In macOS, the System Preferences app located in the Applications folder is where you can adjust various settings to customize your Mac. Most system preference panes are native to macOS and cannot be removed – although they can be hidden. In this article, we'll show you how it's done.
Occasionally, third-party apps installed on your Mac will insert their own preference panes in the bottom row of the System Preferences panel. Sometimes these panes will pointlessly stick around even after you've uninstalled the associated app. Thankfully though, they can be removed separately. To jump to our instructions on how to do that, click here.
At a press event at the New York International Auto Show this afternoon, Mazda announced plans to bring CarPlay to its vehicle lineup for the first time.
The new 2018 Mazda6 will be the first Mazda vehicle to offer support for both CarPlay and Android Auto in the United States, with Mazda planning to introduce the feature this summer.
The CarPlay announcement is at 5:59 in the video
CarPlay will be available as an upgrade option on all 2018 Mazda6 models with Touring trim level and above, and customers who have already purchased a Mazda6 when CarPlay compatibility rolls out will be able to get the feature added to their vehicles.
Mazda's press event did not mention CarPlay support for other vehicles, including the newly announced CX-3, which has left some Mazda owners upset that Mazda did not make it clear whether or not CarPlay would be available in older Mazda vehicles, a feature Mazda has promised in the past.
A press release on the Canadian Mazda site offers up additional CarPlay information, but it is not yet clear whether it also pertains to the U.S., and we've asked Mazda for clarification. Mazda's Canadian site says CarPlay will be added to the 2019 CX-9 and then made available as a retrofit for Mazda Connect systems this fall.
During the press conference, Mazda also announced the addition of Apple CarPlayTM and AndroidTM Auto support to its vehicle line-up. In Canada, these mobile device connectivity technologies will first be offered in the 2019 CX‑9 launching this summer, and then rolled out across the entire model line-up thereafter. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available as a Genuine Mazda Accessory retrofit for MAZDA CONNECT systems starting this fall.
Mazda has been promising to add CarPlay support to its vehicles for quite some time and has been listed as a CarPlay partner since CarPlay's 2014 debut. Mazda said as recently as January that it's still committed to CarPlay despite the fact that the feature has yet to become available in Mazda cars.
In March of 2017, Mazda said that CarPlay, when introduced, would be "retroactively upgradeable onto all Mazda Connect systems with a potentially minimal hardware addition needed." Mazda Connect was first introduced in Mazda vehicles in 2014, which means quite a few Mazda vehicles will be eligible for the upgrade should Mazda make good on its promise.
CarPlay was slow to roll out, but since 2016, auto manufacturers have been adopting it at a rapid pace. CarPlay is now available in over 300 car models from a wide range of manufacturers.
Support for the Apple Pencil was one of the major differentiating factors between the fifth-generation iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, with Apple Pencil connectivity limited to Apple's more expensive flagship tablets.
Now that Apple Pencil support has been built into the sixth-generation iPad, which costs just $329, the Apple Pencil is far more accessible and there's less separating Apple's cheapest tablet from its priciest models. In the video and post below, we go over all of the differences between the new iPad and the existing iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro and the sixth-generation iPad may seem similar at first glance due to the shared Apple Pencil support, but the iPad Pro continues to offer a faster processor, better cameras, and a better display to justify its high price tag.
Apple's iPad Pro, for example, uses ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes all motion on the screen smoother, crisper, and more responsive.
It's dramatically different than other iPad displays with smoother text, better gameplay, and enhanced videos. True Tone technology, which adjusts the white balance of the display to match the ambient lighting is also an iPad Pro-only feature, as is wide color, for brighter, more vivid colors.
The sixth-generation iPad, meanwhile, uses the same non-laminated display that was first used in the iPad Air, albeit with improvements to make it brighter and a new touch sensor to allow for Apple Pencil support. It's Retina, but otherwise unremarkable.
The iPad Pro is also using an A10X Fusion chip, new in 2017, while the iPad is equipped with the A10 Fusion from the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Major improvements have been made in processor and GPU speed in recent iterations, so the iPad Pro is going to be a good bit faster than the iPad, though you're not going to notice in everyday tasks.
