GarageBand for iOS Gains Dark Mode, External Hard Drive Support - MacRumors
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GarageBand for iOS Gains Dark Mode, External Hard Drive Support

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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
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

GarageBand can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

86 months ago

This is a dumb question but is the real reason for Apple to push dark mode on their OLED devices is to secretly save battery power and higher power consumption of OLED vs LED w/backlight?
I wouldn't be surprised when Apple makes dark mode mandatory for app developers and drops light mode support in Xcode for future iOS versions.

Personally I dislike dark mode since it's not as natural as reading a book and hard on the eyes. I'd rather use a dim screen in night shift mode like reading a book with a 15 watt lightbulb.
I didn't think that was a secret, it's just one of the benefits of dark mode and why people were pushing for it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
86 months ago
This is a dumb question but is the real reason for Apple to push dark mode on their OLED devices is to secretly save battery power and higher power consumption of OLED vs LED w/backlight?
I wouldn't be surprised when Apple makes dark mode mandatory for app developers and drops light mode support in Xcode for future iOS versions.

Personally I dislike dark mode since it's not as natural as reading a book and hard on the eyes. I'd rather use a dim screen in night shift mode like reading a book with a 15 watt lightbulb.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Enein Avatar
86 months ago
Removing 3D Touch from the iPhone makes this not so exciting. It was fun to be able to use 3D Touch in Garage Band and other apps.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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