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Apple's next low-cost iPads might skip Face ID
If the redesigned iPad Pro gave you hope that Apple would deliver a similar overhaul for lower-cost iPads, you might want to temper your expectations. Code sleuther Steve Troughton-Smith has discovered that the iOS 12.2 beta references four new iPad configurations that don't include Face ID, suggesting they'll stick to Touch ID and thus a more conventional design. This isn't shocking when Apple is likely sticking to a lower price point, but it does suggest that it could be a while before the company's depth-sensing camera tech is truly affordable.
Intel unveils smart glasses that you might want to wear
Intel has launched an impressively light, regular-looking set of smart glasses called Vaunt, confirming rumors from Bloomberg and others. Seen by The Verge, they have plastic frames and weigh under 50 grams, a bit more than regular eyeglasses but much less than Google Glass, for example. The electronics are crammed into the stems and control a very low-powered, class one laser that shines a red, monochrome 400 x 150 pixel image into your eye. Critically, the glasses contain no camera, eliminating the "big brother" vibe from Glass and other smart glasses.
iOS 11.1 brings new emojis and important security updates
Apple has released iOS 11.1 and it comes with over 70 new emojis, the return of 3D Touch multitasking and a handful of bug fixes. Some of the new emojis include a cursing smiley face, a vampire, a hedgehog, Chinese takeout, a sandwich and a mermaid. Some existing emojis have been tweaked to improve their design as well. Once you update your OS, the new selections will appear in your keyboard, and if someone sends you one of the new emojis, they won't show up properly on your phone until you've updated.
Apple's iTunes update removes the desktop iOS app store
While Apple expanded its iPhone lineup today, a software update delivered for iTunes on Windows and Mac PCs is slimming things down a bit. Once users install version 12.7 they will no longer have access to the App Store from the desktop. As described on Apple's support page, a focus toward "music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks" means that you'll usually need to use your iOS devices to manage the apps installed on them. What it adds in this update is the ability to sync with devices running iOS 11 and social music sharing for Apple Music subscribers.
Apple trims its iPod lineup to one lonely model
The iPod is clearly an endangered species after 15 years. Apple has quietly discontinued the iPod nano and iPod shuffle, yanking their product pages from its website. Both MP3 players are hanging around retail stores, but not for long -- if you're feeling nostalgic, you'd better plan a shopping trip in the near future. You do get a consolation prize for the one remaining iPod model, though. While the iPod touch hasn't changed since its 2015 refresh, it's becoming a much better value at $199 for a 32GB model (previously 16GB) and $299 for a 128GB version (originally 64GB).
Apple releases iOS 10.2 and its companion TV app
Apple is making good on its promise of giving you a unified video streaming experience. The company has released iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, both of which include the company's centerpiece TV app. So long as a given service supports the feature, you no longer have to jump into and out of apps to catch up on your viewing -- you can resume your favorite show or check out recommendations from a single place. Netflix isn't included in TV at the moment, alas, but this and the recently launched single sign-on should save you a lot of hassle.
iOS update fixes your iPhone's missing Health data
The iOS 10.1 update addressed a lot of initial gripes with Apple's latest mobile operating system. However, it also introduced a glaring bug for some users: the Health app might not show your data, which is more than a little troublesome if you're a fitness maven or need those stats for medical reasons. Don't fret, though. Apple has released an iOS 10.1.1 update for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that makes sure you can see Health info. This is a relatively tiny update (the over-the-air fix is well under 100MB for many iPhone users), but it'll matter a lot if you're tracking step counts or calories with your Apple gear.
iPod marks its 15th birthday in a changed world
If you're a gadget fan of a certain age (cough), you're about to feel ancient: Apple's iPod just turned 15 years old. Steve Jobs unveiled the first version of the media player at an event on Apple's campus on October 23rd, 2001. To say that it had a wild ride after that would be an understatement. Many credit the iPod as the device that took Apple from niche PC maker to one of the largest companies on the planet, only to fade away as smartphones took over. But how did it get to where it is now? And is there any room left for the iPod 15 years later? Let's take a quick look back at how the iPod has evolved through the years.
iOS 10 review: Apple evolves
With iOS 10, Apple is basically polishing a pearl. iOS 7 introduced a vibrant and "flat" new aesthetic. iOS 8 and 9 were focused on refinement. So by this point, we should get something completely fresh and new, right? Well, not quite. Just like the iPhone 7, Apple's latest mobile OS doesn't look that much different on the surface. Instead, the company once again chose to focus on improving the overall experience. In particular, this year's refinements collectively make the OS a lot more convenient (and help Apple play a little catch-up). If you've longed for some of the features you've seen on your friends' Android phones, iOS 10 is more than enough to keep you under Apple's spell for another year.