If camera quality is of importance, the iPad Pro has the latest 12-megapixel f/1.8 camera that is leagues better than the 8-megapixel f2.4 camera in the iPad. The iPad Pro's camera supports a laundry list of features not available in the iPad, like True Tone Flash, stabilization for live photos, wide color capture, 4K video recording, and more.
The iPad Pro's front-facing camera is also 7-megapixels, a big upgrade over the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera in the iPad. To make it easy to compare the two tablets at a glance, we've made a handy chart that also includes the fifth-generation iPad:
So which one should you buy? If you want an impressively fast but affordable tablet that works with Apple Pencil and is going to play the most recent games and apps for several years to come, go with the iPad.
If you want the fastest, thinnest device you can get with the absolute best display available on the market, go with the iPad Pro, but don't buy right now if you can hold out for a refresh. We're expecting to see updated iPad Pro models either in June or September with slimmer bezels, no Home button, and support for the Face ID facial recognition system first introduced in the iPhone X.
In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
Wednesday, March 28
What Wasn't Announced at Apple's Event
Yesterday, we shared a video recap of everything Apple announced at its education-themed event, including a new entry-level 9.7-inch iPad, a new Schoolwork app for classrooms, and other education-related software updates.
Apple's invite made it very clear that the event would be focused on education announcements, but there were still quite a few hardware and software possibilities that had a slim chance of being—but ultimately weren't—mentioned:
Lower-priced MacBook Air: KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a more affordable MacBook Air will launch in the second quarter of 2018. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the notebook probably wouldn't be ready for Tuesday's event, which proved to be the case.
When to expect it: Apple has refreshed the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro in April or May before, and announced the updates via press releases, so that's one possibility. Otherwise, the new MacBook Air will likely debut at WWDC 2018 on June 4, near the end of the second quarter.
AirPower: A trio of reports claimed Apple's multi-device charging mat will be available to order by the end of March. However, despite Apple's online store going down ahead of Tuesday's event, the AirPower wasn't anywhere to be found when the site came back online.
When to expect it: There are still two weekdays remaining in March, so there's a possibility the AirPower could be added to Apple's online store within 48 hours. Otherwise, the reports may have been off the mark. Apple has only confirmed that the AirPower will be available at some point in 2018.
A second-generation iPhone SE: Apple unveiled the current iPhone SE in March 2016, and given multiple rumors about a so-called iPhone SE 2, the new version could have debuted at the Chicago event. However, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had already cast doubt on the idea.
When to expect it: A sketchy Chinese report recently claimed that Apple will unveil a new iPhone SE at WWDC 2018 in June. While certainly a possibility, Apple hasn't introduced a smartphone at the event since the iPhone 4 in 2010. Beyond WWDC, a new iPhone SE could conceivably be announced in September alongside a new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus.
iPhone X in gold rendered by Michael Flux
Gold or (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhones: Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang and Twitter account OnLeaks said Apple may release a (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and/or iPhone X. Ben Geskin and Japanese website Mac Otakara expect a gold iPhone X.
When to expect it: On March 21, 2017, Apple unveiled a special (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If it plans on doing similar this year, then perhaps we'll see a wave of press releases highlighting availability of the new colors and the AirPower very soon.
iOS 11.3: Apple could have used its event to mention when the software update will be publicly released, but it elected not to do so.
When to expect it: Apple said iOS 11.3 will be available in the spring, which began last week. There has already been six beta versions, and iOS 11.3 was released for the new iPad just hours ago, so it's very likely the update will be available in a matter of days.
Teacher Reactions to Apple's Event
Apple's last education-focused event prior to Tuesday was in January 2012 in New York, where it announced iBooks 2 with interactive textbooks, iBooks Author, and a new version of iTunes U for iPad.
