the HomePod to play, pause, skip a song, or adjust the volume, or touch and hold to talk to Siri. A colorful, animated LED waveform will appear when Siri is listening. A single tap plays or pauses music, a double...

Snap Inc. has announced that users will now be able to share the Discover section's Official Stories, unpartnered Our Stories, and Search Stories with anyone who isn't on Snapchat. The company confirmed to MacRumors that this Story sharing feature does not cover the sharing of a user's own personal Stories outside of the app. To share a Story, Snapchat users can tap and hold on tiles in...

Within the HomePod's pre-order date and launch announcement today, Apple confirmed that the smart speaker's multi-room audio and stereo features won't be making it into the device at launch. Instead, users will be able to activate these features sometime "later this year" in a free software update. Multi-room audio with Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol will be aimed at customers who purchase more...

In addition to the HomePod launching February 9 in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Apple has also revealed that its Siri-enabled speaker will launch in France and Germany at some point "this spring," suggesting a release date between March and June at the absolute latest in those countries. France and Germany will be the first HomePod launch countries where English...

Apple today announced that it has teamed up with Malala Fund to become the fund's first Laureate partner, providing Malala Fund with the support it needs to double the number of grants it provides and expand into India and Latin America. The Malala Fund, led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, champions every girl's right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Following ...

TestFlight, which is designed to allow developers to provide testers with beta versions of apps ahead of their release, was today updated to version 2.0.1, introducing a handful of new features. The update brings support for downloading apps that are up to 150 MB in size over a cellular data connection. The previous TestFlight beta app limit was 100 MB, with this updated limit bringing...

The Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch on the market, yet battery life has never been its strong suit. That said, Apple has made improvements in this area with successive models, and while the company still only promises all-day battery life on a single charge, many Series 3 and 4 owners find they can get a lot more. Of course, how long a given Apple Watch lasts between charges...

AT&T has launched the "AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender," a device built to enable a stronger and more consistent Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. AT&T's product is one box that keeps devices connected to the internet as you move from one room to another, and customers can purchase additional boxes for bigger homes. The Smart Wi-Fi Extender is designed for customers with an AT&T internet...

Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV both launched in the spring of 2017, offering customers over-the-top live television streaming options in line with established services like Sling TV and DirecTV Now. Today, sources revealed to CNBC that Hulu with Live TV now has 450,000 paid subscribers -- "not including recent promotional customers" -- while YouTube TV has just over 300,000 as of the...

Amazon today opened up its checkout-free grocery store "Amazon Go" to the Seattle public, continuing a plan that the company says has the potential to "dramatically alter brick-and-mortar retail" (via Reuters). The new grocery store experience begins when customers walk through a turnstile and scan the Amazon Go app on their iOS [Direct Link] or Android device, which notifies the system that...

Every one in five smartphones sold by Apple in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2017 was an iPhone X, according to data shared with MacRumors by research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. Below is the exact model-by-model breakdown of Apple's total iPhone sales between October and December, based on the firm's survey of 500 consumers who purchased an iPhone in the...

Target has kicked off the week with a discount on the Apple Watch Series 1 from 2016, offering the 38mm model for $179.99 and the 42mm model for $209.99. Each device is available in aluminum with a Sport Band in either White or Black. 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...

Apple shared a new video on its YouTube channel today that shows off selfies taken with the iPhone X. The 38-second video cycles through a collection of selfies taken by iPhone X owners using the smartphone's front-facing TrueDepth lens system and Portrait Lighting effects. The ad also includes poetry by Muhammad Ali. Portrait Lighting has been the focus of a few recent Apple videos,...

Portrait Mode photo editor Focos received an update today that should pique the interest of dual-lens camera iPhone owners. The app recently made our end-of-year best iOS app list for its impressive granular aperture and bokeh adjustment tools, but version 1.2 builds on the existing feature set by adding the ability to apply real lens optical effects to depth images. The update introduces a...