MacRumors

Facebook's Messenger and Instagram apps are getting a new "vanish mode" feature that gives users a new way to chat using disappearing messages.

Disappearing messages can already be used in Messenger's "secret conversation" feature, but they require several steps and users have to set a timer to make the messages disappear.

However, the new "vanish mode" is enabled by simply swiping up in a chat, after which messages disappear after they're seen, and if the recipient takes a screenshot of the conversation, the sender will be notified.

Accessing the new mode in Instagram requires that users accept Facebook's offer to integrate Messenger features into Instagram's in-app chat.

Facebook recently rolled out a new disappearing messages feature to all WhatsApp users on iOS and Android, allowing messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days.

Vanish mode is available to Messenger users in the U.S. now and Facebook says the feature will expand to additional countries, and to Instagram, "soon."

(Via Engadget.)

Apple intends to launch an iPad with a mini-LED display and AirPods 3 with a design signature similar to AirPods Pro in the first half of next year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo's latest predictions relate to the fortunes of Taiwanese manufacturer Career Technology, which is expected to be a key partner in the supply chain for Apple's products in 2021, thanks to its flexible soft board technology.

LCP (liquid crystal polymer) soft boards are said to offer a flexible way to connect components together while facilitating high-speed, low-latency data transfer. Career is expected to regain orders for acoustic and optical components in soft boards destined for a mini-LED ‌iPad‌, which will be mass produced in the first half of 2021, according to the note.

Kuo said roughly eight months ago that Apple has six mini-LED products in its pipeline planned to launch though the end of 2021. The products include a 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, a 27-inch iMac Pro, a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch ‌‌MacBook Pro‌‌, a 10.2.-inch ‌‌iPad‌‌, and a 7.9-inch ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌ mini.

However, Kuo has long predicted that a 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ with a fourth quarter 2021 launch timeframe would likely be Apple's first mini-LED product, so this latest development appears to suggest that the analyst's expectations have changed.

As we've outlined in our guide on mini-LED technology, the displays use on the order of 1,000 to 10,000 individual LEDs that offer a number of improvements over traditional LED-backlit displays, coming close to performance of OLED displays without some of the drawbacks of that technology.

With regards to AirPods, the note reiterates Kuo's belief that Apple is working on third-generation AirPods that will go into mass production during the first half of 2021.

The new ‌AirPods‌ will adopt the System-in-Package used for the AirPods Pro, replacing the rigid-flex PCB+SMT design of the second-generation ‌AirPods‌, and allowing for a form factor similar to the AirPods Pro, featuring a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips.

The AirPods 3 are expected to be more affordable and will lack higher-end features like Active Noise Cancellation. Battery life could be improved, though, and Apple is working on a new wireless chip.

Kuo says Career will obtain component orders for the AirPods 3, which is expected to significantly contribute to the supplier's revenue and profit from the second quarter of 2020.

Kuo's note also mentions that Apple intends to expand its use of soft board technology in next year's "iPhone 13," which is expected to save space and reduce manufacturing costs, with Career again projected to benefit from the wider adoption.

German developer Alexander Heinrich today updated his popular Menu Bar Controller app for Sonos speakers connected to Mac, with a new design that mimics Apple's Control Center aesthetic in macOS 11 Big Sur.

The updated app retains all the features of the previous versions within the new layout, which shows the current playing song, its album cover, and larger buttons to interact with the queue.

A new slider has been added to integrate muting and changing the volume in one control button, while at the bottom of the main panel, users are able to quickly select the current Sonos group or room in their system.

In addition, the views for playing music on grouped speakers have been redesigned. For example, the Group view now clearly shows which song will play on the created group and which speakers are selected.

Lastly, a new set of configurable keyboard shortcuts allow users to quickly mute or pause the current playback.

Menu Bar Controller for Sonos costs $1.99 and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

macOS Big Sur is finally here. Version 11 of Apple's operating system for Mac features a completely overhauled look that's designed to be both fresh and familiar, but it's not just the design that's new. Apple has also rethought and retooled many features of macOS to improve the user experience, so whether you're running on Intel or Apple Silicon, there's plenty that's new to explore.

In this article, we've picked out some of our favorite additions and improvements in the public release of macOS Big Sur, including some smaller changes that you might not know about.

