LG recently rolled out a firmware update to customers who own an LG TV in the UHD UM7X series, enabling HomeKit and AirPlay 2 functionality. LG originally said that this firmware update would be available in October, but the software has come out early.
LG UHD UM7X TV owners can download the new 04.70.03 software update to enable the new functionality. AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support first began rolling out on LG TVs in July.
With AirPlay 2, LG TV users can stream TV shows and movies from an iOS or macOS device directly to the television, with no Apple TV set-top box required. A movie can be started on an iPhone and AirPlayed right to a TV, plus content can be mirrored from a Mac or iOS device to the TV.
AirPlay 2 lets multiple audio sources to play the same content, so a song can be played on a single television set, multiple television sets, or a TV and other AirPlay 2 devices such as speakers for whole home audio.
The AirPlay 2 functionality in LG TVs is linked to HomeKit, so LG TV sets with the new firmware will show up in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In the Home app, LG TV users can do things like switch inputs, turn the television on and off, and adjust the volume. Siri can also be used for these commands, so a simple "Hey Siri" voice request on an iOS or macOS device can adjust the volume or turn the TV on or off, much like other HomeKit products.
LG also plans to enable HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support on its LG UHD UM6X series television sets as well as the LG NanoCell SM83 series or below, but those software updates have yet to be released.
Apple's newest iPhones, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, are equipped with a new feature called Night mode, which is designed to take crisp, clear photos even when lighting conditions are poor, such as at night.
Unfortunately, Night mode is not supported on the iPhone SE or iPhone XR. It remains an exclusive feature for the iPhone 11 line of phones.
Night mode, as the name suggests, lets you take photos in the evening, with lighting that has never before been possible on an iPhone thanks to new hardware and new machine learning algorithms. Though Night mode brightens photos, it also preserves the night time feeling, balancing the light and dark elements of an image.
Android smartphone makers like Google and Samsung have had special modes for brightening up evening shots for a while now, and with the 2019 iPhones, Apple is on equal footing with these other smartphone cameras.
What is Night Mode?
Night mode is an automatic setting which takes advantage of the new wide-angle camera that's in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models. It's equipped with a larger sensor that is able to let in more light, allowing for brighter photos when the light is low.
Night mode uses the new sensor along with machine learning and the Neural Engine in the A13 processor to create Night mode shots.
When Night mode is engaged, the cameras in the iPhone analyze the available amount of light and then the iPhone chooses the number of frames needed to create a suitable image. The camera then takes a series of images for a set amount of time, such as one second, three seconds, five seconds, or in some situations, even longer.
The images are taken at different exposures, some with longer exposures and some with shorter exposures, similar to what's done when the iPhone composes an HDR image. This lets the iPhone pull out the best parts of the scene, highlighting what's important.
You'll need to hold the camera steady when using Night mode, and optical image stabilization also works to reduce shake as you take the photos. After the set amount of time, the A13 chip in the iPhone analyzes each photo that was taken, aligns them to account for movement, tosses out the images that are too blurry, and then fuses all the sharpest images of the bunch.
The resulting photo is the end image that you get when using Night mode, with Apple's software algorithms adjusting color, eliminating noise, and enhancing details to create a night time shot that preserves an impressive amount of detail.
Taking and combining several images allows Night mode to pick up more light than would be available in a single shot, which is why you can see so much more detail than the lighting conditions would normally allow for.
All of the Night mode calculations are done behind the scenes -- you'll only see the final shot, rather than being able to choose from a series of images as you can do in Burst mode even though it's a similar concept.
In a nutshell, Night mode is the result of a better camera sensor and some behind the scenes magic from Apple's A13 processor.
How to Turn on Night Mode
Night mode turns on automatically when the lighting conditions call for it, so there's no need to enable it. Tapping the moon icon at the top of the Camera app will let you access the Night mode settings, though, allowing for the time length of photos to be adjusted in some situations.
