We finally have the winner of our iPhone 16 Pro international giveaway! Congratulations to Oliver T., and a huge thank you to everyone who participated.
iOS 14 Public Beta 6 Seeded to Testers
One week after releasing iOS 14 public beta 5, Apple has seeded iOS 14 public beta 6 for iPhone and iPad testers.
Apple TV+ to Introduce Bonus AR Content
Apple is working to added AR content to Apple TV+ with characters or objects displaying on a user’s iPhone or iPad.
macOS: Getting Rid of the Windows EFI Boot Entry
When you delete a Windows partition, but don’t use Boot Camp Assistant to remove the installation, something pesky gets left behind. In this Quick Tip, Jeff Butts shows how to delete the leftover EFI Boot entry from when you dual-booted between macOS and Windows.
Pixelmator Pro on Sale After Reaching 10,000 Five Star Reviews
Pixelmator Pro reached a milestone on Tuesday: It has gained over 10,000 five star reviews in the Mac App Store. To celebrate, the team is offering Pixelmator Pro at 30% off for the next several weeks.
So, after all the hard work that has gone into making Pixelmator Pro the app we knew it could be, this moment is extra sweet. And, of course, we have no plans to stop, another major updates is currently in beta and we’re already working on something extra special for Pixelmator Pro 2.0, which is also be a free update. You’ll love it, we promise.
Apple Pro Display XDR Available With $500 Discount For Limited Time
Apple’s stunning 32″ Pro Display XDR is available with a huge $500 discount. Normally $4,999, the standard version is available from B&H for $4,499. The higher-end offerings, including those with a stand or nano-texture finish, also have the discount applied. The offer ends at 11.59 pm EST on August 29.
The New Fitbit Sense... Looks a Lot Like an Apple Watch
Fitbit unveiled a new set of products today, including the Sense, as well as the Versa 3. You’d be forgiven for thinking the Sense looks… familiar. The Verge has a rundown of the device’s specs.
The Sense has a few more advanced health tracking features, such as detailed heart rate scans with atrial fibrillation (afib) detection via the electrocardiogram (EKG) app built into the watch (still pending FDA approval). In that way, it’s on par with Apple’s and Samsung’s recent smartwatches (though, Samsung’s EKG capability in the Galaxy Watch 3 isn’t available in the US yet). Where the Sense stands out is with its stress detection features, which it’s pitching as something that’s crucially needed — especially in today’s increasingly stressful world. To take a reading, you hold your palm over the screen and start to breath. The Sense will measure your heart rate, and uniquely, your skin’s temperature will be collected with its electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor. If your skin feels hot, chilled, or clammy, the Sense might be able to make sense of why it’s happening over time. Fitbit’s app will score you on your stress level, with a higher score being better than a lower one.
Protect Your iPhone and Enable Qi Wireless Charging with the Magnetic Desk Stand: $69.99
We have a deal on the XVIDA Wireless Charging Desk Stand kit. It includes both a Qi wireless charging stand and a case for your iPhone with magnets that then stick your iPhone to the stand while charging. That makes for a smaller footprint for the stand and protection for your iPhone, too. You can get the stand and case for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone SE for $69.99 through our deal.
Apple Releases iOS 14 Developer Beta 6
Today Apple released iOS 14 developer beta 6 for iPhones, seeding only a week after iOS beta 5, reflecting the OS stability.
Apple v. Epic Could Change All Apple's Relationships – TMO Daily Observations 2020-08-25
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss how Apple’s legal dispute with Epic could have a ripple effect on other relationships.
Germany’s Sparkasse Bank Supports Apple Pay
Apple Pay users in Germany can now add their Sparkasse Giro debit card (Sparkassen-Card) to iOS Wallet, just like their credit cards.
New Apple Maps is Undergoing Public Test in the UK
Public tests of the new version of Apple Maps have reached the UK and Ireland. Justine O’Beirne noted the change, the first time the update has been rolled out beyond U.S. shores.
In the past, Apple has spent between 16 and 49 days publicly testing its earlier expansions… and the more populated the area, the longer Apple has typically spent testing. All of this suggests that Expansion #9 will go live for all Apple Maps users sometime between mid September and early October. Given past patterns, iOS 14 is also likely to be released during this same period—so it seems that Expansion #9’s release might coincide with iOS 14’s.
