MacRumors

Tangerine-MasterCardCanadian bank Tangerine has updated its Mobile Banking app today to enable Apple Pay support for its Tangerine Money-Back MasterCard credit card.

Tangerine, a direct banking subsidiary of Scotiabank, is the seventh-largest bank in Canada with approximately 2 million customers as of last month.

Tangerine credit cards -- no debit yet -- can be added to Apple Pay by tapping the "Add Credit or Debit Card" option in the Wallet app on iPhone 5 and later running iOS 8.1 or newer. Verification can be completed with the updated Tangerine Mobile Banking app, available now on the App Store [Direct Link] for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Apple Pay can be used virtually anywhere contactless payments are already accepted in Canada, including at Aldo, Apple Stores, Canadian Tire, Chapters, Coles, Giant Tiger, Indigo, London Drugs, Mark's, McDonald's, On The Go, Petro-Canada, Pizza Hut, Rona, Staples, Tim Hortons, and hundreds of other merchants nationwide.

Apple Pay expanded to Canada's five largest banks in May and June, including BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Canada Trust. The iPhone-based tap-to-pay service is also available to ATB Financial, Canadian Tire Bank, and non-bank-issued American Express cardholders.

Update: PC Financial MasterCards can also be added to Apple Pay starting today.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Apple Maps has recently been updated with all-new traffic data in Greece, providing users with real-time updates about vehicular traffic in the southeastern Europe country. As usual, highly congested areas will have orange or red dotted lines along the roads to indicate that drivers may face delays.

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Apple Maps traffic data is available in over 30 other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, and other European countries.

Google yesterday posted an entry on its YouTube Engineering and Developers Blog, detailing the increased encryption achieved by the company for its video streaming site. Over the past few months, Google has slowly bolstered the encryption for YouTube, and now 97 percent of the service's traffic is encrypted using HTTPS.

The encryption-enforcing protocol provides "critical security and data integrity" for any website that uses it, and all of its visitors. YouTube said that three reasons it took the company so long to reach this high level of encryption was because of the heavy traffic the site receives daily, the breadth of devices that HTTPS needs to work on due to YouTube's ubiquity, and "mixed content" that leads to lots of potentially non-secure requests.

Youtube HTTPS chart

We're also proud to be using HTTP Secure Transport Security (HSTS) on youtube.com to cut down on HTTP to HTTPS redirects. This improves both security and latency for end users. Our HSTS lifetime is one year, and we hope to preload this soon in web browsers.

In the real world, we know that any non-secure HTTP traffic could be vulnerable to attackers. All websites and apps should be protected with HTTPS.

YouTube also pointed out that its website isn't at a full 100 percent encryption rate yet because "some devices do not fully support modern HTTPS." It's doing its best to support the widest number of smartphones, tablets, and browsers with the new security protocol, but admitted that down the line, to ensure the safety of all its users, it plans to "gradually phase out insecure connections."

Ride hailing company Uber is planning to spend $500 million on a global mapping project in an effort to reduce its reliance on Google Maps, according to The Financial Times.

The San Fransisco-based company already has mapping vehicles recording geographical data around the U.S. and Mexico. With Uber's presence in over 60 countries, the significant expansion reflects its continuing growth and adds to its existing investment in original research like driverless cars.

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Last year, it hired world-leading digital mapping expert Brian McClendon, who previously ran Google Maps and was one of the creators of Google Earth.

McClendon will be responsible for the mapping project, and recently commented on the plans in a blog post without mentioning the $500 million figure:

The ongoing need for maps tailored to the Uber experience is why we're doubling down on our investment in mapping. Our efforts are similar to what other companies including Apple and TomTom are already doing around the world.

The street imagery captured by our mapping cars will help us improve core elements of the Uber experience, like ideal pick-up and drop-off points and the best routes for riders and drivers.

Address data in Google Maps is typically less accurate in developing countries, resulting in some Uber drivers having to call passengers to ask for their location before a pick-up. Uber hopes to nix these problems and feed the traffic pattern and location data already gathered by its cars into its own mapping system, thereby also avoiding charges for using Google Maps.

News of Uber's multi-million-dollar mapping investment was partially eclipsed by reports over the weekend that Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing is to acquire its Chinese operations in a $35 billion deal.