How to Turn Off Night Mode
To turn off Night mode, tap on the moon icon at the top of the Camera app interface to open up the Night mode slider and then slide it all the way to the left to turn the feature off entirely for a photo.
Night mode will need to be turned off on a photo by photo basis, as it is meant to come on automatically. There is no setting to disable it permanently.
Night Mode Lenses
On the iPhone 11, Night mode is limited to the wide-angle camera as it is the only camera with optical image stabilization and because Night mode requires a camera with 100 percent focus pixels to analyze and align images.
On the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, Night mode can be used with either the wide-angle camera or the telephoto camera because both of these lenses support optical image stabilization and the other necessary features for Night mode to work.
Night mode images look best with the wide-angle camera as it is the better lens, but the telephoto is an option when needed. The ultra wide-angle camera in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models doesn't work with Night mode.
Using Night Mode's Time Intervals
The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are able to analyze the lighting in a situation and will provide a recommended interval for Night mode, which is usually somewhere between one and five seconds, though it can vary based on how much ambient lighting is available.
You can tap on the moon icon at the top of the Camera interface to get to the Night mode settings, where you can change the interval from the recommended level to a longer level if desired, which can alter the look of the photo that you're capturing.
The darker the photo subject, the longer time period options your iPhone will offer up. At sunset where there's still a decent amount of light, your exposure options might max out at around 3 to 5 seconds.
In full darkness, when taking a photo of the night sky, as an example, you might see longer time intervals available, and selecting a longer time interval in this situation may allow you to see more of the night sky in the resulting image than you might have been able to capture with a shorter exposure. For maximum time, a tripod is required.
The different time intervals are worth experimenting with to get the specific look that you want for a particular image, but Apple's default shot length is calculated using a multitude of factors and almost always results in a nice looking low light shot.
How to Get the Best Night Mode Shots
Night mode takes a series of shots and is similar to a long exposure photo, so techniques used for long exposures can also be useful for Night mode.
Apple uses optical image stabilization and software to cut down on blur, but for the absolute best Night mode shots, it's a good idea to use a tripod. A tripod means there won't be any shake when capturing the multiple images that are used for a Night mode shot.
A tripod isn't needed, but when the iPhone is stable and detects that it's being held steady, it will offer longer exposure times than you can get when holding the iPhone yourself. If you want a 30 second Night mode shot of the night sky, for example, you're going to need a tripod to do it. Night mode works in 1 to 30 second intervals depending on conditions like steadiness and ambient lighting.
Even with shorter time intervals, Night mode can result in blur, so if you don't have a tripod, do your best to hold the iPhone as steady as possible. Stabilizing your arms can help.
Night mode shots work best on images where there aren't moving people, pets, or objects. Since the iPhone is taking multiple shots of a subject and stitching them together, there needs to be minimal movement. A pet that's running around or an active child isn't going to make for a good night mode shot, but you can get good night time portraits of people and pets if your subject can stay still.
Night mode isn't going to work for every photo because it can result in dramatic colors, high contrast (especially in situations where the ambient lighting is an odd color like the yellow of a street light), excessive shadows, and issues with light reflection, but more often than not, it produces incredible images and allows iPhone users to capture scenes that simply couldn't be captured with an older iPhone.
What Devices is Night Mode Available On?
Night mode is a feature on the new 2019 iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. It isn't available on earlier iPhones, but like other camera additions, will continue to be a feature for future iPhones and is likely to see improvements over the years.
Night Mode vs. Earlier iPhones
Night mode is a feature that's unmatched by earlier iPhones, as can be seen in comparison photos between the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the iPhone XS Max. The iPhone 11 models can get a whole new level of detail in lower lighting conditions that just wasn't possible before. It's a major step forward in camera technology and is going to result in much better photos than were possible with the iPhone XS line and earlier.
Comparisons With Android Smartphones
Night mode isn't new -- and in fact, it's something that Google popularized last year with its Pixel 3 smartphones. Google introduced a feature called Night Sight in the Pixel 3 that blew people away.