Just over six years later, many teachers and IT directors for school systems were eager to see what Apple had in store for them. And now that the event has concluded, many of those individuals have shared their initial thoughts, which aren't entirely positive. We've rounded up some articles below:
Today is press day at the New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday. Many automakers have unveiled vehicles compatible with CarPlay, including the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and 2019 Lexus UX:
The Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE is still available in a limited number of countries, even months after its launch, as Apple works to establish connectivity deals with various carriers.
Apple users in Thailand have previously been able to purchase WiFi + GPS Apple Watch Series 3 models, but the LTE version has been unavailable in the country.
With the addition of Thailand, Apple Watch Series 3 models with LTE connectivity will be available in more than a dozen countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Apple Watch Series 3 LTE models were initially available in China at launch but have been discontinued indefinitely as Apple attempts to work out regulatory issues. Apple expects LTE Series 3 models to return to the country at some point in 2018.
While the Apple Watch with LTE is limited in availability, the Apple Watch Series 3 with WiFi and GPS is available in many more countries around the world.
"It's not true that the iPhone is not made in the United States," Apple CEO Tim Cook said this morning in an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes in a response to criticism about its ties to China and other countries.
"We have always made the parts here," Cook said. "People just look at where the final product is assembled." In a global world, he explained, manufacturing and assembly needs to be done in a variety of places.
Image via Recode
As Cook has said multiple times in the past, key iPhone components are manufactured in the United States. Display glass for the iPhone and iPad, made by U.S. manufacturer Corning, comes from Kentucky. The Face ID module for the iPhone X comes from Texas. Various chips for Apple devices are also built in the United States, according to Cook, as is equipment for manufacturing the iPhone.
Components manufactured in the U.S. are shipped abroad, with devices assembled by suppliers like Foxconn and Pegatron in China.
Cook said "political pressure" doesn't push Apple to add U.S. jobs, as it's something the company is already doing. As Cook often says, Apple could "only have been created in the United States," and Apple wants to give back. "Businesses should be more than just building revenues and profits," Cook said. "They should be building people."
"We know that Apple could only have been created in the United States. We know that. This company would not have flourished in any other country in the world. We love this country. We are patriots. This is our country and we want to create as many jobs as we can in the U.S. We don't need any political pressure for that."
Apple in January outlined a five-year plan to contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy through job creation, existing investments and manufacturing, and new investments. Apple has established an Advanced Manufacturing Fund, for example, to invest in U.S. manufacturing. Apple has thus far invested $200 million in Corning and $390 million in Finisar.
On the topic of job creation and automation, Cook said that it's important to "get comfortable" with "the notion that education is lifelong." Jobs, he says, will be "cannibalized over time and replaced by others." Continuously learning is important, which is why Apple puts such a focus on teaching students of all ages to code. "The jobs of tomorrow are heavily software based," he said.
"There's an element of what each of us do, which will be automated over time. That's not bad. But we need to think about training for the jobs for tomorrow, which will be software-based."
He said he does not believe the narrative around "doom and gloom" is correct, but he does believe government and businesses need to work together on job retraining and creation for industries that are being automated. "We should not all sit around waiting for government to tell us what to do," he said.
Tim Cook's full interview will air on MSNBC on Friday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m. in a segment titled "Revolution: Apple Changing the World."
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
When Apple launched the iMac Pro last December, virtual reality applications and content creation were headlining features for the high-end computer. Prior to that, the company focused on Metal 2 and VR-based content as major additions to macOS High Sierra during WWDC 2017, also announcing multiple game studios putting their support behind Mac-based VR experiences, like Valve and Epic using the HTC Vive headset.
Today, another VR studio backing Apple's efforts in this space has become the focus of a new report by Ars Technica. The studio, called "Survios," was approached by Apple to port its new software "Electronauts" to macOS, part of many VR apps aimed at showcasing the iMac Pro's top-of-the-line capabilities.
In the new interview, Survios studio head Mike McTyre and software engineer Jason Meisel discussed the "nearly painless" porting process, what working with Apple was like, and the important distinction between Apple's focus on AR vs VR.
