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Apple's 10.2-inch iPad drops to $250 at Best Buy
Best Buy is discounting a bunch of Apple gear in a new shopping event, including the 10.2-inch iPad.
Apple's HomePod is on sale for $205
Apple's HomePod smart speaker has been discounted to $205 at OWC, making it a considerably better bargain.
Apple's next iPhone may look like a smartphone-sized iPad
Apple’s next flagship smartphone may look more like the classic iPhone 5 than the current iPhone 11 Pro, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The upcoming devices will reportedly have flat steel edges rather than curved ones and pack a display that’s flat and flush with the body. In other words, picture the current iPad with much smaller bezels and shrink it down to the size of a smartphone.
Apple's HomePod slashed to $200 at Best Buy
If you've been thinking about getting an Apple HomePod but missed Best Buy's hefty Black Friday discount back in November, you've got a second chance to get in on the action. The smart speaker is once again on offer for $200 -- that's a chunky $100 off the usual price. At that price, the device represents much better value for money – it's one of the best sounding smart speakers we've reviewed, and recent updates means it now comes with radio streaming and multi-user support. Plus, there are rumors (and they are just rumors at this stage) that Apple is thinking about relaxing its attitude towards third-party music apps on the HomePod, which could make it an even more attractive deal if you're concerned about Apple's often restrictive ecosystem.
Apple may be open to letting users set their own default apps
Apple's insistence on gatekeeping certain actions of rival apps on iPhones and iPads has long been a source of contention among users. Clicking on web links or email addresses, for example, automatically takes you to Safari or Apple Mail, even if you've got other alternatives installed. But this may be about to change. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the company is considering letting users switch from Apple's default apps to those of its rivals.
Apple HomePod costs just $200 in Best Buy's Black Friday sale
If you've been curious about Apple's HomePod but felt that it was too expensive even after the April price drop, now's your time to act. Best Buy is selling the smart speaker for $200 as part of its Black Friday sale, a full $100 off the usual price. It's much easier to rationalize at that cost, especially now that Apple has introduced multi-user support and allows voice-controlled Spotify playback. Some caveats still apply, though.
Best Buy's massive Apple sale includes a $250 iPad offer
Best Buy has already unveiled its Black Friday ad, but if you're in the market for some new Apple gear you can get your hands on some pretty hefty discounts right now. There are good deals to be had across the board, but its deals on iPads, HomePods and Apple Watches are where the major savings are.
Apple re-releases HomePod update to avoid bricking speakers
Relax, HomePod owners -- it's now safe to update your speaker again. Apple has re-released the HomePod's multi-user update (now 13.2.1) to fix the problem that bricked some users' speakers, particularly after they tried to solve the issue by rebooting their device. You're still asked to contact Apple Support if your speaker is dead in the water, but everyone else should have personalized responses, audio handoffs with iPhones, relaxing ambient sounds and support for music in HomeKit scenes.
Apple pulls HomePod update following reports of bricked speakers
Google isn't the only one dealing with reports of bricked smart speakers following an update. Apple appears to have pulled the HomePod's multi-user update after numerous reports of the software rendering speakers unusable. The glitch typically leaves the speaker partly or completely unresponsive. If an owner tries to reset the HomePod, it either freezes up or gets stuck in an endless loop.
HomePod update adds multi-user support and music handoffs
Apple just made the HomePod considerably more useful for whole households, albeit somewhat later than expected. It accompanied the release of iOS 13.2 with a corresponding HomePod update that, among other things, introduces promised multi-user support. The smart speaker now recognizes the voices of different people in your home, giving them personalized music access and other user-specific features. This isn't a new concept in the smart speaker world, but it'll be helpful if you'd rather not clutter your partner's Apple Music history with your own selections.
HomePod radio streaming arrives on September 30th
Apple didn't really discuss the HomePod at its iPhone 11 event, but there was still some news that (almost) slipped under the radar. The tech firm quietly updated the HomePod's product page to reveal that the vaunted radio streaming feature will reach the smart speaker on September 30th. TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Radio.com will offer 100,000 global radio stations just by asking Siri. Given that this is considered a staple of other smart speakers, it'll be both welcome and overdue. For other features, though, you'll have to sit tight.
Tariffs hit Apple and other tech companies tomorrow
Some of the tech you like is about to get more expensive -- at least for the companies that design them, if not you. True to earlier plans, the Trump administration has formally enacted a new round of tariffs against China-made products that will take effect September 1st. The measures will hit tech companies with 15 percent tariffs on a range of goods, with Apple potentially feeling the pinch harder than most. The hikes will affect AirPods, the Apple Watch, some Beats earphones, the HomePod and iMacs.