8 Quick Start Tips Video

This video gives you a quick overview on where to start with macOS Big Sur right after you get it installed:

If you've got more time to dig in, we've also collected this more comprehensive list of tips and tricks for the latest macOS release.

50 Tips and Tricks for macOS Big Sur

1. Setup Assistant Accessibility

When you first set up macOS, there's a new step in the setup wizard that offers you an opportunity to configure various accessibility features before you log in.

In previous versions of macOS, the only accessibility option you could enable in the setup wizard was VoiceOver, so this should come as a welcome addition for users who find the accessibility features useful.

2. "Now Playing" Media Menu Bar Item

A new menu bar item for media that's currently playing is now available. It's similar to the widget that you can add to the Notification Center.

To enable the Now Playing menu bar item, go to System Preferences -> Dock & Menu Bar, click Now Playing in the side column, then check the box next to Show in Menu Bar.

3. Play Sound on Startup Option

You can now choose whether your Mac plays the traditional startup chime or not without having to mess with Terminal commands. Go to System Preferences -> Sound, and check the box next to Play sound on startup.

4. Tab Search Field

In Safari, you can search all your open tabs using a new Search Tabs input field in the upper right corner of the Tab Overview screen.

The functionality has actually been available in the Tab Overview screen in earlier versions of Safari, but the search field would only appear once you started typing, so many users probably didn't realize that it was even a thing. This higher visibility should make more users aware of the feature.

5. Safari Start Page Customization

Safari in macOS 11 features a customizable Start Page that allows you to personalize various aspects of it.

With the Start Page open, click the Settings icon in the bottom-right corner of the window, and you'll see checkboxes to control the appearance of Favorites, Frequently Visited, Privacy Report, Siri Suggestions, Reading List, iCloud Tabs, and the Background Image. You can even select a wallpaper for the background, or choose your own image by using the big + button.

6. Control Wallpaper Tinting in Windows

In macOS Big Sur, windows are tinted based on the color of the desktop wallpaper by default, even if there's something between the window and the wallpaper.

If that gets your goat, you can disable the colored tinting of windows by going to System Preferences -> General and unchecking the box next to Allow wallpaper tinting in windows.

7. Safari Tab Website Previews

Another neat addition in Safari is website previews for tabs. Instead of opening a tab to get a better idea of what it's about, simply hover your cursor over the tab in question, and you'll see a small preview of the website appear.

8. Override Battery Health Management

In macOS Catalina 10.15.5, Apple introduced battery health management, which limits the charge of your MacBook's battery to extend its lifespan if your Mac is connected to a power source more often than not.

Previously it wasn't clear if or when your Mac's battery charge was being limited, but in Big Sur you can find this information right in the battery menu bar item, and even force a full charge when you need it using the Charge to Full Now option.

9. Safari Privacy Report

Safari now has an integrated Privacy Report that provides a list of trackers on a website and the number of trackers that were blocked, preventing websites from keeping tabs on your browsing habits across the web.

From the Privacy Report toolbar option, you can see how many trackers have been blocked in the last 30 days. You can also view a rundown on how many trackers have been blocked from profiling you on the Start Page.

10. Cycling Directions in Apple Maps

In Maps, routes with cycling directions can be planned on your Mac and sent to your iPhone or iPad, with the directions taking into account elevation, busy roads, stairs, and more, plus there are options for planning routes that incorporate electric vehicle charging stations.

11. Keyboard Shortcuts in Reminders

Reminders has some new keyboard shortcuts that make it easier to navigate between lists and make changes like setting due dates.

12. Redesigned Wi-Fi Status Icon

The Wi-Fi connection status icon has been redesigned to include three segments like in iOS, rather than the traditional four.

This isn't exactly a new trick or feature, but we thought it was a worthwhile tip so users don't have the impression that their Wi-Fi connection signal isn't as strong as it used to be.

13. Guides in Apple Maps

You can now use Guides in Apple Maps to explore places. Guides provide recommendations for the best places to visit in a city, offering up suggestions on places to eat, shop, and explore.

Some of Apple's partners for these Guides include Lonely Planet, the Washington Post, AllTrails, The Infatuation, and more. You can save Guides with the Add to My Guides button, and they automatically update when new places are added, so you always have the latest recommendations.