Night mode vs. Night Sight on Google Pixel 3, image via TechCrunch
Other Android smartphone manufacturers have also added similar features to their smartphones too, so this isn't a feature that originated with Apple. Below, we've shared some comparison videos and photos between Night mode in the iPhone and other Android phones with a similar feature.
Pixel 3 XL (right) vs iPhone (left), image via PCWorld
Pixel 3 (left), iPhone 11 Pro (right), via The Verge
Apple's technology isn't too far off from the technology used by other smartphone makers, and as with any camera setup, image preference is going to vary from person to person.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Night mode, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Adonit to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Adonit Note stylus designed for the iPad, which works as a more affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil.
Priced at just $49.99, the Adonit Note is similar to the Apple Pencil as it does not require Bluetooth to connect to an iPad. Just turn it on and it works.
The Adonit Note has a tiny tip much like the Apple Pencil, so it has the precision needed for note taking, sketching, drawing, and more. It comes in either gold or black, and it looks a lot like a regular pen.
Many of the Apple Pencil features are available in the Adonit Note. You can tap on the iPad with the tip of the Adonit Note to activate the Notes app, so you can jump right into taking notes from the Home screen of the iPad.
The Adonit Note features a replaceable tip so when it wears down, you can pop it off with a twist instead of purchasing a whole new stylus, and it features a long 12-hour battery life. A four minute charge through the micro-USB port lets you use it for an hour, while a 45 minute charge gives you the full battery life.
We reviewed the Adonit Note earlier this year and found that it works just as well as the Apple Pencil in terms of latency and palm rejection. You can rest your hand on the display just like you can with the Apple Pencil, so the experience is similar, but there is no pressure sensitivity.
The Adonit Note is compatible with the third-generation iPad Air, the fifth-generation iPad mini, the sixth and seventh-generation iPad, and the third-generation 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.
We have 10 of the Adonit Note styluses to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (September 27) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 4. The winners will be chosen randomly on October 4 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple today shared trailers and teasers for several of its upcoming Apple TV+ shows on its Apple TV+ YouTube channel, highlighting "Helpsters," "Ghostwriter," and "Snoopy in Space."
"Helpsters" is a new TV show created in partnership with Sesame Workshop, and it is aimed at children. The show is designed to teach preschoolers the fundamentals of coding with main character Cody and a team of monsters who love to solve problems.
As with other Sesame Workshop shows, like "Sesame Street," the stars in "Helpsters" are all puppets.
Whether it's planning a party, climbing a mountain, or mastering a magic trick, the Helpsters can figure anything out--because everything starts with a plan.
Ghostwriter, also aimed at children, is a remake of an older TV show, following four children brought together by a mysterious ghost in a bookstore. The children team up to release fictional characters from works of literature.
When a ghost haunts a neighborhood bookstore and starts releasing fictional characters into the real world, four kids must team up to solve an exciting mystery surrounding the ghost's unfinished business.
"Snoopy in Space" has been previewed in the past, but Apple today released the official trailer. "Snoopy in Space" follows Snoopy as he pursues his dream to become an astronaut.
Blast off with Snoopy as he fulfills his dream to become a NASA astronaut. Joined by Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang, Snoopy takes command of the International Space Station and explores the moon and beyond.
"Helpsters," "Ghostwriter," and "Snoopy in Space" are some of the TV shows that will be available when Apple TV+ launches on Friday, November 1.
Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 per month for up to six users, but there is a free trial and customers who purchase an Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or Mac can get a free one-year subscription.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 13.1.1, updates to the iOS and iPadOS 13.1 software that was released on Tuesday.