According to Meisel, Apple focused on ease of portability and ensured that early VR Mac developers wouldn't hit roadblocks during the porting process. Right now on Mac, VR experiences are supported using an optimized version of Valve's SteamVR platform and Survios developed Electronauts in the Unity game engine, which "can build directly to a multitude of platforms" spanning macOS and Windows.
"Essentially, what they've done really well is that they've been working with Unity and with Valve to make that whole process of porting a game that already exists using Unity and just get it running on the iMac," Meisel added.
Speaking on the topic of the small install base of an iMac Pro-only VR title, McTyre said that the studio noticed "a lot of passion" from Apple, and it's clear that the Cupertino company is planning "a lot more growth" in VR moving forward.
We're seeing a lot of resources on their end, a lot of effort, a lot of passion. They want to focus on this and work on this. So that might be true now, but that's just the starting point. It starts here, and let's see what they add on to that next... I truly believe that they're going to put a lot more growth into that going forward beyond this. This is just a starting point.
To expand the support of VR on Mac computers, McTyre said that in a few years he hopes to see Macs launch with integrated GPUs that sport minimum spec requirements for VR. Right now, even the iMac Pro development kit includes an external GPU enclosure, and support for eGPUs will launch wide in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4. McTyre hopes this is just a stopgap solution for graphics-heavy apps like VR: "I do think we are not that far off from the built-in GPUs just being good enough to just, out of the box, play VR."
Photo of the Survios offices in Culver City, California by Samuel Axon via Ars Technica
McTyre also touched upon the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality, the latter of which has been more of a focus for Apple in recent years thanks to ARKit in iOS. Apple has been tied to potential future products that could use either AR or VR, but Survios is specifically focused on VR and McTyre said AR is just "not as far along yet as VR."
The concept that AR is a version of VR but better, in my mind, is not true. It's a different experience. Televisions did not make movies obsolete. Movies did not make books obsolete. Mobile gaming did not making console gaming obsolete, and console gaming did not make PC gaming obsolete. It's all nonsense. We've been through this a million times over the last century. It's a new medium, and AR and VR are different. Is there overlap, just like TV and movies have overlap? But they're not the same thing.
For more details on Apple's relationship with VR developers, be sure to visit Ars Technica and read the full interview with Survios.
Apple today released the long-awaited iOS 11.3 update, but it appears the software is only available for download on the sixth-generation iPad, which was announced yesterday at an education event in Chicago.
The sixth-generation iPad went on sale yesterday, but the first orders won't be delivered until later this week and the device is not yet in stores.
Customers with the new iPad can download iOS 11.3 over-the-air using the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software Update.
iOS 11.3 introduces a long list of new features, such as Messages on iCloud for storing your iMessages in iCloud to save valuable on-device storage space.
The update also introduces ARKit 1.5, a new version of ARKit that allows developers to do more with augmented reality apps, and it includes a "Battery Health" feature designed to provide iOS users with more information about their batteries.
Other new features include new review sorting options in the App Store, software authentication for HomeKit devices, Business Chat for contacting businesses using iMessage, and more.
It's not clear why Apple has released iOS 11.3 for the new iPad and not for any other devices, but the surprise launch suggests the release of iOS 11.3 for other Apple products is imminent and could perhaps come later this week.
"I wouldn't be in this situation" Apple CEO Tim Cook told Recode's Kara Swisher in an interview where he was asked what he would do right now if he was Mark Zuckerberg.
Cook went on to say that Facebook should have self regulated to prevent the massive data collection scandal it's now embroiled in, but the time for that has passed. "I do think that it is time for a set of people to think deeply about what can be done here."
Image via Recode
It's clear to me that something, some large profound change is needed... I'm personally not a big fan of regulation because sometimes regulation can have unexpected consequences to it, however I think this certain situation is so dire and has become so large, that probably some well-crafted regulation is necessary.
Cook made the comments calling for regulation in a wide-ranging discussion with Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes, covering topics from privacy to DACA to education, where he also again pointed out Apple's strong stance on privacy.