14. Relocated New Tab Button in Safari

In Safari, the button to create a new tab has been relocated from the right of the tab bar to the main toolbar above.

This allows you to move it where you like using the Customize Toolbar... option (right-click the toolbar), just like you can rearrange the rest of the toolbar buttons.

15. Pin Messages in the Messages App

Just like in iOS 14, you can now pin messages in the Messages app in macOS 11 to make it easier to refer back to conversations with people that you're regularly in contact with.

Up to nine of your most important conversations can be pinned to the top of the Messages app, with pinned conversations depicted as circular icons. Simply drag a chat thread to the top of the sidebar, or swipe right on the thread and click the yellow Pin button.

16. Enhance Voice Memo Recordings

The new Enhance Recording option in the Voice Memos app attempts to improve the quality of your recording. It does this by using machine learning to remove potentially unwanted sounds such as background noise and echoes. Think of it as the audio equivalent of the Photos app's magic wand button that enhances the quality of the selected image.

Just click the Enhance button in the top-right of the window when you're editing a recording's waveform. The result won't always be all that dramatic and may not even be particularly desirable for what you're recording, but it's worth a try and you can easily remove the enhancement if you don't like it.

17. Safari Built-In Translation

Safari now has a built-in web translator that translates seven languages with just a click, so you can read an entire webpage in another language without having to have an extension installed.

When you load up a page in a language you don't understand, check for the translation icon at the right end of the address bar. Built-in translation works for English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese.

18. Prefer Tabs When Opening Documents

This option lets you force a new document to open in a tab instead of a new window. It isn't exactly new, but it has moved, so it's worth highlighting.

"Prefer tabs when opening documents" has been relocated in System Preferences from the Dock pane to the General pane. It's also now simply called Prefer tabs and the options have been rephrased to Never, In full screen, and Always.

19. Battery Usage History

In the new Battery section that replaces "Energy Saver" in System Preferences, a new Usage History feature provides details on your Mac's battery life over the course of the last 24 hours or the last 10 days, broken down into Battery Level and Screen On Usage so you can see how your battery is performing.

Along with the Usage History section, there are Battery and Power Adapter sections that replace the functionality that was previously available through Energy Saver. You can choose when to turn the display off, enable or disable power nap, and more, with the settings split for battery usage and usage when connected to power. The Schedule feature is also present.

20. Assign Reminders to People

In the Reminders app, you can now assign reminders to specific people in group reminder lists.

Click a reminder and then click the Assign To button, or right-click the reminder and select the same option from the contextual dropdown menu.

21. Speak Typing Feedback

In System Preferences, the "Speech" section in the Accessibility pane has been renamed Spoken Content, and it includes a new feature called Speak typing feedback which, when enabled, will speak back to you what you're typing, as you type it.

22. Hide Menu Bar

In macOS 11, Apple has moved the setting that lets you hide the menu bar. Previously this could be found in the "General" pane of System Preferences. It's now located in the Dock & Menu Bar section.

To set the menu bar to hide and show when you move the cursor to the top of the screen, check the box next to Automatically hide and show the menu bar.

23. Customize Control Center

In System Preferences, the Dock & Menu Bar pane lets you choose what appears in the Control Center. You can turn on/off individual controls such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, Do Not Disturb, Keyboard Brightness, and more.

You'll also find additional optional Control Center modules available including Accessibility Shortcuts, Battery, and Fast User Switching.

24. Pin Control Center Options to Menu Bar

Your favorite Control Center menu items can be pinned to the top of the menu bar for quick access.

Simply click-hold a menu item in the Control Center and drag it to the menu bar with your cursor.

25. Access Notification Options

Notifications are now grouped by app and have additional interactive features, so you can do things like play a new podcast or reply to an email without having to open up the associated app. Simply click the Options button to get a dropdown menu of additional interactivity.

26. Numbered Grid Voice Control

In System Preferences, the Voice Control section in the Accessibility pane now lists the Numbered Grid option in the Overlay dropdown.

When selected, this option segments the entire screen into numbered zones, allowing you to interact with parts of the screen that don't have a control, or that Voice Control doesn't recognize as clickable.

To click the item behind a grid number, say "Click" and the number. Or say "Zoom" and the number to zoom in on that area of the grid, then automatically hide the grid. You can also use grid numbers to drag a selected item from one area of the grid to another: "Drag 3 to 14."