The iOS and iPadOS 13.1 updates are available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
iOS and iPadOS 13.1.1 are minor updates that focus on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. It addresses a third-party keyboard vulnerability, for example, which Apple outlined earlier this week. According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 13.1.1 update addresses the following bugs:
- Fixes issues that could prevent iPhone restoring from backup - Addresses an issue that could cause battery to drain more quickly - Fixes an issue that could impact recognition of Siri requests on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max - Resolves a problem where Safari search suggestions may re-enable after turning them off - Addresses an issue that could cause Reminders to sync slowly - Fixes a security issue for third-party keyboard apps
There are also separate release notes for the iPad, but the update addresses the same issues:
- Fixes issues that could prevent iPad restoring from backup - Addresses an issue that could cause battery to drain more quickly - Resolves a problem where Safari search suggestions may re-enable after turning them off - Addresses an issue that could cause Reminders to sync slowly - Fixes a security issue for third-party keyboard apps
iOS 13.1.1 could soon be followed up by iOS 13.2, an update that's already been spotted in analytics and could be released in a beta capacity in the coming weeks.
The prior iOS 13.1 update introduced Share ETA, expanded audio sharing options, Shortcuts Automations, directional AirDrop on new iPhones, and more. For additional info on what's new in iOS 13, make sure to check out our roundup.
With the release of tvOS 13, Apple brought new features like Apple Arcade to Apple TV as well as a number of changes to the set-top box's interface. One of those changes includes autoplaying trailers on the Home screen.
The new content previews on the Home screen make interacting with your Apple TV a little different. For example, in previous tvOS versions, using the Siri Remote to highlight Apple's TV app would make your Up Next queue appear in the Top Shelf of the Home screen. Now, it plays video trailers advertising content available on the iTunes Store.
This is similar to what you'd expect to see on Netflix, which routinely auto-plays trailers in the hope that it will help you discover content more easily. Not everyone wants to see the same behavior on their Apple TV though, and the good news is that you can turn it off with an option buried in the device's settings.
Launch the Settings app on your Apple TV.
Select General -> Accessibility -> Motion.
Toggle off the switch for Auto-Play Video Previews.
You can also move the TV app from the top row of the your Apple TV's Home screen and the videos should stop autoplaying. To do so, hover the selector over the TV app, then click and hold down on the Remote's touch surface for a couple of seconds.
The app icon will start jiggling, at which point you can swipe to place it where you want. Simply click the touch surface again once you have moved the TV app from the top row to another location.
A security researcher who goes by "axi0mX" on Twitter today released "checkm8," which he claims is a bootrom exploit for iOS devices equipped with A5 through A11 chips, including the iPhone 4S through iPhone X, several iPad models dating back to the iPad 2, and the fifth-generation iPod touch and later.
This would be the first publicly released bootrom exploit since the iPhone 4 in 2010 and pave the way for a permanent, non-patchable jailbreak on hundreds of millions of affected iOS devices. Since the bootrom is read-only, Apple cannot patch this type of exploit with a software update.
EPIC JAILBREAK: Introducing checkm8 (read "checkmate"), a permanent unpatchable bootrom exploit for hundreds of millions of iOS devices.
Most generations of iPhones and iPads are vulnerable: from iPhone 4S (A5 chip) to iPhone 8 and iPhone X (A11 chip). https://t.co/dQJtXb78sG
— axi0mX (@axi0mX) September 27, 2019
The bootrom exploit has many other possibilities on affected devices, including downgrading iOS versions without SHSH blobs or APTickets, dual booting iOS, and running custom firmwares, according to jailbreak enthusiasts.
This is significant news in the jailbreaking community, as the last bootrom exploit known as "limera1n" was released by George "geohot" Hotz nearly a decade ago for devices with A4 chips and earlier, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, and the original iPad.
Anker has a new crop of sales that are nearing their expiration dates, and you can find all of these notable discounts in the list that we've created below. This includes markdowns on wireless charging mats, Bluetooth speakers, wall chargers, and more. Anker also recently announced the all-new PowerCore Slim portable battery in Midnight Green that matches Apple's iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max models of the same color.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For the new PowerCore Slim, Anker's accessory is a 10,000 mAh portable charger with one USB-C Power Delivery port and one USB-A port. With 18W Power Delivery on the USB-C port, the PowerCore Slim supports fast charging on compatible iPhones, and can provide up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.