Apple's own $1 billion investment in Didi Chuxing back in May gave the Cupertino company access to data and expertise on electric and autonomous car technology, which is likely to help with its own car-related project, dubbed Project Titan, now led by veteran Apple executive Bob Mansfield.

Logitech today announced that it is expanding its CREATE Keyboard Case with Smart Connector to the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, making the keyboard available for both of Apple's iPad Pro models.

As on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the CREATE case for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro connects to the three-dot Smart Connector on the tablet, allowing for both power and data transfer. Because it's powered via the iPad, the CREATE case does not need to charge and it does not need to connect to an iPad using Bluetooth.

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The CREATE Keyboard Case for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro features backlit keys, a protective case that protects the iPad when it isn't in use, iPad-specific function keys, and an integrated holder for the Apple Pencil. It is available in black and blue.

"CREATE is like the Swiss Army Knife of keyboard cases," said Michele Hermann, vice president of tablet accessories at Logitech. "It puts all the tools you need at your fingertips, and the keyboard charges through the Smart Connector so you can just set your iPad Pro into a typing position and go. It brings typing on the iPad Pro to a whole new level."

When the 12.9-inch iPad Pro launched, Logitech was the sole company to introduce a keyboard case that's able to use the Smart Connector on the tablet, and it continues to be the only company that offers a third-party Smart Connector keyboard solution.

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We went hands-on with the CREATE case for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro when it was released. We loved the backlit keys and the general key feel, but felt like it added too much bulk to Apple's thin and light ultra powerful tablet.

The CREATE keyboard case for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro can be purchased starting today from the Logitech website, the online Apple Store, and Apple retail stores. It is priced at $129.99.

R&B singer Frank Ocean's next album, "Boy's Don't Cry," is set to be released this Friday through an exclusive deal with Apple Music, reports The New York Times. The release will include a major music video and a printed "Boys Don't Cry" publication to be distributed at Apple retail stores.

According to a source who spoke with The New York Times, Frank Ocean's album will be an Apple Music exclusive for two weeks before it becomes available on other music services.

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"Boys Don't Cry" is Frank Ocean's first album since his 2012 release "Channel Orange," which won a Grammy Award for best urban contemporary album. The album has seen several delays so far and The New York Times warns that its release could potentially be put off. Ocean's website was, however, updated this morning with a new promotional video hosted by Apple Music.

In addition to "Boys Don't Cry," Apple has secured a number of high-profile exclusive releases for Apple Music in the past, debuting content like Drake's "Views" album, Taylor Swift's "1989 World Tour LIVE" film, and Katy Perry single "Rise."

Apple Music, now over a year old, boasts more than 15 million subscribers as of June 2016.

Apple today debuted a new iPad Pro advertisement on its YouTube channel, pointing out all of the things the powerful tablet can do as a computer replacement.

The 30 second spot features the iPad Pro and its accessories, the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. It features a demonstration of the Apple Pencil being used on the screen and it shows off a few iPad-specific multitasking features including Slide Over multitasking and picture-in-picture.

Just when you think you know what a computer is, you see a keyboard that can just get out of the way. And a screen you can touch... and even write on. When you see a computer that can do all that, it might just make you wonder hey, what else can it do?

Apple ends the ad with the tagline "Imagine what your computer could do if your computer was an iPad Pro," positioning the powerful tablet as a viable PC replacement. Today's new video is the first iPad Pro ad Apple has released since its "A Great Big Universe" spot that debuted following the announcement of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

As of March 2016, Apple sells two iPad Pro models, available in 9.7 and 12.9-inch sizes. Pricing for the 9.7-inch model starts at $599 while pricing for the 12.9-inch model starts at $799. The high selling price of the iPad Pro led Apple to see its first iPad revenue growth in 10 quarters during the third quarter of 2016.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Don't Buy)

Apple released iOS 10 beta 4 to developers today and as with any major beta update, it includes several small changes and tweaks as Apple aims to refine the operating system ahead of its public release this fall.

Today's update, available as an over-the-air download for those who installed the first three betas or the beta configuration profile, features new emoji, new keyboard sounds, Notification Center tweaks, and more.