27. Customize Notification Center Widgets

Widgets have been redesigned in macOS Big Sur and are similar to the widgets introduced in iOS 14. Open the widget gallery and you can customize them in three sizes using the (S)mall, (M)edium and (L)arge buttons.

Then just drag them from the library to add them to the Notification Center.

28. Photos Picker in Messages

There's a new Photos picker in the Messages app that's accompanied by Memoji stickers (which can be created on the Mac for the first time with the Memoji editor), an #images search for finding trending images and GIFs, and Message effects, which have been available on iOS for several years.

29. Look Around in Maps

macOS 11 adds Look Around to the Maps app, so you can explore cities in a detailed, street-level view, similar to Google Maps.

Just click the Look Around icon (it's a pair of binoculars) and move the binoculars around the map to change location.

30. Use Quick Styles in Notes

Apple has added Quick Styles to the text style menu in Notes, so now you don't have to open a Font window or dig into dropdown menus to go bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough.

31. Show Battery Percentage in Menu Bar

By default, the battery percentage no longer appears next to the Battery icon in the menu bar. Fortunately, you can reinstate it.

Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar, scroll down in the sidebar, then click Battery under Other Control Center Modules and tick the Show Percentage checkbox.

32. Show Individual Note With Light Background

If you're using Dark Mode, individual notes in the Notes app can be set to have a light background for better legibility.

Just right-click inside the note and select Show Note with Light Background from the contextual dropdown menu.

33. Delete Old SDKs and Xcode Caches

You can now delete Xcode caches and older SDK versions in the storage management section of About this Mac (Apple menu -> About This Mac).

Click the Storage tab, then click the Manage... button and select Developer in the side column, and you'll be able to select which caches and unused SDKs to delete.

34. Set Profile Picture in Messages

Like iOS 14, you can now customize your profile picture in the Messages app.

Simply select Messages -> Preferences and click your profile shot. You can choose your own photo or select a Memoji, and that's how message recipients will see you if they're also using iMessage.

35. Use Folders for Voice Memos

You can now organize your voice memo recordings in the Voice Memos app using folders.

Just click the New Folder icon in the bottom-right corner of the sidebar, give your new folder a name, then click Save. You can drag and drop recordings into folders, and even select specific folders as Favorites to make them easier to access.

36. Edit Videos

The Photos app has inherited the video editing options that first debuted in iPadOS 14, so now you can go into editing mode and not only trim your video clips, but also add filters, crop, make color adjustments, change saturation and exposure intensity, change highlights, shadows, and more.

37. Accent and Highlight Colors

In Big Sur, Apple has made a subtle but significant change to the macOS interface with the addition of new Accent color and Highlight color options. In System Preferences, the General pane gives you various Accent color radio buttons and Highlight colors that together change the appearance of interface buttons, selection highlighting, and sidebar glyphs across the system.

But if you select the new multicolored radio button (first in the row of Accent color radio buttons) and the Accent Color option in the Highlight color dropdown menu, this will apply the accent and highlighting colors that developers personally chose to represent their own third-party interfaces, making each app feel that bit different.

38. Get Precipitation Weather Forecast

Apple's acquisition of Dark Sky has brought minute-by-minute hourly rain forecasting to the Weather widget.

Just click the time in the menu bar to reveal the Notification Center, click Edit Widgets, then drag the medium or large Weather widget from the widget gallery to the Notification Center.

39. APFS Time Machine Backups

With macOS Catalina and previous versions of the operating system, Time Machine was only compatible with HFS+ disks. In macOS Big Sur, however, you can now make Time Machine backups to an APFS disk.

To prepare an external disk for use as an encrypted Time Machine drive, simply select it in Disk Utility, click Erase, and choose APFS in the format options.

40. Add Captions to Photos and Videos

‌iOS 14‌ allows you to add captions to photos and videos, and these sync across all devices if iCloud Photo Library is enabled, so the "Description" field in Photos has been renamed to Captions for continuity.

41. Import Passwords and Settings From Chrome

Safari now lets you import passwords and settings from Google's Chrome browser, including your history and bookmarks.

You can find the new setting in Safari's menu bar, under File -> Import From -> Google Chrome....

