Top Stories

This week’s top stories: iOS and iPadOS 13.4 features, 2020 iPad Pro reviews, much more

Chance Miller | Mar 29 2020 - 6:39 am PT

In this week’s top stories: Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 13.4 to the public, alongside tvOS 13.4, watchOS 6.2, and macOS Catalina 10.15.4. The first iPad Pro 2020 reviews are also here, the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s biggest news.

After over a month of beta testing, Apple has officially released iOS 13.4 and site:9to5mac.com 13.4 to the public. One of the tentpole features of iPadOS 13.4 is trackpad support, while there’s also iCloud Drive folder sharing as well. There are many other minor changes in iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 worst noting. Check out our full hands-on video with all of the new iPadOS 13.4 and iOS 13.4 features here.

Elsewhere, Apple this week also released watchOS 6.2 to the public. This update brings the ECG app to three new countries: Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey. Irregular heart rhythm notifications are also now available in those three countries. watchOS 6.2 also finally brings support for in-app purchases to Apple Watch applications

And for the Mac, has released macOS Catalina 10.15.4. This update also includes support for iCloud Drive Folder Sharing. The Music app on macOS Catalina 10.15.4 now offers the same time-synced lyrics feature that came to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac last year.

Building on these software releases, Apple has announced that it is officially launching the ability for developers to sell Mac and iOS apps as a single purchase. What this means that a developer can list an iPad app in the App Store and a Mac version in the Mac App Store. When the customer buys either version, it automatically unlocks the app all platforms.

Apple Stores outside of Greater China remain closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A new memo this week from Apple’s SVP of Retail + People Deirdre O’Brien outlined that Apple will start to re-open stores on a case-by-case basis as early as mid-April. The details here are still unknown, and plans could change based on the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Apple this week also released a new informative COVID-19 app and website in partnership with the CDC and FEMA. Download it here.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.

iOS | tvOS |

iPhone |

Apple Watch |

iPad |

Mac |

Apps |

COVID-19 |

Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.

This week’s top videos |

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.

9to5Mac Watch Time episode #18 |

Shawn Dorsey is an Apple Watch Warrior in every sense of the word. After the former analog watch collector was gifted the original Apple Watch years ago, he’s found new ways to use the iPhone and Apple Watch to systematically improve his full body workouts. The best part is how open Shawn is with sharing his workouts throughout the week. He’s a continuous source of motivation for me, and hopefully now you as well.

Bonus Watch Time episode: Adapting daily routines during the health pandemic

Sponsored by:

FlickType Keyboard: FlickType allows you to effortlessly respond to messages from your Apple Watch using a real keyboard. Download FlickType Keyboard on the App Store to get started.
Pillow: Pillow is an all-in-one sleep tracking solution to help you get a better night’s sleep. Download it from the App Store today.

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 #270 |

Benjamin and Zac unpack new releases from Apple including a cheaper and improved MacBook Air, Mac mini storage upgrades, the new 2020 iPad Pro model, iOS 13.4 and trackpad support coming to iPad, the new Magic Keyboard coming in May, Beats Powerbeats debut, and more.

Sponsored by:

Soulver: A powerful hybrid between a calculator app and a text editor, designed for your Mac. Get 15% off with code 9to5Mac at checkout.
Pillow: Pillow is an all-in-one sleep tracking solution to help you get a better night’s sleep. Download it from the App Store today.

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 076 |

The indie app development special series continues, this week focused on business models and marketing, and again featuring tips and advice from a group of amazing guests. Also, adding cursor support to an iPad app, lots of game recommendations, our most embarrassing bugs, and… ARM Macs confirmed?

Sponsored by:

Setapp: Try Setapp with over 170+ Mac apps completely free for the first week

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.