The Anker PowerCore Slim can be purchased for $31.99 with coupon code MIDGREEN, down from $39.99. You can purchase Anker's battery now, but it won't ship for a while and stock has a delivery date for mid-November.
Visit our full Deals Roundup for more deals on Apple accessories and products.
Spotify has added Siri support to the latest beta version of its iOS app, allowing users to ask Siri to play songs, albums, and playlists in Spotify on an iPhone running iOS 13 or later, as noted by The Verge's Tom Warren.
Apple opened up its SiriKit framework to third-party music, podcasts, audiobooks, and radio apps in iOS 13 and iPadOS, enabling users to use Siri to control audio playback in supported apps. It is now up to third-party apps to take advantage of this functionality, with Spotify and Pandora among the first to do so.
When asking Siri to play a song, album, or so forth, users must specify "on Spotify" or else the feature defaults to Apple Music.
Spotify's inability to offer the same Siri integration as Apple Music was one of the tentpoles of its anticompetitive complaint against Apple that it filed with the European Commission earlier this year.
Spotify has not provided a timeframe for rolling out Siri support to all users, but we will provide an update when that happens.
The 10.2-inch iPad is similar to the sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad, with the same A10 Fusion chip and Apple Pencil support, but it has a larger display and a Smart Connector that enables support for Apple's full-sized Smart Keyboard. Pricing continues to start at $329 in the United States.
Given the minor refresh, the 10.2-inch iPad has few hardware changes over the 9.7-inch iPad beyond the larger display, addition of a Smart Connector, and an extra GB of RAM. Repairability remains low due to strong adhesives and a soldered Lightning connector, although display repairs remain feasible.
Apple plans to make an impact in Hollywood by premiering feature-length movies to theaters before releasing them on its upcoming Apple TV+ streaming service.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has "made overtures to cinema chains and consulted with an entertainment executive" as it considers following a traditional theatrical release plan.
If Apple follows through with the plan of observing a significant period of theatrical exclusivity, it would be adopting a longstanding business model in the commercial cinema industry that's also a proven route to awards eligibility, since film awards typically require a theatrical run for their candidates.
Theater chains want to attract audiences for as long as possible before they have the option to stream movies at home, with some requiring a 90-day period of exclusivity before movies go to home streaming services.
Netflix often releases its films in theaters before streaming them. However, adopting the plan could be perceived as risky for a new venture like Apple TV+, as Apple will likely want to use new content to attract and retain subscribers to its $4.99 per month streaming platform, due to arrive on iOS, Mac, and Apple TV in November.
In iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple's Mail app retains the swipe gestures of previous iOS versions that help you reduce the amount of time you spend managing messages in your inbox.
The basic inbox gestures still involve swiping right or left on an email to reveal tappable actions that you can perform instantly, without having to call up additional menus.
One of the default options that appear is the Flag action, which you might use to categorize a message that requests information needed by a certain date, for example.
Using only the swipe gesture, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Mail app provides only one color to use when flagging emails, but iOS 13 actually introduces support for multicolor flags – it's just hidden away in the menu that appears when you hit the Reply button.
Tap the Flag button there, and you'll reveal a submenu that allows you to choose one of seven colors, including the option to remove a flag. Note that whichever color you select here subsequently becomes the default color when you tap the Flag action or the More -> Mark... option via the inbox swipe gesture.
Did you know that you can customize the actions that appear when you use the Mail app's inbox gestures? Click here to learn how.
Apple's macOS Catalina update did not come out alongside iOS 13, with Apple instead planning to release it on an unspecified date in October.
While Apple has provided no detail on when the launch date might be, text on Apple's Danish macOS Catalina website suggests that it could be coming on Friday, October 4.
