In this week’s top stories: More details on the iPhone 9, iOS 13.4 public beta testing, Microsoft launches xCloud beta for iOS, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s biggest news.
We could be just around a month away from the official announcement of Apple’s long-rumored iPhone 9. This week, a new report from Fast Company corroborated that the iPhone 9 price will start at $399.
While we’ve been referring to this device as the iPhone 9, naming is still unconfirmed. Some case makers, for instance, are betting on the iPhone SE 2 naming. In a poll, 9to5Mac readers voted in favor of the iPhone 9 name, but you can see the results and vote for yourself here.
In other news, Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 13.4 as well as iPadOS 13.4, macOS Catalina 10.15.4, and tvOS 13.4. Curious as to what’s new in these updates? You can watch our full video highlighting all of the changes and new features in iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 for the details. We expect the updates to be officially released in March.
Apple’s Swift Playgrounds application is now available on Mac. The app was originally released for the iPad in 2016, but now Apple has brought it to the Mac as well using its Catalyst platform.Apple’s Swift Playgrounds platform makes it easy for anyone to learn the basics of the Swift programming language. The app is available on the Mac App Store as a free download.
Last but not least, Samsung this week officially announced its latest hardware, including the Galaxy S20 lineup and new AirPods competitors. You can find our full roundup of the announcements here.
These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.
iOS | tvOS |
- Apple releasing first public beta of iOS 13.4 today with new Mail app toolbar, more [U]
- Apple blocks downgrades to iOS 13.3 as jailbreak release looms
- When will Apple release iOS 13.4 to the public?
iPhone |
- iPhone 9 pricing: Another report corroborates $399 starting price
- iPhone production woes pale as coronavirus declared humanity’s greatest threat
- Kuo details coronavirus impact on iPhone 9 and iPhone 12 production, Foxconn uncertainty
- Case makers bet on ‘iPhone SE 2’ naming for Apple’s new low-cost iPhone, what do you think?
- Samsung launches latest AirPods and iPhone competitors with 8K recording, 120Hz displays, more
- Digitimes: Coronavirus production delays will not affect iPhone 12 September launch, high demand for 5G A14 chips
Apple Watch |
- Strava for iOS adds HealthKit integration for importing Apple Watch workouts
- Patent application shows Apple Watch with Touch ID sensor in Digital Crown
iPad & Mac |
- Everything we know so far about the 2020 iPad Pro update
- What does it take to use 1TB of Mac Pro RAM? Try 6,000+ Chrome tabs
- Oscar winner Taika Waititi says Writers Guild union needs to get Apple to fix the MacBook keyboards
- Apple launches Swift Playgrounds app for the Mac, built using Catalyst
- 90W GaN dual USB-C charger from RAVPower hits form and function sweet spot for MacBook owners
Top Apple stories, retail |
- Vallée Duhamel studio shares conceptual short film shot on iPhone for Apple Stores
- Five Chinese Apple Stores will re-open tomorrow, but with limited hours
Apps |
- Popular iOS and Mac email apps scrape inboxes to profit from personal data, report finds
- Coronavirus app checks for close contact with known or suspected carriers
- Microsoft launches Project xCloud preview for iOS with ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’
- WhatsApp for iOS starts beta testing Dark Mode support ahead of public release
- Ditto for Apple TV update adds digital signage mode with free templates, more
- Adobe Lightroom adds support for Split View on iPad, workflow improvements on Mac
- Adobe XD makes prototyping more accessible with macOS Voice Control support
- Comment: A few hours with Project xCloud for iOS preview shows a lot of promise
HomeKit |
Top Apple stories, company |
- Apple joins Fido Alliance, wants to replace passwords with trusted devices
- Search warrant shows how Apple tackles child abuse images on iCloud and email
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This week’s top videos |
- Comment: iPad 7 is one of the best values in tech [Video]
- LumaFusion 2.2 released with FCPXML export option for Final Cut Pro X [Video]
9to5Mac Daily |
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by Chargeasap: Preorder the new Flash 150W USB-C Powerbank for $139 (Reg $299) & enter our iPhone 11 giveaway.
- 9to5Mac Daily: February 14, 2020 – Apple adds new AR Quick Look features, more
- 9to5Mac Daily: February 13, 2020 – iPhone 12 production, Project xCloud for iOS
- 9to5Mac Daily: February 12, 2020 – Swift Playgrounds for Mac, more
- 9to5Mac Daily: February 11, 2020
- 9to5Mac Daily: February 10, 2020 – iPhone 9 pricing rumors
9to5Mac Watch Time episode #15 |
Matt Birchler really gets the Apple Watch. Not just where it is and where it’s been, but where it could go next. Since watchOS 3, Matt has produced the absolute best eye candy concepts of how future software versions could evolve.
9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how the Apple Watch is affecting their lives. 9to5Mac Watch Time is available on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and your favorite podcast player through RSS.
Happy Hour Podcast #264 |
Apple Swift Playgrounds iPad app comes to the Mac, we talk about the ongoing state of Mac Catalyst apps, cheap iPhone and 5G iPhone rumors, and more.
Sponsored by:
- TextExpander: Visit textexpander.com/podcast and select 9to5Mac Happy Hour to save 20% off your first year!
9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Stacktrace Podcast 070 |
A first look at Xcode 11.4, iOS 13.4, and the suite of betas that Apple released this week. Also, the power of declarative UIs, whether a spiritual successor to AirPower might be in the works, and John’s recipe for oven-baked potatoes.
Sponsored by:
- Chargeasap: Preorder the new Flash 150W USB-C Powerbank for $139 (Reg $299) & enter our iPhone 11 giveaway.
Stacktrace by 9to5Mac is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Apple @ Work and Making the Grade |
Apple @ Work is a weekly series from Bradley Chambers covering Apple in education. Bradley has been managing Apple devices in an education environment since 2009. Through his experience deploying and managing hundreds of Macs and hundreds of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple’s products work at scale, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for students.
- Making the Grade: Why Code.org curriculum replaced Swift Playgrounds in my coding classes
- Apple @ Work: G Suite has brought immense benefits to Apple focused organizations
- Making the Grade: How to get AirPlay 2 in the classroom without the expense of an Apple TV
- Apple @ Work: Here’s how Apple TV has quietly become a robust digital signage solution
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