42. Safari Extensions

The Mac App Store now has a Safari Extensions section in its Categories, so it's easier than ever to find Safari extensions.

When you install a new extension, Safari will ask you which websites it can access, ensuring your browsing habits to remain private. Apple has also introduced support for its WebExtensions API that makes it easier for developers to bring extensions designed for other browsers to Safari.

43. Messages Inline Replies

Inline replies is a Messages feature that's designed to make it easier to organize chats that involve multiple people and/or multiple subjects. If you're in a chat with several people and there are conversations going on that cover multiple topics, you can make it clear who you want to reply to by using an inline reply.

Simply long-click the message that you want to reply to and choose the Reply option. Inline replies will show up threaded under the original reply, and if you tap on one, you can see the entire conversation separate from the main chat conversation.

44. Maps: Save Locations as Favorites

In Maps, you can now create a selection of favorite locations for easy access from the sidebar.

Just select a location on the map, click the circular ellipsis button in the top-right corner of the location card, then select Add to Favorites.

45. Check Privacy 'Nutrition Labels' for Apps

You'll soon be able to check "nutrition labels" for third-party apps in the Mac App Store.

A new section on every app's page called App Privacy includes information from developers on what data is collected and whether that data is used to track you across other apps and websites, allowing you to make more informed decisions about the apps you download.

Apple is still collecting this information from developers, but starting in early December, developers will be required to submit it before they can have a new app or an update approved.

46. Top Hits in Notes Search

When you search notes in the Notes app using the Search field, Top Hits appear at the top of your search results and surface the most relevant results, making it easier to find what you need.

47. Podcasts "Listen Now" Feature

The Podcasts app now has a Listen Now section similar to iOS 14, making it easier to find what to play next. You can use it to resume the next episode in your queue from Up Next, discover the latest episodes in shows you follow, and browse hand-picked episode recommendations.

48. Indoor Maps

The Maps app features more detailed indoor maps than ever, taking in major airports and shopping centers around the world.

Indoor maps provide full layouts of each mall or airport location with icons for restaurants, elevators, bathrooms, shops, and other notable landmarks. Different floors are clearly marked, making it easy to navigate through unknown areas. You can use it to locate restaurants, restrooms, or store at the mall before you step out your front door.

49. New Wallpapers

Big Sur brings 40 new wallpapers to macOS, some of which may look familiar. That's because many of them take cues from wallpapers that Apple introduced in iOS 14.2.

True to the Big Sur theme, you'll find more pictures of mountains and rock formations in System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver, as well as illustrated landscapes with different lighting conditions for dynamic desktops.

50. Headphones Icon on Connect

In macOS 11, when you attempt to pair your AirPods or other Apple headphones to your Mac, you'll get a notification, and an identifying icon will replace the generic volume icon in the menu bar, so you always know when you're connected. You'll also see a battery percentage for your Apple headphones in the dropdown menu.

Got any of your own favorite tips or feature changes that we haven't mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.

Flexibits today announced the release of version 3.3 of its popular calendar app Fantastical for Mac, with key new features including full compatibility with macOS Big Sur, native support for Apple Silicon, and a new design.

Fantastical version 3.3 also supports macOS Big Sur's revamped Notification Center widgets with customizable themes and sizes, displays sunrise and sunset times in the weather forecast, provides severe weather alerts, adds support for adding Microsoft Teams meetings to events on Office 365, and more.

Many of these new features and others have also been implemented in the latest version of Fantastical for iPhone and iPad.

Fantastical is free on the Mac App Store/App Store for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with a Fantastical Premium subscription required to unlock all features. A subscription costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year in the United States.

Following today's release of macOS Big Sur, Apple has updated a number of its apps to support the new operating system version and upcoming Apple Silicon Macs.

Apple's suite of iWork apps is among the updates, with Pages, Numbers, and Keynotes all sporting refreshed icons and a "refined new design on macOS Big Sur." Stability and performance improvements are also included. Alongside the updates on the Mac side, the iWork apps for iOS have seen minor updates for stability and performance improvements.

GarageBand for Mac has also been updated with a new icon and refreshed macOS Big Sur design, among other improvements and additions.