As Cook has said many times in the past, "you" are not Apple's product and Apple does not make its money selling customer data. Cook says Apple sees privacy as a "human right, a civil liberty."
We could make a ton of money if we monetized our customers. If our customers were our product. We've elected not to do that. ...We're not going to traffic in your personal life.
Curation is important to Apple, and that's one of the ways Cook believes Facebook went wrong. "We curate," he said. "We don't want porn on our App Store. We don't want hate speech on our App Store."
Apple, he says, looks at every app in detail. "Is it doing what it is saying it is doing?"
Cook also offered up some advice on how people can protect their privacy. He recommends people read and understand the privacy policy of every app and website frequented, use private browsing mode, and think about blocking cookies. "The only way to protect your data is to encrypt," he added.
Like many of us, Cook says he "finds it creepy" when he looks at something and it chases him "all across the web," something Apple has actively started blocking with cross-site tracking prevention tools in macOS High Sierra and iOS 11. "I don't like that," he said.
Cook was interviewed at the Lane Tech College Prep High School where Apple held its educational event earlier this week. The CEO's full interview will air on Friday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time or 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on MSNBC.
Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes at Lane Tech College Prep today. The same high school hosted Apple's education-themed event on Tuesday.
The full interview will be part of a TV special titled Revolution: Apple Changing the World that will air Friday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on MSNBC. However, reporters in attendance have shared highlights from the discussion on Twitter.
Education
Cook started by sharing his view that "education is the great equalizer of people." He said "if you look at many of the issues in society today, you can find the root in people who don't have access to quality education today."
"We all have to get comfortable with notion that education is lifelong. Jobs will be cannibalized over time and replaced by others."
While he believes that technology plays a key role in modern education, Cook noted that Apple doesn't believe technology can replace teachers. "Our products are tools," he said. "They help people — not replace people."
"Teachers want to have technology to deliver their lessons. Most all teachers want a level of coding for their classes," said Cook.
On the subject of Apple's new entry-level iPad, $299 with education pricing, Cook said that price point becomes "a very reasonable expenditure" since students, teachers, and school districts "don't have to buy a new iPad every year."
Coding
"I want America to be strong, first and foremost. And one base for that is that everyone needs to learn to code. Coding is a way to express yourself. It's a language," said Cook. "It's not our expectation that everyone becomes a software programmer. But it's important that people learn the basics," he added.
"We need to get more people interested in coding. We have to reach out to women and unrepresented minorities that have been too low in coding."
United States and Jobs
"We know that Apple could only have been created in the United States," proclaimed Cook. "This company would not have flourished in any other country in the world. This is our country and we want to create as many jobs as we can in the United States. We don't need any political pressure for that."
While the iPhone is assembled in Asia, Cook said that many parts are manufactured in the United States, like the display glass from Corning in Kentucky.
On the subject of job retraining, Cook said "we should not all sit around waiting for government to tell us what to do." He added that "this should be something that government and business are working together on."
Cook emphasized the importance of lifelong education and job retraining given that robots will replace humans for certain tasks. "There's an element of what each of us do, which will be automated over time. That's not bad. But we need to think about training for the jobs for tomorrow, which will be software-based."
Immigration and DACA
"The DACA situation is one that I am personally, as an American, deeply offended by," said Cook, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that ended March 5, but is currently upheld by the Supreme Court. "The DACA situation is not an immigration issue. It's a moral issue."
"I don't see this as a partisan issue. This is about America—it's that simple. I am very disappointed with both parties … I'm personally lobbying Congress."
Privacy and Facebook Scandal
Earlier this month, The Guardian revealed that data firm Cambridge Analytica amassed data on 50 million Facebook users without their consent and targeted messages to voters during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cook, who previously called the situation "dire," expanded on his thoughts about the matter today.
"We curate," he elaborated, referring to the App Store's review process. "We don't want porn on our App Store. We don't want hate speech on our App Store. We don't want the ability to recruit terrorists on our App Store. We're looking at every app in detail. Is it doing what it is saying it is doing?"