Apple releases iOS 10 and watchOS 3
You no longer have to be a guinea pig to give Apple's latest software upgrades a try -- as promised, the Cupertino crew has released the finished versions of iOS 10 and watchOS 3. As before, iOS' biggest improvements are in communication -- Messages gets apps, hand-drawn images, secret messages and stickers (among many other additions), while Siri now offers you control over third-party apps. You'll also see major interface revamps in Maps (which now offers proactive suggestions) and Music, a Home app to manage smart household gadgets, lock screen widgets and wider use of 3D Touch on supporting hardware.
iOS 10 will be available to download on September 13th
In some countries, Tuesday the 13th is the unlucky date (not Friday). Coincidentally, that's the date you'll be able to upgrade your iPhone or iPad to iOS 10. Version 10 of iOS has been rattling around since Apple's developer conference in June, and we've had a pretty good look at most of the new features, but now they're finally ready for prime time.
iOS 10 warns when your Lightning port gets wet
Many mobile devices are water-resistant (some more than others), but they'll rarely tell you when there's a less-than-obvious danger. You might not find out that you've soaked something important until a gadget doesn't work. Apple appears to have a solution, though: recent betas for iOS 10 will serve a warning when there's liquid detected in your device's Lightning port. Ideally, this gives you time to pull an accessory (and dry out your gear) before there's any real damage.
Apple releases second public betas for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra
Were you quick to hop on the test versions of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra? It's time to start updating. Apple has released the second public betas of both platforms, and they're not just adding some spit and polish. The new iOS 10 beta introduces a functioning option for using Touch ID to unlock your device the "old-fashioned" iOS 9 way, where resting your finger is enough to get to your home screen. If you lock an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, you'll get vibration feedback. And if you're a health maven, you can opt to share your activity and workout data to help improve Apple's fitness features.
iOS 9.2 gives you more control over Apple Music and iBooks
Apple is clearly hoping to clear its slate before the year is over. On top of that iPhone battery case, it just posted an iOS 9.2 update that brings big improvements to Apple Music and iBooks. For a start, it's much easier to reconcile your iCloud Music Library with the streaming service -- you can see whether or not any song has been downloaded, and quickly download whole albums or playlists. It's easier to start a new playlist or add a song to a recent list, too. iBooks, meanwhile, supports both 3D Touch (for peeking at pages) and background audiobook listening while you browse books inside the app.
iOS and OS X updates arrive with a ton of new emoji
If you've ever wanted to text taco pics from your iPhone or give the middle finger from your Mac, today's your lucky day. Apple has released iOS 9.1 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.1, both of which add a slew of new Unicode emoji ranging from Mexican food through to rude gestures. There are some important under-the-hood fixes, too. Your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus is now smart enough to stop recording Live Photos when you lower the device, and OS X shouldn't run into trouble with Office 2016. Whichever platform you're using, you'll likely want to update pronto -- if just to see the cutesy characters you'd otherwise miss. [Image credit: Emojipedia]
Apple fixes an iOS 9 bug that kept you from upgrading
The launch of iOS 9 was supposed to be a joyous occasion if you own an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, but it didn't always work out that way. A bug left some stuck on the "slide to upgrade" screen, preventing them from using their gear unless they rolled back to iOS 8 or started fresh. If you're one of those glitch victims, you'll be glad to hear that relief is in sight: Apple has released an iOS 9.0.1 update that (you guessed it) makes sure you get past that upgrade screen. It also tackles a few other hiccups that could sour your initial experience, including one that prevented some alarms and timers from playing. As such, you'll probably want to check for the update right away. And if it's too late to avoid the worst, Apple's support site (linked above) has a guide to getting your device back to normal.
iOS 9 is already running on more than half of Apple mobile devices
Apple may have taken a long while to get users upgrading to iOS 8, but it isn't having any such trouble with iOS 9. The iPhone maker has revealed that more than half of all iOS devices are already running the new software less than a week after it launched. That's the fastest adoption rate yet for the platform, if you ask the folks in Cupertino. That's certainly better than on Android, where just 21 percent of users are running Lollipop, but it's not really that surprising when you realize that Apple has bent over backwards to put iOS 9 on as many devices as possible.
Apple's iPod touch gets the same chip as the iPhone 6 (update: tests)
The iPod may not be Apple's golden goose anymore, hell, it's not even an option on the company's site anymore, but that doesn't mean that the firm is ignoring it. The company is giving the iPods a seasonal refresh with the junior devices getting some new colors and the iPod touch getting more of the features we're used to seeing on the iPhone. Whereas the existing touch came with just a 5-megapixel camera, the new version gets an 8-megapixel shooter with burst and slo-mo -- just as you'd find on the iPad Air 2. Internals-wise, the new iPod comes with the 64-bit A8 CPU that you find in the iPhone 6, paired with the M8 motion co-processor that'll please the fitness enthusiast in your life.
Apple nixes Monster's licensing over Beats lawsuit
Monster's lawsuit against Beats Electronics last January has come back to bite it now that Beats is an Apple subsidiary. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has killed Monster's official licensing agreement deader than that reported Beats WiFi speaker. Monster has been producing licensed accessories (lightning cables, headphones and whatnot) since 2005. Plus, it's reportedly paid more than $12 million in licensing fees since 2008 for the honor of selling "Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad" devices, some of which retailed in Apple stores.
Chess champ's high-tech cheating scheme involved an iPod touch
Georgian chess champion Gaioz Nigalidze has been kicked out and banned from the Dubai Open Chess Tournament after he was caught cheating. What exactly did he do, you ask? Well, he got help from a chess app running on an iPod touch. His opponent, Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian, grew suspicious as Nigalidze literally ran to the toilet a few times (remember, a match can go on for hours) and visited the same cubicle. Game officials eventually inspected the cubicle and found the device hidden behind the bowl and wrapped in toilet paper, along with a pair of headphones. Nigalidze denied it was his, but upon further inspection, authorities found that its social media apps were logged into the Georgian champ's accounts. They also found his board mirrored on an open chess app.