- Refined new design on macOS Big Sur
- Improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple silicon
- Allows customisation of region colours in your tracks
- Adds 1,800 Apple Loops in a variety of genres including Hip-Hop, Chill Rap, Future Bass, New Disco, Bass House and more
- Adds over 190 instrument patches and 50 vintage and modern drum kits

Alongside GarageBand and the iWork apps, Apple updated its iMovie app for Mac with ‌Apple Silicon‌ support. No other new features are included.

Apple updated its professional video and audio apps, including Final Cut Pro and Logic, earlier today.

It's already November 13 in Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Asia which means iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max launch day has officially kicked off.

Customers in New Zealand and Australia are always the first to get their hands on new devices due to time zone differences, and the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ and 12 mini are arriving to those who preordered on November 6.

New devices photos and videos are popping up across the web on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and more.

Because there are no Apple Stores in New Zealand, customers in Australia are the first to be able to purchase one of the new models in an Apple retail location. Available in-store stock in Australia will give us an idea of what we can expect in other Apple Stores worldwide.

‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ orders placed now aren't delivering until December for the most part, but ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ orders will arrive before the end of November. Still, those who don't want to wait may prefer to pick up an order in store tomorrow.

Following New Zealand and Australia, ‌‌iPhone 12 mini‌‌ and 12 Pro Max sales will begin in the Middle East, Europe, and then North America. ‌Apple Stores‌ globally are opening up right around 8:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.

Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors tomorrow and throughout next week, because we'll have plenty of ‌iPhone 12 mini‌‌ and 12 Pro Max coverage that includes a hands-on and some in-depth camera comparisons.

Code in iOS 14.3 suggests that Apple is rolling out the groundwork to add support for third-party item trackers to the Find My app, as well as additional support for AirTags.

Apple alongside iOS 14 launched a Find My Network Accessory Program that's designed to allow third-party products and accessories to integrate with the ‌Find My‌ app. With these feature, users can track third-party lost items directly on their Apple devices using the ‌Find My‌ app.

It is, in fact, similar to the AirTags that Apple is working on, but for third-party products. It's not yet clear what manufacturers plan to implement this functionality, but it seems like it could be added to a range of different Bluetooth devices.

There are several strings of code in iOS 14.3 that hint at how it will work, with the info discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.

• You are connecting to an item that is paired to someone else's Apple ID.
• This item has been moving with you for a while.
• The owner can see its location.
• This item was seen nearby.
• The owner of this item will be able to see its location.
• Replace battery on [item] soon.
• This item is not supported. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, you may need to contact the manufacturer.
• Change or charge the battery for this item and try again.
• This device doesn't support Bluetooth. Bluetooth is required to connect your item.
• Adding items is not supported on this device.
• Contact the manufacturer of this device to learn if ‌Find My‌ is supported.
• Make sure the item is nearby and ready to connect.
• To add items to ‌Find My‌, you'll need to first update your account security.
• You have added the maximum number of items to your ‌Apple ID‌. You can add another item once you remove one.
• Turn on precise location to more accurately locate the distance between you and your friends, devices, and items.
• Removing this item will allow it to be set up and used by another person and it will no longer be linked to your ‌Apple ID‌.
• You can learn more about lost items, or see if the owner has left a message, by connecting to it.
• Select an emoji and name that best represents your item.
• If this item is not familiar to you, learn how to disassemble it and stop sharing your location.
• Keep track of your everyday items by adding ‌Find My‌ compatible accessories.

The beta also includes related icons (one of which may unveil the design of AirPods Studio) and some AirTags images that we've previously seen, all under the codename "Hawkeye."

It's not clear when we might see the first items that are able to integrate with the ‌Find My‌ app, but it appears that Apple is gearing up for support so we could perhaps be seeing some Find My-compatible Bluetooth items in the near future.

An icon in the iOS 14.3 beta that was briefly released this afternoon before being pulled could reveal the design of the upcoming AirPods Studio headphones.

Found by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser and also highlighted by 9to5Mac, the icon is simple in design but does not depict a current headphone design used by Apple. The icon has deep oval shaped ear cups and what appears to be a padded band, and it is similar to leaked images that allegedly depict the AirPods Studio.

The headphone icon and related icons depicting a backpack and a set of luggage are also in iOS 14.3, suggesting that all of the icons are perhaps related to Apple's upcoming AirTags. We've been seeing hints of AirTags in Apple's software for months now.

