[Update: Public beta 6 is now also available for testers.]
Once again after just a week since the last developer beta, Apple has released the seventh developer beta preview. iOS 11 brings new features like drag-and-drop and a redesigned multitasking interface for iPad, a new customizable Control Center, and much more.
Apple’s AI expert, Tom Gruber, delivered a TED talk back in April extolling the benefits that AI may provide for us in the years to come. The video of the onstage presentation has now been released and gives us a better glimpse into the future Gruber imagines. His presentation focuses on what he calls “humanistic AI”, the belief that when machines get smarter, so will we.
Microsoft has begun rolling out a new preview of Skype to its desktop users. Skype Preview brings a number of small enhancements to the video calling app with improvements for both chats and group calling.
Continuing their showcase of new and upcoming artists, Apple Music has announced Daniel Caesar as this month’s Up Next artist. As with previous artists, Caesar’s showcase includes a documentary, an Up Next Session, and an interview with Beats 1’s Ebro Darden.
Healthcare company Aetna may be following up on its company-wide initiative by bringing discounted prices of the Apple Watch to millions of its customers. CNBC reports that both Aetna and Apple have been holding meetings over the past week to discuss ways to make this possible.
A new report out today indicates that the Apple HomePod will likely be limited in quantity when it begins shipping out in the fourth quarter of this year. Inventec Appliances, which is also responsible for manufacturing AirPods, is expected to start with a limited shipment of HomePods that increases into the next year.
Long before the AirPods hit the market, Bragi hit the ground running with their true wireless earphones on Kickstarter. Three years later the company has released an upgrade on their original Dash. The Dash Pro brings improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, microphone quality, and a new live language translation ability.
Having spent a full month using the Dash Pro over my AirPods, I’ve dissected as much as I could out of these wireless earphones. The original Dash didn’t raise praise from us before, but could the Dash Pro be Bragi’s comeback kid story?
Following up on a new survey done with their subscribers, Consumer Reports is pulling the “recommended” rating for four Microsoft laptops they had previously reviewed. A change in recommendation is not uncommon with Consumer Reports as seen in their initial review of the 2016 MacBook Pro and it’s subsequent reversal.
When Apple launched the iPhone 7 Plus, one of the biggest features was the dual-camera system’s Portrait Mode. The mode gives images a DSLR-like background blur, albeit with some hiccups occassionally. Sometimes the effect looks unnatural or just blurs key areas of the photo.
On iOS 10, if you didn’t have the option to keep the normal photo enabled under Settings, you might’ve lost a perfectly good moment. It may not have been perfect on day one, but Apple has been making improvements to the effect over various iOS updates.
On iOS 11, photographers will now be able to disable the depth effect even after the photo has already been taken without managing the setting. Let’s take a look how.
Foursquare’s check-in focused app, Swarm, got a major visual and user experience update today. The changes bring a focus to a timeline view of check-ins, new categories, and an overall updated UI.
A new filing against the company HotSpot Shield, that makes a VPN app exemplifies the user privacy difficulties with VPN services and apps. Even when downloaded from Apple’s own App Store, VPN providers can often present as much a benefit as they do risk.
Apple’s official Apple Store app for iOS sees an update today with further Touch ID support and the ability to check local iPhone stock availability. Users will also be able to look into Apple ID account settings using Touch ID.
We’re halfway through July, but exclusive Apple Music and Beats 1 content continues to be announced. In June, we finally saw the release of Apple’s oft-discussed Planet of the Apps series. While many readers shared they won’t be watching it, it remains as Apple’s first steps into original content. Carpool Karaoke which had been slated for Spring, will now see an official release date on August 8th.
We’ll be sure to update this list with information as it arrives, so be sure to check back often. Let’s dive into what we you’ll be watching and listening to on Apple Music and Beats 1 this July 2017…
Before I had even moved into my new apartment a few months ago, I was already dreaming of ways to integrate HomeKit throughout the space. The number one priority being how to turn it into a not-so-obvious smart home. I didn’t want blinking LEDs littering my apartment, and I didn’t want guests having to question how exactly to turn on a light switch. It needed to appear like a regular apartment, but be HomeKit compatible.
The area I struggled with the most was the light switch. Through weeks of hunting I came across ones that required hubs, had obnoxious LEDs, or looked like alien light switches. Then came Leviton with its HomeKit compatible Decora Smart Switch and Dimmer. At first glance, they don’t even appear to be “smart,” which couldn’t be more perfect for my setup.
An updated Apple Music support page now lists all countries eligible for the $99 annual membership. This updated page acts as an official announcement considering the initial launch had none.
After months of heads-down work, today the design and dev team is proud to release an updated website across our network of sites. Taking your comments, feedback, and ideas into consideration, we were able to revamp and shape our site into what you see today…
Following up on today’s release of iOS 11 beta 2 update 1, Apple has also updated its beta software support page to detail the proper methods in downgrading to iOS 10. Many developers on iOS 11 beta 2 had noticed that downgrading was broken and today’s changes look to resolve that.
Apple has begun seeding the fourth watchOS 3.2.3 beta for Apple Watch. The update is only available to registered developers for testing.
Apple has released the fourth iOS 10.3.3 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The first beta version only included new wallpapers for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and no other visible changes. We’ll update with any changes discovered below.
Apple’s second beta of watchOS 4 is rolling out to developers. The new operating system brings a number of changes across the platform including an app list navigation, and new text UIs throughout. We’ve gone in-depth with over 50 of the changes watchOS 4 brings.
[UPDATE 6/26: Apple has released a second iOS 11 beta 2 build labeled 15A5304j following 15A5304i last week. The new version is not available OTA but listed on Apple’s developer portal.]
Following up on last week’s release of the first iOS 11 developer beta, Apple has begun rolling out the second beta. iOS 11 is jam-packed with a ton of features, enough to be packed into our 100+ new features videos.
Apple today has introduced support for reader demographics and third-party advertisers for Apple News.
Over the past few days a new Twitter account has been showcasing work from the iOS and augmented reality developer community. Made With ARKit is an account dedicated to sharing various videos of iOS developer projects and what they are accomplishing with Apple’s new ARKit available in iOS 11.
Image: Newly leaked iPhone 8 parts give glimpse into rumored design
As we move closer to the unveiling of the next generation iPhones, more manufacturers are talking about device details. This time CEO Robert Hwang of Wistron, Apple’s primary iPhone manufacturer in India, has confirmed that the upcoming iPhone will be waterproof and feature wireless charging (Nikkei).