"The truth is, we could make a ton of money if the customer was our product," as is arguably the case for companies like Facebook and Google. "We've elected not to do that," said Cook, touting Apple's privacy measures.
Cook thinks it's "creepy" when he looks at something and it "chases him all the way across the web," like targeted ads. "We're not going to traffic in your personal life. I think it is an invasion of privacy. Privacy to us is a human right. It's a civil liberty and it's something that is unique to America."
In terms of how users can protect their privacy, Cook said the only way to protect data is to encrypt it. "If I were you, I wouldn't do business with a company that isn't doing that," he said. "I would make sure I understood the privacy policy of every app and every website you frequent. I would go into private browsing mode. I would think about blocking cookies."
Amazon HQ2
On the subject of Apple's planned new campus somewhere in the United States, Cook said "we're not doing a beauty contest thing—that's not Apple," which appears to be a slight dig at Amazon's HQ2 search. "It sets up a win lose situation and that's not something I want Apple to be a part of," he explained.
We'll have more coverage of Cook's interview when Revolution: Apple Changing the World airs on MSNBC next Friday.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Best Buy today launched a 24-hour flash sale that includes heavy discounts on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with and without Touch Bar, fifth-generation iPad, Apple Watch Series 3, and iMac. Best Buy's new sale has the best prices available online for many of the products today, with discounts reaching as much as $400 off high-end MacBook Pro configurations.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can find all of the Apple products on sale at Best Buy today only in the list below, all of which represent refreshes from 2017. Remember that students and parents of students can save an extra $50 on Mac notebooks when signing up for Student Deals.
MacBook Air - Save $300 on select models / as low as $649.99 with Student Deals
Apple today announced it will establish a Center for Excellence at Lane Tech College Prep in Chicago, which will serve as a hub for teachers at Chicago Public Schools to learn and subsequently teach Apple's Everyone Can Code curriculum.
Apple is developing the hub in partnership with Northwestern University, whose professors will lead the sessions. Teachers will gain expertise in Everyone Can Code, a free program designed to help students learn how to code, and they'll also have the opportunity to be trained on App Development with Swift.
In addition to the free professional learning sessions, Apple says educators will also have access to in-school coaching and mentorship opportunities to ensure they are comfortable teaching the complete Everyone Can Code curriculum. Apple will outfit the Center for Excellence with iPads, Macs, and accessories.
Apple CEO Tim Cook:
Teachers make a world of difference in their students' lives, and we owe so much of our own success to their creativity, hard work and dedication. At Apple, we believe every student should have the opportunity to learn to code and we are thrilled to help provide new learning opportunities for Chicago-area teachers so they can bring coding into their classrooms.
David Figlio, Dean of Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy:
We strive to bring Northwestern's research, teaching, and service missions together in our local communities to make lives better in our hometowns of Chicago, Evanston and beyond. By collaborating with visionary companies like Apple and the education experts in the Chicago Public Schools, we have the chance to do something transformative for Chicago and the world.
This effort is an extension of an existing collaboration between Apple and Chicago to bring coding opportunities to the city's nearly 500,000 students through a citywide expansion of Everyone Can Code.
Google this week announced that it has acquired popular GIF search platform Tenor for an undisclosed sum. In the announcement post, Google said that web and mobile searches have "evolved" over the years and Google Image searches pertaining to GIFs have seen an increased amount of traffic -- "we see millions of searches for GIFs every day."
Following a recent update to the iOS and Android Google app that introduced more context around images, Google said it will now "bring GIFs more closely into the fold" through the Tenor acquisition. No specifics have been given yet, but the company said that Tenor will help Google surface GIFs "more effectively" in Google Images and, particularly, in the mobile Gboard app.
We’ve continued to evolve Google Images to meet both of these needs, and today we’re bringing GIFs more closely into the fold by acquiring Tenor, a GIF platform for Android, iOS and desktop.
With their deep library of content, Tenor surfaces the right GIFs in the moment so you can find the one that matches your mood. Tenor will help us do this more effectively in Google Images as well as other products that use GIFs, like Gboard.
