Apple has seeded developers with a new build of OS X Mountain Lion (12C50) to developers this evening. The version contains complete release notes as posted by 9to5Mac, suggesting the release is near complete. Apple is holding a media even on Wednesday where they are likely to detail the new iPhone and iOS 6.
The release notes reveal the following features:
Facebook - Single sign on for Facebook - Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos - Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts - Facebook notifications in Notification Center
Game Center - Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages - Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations - Facebook Like button for games - Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement
Other new features - Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010) - iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac - From Safari and Mail on your Mac you can add passes to Passbook on your iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6 - New shared Reminders lists - FaceTime now receives calls sent to your phone number - New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them - Dictation now supports Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian - The Dictionary application now includes a French definition dictionary - Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts
The 10.8.2 update also includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, including the following fixes:
- An option to discard the changes in the original document when choosing Save As - Unsent drafts are opened automatically when launching Mail - Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from anyone - URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification Center - Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being used - SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in Safari - New preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages
One notable feature is the unification of the Apple ID and phone number in OS X Messages. As described by TheVerge:
Now, if someone calls your phone number for Facetime, you'll be able to answer on your Mac or iPad. The same goes for Messages — if you get an iMessage on your phone, it'll be delivered to your Mac and other iOS devices, even if the sender sent the message to your cell phone number and not your Apple ID email.
Apple will likely coordinate the release OS X Mountain Lion alongside iOS 6. We will learn more tomorrow at Apple's media event.
Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store.
The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump.
...
Wednesday November 5, 2025 11:57 am PST by Juli Clover
The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google.
For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more...
Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences.
The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more.
Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features.
Liquid Glass Toggle
iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass.
In the Settings app, under Display...
Friday November 7, 2025 6:40 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple's online store in the U.S. is suddenly offering a pack of four AirTags for just $29, which is the same price as a single AirTag.
This is likely a pricing error, and it is unclear if orders will be fulfilled. Apple has not discounted the AirTag four-pack in any other countries that we checked.
Delivery estimates are already pushing into late November to early December, suggesting...
Thursday November 6, 2025 4:37 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple in iOS 26.2 will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a new report.
Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for...
Thursday November 6, 2025 4:08 pm PST by Juli Clover
IKEA today announced the upcoming launch of 21 new Matter-compatible smart home products that will be able to interface with HomeKit and the Apple Home app. There are sensors, lights, and control options, all of which will be reasonably priced. Some of the products are new, while some are updates to existing lines that IKEA previously offered.
There are a series of new smart bulbs that are...
Wednesday November 5, 2025 3:54 pm PST by Juli Clover
It's been over a decade since Apple's HomeKit smart home platform launched, and it is overdue for an update. HomeKit and the Home app can no longer keep up with AI-powered solutions from other companies like Google and Amazon, but that's set to change with a smart home revamp that Apple has planned for 2026.
Home Hub
Apple is working on a home hub or "command center" that will serve as a...