We've rounded up all of the new features in beta four in the video below, so make sure to check it out to get a quick look at what's changed. We're also listing all of the changes in the post below.


Emoji - There are new emoji designed to promote gender equality. Many professions and activity emoji are now available in both male or female options. Emoji have a new texture and many emoji have seen slight design tweaks.

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New emoji textures. Old emoji on left, new emoji on right.

Control Center - There's an intro screen when opening Control Center for the first time that instructs people to swipe left to access the different Control Center cards.

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Haptic feedback - In iOS beta 3, Apple added haptic feedback when pressing the power button on the iPhone to lock it. In beta 4, this feature has been removed. There's no longer a haptic feedback buzz when locking an iPhone.

Accessibility - In the Accessibility section of the Settings app, the Color Filters option includes a set of colored pencils to show off the different color options instead of a color grid. This gives a better idea of how each setting is actually displayed on an iOS device.

Notification Center - The widgets screen, accessible by swiping to the right in the Notification Center, now displays the date. In previous versions of iOS 10, the date was not available.

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Home - In the Control Center, the Home app icons have been tweaked again.

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Keyboard sounds - Keyboard sounds have been slightly tweaked. Backspace now has a distinctive sounds unique from other key press sounds, and there's a new sound for space, return, shift, and number/emoji shift.

Wallpaper - Some older wallpaper options have been removed and the mountain wallpaper with stars from an earlier version of iOS has been re-added.

Related Forum: iOS 10

Users looking to get the most out of Siri may want to check out Hey-Siri.io, a new website that launched in July. Hey-Siri.io features a comprehensive list of many of the different Siri commands that are available, giving iOS and Mac users a quick way to discover all of the different things Siri can do.

Organized into categories like Apps & App Store, HomeKit, Notifications, Conversion, Messaging, Calendar, Translation, and more. Each section, which can be scrolled through on a single page, includes a range of different Siri commands relevant to each category.

heysiriio
When using Siri, Apple includes a list of sample commands in a "Some things you can ask me" popup, but it only scrolls through a handful of messages and isn't as comprehensive or useful as the Hey-Siri.io website. Hundreds of commands are included on the site, including some of Siri's more humorous responses to questions like "Knock, Knock" or "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

While Siri is only available on iOS devices at the current time, starting this fall, Siri will also be available on Macs through macOS Sierra. Hey-Siri.io includes both iOS and Mac commands, and switching between them can be done using the Settings button on the site.

BMW this week became the latest CarPlay partner, introducing the iPhone-based software system as a $300 upgrade option in its 2 Series vehicles.

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  • 230i Coupe

  • 230i Convertible

  • 230i xDrive Coupe

  • 230i xDrive Convertible
  • M240i Coupe

  • M240i Convertible

  • M240i xDrive Coupe

  • M240i xDrive Convertible

Leaked price listings in June confirmed BMW's plans to offer CarPlay in select vehicles in North America and Europe this year, with 2017 M3, M4, X5 M, and X6 M models expected to follow later this month.

BMW joins a long list of automakers that offer CarPlay, including Acura, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Peugeot, Seat, Škoda, Subaru, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Volvo, and others.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tag: BMW

Apple today released an all new Apple TV Remote app for the iPhone, which is used to control the fourth-generation Apple TV along with older Apple TV models. Announced at WWDC, the new Remote app has been available for developers since June and was released to the public this afternoon.

The new Remote app, which connects to an Apple TV via Bluetooth, mimics the exact layout of the physical Siri Remote for a navigation experience that's streamlined across different input methods. Its design was inspired by the Siri Remote and is a significant improvement over the previous Apple TV remote app.


When content like movies or music plays, the Remote app features a full "Now Playing" view for control purposes, along with a dedicated Menu button and a Siri button. As with the physical Apple TV Remote, navigation through the iOS app is done using touch gestures.

Entering text, like passwords and usernames, is much easier with the iOS Remote app because any text field automatically brings up a keyboard. Full Siri voice commands are supported, as is dictation. Because it includes the same gyroscope and accelerometer in the Siri Remote, an iPhone can be used as a dedicated game controller for playing games on the Apple TV.