Tenor is available as its own app on a variety of devices, including iOS and macOS, but Google promised that the GIF service will "continue to operate as a separate brand" so these apps won't be affected by the acquisition. Google will also help Tenor through investing in the service's technology, as well as in relationships with content and API partners.
Tenor has a long list of brand partners including movie studios, TV networks, video game publishers, and more that it partners with to propagate its service with the latest and most relevant GIFs. The company also fuels the GIF searches of other apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp in certain regions. About a year ago, Tenor rebranded and updated its Mac app to become the first app to place GIFs within the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar.
Following revelations that emerged last week about Facebook's misuse of user data, the company today said it has "heard loud and clear" that it needs to make it easier for users to know how to control their own privacy settings and data. These updates to Facebook mobile and on the web "have been in the works for some time," according to Facebook chief privacy officer Erin Egan, "but the events of the past several days underscore their importance."
The first update is found in a redesigned settings menu on mobile devices, so instead of settings that are spread across "nearly 20 different screens," they're all in one place. This area is also now cleaned up so outdated menus are gone and it's more clear what user information can and can't be shared with apps.
The old settings menu (left) and new settings menu (right)
A new Privacy Shortcuts menu launches users into an area where they can look at information regarding privacy, security, and ads "in just a few taps." This menu is also now clearer, has more visuals, and provides simple explanations for how each control option works. Below you'll find a breakdown of everything you can do when jumping into Privacy Shortcuts:
Make your account more secure: You can add more layers of protection to your account, like two-factor authentication. If you turn this on and someone tries to log into your account from a device we don’t recognize, you’ll be asked to confirm whether it was you.
Control your personal information: You can review what you’ve shared and delete it if you want to. This includes posts you’ve shared or reacted to, friend requests you’ve sent, and things you’ve searched for on Facebook.
Control the ads you see: You can manage the information we use to show you ads. Ad preferences explains how ads work and the options you have.
Manage who sees your posts and profile information: You own what you share on Facebook, and you can manage things like who sees your posts and the information you choose to include on your profile.
In a new area called Access Your Information, users can access and manage data -- like posts, timeline memories, items on a profile, reactions, comments, and items searched for -- so that it can be easily deleted. Facebook said it's also making it easier to download the data shared on the site. Users can download a secure copy of photos uploaded, contacts, timeline posts, and more, "and even move it to another service."
Next, the company said that it plans to update its terms of service with the inclusion of "commitments to people," as well as update its data policy to "better spell out" what data is collected and how it's used. In total, Facebook said that all of these updates are about transparency, and "not about gaining new rights to collect, use, or share data."
Apple CEO Tim Cook this past weekend described the Facebook scandal as "dire," calling for stronger privacy regulations in the wake of news that data firm Cambridge Analytica amassed data on 50 million Facebook users without their consent and targeted messages to voters during the 2016 presidential election. Facebook has now delayed the launch of its own entry into the smart speaker market, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in front of Congress on privacy in the coming weeks.
Apple Maps transit directions are now available in St. Louis, Missouri and several metropolitan areas in Virginia, including Richmond and the Hampton Roads region of Virginia Beach—Norfolk—Newport News.
By selecting the Transit tab in Apple Maps on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, users can now access MetroBus bus routes and MetroLink train routes in the St. Louis area, GRTC bus routes in the Richmond area, and HRT bus, train, and trolley routes in the Virginia Beach—Norfolk—Newport News area, including arrival and departure times.
Apple Maps has aggressively expanded its transit-supported cities over the past two months to include Tucson, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Orlando, Florida; and Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville in South Carolina.
When the feature launched in 2015, it was initially limited to Baltimore, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, and around 300 cities in China. Since then, Apple has expanded the feature to dozens of additional cities around the world.
A list of cities with transit support in Apple Maps can be found on the iOS Feature Availability page on Apple's website, although it has yet to be updated to reflect these latest additions in Missouri and Virginia.
Facebook has chosen not to unveil its latest smart connected devices at the company's F8 developer conference in May, in part because of the ongoing data-privacy scandal that has engulfed the social network, according to people familiar with the matter.