Image from Apple's Danish macOS Catalina site
An Apple Arcade section of the macOS Catalina website for Denmark says that Apple Arcade will be available in the App Store starting on October 4. The text is on the macOS Catalina page and refers to the Mac App Store as Apple Arcade for iOS has already launched in Denmark.
"Exceptional gameplay. Find it in the App Store from October 4," reads the translated version of the site. No additional dates are provided on the Apple Arcade specific site, with the October 4 mention limited to the Catalina page.
Apple Arcade on the Mac requires the macOS Catalina update and is a macOS Catalina feature, so for Apple Arcade to be available on October 4, macOS Catalina would also need to be available by that date.
The problem with the October 4 date is that most macOS and OS X updates have historically been on a Monday or a Tuesday. The last time a Mac update came out on a Friday was OS X Snow Leopard, which was released 10 years ago.
Apple could potentially release macOS Catalina earlier in the week and then launch Apple Arcade on October 4, but it's unclear why it wouldn't simply be available when Catalina launches. If Apple's Danish site is accurate, though, it seems we can expect to see macOS Catalina early in the month of October rather than later.
Apple's other software updates, including iOS 13, iPadOS watchOS 6, and tvOS 13, have already been released and Apple Arcade is available on all other platforms except for the Mac at this time.
(Thanks, Boris!)
Update September 27 6:00 a.m.: Apple has removed the October 4 reference from the Danish macOS Catalina page.
With the launch of iOS 13, Apple released Apple Arcade, a new $4.99 per month gaming service that provides unlimited access to new and exclusive games.
Less than two weeks later, Google announced its own gaming service called Play Pass, which also offers unlimited access to games. In our latest YouTube video, we went hands-on with both services to compare them.
Both Apple Arcade and Play Pass are priced at $4.99 per month. Apple offers a one-month free trial while Google offers a 10-day free trial, but for the first year, Google is offering a deal that drops the price of Play Pass to $1.99 per month.
Though the prices are similar, the two services are quite different. Apple Arcade features new and exclusive games, some of which were funded by Apple, while Google's Play Pass offers up older games.
Play Pass includes some super popular titles like Stardew Valley, Reigns, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Terraria, and more, but the problem with older games is that many people may have already played them.
Play Pass is also not limited to games -- Google is including apps too. AccuWeather, Pic Stitch, ISS HD, and Tunable are some of the apps offered.
Apple Arcade only offers gaming titles, but all of the games are fresh, new, and exclusive to Apple Arcade. In some cases, though, some of the games are also available on consoles, but on mobile platforms, Apple Arcade gets exclusive access. That means no Android equivalent.
It's not clear if apps can leave Apple Arcade, but Google warns that apps can leave Play Pass. If that happens, users will need to buy the game to continue to use it if it's a paid game, and for free titles, ads and in-app purchases may show up.
Google says there are hundreds of apps and games included with more being added every month. Apple Arcade launched with right around 60 games, and Apple has also promised new content on a monthly basis. Both services offer offline gaming, so no internet connection is required.
With both services, content is ad free and features no in-app purchases. Apple titles were designed from the ground up with no additional purchases, but for Play Pass, these gaming elements have been removed from titles that previously offered them.
Apple allows up to six family members to share games through a single Apple Arcade subscription using Family Sharing, and Google allows for up to five family members to share content through its Google Play Family Library.
Apple Arcade has launched in multiple countries around the world, while Play Pass is limited to the United States at the current time. Google does plan to expand, however.
One other aspect worth noting is privacy. Apple specifically mentions privacy protections and says that users are able to choose to share data, while Google's Play Pass materials don't mention privacy or data sharing. "Every game must meet Apple's high privacy standards," reads Apple's press release for Apple Arcade.
Most people are locked in to either Android or iOS and few have both, so most people won't need to choose between services.
Apple users who have a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV can access Apple Arcade on those devices, while Google Play Pass requires a smartphone, laptop, or tablet with Android 4.4 or above and Play Store version 16.6.25. Google Play Pass games can't be played on the larger screen of a television, which gives Apple Arcade a bit of an edge when it comes to non-mobile gaming.