Spotify tests simplified speaker handoff feature
A Spotify feature currently in testing will make it easier for users to switch playback between their phone and home speakers. Once the user sets a favorite device, the app will keep an eye on your location and send a notification to your phone when you're within range of the device. If you're listening to music on your phone while walking home, for example, you'll get a notification prompting you to switch to your smart speaker once you walk through the door.
Apple suspends the Siri program where people listened to your questions
Just last week a report by The Guardian dug into a program where third-party contractors listened in to anonymized recordings of Apple users asking Siri questions to judge the assistant's responses, and now Apple has shut it down. In a statement to TechCrunch, the company said that while it conducts a "thorough" review, it's suspending the program globally. This comes shortly after Google announced it would temporarily shut down a similar effort, but only for users in the EU. While Apple has touted the privacy built into its products and derided models that mine user data for advertising, just like Amazon and Google it relies on real people to improve its AI assistant. However, as The Guardian's report indicated, listening in on real-world recordings could mean picking up all kinds of situations, including criminal activities and sexual encounters. As TechCrunch notes, its terms of service indicate that these programs exist, but exactly how much end-users understand about the possibility of being overheard by a real person -- even if less than one percent of queries are ever reviewed -- is unclear. While we don't know what will happen with the program or when it may restart, according to Apple a future software update will give users the option to explicitly choose whether they want to participate in grading. Apple: We are committed to delivering a great Siri experience while protecting user privacy. While we conduct a thorough review, we are suspending Siri grading globally. Additionally, as part of a future software update, users will have the ability to choose to participate in grading.
Apple contractors frequently hear sensitive info in Siri recordings
As much as Apple emphasizes privacy, it hasn't completely avoided eyebrow-raising behavior. The Guardian has learned from a source that Siri quality control contractors regularly hear sensitive info, including medical info, criminal activities and even "sexual encounters," much like their counterparts at Amazon and Google. They're only listening to less than one percent of daily Siri activations, and frequently only for a few seconds each, but some of them include request-linked data like app info, contacts and locations. Like its peers, Apple is gauging how well its voice assistant is fulfilling requests and wants to know what happened after a command.
Apple releases iOS 12.4, watchOS 5.3 with Walkie Talkie bug fix
The releases of iOS 13, watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina are likely just a couple of months away, but that isn't stopping Apple from giving the current versions a big sendoff. The tech behemoth has released iOS 12.4, HomePod 12.4, tvOS 12.4, watchOS 5.3 and macOS 10.14.6, most of which bring important tweaks. The iOS update is most useful if you're setting up a new iPhone -- you can wireless transfer data directly from an old handset to a new one instead of restoring from iCloud or iTunes. Apple News has also seen some refinements, with downloaded issues showing up in My Magazines and all News+ publications appearing in the catalog at the top of the feed.
HomePod will support multiple users and music handoffs
Apple just addressed some of the complaints about the HomePod in one fell swoop. A future update to the smart speaker will bring multiple major upgrades, most notably support for multiple users. Like its rivals, it can recognize who's speaking and customize the responses. This has rather large implications for messages, reminders and other info you might not want to share with everyone else in your household.
What to expect from Apple at WWDC 2019
Next week, thousands of people will flock to San Jose, California; nestle into their seats at the convention center; and listen to Apple unspool its vision for the future of software. They'll get their first concrete look at iOS 13 and learn what it means for their phones and tablets. They'll hear more about how the gap between iOS and Mac apps is starting to shrink -- albeit slowly. They might even get an early look at some new Pro-level hardware. And since we'll be there covering the show in full, you'll hear all about that stuff as soon as we do.
Apple cuts HomePod price to $299
Apple has cut the HomePod price by up to 18 percent in various regions as it seemingly tries to gain more of a foothold in a competitive market. As spotted by 9to5 Mac, the smart speaker is down from $349 to $299 in its US store, $449 to $399 in Canada and £319 to £279 in the UK.
Apple fixes a host of bugs for iOS, Apple Watch and HomePod
Don't look now, but you'll have a lot of updating to do if you live deep in the Apple ecosystem. Apple has released updates that tackle a host of issues for iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS and HomePod. For iPhone and iPad users, iOS 12.1.3 mostly addresses specific but annoying bugs. It'll prevent photos from displaying artifacts when you send them from a share sheet, prevent some CarPlay systems from disconnecting from newer iPhones and solve audio distortion if you use external audio input devices with the latest iPad Pro. It likewise addresses a problem scrolling through images in Messages while looking at the Details view.
