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Benjamin Mayo

bzamayo

Follow Benjamin on Threads to keep up with his latest projects. Benjamin blogs about Apple news and rumors and posts insightful product and app reviews. Read his work on 9to5Mac and his personal blog.

Benjamin Mayo also creates apps for iOS as a professional indie developer and contractor; more details here. Email to discuss making your iOS project.

on Twitter and follow @bzamayo on Threads.

Connect with Benjamin Mayo

iOS 13 Apple Maps: Share your live route ETA with a friend

In iOS 13, integrated into the Apple Maps app on your iPhone, you can you share your journey status with personal contacts in a feature called Share ETA.

The recipient receives the address of your destination and your expected arrival time. What’s really cool about this feature is that the estimated time of arrival (ETA) will update automatically, so you can see if they hit traffic or otherwise get delayed.


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Apple cancels 700-acre data center project in Denmark, looks to sell off the land

Apple data center

In a surprise announcement, Apple has cancelled plans to open a large data center in Aabenraa, Denmark. The news was posted on the local town’s website. Apple is looking to sell off the land and leave the site completely.

The Aabenraa site was set to be Apple’s second data center in Denmark, first announced in July 2017. The company is also working on a facility in the city of Viborg …


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Apple’s homepage teases the new Mac Pro’s launch month, possibly in error [Update]

Mac Pro launch month

Update: The copy has been changed to ‘Coming This Fall,’ hinting that the September mention was indeed an error.

When Apple announced the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR last week, the company would only say that the products are launching this ‘fall’. The fall date was noted in both Apple’s keynote and press releases.

However, if you look at the Apple homepage right now, there’s a link to get notified about forthcoming Mac Pro news. If you click that link, a box appears that readily states the new Mac Pro is coming in September.


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iOS 13: 3D Touch’s features come to all devices, but 3D Touch itself is on the way out

iOS 13 3D Touch

There have been rumors for a while that the iPhone 11 will not include a pressure-sensitive 3D Touch screen. iOS 13 certainly supports that direction as 3D Touch gestures in iOS 13 are effectively non-existent.

The good news is that the features provided by 3D Touch, like Peek and Pop or Home Screen Quick Actions, are now available with long-press gestures. The bad news is that owners of 3D Touch phones, i.e. all iPhones since the iPhone 6s apart from the SE and the XR, lose out on functionality that existed in previous OS versions.


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iOS 13 brings detailed street view imagery to Apple Maps

As part of iOS 13, the new Maps app includes better organization of favorite places. It also adds support for what Apple calls ‘Look Around’, an Apple take on the popular Google Maps Street View feature.

You can jump into this mode by tapping a binoculars button in the Maps app. The binoculars only appear when Apple has imagery for the current area — right now the easiest way to find somewhere to try this is to search for the Columbus Tower in San Francisco.


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Apple announces brand new iPadOS: redesigned home screen, multi-window apps, plug in a USB thumb drive, more

Apple has rebranded iOS for the iPad as iPadOS. The homescreen is denser with more icons per page, and you can slide out a permanent widgets column on the left of the screen.

You can now have multiple windows per open application, in split views. There’s also new link previews when long-pressing. The iPad now supports external disk drives and SD cards natively; just plug in and access from the Files app.


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iOS 13 and AirPods: Reply to messages instantly with Siri, share audio between people, HomePod handoff

In iOS 13, Apple has several new features dedicated for AirPods. First, incoming messages from Apple Messages or compatible third-party apps will be automatically played in your ear, and you can reply with your voice.

Apple is also adding new multi-user sharing features. If you are listening to music with AirPods, you can start sending music to another nearby iPhone owner.


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Apple launches Sign in with Apple button for apps, ‘no tracking’ login

Apple announced a new Sign in with Apple button as part of its iOS 13 announcements. The button offers Apple ID single-sign on functionality similar to sign-in buttons from Twitter, Facebook or Google.

Apple is marketing this as a privacy-secure sign-in option. Apple will mask user email addresses and other personal information, whilst still allowing the apps to contact users indirectly.


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9to5mac happy hour

9to5Mac Happy Hour 227: iOS 13 screenshot leaks and WWDC expectations

This week, Benjamin and Zac break down the latest iOS 13 leaks and rumors, as well as give their last minute takes on what they are most excited to see at WWDC. (Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, audio on this episode is not quite up to our usual high standard … but we didn’t want to to leave it on the cutting room floor. Cheers and thanks for listening as always.)

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneInGoogle Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.


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Apple increases iPhone cellular download limit from 150 MB to 200 MB

iPhone cellular download limit

This week, Apple has upped the cellular download limit for iPhone and iPad that prevents users from downloading large files from Apple’s stores, including apps, games, video podcasts, iTunes Store films and more.

The cellular download limit has been increased from 150 MB to 200 MB. This means more apps and games are now allowed to be downloaded over cellular networks.


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New York City subway adding Apple Pay contactless transit starting this week, Express Transit enabled

Apple Pay Express Transit

As we discussed earlier this month, iOS 12.3 expands the reach of Express Transit, allowing users to pay for public transit just by tapping their iPhone or Watch, no Face ID or Touch ID authentication required. This feature was only available for the Portland metro … until now.

Later this week, the New York City subway is adding Apple Pay with Express Transit for select lines (via TechCrunch). Travelers will be able to skip buying tickets and just walk up to a turnstile and tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay and go.


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