Apple Updates iMovie With Comic, Comic Mono, Ink Filters
Apple released an update for Final Cut Pro X for professional video editors. For the editors that are perhaps more casual, iMovie 2.2.10 was also updated. Give your videos a hand-drawn look with 3 new filters: Comic, Comic Mono and Ink; Choose from 25 new soundtracks — in genres including action, chill, and sentimental — that automatically adjust to match the length of your movie; Addresses an issue that could prevent the viewer from updating after duplicating a photo in the timeline; Improves reliability of Redo when editing a trailer; Includes performance and stability improvements.
Directors of Apple TV+ ‘Boys State’ Discuss ‘Girls State’ Sequel
The directors of documentary “Boys State” on Apple TV+, Jesse Moss and Amanda Mcbaine, discuss the film. They also mention they are actively developing a sequel to examine a similar program called “Girls State.”
We’re actively developing what we call a sibling, or sequel, to this film which is a look at a Girls State program. Had there been, as Steven Garza says early in the film, a “people’s state,” we might have been drawn to an experiment that brings both girls and boys together in the same space. The film we made does provide an unexpected and we think valuable look at masculinity in this moment. It’s hard to know how the dynamics would be different, either within an all female space, or a space in which there was equal representation. It’s something we think about a lot.
Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9 Brings Workflow Improvements
Apple released Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9 on Tuesday with improvements to improve remote workflows and speed up editing.
Apple Online Store in India Opening Imminently
Apple is set to open an online store in India for the first time in September, with plans afoot for a second physical store too.
Richard Hoeg’s YouTube Playlist Covers the Epic v. Apple Case
Lawyer Richard Hoeg made a YouTube playlist that covers the Epic v. Apple case. Each video explains the case for viewers and offers his perspective on it. It’s a great playlist to check out for commentary, especially if you want something more than the boring legal PDFs I’ve been sharing at The Mac Observer.
Safari Web Share API Bug Lets Local Files be Stolen
Security firm REDTEAM.PL found a bug within Safari’s Web Share API that let them steal local files and Safari browsing history.
Epic v. Apple: Judge Rules Apple Can’t Restrict Unreal Engine
Judge Rogers ruled that Apple can’t restrict Unreal Engine on its platforms, but doesn’t have to bring Fortnite back to the App Store.
Sales of MacBook Range up 20 Percent
Sales of various devices in the MacBook range, including those in MacBook Pro and MacBook lineups, are reportedly up 20 percent.
New Level Touch Lock Lets You Unlock With Your Finger and Voice
Level introduced a new lock on Tuesday called Level Touch that lets you unlock it with your finger, voice, or programmable keycard. It also has an app that works with HomeKit and Siri. Features include auto-lock, auto-unlock, sharing access, recent activity, passes, and audio confirmation. With HomeKit you get features like remote connectivity, voice control, automations, and notifications. You can order one today for US$329.
Tim Cook in Line for $279 Million AAPL Stock Payout
Based on recent AAPL stock prices, Tim Cook’s upcoming payout will be worth around $279 million – he plans to give much of his fortune away.
Astronomy Professor Dr. Emily Levesque - BGM Interview
Dr. Emily Levesque is a professor in the University of Washington’s astronomy department. Her research program is focused on improving our overall understanding of how massive stars evolve and die. She received her bachelors in physics from MIT and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Hawaii.
Emily knew she wanted to be an astronomer from the moment she saw Halley’s comet in the night sky as a child. As an undergraduate at MIT, she was already developing a technical interest in massive stars, the focus of her career. And so we explored massive stars in some detail: formation, evolution and the final fate for many: supernova. Is Betelgeuse, in our own stellar backyard, about to go supernova? Emily weighs in. We finished with a discussion of her new book The Last Stargazers.. It shares the tales and experiences of astronomical observing. And, finally, spiders and lasers.
Where's The Internet? — Mac Geek Gab 830
Sometimes you think you’re connected to the internet … but you’re not. It happens to John and Dave, too, and they talk through exactly what they’ve found to help solve it… and why! That’s not all, of course… your questions answered, your quick tips, and more. Press play and enjoy learning five new things!
Sign Documents and Get Signatures on Any Device $49.99
We have a deal on a 1-year subscription to DottedSign Pro, an electronic signature platform. With this service, you can import documents with your device camera, or from your photos, email, Google Drive, Dropbox, Kdan Cloud, or other apps. It offers real-time status updates for each signer, as well as reminders and automatic expiry dates. It’s $49.95 through our deal.