Do you prefer Apple Arcade with its fresh selection of titles, or Google Play Pass with its larger library of already available games? Let us know in the comments.
GarageBand, Apple's music making app designed for iPhones and iPads, was today updated to version 2.3.8, introducing support for iOS 13 features.
The app now works with Dark Mode, and because GarageBand already had a darker interface, there are new lighter interface elements when used in Light Mode.
GarageBand also now supports accessing files from external hard drives, SD card readers, and USB drives through the files app.
Along with these iOS 13 features, GarageBand has improved audio fidelity of Apple Loops when making tempo and key changes, and a new downloadable "Skyline Heat" sound pack with a collection of more than 350 Hip Hop loops and six drum kits. Release notes are below:
- Support for Dark Mode and new Share sheet in iOS 13 - Access files from external hard drives, SD card readers, and USB drives - Improves audio fidelity of Apple Loops when making tempo and key changes - New downloadable "Skyline Heat" sound pack with a collection of over 350 new Hip Hop loops and 6 drum kits
Apple introduced a new Sign in with Apple feature in iOS 13, which is designed to let you create accounts for apps and websites using your Apple ID, so you don't have to give away your personal information.
Sign in with Apple is an alternative to the existing sign in with Google and Facebook options that apps and websites often offer. Apple's version protects your privacy and even lets you mask your email address.
How Sign in with Apple Works
In an app that supports Sign in with Apple, there's a "Continue with Apple" option that you'll see when asked to create an account.
Tapping "Continue with Apple" explains that the feature is designed to let you sign into websites with the Apple ID that you already have. Developers don't see your Apple ID and are only provided with your name and your email address, though there is also an option to hide your email address if desired.
Apps and websites get no personally identifiable information from you. When you use the feature, apps receive a unique identifier that is distinct for each developer, so there's no cross-platform or cross-app tracking available.
With Sign in with Apple, developers and websites have no way of gathering information about you beyond the name that you provide and your email address, unless it's hidden.
Hiding Your Email Address
When using Sign in with Apple, you can provide developers and websites with your email address, or you can use a hidden email address assigned by Apple that will then forward incoming correspondence to your real email address.
If you choose to use your real email address, you can use any email associated with your Apple ID.
If you choose to hide your email address, Apple generates a unique email address that developers and websites can communicate with. Apple deletes messages after delivery or after a short while if undeliverable.
Sign in with Apple Developer Requirements
Apple is requiring all apps that offer sign in with Google, sign in with Facebook, or sign in with Twitter options to also offer Sign in with Apple, but there is an June 2020 deadline, so the feature may not be available in apps right away. Eventually all apps that allow you to sign in with other accounts from Google, Twitter, and Facebook will also be required to offer Sign in with Apple.
Apps are not required to use Sign in with Apple as an option if signing in with a username and password is available, though developers certainly can if they choose to.
Websites aren't required to use Sign in with Apple, but the option is available, and apps that also have websites do have Sign in with Apple implemented.
Where Sign in with Apple Works
Sign in with Apple works on the web and in iOS and Android apps. So if you have a login for an app that also has a website, you can use Sign in with Apple as a log in option in both places.
Using Sign in with Apple on the Web
When you use Sign in with Apple on the web, websites will request your Apple ID to log in, but the entire authentication process is handled by a separate window and done through Apple so the website never sees your Apple ID. Web access allows Sign in with Apple to be used on any device.
How to Change Your Forwarding Email
If you're signing into an app, Apple uses your default Apple ID email address, but if you're signing into a website, you can change your associated email address for forwarding purposes.
To do so, open up the Settings app, choose your Apple account (your picture) and then select Name, Phone Numbers, and Email.
Converting an Existing Login to Sign in with Apple
Some apps and websites will allow you to convert an existing login to Sign in with Apple, but the process for this will vary from service to service. Whether or not a specific app or website allows a login to be converted also depends on whether or not the feature has been implemented.