Rumors have suggested that Apple's AirPods Studio headphones will have a retro design with interchangeable ear cups and Active Noise Cancellation functionality. There may be two variants, one that is made from lighter weight materials and one that is made from higher-end materials.

Neither AirPods Studio nor AirTags is expected to be released before the end of the year, and it's likely that we'll see these two products unveiled at some point in early 2021.

For more on AirPods Studio, make sure to check out our roundup.

Apple this afternoon briefly released the first betas of iOS and iPadOS 14.3 before pulling the updates again, but during the time the software was available, some people were still able to download it and have been digging into the features.

ProRAW Support

As noted on the MacRumors forums, iOS 14.3 introduces the ProRAW format for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple introduced ProRAW when announcing the new iPhone 12 lineup, but said that it would be coming at a later date.

ProRAW is designed for those who prefer to shoot in RAW but also want to take advantage of the Apple image pipeline data like noise reduction and multiframe exposure adjustments.

The ProRAW feature can be enabled in the Camera section of the Settings app for those who have installed the iOS 14.3 beta on a new iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max. When enabled, there's a RAW toggle in the upper right side of the camera app that can be tapped to turn it off or on.

Photos taken with ProRAW are approximately 25MB in size, so photographers may want to use the feature sparingly if iPhone storage space is an issue.

Third-Party App Suggestions

Along with ProRAW support, the update also appears to add suggested third-party apps. According to 9to5Mac, there's code in iOS 14.3 that indicates Apple will show third-party app options to those who are updating to the software.

These app suggestions will be provided only in some countries where required by local laws, so users in the United States may not see the third-party app menu. It's not entirely clear which countries will see the app suggestions, but those that do will see this message: "In compliance with regional legal requirements, continue to view available apps to download."

Health App

The Health app appears to have a new section on Pregnancy .

App Clips

According to Apple's release notes, App Clips can be launched by scanning App Clip Codes using Camera or from Control Center.

Default Search Engine

Ecosia can now be set as the default search engine as an alternative to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Ecosia lets users fund the planting of trees when searches are conducted.

Home App

The Home app appears to have new notifications for when accessories have updates available, which suggests that some HomeKit accessories might be able to be updated through the Home app in the future.

Cardio Fitness

Code in iOS 14.3 confirms a new Cardio Fitness feature for Apple Watch. "Apple Watch can access your cardio fitness, a strong indicator of overall health. To enable estimates outside of a workout, turn on Wrist Detection."

Cardio Fitness levels are available for users age 20 and above, and are estimated by age. Apple will send Cardio Fitness Notifications to the iPhone from the Apple Watch.

Weather

Air quality health recommendations are provided at specific air quality levels in the U.S., UK, Germany, India, and Mexico, with air quality data provided by Breezometer. Air quality data is also now available in China.

AirPods Studio

There's an icon in iOS 14.3 that may hint at the design of the AirPods Studio.

Find My

Code in iOS 14.3 suggests that Apple is rolling out the groundwork to add support for third-party item trackers to the Find My app, as well as additional support for AirTags. Third-party item trackers and Bluetooth-enabled items will be able to be tracked using the ‌Find My‌ app, and it seems the first items with this capability could perhaps be launching soon.

Fitness+

As noted by The 8-Bit, the first beta of iOS 14.3 had a reference to Fitness+ in the iOS 14.3 analytics settings under Privacy > Analytics & Improvements. The setting was unfinished and could not be toggled on, but it suggests that Fitness+ may be released alongside iOS 14.3. The setting was removed in beta 2.

Home Screen Shortcuts

In iOS 14.3, it's easier than ever to launch apps with custom icons right from the Home Screen, which is great for those who prefer to customize their Home Screens.

When opening an app that has a custom icon created using Shortcuts, it is no longer routed through the Shortcuts app and is instead able to open much more quickly. There's still a banner that pops up, but it's a more streamlined experience than before.

Other Features

Know of other new features in iOS 14.3 that aren't highlighted here? Let us know in the comments and we'll add them to the list.

Shortly after seeding the first betas of iOS 14.3, iPad 14.3, watchOS 7.2, and tvOS 14.3, Apple has pulled all of the updates from the Developer Center and they're no longer available for download.

