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

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1 beta to developers, a week after seeding the second watchOS 6.1 beta and three weeks after releasing the watchOS 6 update with full App Store, new Apple Watch faces, and more. Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple...

Apple in July revived its classic Texas Hold'em game and released it on the iPhone, and as of today that game is also available on the iPad. In the app's release notes, Apple says that Texas Hold'em can be played on the ‌iPad‌, and Apple recommends playing it using Split View or Slide Over. Texas Hold'em comes to iPad--enjoy it full screen, or play it while you do something else using...

Hipster Whale, the developers behind the popular game Crossy Road, are expanding the franchise and introducing a new title, Crossy Road Castle, which is coming to Apple Arcade later this year. The news was announced today via a trailer for the upcoming game, which features Crossy Road-style gameplay in a platform-like castle setting. Crossy Road first came out in 2014 and soared to...

Amazon is back with a new Gold Box sale on Anker accessories today, including up to 40 percent off portable chargers, wireless chargers, and USB-C to Lightning cables. As with all Gold Box sales, this one will last today only, so check out each product discounted in our list below. Anker Gold Box Sale 10/9 USB-C to USB-A Cable - $13.19, down from $18.99 USB-C to Lighting Cable (3ft) -...

Apple has come under attack from China for allowing an app in its App Store that is being used by Hong Kong protestors to track protests and police movements in the city state (via The Guardian). Last week we reported that Apple was reviewing its decision to reject the HKmap Live app from the ‌App Store‌ while it investigated whether the software violates local laws. HKmap Live has been used...

Tap, the company that makes a futuristic, wearable keyboard, today announced the launch of its second-generation keyboard, the Tap Strap 2. The Tap Strap 2 is similar in design to the original Tap Strap, fitting over the fingers and allowing for typing via a series of different finger taps. Compared to the original Tap, the Tap Strap 2 offers up a new thumb ring glider and better mouse...

Linksys today announced the launch of a new subscription service that lets you use some of the company's existing Velop mesh Wi-Fi router systems as motion-sensing security devices. Dubbed Linksys Aware, the technology is initially compatible only with the company's Velop Tri-Band AC2200 routers, but will be rolling out to some of the brand's other mesh Wi-Fi products in a phased rollout. ...

In an interview with WIRED, Apple Music head Oliver Schusser has revealed that Apple has a team of employees listening to songs and transcribing the lyrics to ensure they are accurate for iOS 13's new real-time lyrics feature:In probably the most bizarre example of Apple spending to get the experience right, Schusser says that Apple has "a team of people listening to music and transcribing the...

UBTECH Robotics today introduced a new version of its programmable robot MeeBot, known for its dancing skills. MeeBot 2.0 is 30 percent larger and adds new programmable technologies, including two programmable LED "eyes" and a programmable color sensor that responds to included color cards or other colorful objects to make the robot move. The new robot also has a new gear system,...

Amazon is discounting the 38mm GPS Apple Watch Series 3 to just $189.00 this week, which is $10 below its previous Amazon list price and $90 off the regular price tag of $279.00. Amazon has both the Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band and Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band on sale this week. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make...

Apple is on course to recapture second place from Huawei in the global smartphone vendor ranking in the fourth quarter of 2019, reports DigiTimes. The change in ranking is said to be a combined effect of strong sales of Apple's iPhone 11 lineup and the impact of Huawei's trade ban in the United States. Despite being blacklisted by the U.S. government in the middle of the second quarter...

Following the release of iOS 13.1.2 last week, Apple today stopped signing iOS 13.1, meaning downgrading to this version of iOS is no longer possible. Apple last Friday stopped signing iOS 12.4.1, iOS 13.0, and iOS 13.1.1, but continued signing iOS 13.1 until today. iOS 13.1.2 was a bug fix release that quickly followed iOS 13.1.1, which primarily addressed issues with battery drain, Siri,...

Popular social networking app Instagram was today updated to add Dark Mode support for iOS 13, introducing a darker theme that activates when ‌Dark Mode‌ is turned on. The new ‌Dark Mode‌ option is available throughout the app, from viewing the main feed to browsing to the profile. ‌Dark Mode‌ can be accessed by activating ‌Dark Mode‌ on an iPhone running the iOS 13 update. To get ‌Dark...

Devoted Health, a private medicare provider that offers Medicare Advantage plans in Florida, now provides the Apple Watch as a benefit to its members, reports CNBC. Devoted Health says it is the first private Medicare provider to offer the Apple Watch as a fitness option, providing its members with up to $150 to put towards an Apple Watch model. Apple sells the Apple Watch Series 3 for as...

Hulu today updated its iOS app to add support for offline viewing for the first time, which will allow Hulu content to be downloaded so it can be viewed when you don't have an internet connection available for streaming. Hulu rival Netflix has long offered offline viewing as an option, but until today, Hulu didn't offer the feature. According to Hulu, downloading of offline content is...

Sprint is continuing to offer new and existing customers a few select iPhone and Apple Watch-related discounts this month. Below we've rounded up each of these offers and explained how you can get them, so be sure to check out each deal before they expire. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sprint. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps ...

Apple today shared a trailer for the film "The Elephant Queen" ahead of its November 1 debut on Apple TV+. Acquired by Apple at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, "The Elephant Queen" centers upon Athena, a matriarch of an elephant herd, as she is forced to lead her family across the African savanna in search of water:Embark on an epic journey of love, courage and coming home....

The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear the University of Wisconsin's appeal in its patent fight with Apple, according to Reuters. In July 2017, a U.S. district court ordered Apple to pay $506 million to the University of Wisconsin's Alumni Research Foundation for infringing on a patent related to computer processing technology with its A7, A8, and A8X chips. In September 2018,...