The Apple TV Remote app requires iOS 9.3.2 or later to install and it works with the current version of tvOS, 9.2.2. It can also be used to control Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3 models.

The Apple TV Remote app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

newitunes122logoApple today released iTunes 12.4.3, a minor update that fixes a bug that could cause playlist changes made on iPhones or iPads to not appear in iTunes. Following the update, syncing should function as intended, with playlist changes showing up across all devices.

This update resolves an issue where playlist changes made on other devices may not appear in iTunes.

The new 12.4.3 update can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Today's iTunes update comes two weeks after an iTunes 12.4.2 update that fixed an issue causing playback issues when listening to Apple Music tracks shorter than 60 seconds.

Tag: iTunes
Related Forum: Mac Apps

Today's iOS 10 update includes more than 100 new emoji with expanded gender options for a wide range of activities and professions, allowing users to choose a man or a woman when expressing themselves through emoji.

Emoji that previously only featured men, such as the cyclist, swimmer, police officer, and construction worker, are now available for either gender, and emoji that previously featured only women, such as the haircut emoji or the massage emoji, now also feature men. All of the new emoji are also available in a range of different skin tones.

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More than one hundred new and redesigned emoji characters will be available to iPhone and iPad users this Fall with iOS 10. This exciting update brings more gender options to existing characters, including new female athletes and professionals, adds beautiful redesigns of popular emoji, a new rainbow flag and more family options.

The new emoji come following changes to Unicode implemented in July by the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, which include male and female versions of 33 existing emoji. The change also included a range of new professions from scientist to doctor to cook, but Apple does not appear to have added these.

iOS 10 beta 4 is currently available for developers and can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air on devices running previous iOS 10 betas. Apple will likely release a new public beta containing the emoji later this week, and a worldwide public release will come in the fall alongside new iOS devices.

Related Forum: iOS 10

Apple today released the fourth beta of macOS Sierra, the newest operating system designed for the Mac, to developers. macOS Sierra beta 4 comes two weeks after the release of the third beta and almost two months after the software was first unveiled at Apple's 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Developers can download today's beta update through the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store or through the Apple Developer Center.

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macOS Sierra is a significant update bringing Siri to the Mac for the first time, allowing users to conduct voice searches to quickly find files, look up information, and more. New Continuity features offer an "Auto Unlock" option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch and a Universal Clipboard for copying something on one Apple device and pasting it on another.

Deeper iCloud integration makes files stored on the desktop or the Documents folder of a Mac available on all of a user's devices, and Photos features deep learning algorithms for improved facial, object, and scene recognition. There's a Memories feature for displaying photo collections, and Messages has rich links, bigger emoji, and "Tapback" response options.

Apple Pay is coming to the web in macOS Sierra, with payments authenticated through an iPhone or Apple Watch, and new features like multiple tabs, Picture in Picture multitasking, and optimized storage are also available.


During the beta testing period, Apple will tweak and refine the features introduced in macOS Sierra. In macOS Sierra beta 4, Apple has introduced new emoji promoting gender equality and introduced a new look for many existing emoji with new textures and design tweaks.

macOS Sierra is currently available to developers and public beta testers, and it will see a wider public release this fall. For full details on all of the new features included in macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our macOS Sierra roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra

Apple today provided developers with the fourth beta of tvOS 10, the next-generation operating system designed to run on the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS 10 beta 4 comes two weeks after the release of tvOS beta 3 and more than a month after the operating system was first shown off at Apple's 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference

tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a beta profile has been installed on the device through iTunes, new beta releases will be available over the air.

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tvOS 10 builds on the features initially introduced in tvOS last October, bringing expanded Siri capabilities with topic-based search, Live Tune-In for automatically accessing live channels, and options for managing HomeKit accessories.

Single-Sign On allows users to sign in and authenticate cable credentials just once instead of requiring authentication in all cable-supported apps, games are now able to require controllers, and there are new features for Photos and Music.


A dark mode offers a better visual experience for darker rooms, universal apps are automatically downloaded, and there's a new Apple TV remote for iOS devices that mirrors the Siri Remote.