It's not clear if the new software releases were mistakenly seeded out or pulled due to the numerous issues that Apple's servers are experiencing. Right now, users are not able to download macOS Big Sur and are seeing the following message when attempting an install: "An error occurred while installing the selected updates."

Apple's notary server for Mac apps also appears to be experiencing problems and there are iMessage and Maps outages that are ongoing. Apple Pay and Apple Card were also impacted, but Apple's System Status page says those issues have been fixed.

Apple this morning also very briefly released the iOS 14.3 and watchOS 7.2 updates before pulling them again, so technically this is the second time the updates have been seeded out and then removed. It's not clear when the new software betas will see an official and permanent launch.

Apple is having trouble with a number of services at this time, and along with problems that are preventing people from installing macOS Big Sur and slowing down third-party apps, Apple Card, Apple Pay, Maps, and iMessage are experiencing issues.

According to Apple's System Status page, Apple Card and Apple Pay are seeing a complete outage. Users are not able to complete Apple Pay transactions, and some users may be unable to apply for or manage an Apple Card on Apple.com.

Maps traffic and routing and navigation is also out, and Apple says that the services "may be slow or unavailable." The same goes for iMessage, with Apple saying that some users are affected and may be unable to use iMessage at this time.

It's not clear when these services will be functioning properly again, but if you're having problems with Maps, Messages, Apple Card, and Apple Pay, you're not alone. Users are also unable to install macOS Big Sur at this time.

Update 2:30 p.m.: According to Apple's System Status page, the issues with Apple Card, Apple Pay, iMessage, and Maps have been fixed.

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, one week after releasing iOS 14.2.

iOS and iPadOS 14.3 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.

There's no word yet on what's included in the iOS 14.3 update, but it likely focuses on features, bug fixes, and performance improvements that weren't able to be included in the iOS 14.2 release.

Once we've downloaded the update and discovered what's new, we'll update this article with details.

Apple today updated Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, its video and audio editing apps designed for professionals, to version 10.5 and 10.6, respectively. The new software updates introduce improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple Silicon, along with new features that take advantage of the ‌Apple Silicon‌ Neural Engine.

Apple's release notes for the Final Cut Pro X update are below:

- Improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple silicon
- Accelerated machine learning analysis for Smart Conform using the Apple Neural Engine on Mac computers with Apple silicon
- Option to create a copy of your library and automatically transcode media to ProRes Proxy or H.264 at various resolutions

Apple also has release notes for Logic Pro X:

Improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple silicon
- Adds the ability to control Step Sequencer using Logic Remote on your iPad or iPhone to create beats, bass lines, and melodic parts
- Supports all Novation Launchpad controllers
- Stability and performance improvements (edited)

MainStage, Compressor, Motion, and Logic Remote have also all been updated to go along with the main Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro updates. All of the software can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week after the launch of watchOS 7.1.

To install the ‌watchOS 7.2‌ beta, developers need to download the proper configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the ‌‌‌watchOS 7‌‌‌.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌Apple Watch‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌.

We don't yet know what's new in the watchOS 7.2 update, but it likely focuses on bug fixes for issues that weren't able to be addressed in watchOS 7.1 If any new features or changes are discovered, we'll update this article.

Update: Code in iOS 14.3 confirms a new Cardio Fitness feature for Apple Watch. "Apple Watch can access your cardio fitness, a strong indicator of overall health. To enable estimates outside of a workout, turn on Wrist Detection."

Cardio Fitness levels are available for users age 20 and above, and are estimated by age. Apple will send Cardio Fitness Notifications to the iPhone from the Apple Watch.

If you are seeing long delays in launching apps or being unable to open Mac Apps at all, this may be due to Apple having significant problems right now with their services.

Apple has noted on their status site that "Users may be experience issues with the service." We've seen reports that this is affecting launching apps when connected to the internet.

A forum user describes what they are experiencing:

This is the most bizzare problem. My Macbook slows to a crawl when WiFi is enabled. I'm not talking about internet speed, that is fine. But simply launching or using apps becomes extremely slow. Apps will bounce on the dock for 10 minutes before they load.

As soon as I turn off Wifi, everything goes back to normal.

For now, disabling internet connectivity will allow you to bypass the issue temporarily.