Bloomberg reports that Facebook's new home products, which include a video-capable smart speaker featuring the company's own digital assistant, are now being held back from public view, pending a deeper review into the devices' processing of user data. Although the hardware wasn't expected to launch until the fall, Facebook had planned to preview the devices at its annual developer summit, according to the paper's sources.
The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com Inc. and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook’s collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes. A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment.
In the last few weeks, Facebook has come under increasing scrutiny over its user data practices, after reports emerged that political advertising firm Cambridge Analytica procured information on 50 million social network users without seeking permission.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in front of Congress on privacy in the coming weeks, but the chief executive has so far refused a British request to appear before a parliamentary committee and answer questions about the social network's involvement in data misuse.
Popular Twitter client Twitterrific 5 for Mac and iOS received a major update today, introducing features that bring it on par with the official Twitter apps and competing third-party Twitter apps.
Starting today, Twitterrific users can attach 140-second or shorter videos to tweets on both iOS and Mac. On iOS, a video can be inserted by tapping the camera when composing, and on Mac, you a video can be added by clicking on the camera button.
The app is also gaining official support for Twitter muting, so users and accounts that have been muted will sync between Twitter and Twitterrific with muted content removed from the timeline. Muted users do not generate push notifications, and all previously muted screen names will be auto upgraded to official Twitter mutes.
Muffling has been improved in Twitterrific with the following new features:
- Defining any muffle rule to apply only for a single user - Muffling mentions from a specific person or mentions of a specific person - Muffle tweets that quote someone specific - Avoid seeing retweets from a specific person about someone else - For full details, check out the knowledge base: https://twitterrific.com/help/muffles
Twitterrific for iOS includes several improvements such as better responsiveness when attaching media to a tweet, new rule suggestions for the Muffle submenu of the Actions menu, a easier-to-access Translate option in the Actions menu, a shortcut for muting the author of a tweet, and a media picker that sorts the most recent photos and videos at the bottom.
On Mac, the reading position marker is now updated when closing a timeline, user search results and listings indicate if a user has been muted or blocked, and there's a new shortcut for muting the author of a tweet.
Twitterrific for the Mac can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $7.99. [Direct Link]
Twitterrific for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
The price of the new sixth-generation iPad didn't change in the United States compared to the previous fifth-generation model, but prices for the new tablet have been lowered in several other countries around the world.
Prior to the launch of the new iPad, rumors had suggested it could be priced as low as $259 in the United States, which did not happen, but the price has indeed dropped slightly in multiple countries.
In the UK, for example, the entry-level fifth-generation iPad was priced at £339, with the new sixth-generation model available for £319.
In Canada, the fifth-generation 32GB iPad cost $449, while the equivalent sixth-generation model is now available for $429.
In Germany, France, and other European countries, the new iPad is priced starting at €349 to €369, down from €399 to €419. Prices appear to be lower in most, if not all European countries.
Prices have not changed in all countries where the new iPad is available. In New Zealand and Australia, for example, prices remain unchanged, starting at A$469 and NZ$539, respectively. Prices have also not shifted in some Asian countries, including Japan, Singapore, and Korea, but prices are lower in others like China, and Thailand.
In the United States, the entry-level 32GB sixth-generation iPad is priced at $329, the price as the fifth-generation model. A 128GB version is available for $429, while Wi-Fi + Cellular models can be purchased for an additional $130 over the standard Wi-Fi only price.
In macOS, the System Preferences app located in the Applications folder is where you can adjust various settings to customize your Mac. Most system preference panes are native to macOS and cannot be removed – although they can be hidden. In this article, we'll show you how it's done.
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Facebook has chosen not to unveil its latest smart connected devices at the company's F8 developer conference in May, in part because of the ongoing data-privacy scandal that has engulfed the social network, according to people familiar with the matter.
Popular Twitter client Twitterrific 5 for Mac and iOS received a major update today, introducing features that bring it on par with the official Twitter apps and competing third-party Twitter apps.