Signing in on a Public Computer
If you're using a public computer or a work computer to access a Sign in With Apple website, you can follow the same general steps for logging in on a website on your Mac. Click on the "Sign in With Apple" option on a supported website, and then enter your Apple ID, password, and then enter the two-factor authentication code on an approved device.
Biometric Authentication
Apple protects your Sign in with Apple logins with Touch ID, Face ID, and passcode options so no one can sign in to your accounts but you. Biometric options are used where available, such as on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with passwords used on Macs that don't have biometric authentication options.
Two-Factor Authentication
On the web, all of your Sign in with Apple logins are protected by two-factor authentication, so you will need to confirm with a verified device just like you would when signing into iCloud on a new device. Two-factor authentication is required to use Sign in with Apple.
Managing Your Sign in with Apple Data
Apple maintains an on-device list of all of the apps and websites where you've used Sign in with Apple. Open up the Settings app, tap on your profile, choose Password & Security, and then tap on the "Apps Using Your Apple ID" option.
If you disable Sign in with Apple, the information that was shared with the developer to set up Sign in with Apple will continue to be available to the developer and handled according to the developer's privacy policy.
Privacy
Apple doesn't track what apps you're using or where you have accounts, but Apple says that information about your Apple ID and your device use patterns could be used to help Apple prevent fraud. Developers do not see any data from you that you don't provide.
This is the info Wordpress got about me when signing up for an account with Sign in with Apple. No real info included.
The first time that you sign into an app or website, Apple shares a "simple numerical score" with the developer to prove that you're a real person. The score is calculated from recent Apple account activity and "abstracted information about your device and usage patterns."
Apple says that it knows if you've enabled Sign in with Apple for an app or a website, but it does not track the apps that you sign in to or when. Apple does not see or retain a history of which apps or websites you sign into or when you use Sign in with Apple, nor do developers receive this information.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Sign in with Apple, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
A teardown of the 44mm Apple Watch Series 5 conducted by repair site iFixit found few design changes compared to the 44mm Apple Watch Series 4, but a subsequent teardown of the 40mm model has found some more significant design deviations.
The battery inside of the Apple Watch Series 5 has a new metal casing, likely constructed from aluminum, rather than the foil pouch that surrounds most lithium-ion batteries.
Based on an Apple patent, iFixit suggests that the new metal casing is designed to be a more space-efficient method for sealing batteries. The size of the battery compartment in the Series 5 doesn't appear to have changed significantly over the Series 4 model, but the battery in the Series 5 offers 10 percent larger capacity than the Series 4 (0.944Wh vs. 0.858Wh).
Foil pouches feature a larger seal than the metal enclosure, so with the design change, Apple may have been able to use the space saved for a slightly larger battery.
New battery design on left, old design on right
iFixit says that the metal casing also makes the battery physically stronger, which is ideal for repair purposes. An aluminum enclosure makes it more difficult to puncture during repairs.
The new design is limited to the 40mm Apple Watch Series 5 and was not seen in the 44mm Series 5 model. iFixit says that it's not clear why the updated design was used in one watch and not the other, but it could be that the smaller watch needed additional battery or Apple wanted a "low-key" way to test the design.
Apple today released a second supplemental update for macOS Mojave 10.14.6, the current release version of macOS that's available to the public.
The macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Supplemental Update can be downloaded by going to the "Software Update" section of System Preferences and selecting the Update Now option. There are also updates available for macOS Sierra and macOS High Sierra.
There's little detail on what's included in today's update, but Apple's release notes say that it "improves the security of macOS" and is recommended for all users. According to a support document, it addresses a vulnerability that could allow remote attacker to "cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution."
The next-generation version of macOS, macOS Catalina, is still in beta testing and is set to see a public release sometime in October, though Apple has not specified when.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple's Mail app retains the swipe gestures of previous iOS versions that help you reduce the amount of time you spend managing messages in your inbox.
