Last month I wrote about two features that I consider missing from Apple’s Screen Time parental controls. In retrospect, what I should have written is how Screen Time is broken. I thought the next software update would fix things.
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Zac Hall is 9to5Mac Editor-at-Large with a focus on technology news, product reviews, and analysis. Zac previously served as 9to5Mac Editor-in-Chief, hosted over 400 weekly episodes of the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and has been a member of the 9to5Mac family since 2013. Zac has over a decade of experience in technology journalism, including as a tech columnist for the Clarion-Ledger newspaper, part of the USA Today network.
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Meta confirms spatial video playback coming to Quest one day before Vision Pro launch
A long, long time ago (last Friday) we shared that Meta appeared to be planning to officially support spatial videos shot on iPhone without workarounds. Now, on the eve of Apple Vision Pro hitting stores, Meta has made it real. Quest headsets will indeed gain spatial support for Apple’s spatial video format.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Vision Pro countdown clock has officially started on Apple․com
Not hyped enough about Apple Vision Pro yet? Apple has cranked up the anticipation with a countdown clock on apple․com that tells you how soon Apple Vision Pro will officially launch.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Vision Pro battery cable can be removed with a SIM-eject tool
Ray Wong from Inverse has uncovered an interesting new tidbit about the Apple Vision Pro battery. The cable that runs from the battery to the headset is removable with a SIM-eject tool:
The connector looks like Lightning at first glance, but wider and with additional contact points.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Music playlist collaboration is age-restricted, unavailable in these countries
Apple recently launched its collaborative playlist feature for Apple Music as part of iOS 17.4. This lets Apple Music subscribers share, edit, and enjoy playlists together. Now Apple has clarified the age restriction for playlist collaboration.
Expand Expanding ClosevisionOS 1.0.2 is now the latest Apple Vision Pro software
Apple Vision Pro now has a newer software update awaiting customers on Friday. visionOS 1.0.2 is now the current software version released by Apple.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases first watchOS 10.4 and macOS 14.4 developer betas [U]
Update: The public beta is now available as well.
Apple has released the first watchOS 10.4 and macOS 14.4 developer betas. tvOS 17.4 and HomePod 17.4 public betas are also available now.
Expand Expanding CloseWebex video conferencing comes to Apple TV 4K with up to 25 participants on your screen
Apple TV has long been a conference room hit for sharing content on the big screen. tvOS 17 and iOS 17 add the ability to use your iPhone as your webcam and join video calls from your TV.
Now Cisco is launching Webex for Apple TV 4K so you can turn your TV into the best screen for work meetings.
Expand Expanding CloseNBA Infinite basketball game launching on iPhone, iPad, and Mac for All-Star Weekend
NBA fans will soon have a new leaderboard to climb. NBA Infinite, the upcoming player versus player mobile basketball game, is launching on iOS and Android during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Expand Expanding CloseKickstarting a new podcast series — Visioneers: Developing for Vision
I recently asked developers making Apple Vision Pro apps to send me their work (with the subject line WHY YOU NEED VISION PRO), and the response has been excellent!
Hearing from developers and seeing their ideas for the first visionOS apps has lit a spark. I think there’s a larger story to tell here in the early days of Apple Vision Pro.
I believe podcasting is the best medium for discovering and telling that story. That’s why I’m launching my first-ever Kickstarter campaign to help create a new podcast series, Visioneers: Developing for Vision.
Expand Expanding CloseTaylor Swift, Coldplay, and other music to disappear from TikTok [U]
Update: TikTok statement to 9to5Mac added.
The music will stop for TikTok if a new licensing deal with Universal Music Group isn’t reached by January 31. Universal says it will pull its songs from the viral video giant as the existing deal expires.
Expand Expanding CloseMakers of Twitterrific want to defragment online media with Project Tapestry
The Iconfactory basically gave Twitter its brand identity before X deleted it all and kicked Twitterrific into the void of space. Now the legendary team of programmers and designers is back with an ambitious project for a new app that will help unify the fragmented world of online media. It’s called Project Tapestry, and The Iconfactory needs your help to make it happen.
Expand Expanding CloseNew firmware just arrived for AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Max
It’s that time again. Apple is releasing another round of somewhat nebulous AirPods firmware updates. This time it’s the AirPods Pro AirPods 2, and AirPods Max hardware that are due for an update.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Watch can ignore double tap gesture when using Vision Pro
watchOS 10.4 and iOS 17.4 betas introduce a new toggle on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. The new setting is specifically to avoid a conflict between the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro when gesturing.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases first iOS 17.4 beta with these changes for the EU [U]
Update: The first public beta version is now available as well. Get your new emoji, folks! The new EU-only browser prompt is also now live.
With iOS 17.3 shipped, Apple is moving on to iOS 17.4 beta. The first developer beta version for iPhone is now available. We’ll update our coverage and share any new changes as they surface.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Vision Pro battery life test results: under promise, slightly over deliver
Brian Tong provides four interesting Apple Vision Pro battery life details in his full video review:
Expand Expanding CloseHere come the first Apple Vision Pro reviews
Apple Vision Pro arrives in the US on Friday, and the first reviews are rolling in today. Here’s what the early reviewers are saying about Apple’s $3500 “spatial computer” headset.
Expand Expanding CloseIs Apple about to turn Arcade into a streaming game service?
Last week Apple announced a bunch of very specific changes to iOS and the App Store only for EU customers. Apple refers to these changes as risks that it has smartly tried to mitigate. Apple simply can’t guarantee the same consumer protections to customers in the EU, however, now that the Digital Markets Act is dictating the company’s policies.
As part of the same news drop, Apple announced a complete one-eighty on its App Store ban on streaming game services. This change is immediate, global, and seemingly not directly a result of the DMA. Why the sudden change of heart?
Expand Expanding CloseApple Music and iTunes Store are down, Apple confirms [U]
Update: Apple says iTunes and Apple Music are back online, but AppleCare on Device purchasing is offline. All resolved now.
Apple Music may be experiencing an outage for some users. Both Downdetector and reports on X point to an ongoing disruption for music streaming service.
Expand Expanding CloseSeverance season 2 closer to release on Apple TV+ as production resumes after strike
Severance season two is back on track, according to Apple, after strike delays halted production last year.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Music SharePlay control expands from CarPlay to HomePod and Apple TV
iOS 17.4 is taking the Apple Music SharePlay experience from CarPlay and bringing it to the house. Apple is expanding the SharePlay music control feature to work with both HomePod and Apple TV.
Expand Expanding CloseRouters secured by HomeKit are not dead
Routers secured by HomeKit may not be the first accessories that come to mind when thinking about smart home gadgets. Nevertheless, routers are still alive and well as an accessory category in the world of HomeKit. That’s despite a thread on Reddit this week that suggested HomeKit was no longer open for business as far as routers were concerned.
Expand Expanding ClosePestle cooking app puts recipe discovery on your Home Screen
Pestle, the handy recipe app for iPhone and iPad, is adding new widgets that put recipe discovery right on your iPhone’s Home Screen.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Vision Pro delay hits pre-order customers with February 2 ship dates [Update]
Update: Customers who received delay emails yesterday are now being told that the update was made in error. Original ship dates are still being honored.
Apple Vision Pro inventory has been a mystery since pre-orders started almost a week ago. Earlier this week we saw a highly uncommon second wave of in-store pickup options for launch day. Now some Vision Pro pre-order customers are reporting a disappointing update on their delivery dates.
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