For a full overview of all of the new features in tvOS 10, make sure to check out our tvOS 10 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the third beta and more than a month after first unveiling watchOS 3 at its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

The third watchOS 3 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone by going to General --> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery, it must be on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 3 introduces significant changes to the watchOS operating system. A new dock, accessible by pressing the side button, replaces Glances and houses 10 favorite first and third-party apps. Apps in the dock are kept continually up to date and are stored in memory for a new instant launch ability.


Activity Sharing options allow Apple Watch owners to share workout and activity information with friends, and there are new fitness features for Wheelchair users. A Breathe app guides users through daily deep breathing sessions, an Apple Watch can unlock a Mac, and Apple has added apps for Reminders, Find My Friends, and accessing one's heartbeat.

Watch faces support more complications, there are three new watch faces to choose from, including a new Activity watch face, and an SOS feature will make sure an option to get help in an emergency is always right at your fingertips. On the iPhone, there's a new Face Gallery for customizing Apple Watch faces, and watchOS 3 allows the Apple Watch to be located via Find My iPhone for the first time.

For full details on the new features coming in watchOS 3, which will be released to the public this fall, make sure to check out our watchOS 3 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of iOS 10 to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the third beta and almost two months after first unveiling the new operating system at its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

The iOS 10 beta 4 update is available as an over-the-air download to those who installed the first three betas or the beta configuration profile and it's available for direct download through the Apple Developer Center.

iOS 10 is a major iOS update with ton of new features and design tweaks, including a new Lock screen experience with 3D Touch-enabled notifications, a more easily accessible camera, a redesigned Control Center, and a new widgets screen. According to Apple, iOS 10 is the company's biggest ever iOS update.


The Messages app has been entirely overhauled with features that include background animations, bubble effects, Digital Touch, handwritten notes, Tapback replies, predictive emoji, and a dedicated App Store, and Photos has gained new facial and object recognition capabilities along with a Memories feature for rediscovering forgotten moments.

Over the beta testing period, Apple is tweaking the features introduced in iOS 10 to refine them ahead of the public release of the operating system. In iOS 10 beta 3, Apple introduced a new locking sound and haptic feedback when pressing the power button, an iOS 9 style Touch ID accessibility option, a new keyboard sound, an option to send Health data to Apple, and more. All of the new changes in iOS 10 beta 4 are available in our dedicated tidbits post and video.

iOS 10 is currently available to developers and public beta testers, with a full public release planned for the fall. For full details on iOS 10, make sure to check out our iOS 10 roundup.

Related Forum: iOS 10

Apple will no longer have to pay $625.6 million to VirnetX, which claimed the Cupertino company was infringing upon four Internet security-related patents. The decision came last Friday afternoon from U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder in Tyler, Texas, claiming that it was "unfair" on Apple's part that two VirnetX lawsuits were aimed at the company in one trial (via Reuters).

The case with VirnetX began originally in 2010, with a jury eventually awarding the company $368 million in 2012, but that decision was thrown out in 2014 after the court found the verdict was "'tainted' by erroneous jury instructions in the case." VirnetX remained adamant and kept going after Apple, now amounting to the four total patents it believes Apple infringed upon, related to services like FaceTime and Messages.

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In the new ruling, Judge Shroeder claimed that jurors in the current case may have been unknowingly swayed and influenced by the events of the previous lawsuit, ultimately leading to an "unfair trial." As such, he has ordered that each case face a separate retrial, the first beginning next month on September 26. VirnetX CEO Kendall Larsen mentioned the company's disappointment at Shroeder's decision, but is preparing for the upcoming retrials all the same.

"We are disappointed," VirnetX Chief Executive Kendall Larsen said in a statement on Monday. "We are reviewing all our options and will follow the court's direction as we start preparing for these retrials."

In May, following its win in February, VirnetX continued to ask for more money from Apple, along with an injunction to block FaceTime and Messages while the case was happening. VirnetX is one of many companies described as a "patent troll" going after Apple in the court system by attesting that some of the company's most popular services and products were originated by someone else.

A Supreme Court ruling from earlier in the summer has made it easier for Apple -- and any company facing legal issues from such "patent assertion businesses" -- to challenge lawsuits like the one from VirnetX. Still, this one isn't over yet, since Apple will now have to face VirnetX again, twice, with the upcoming pair of separate retrials ordered by Judge Shroeder.