Wrapping up another week, we dive deep into the new features in iOS 13.4 and other Apple betas while the coronavirus continues to disrupt industries around the world, potentially delaying Apple’s launches. Meanwhile, the rumor-mill keeps churning out stories regarding the next AirPods while we contemplate what the next Apple TV might bring to the table. Last but not least, we round up your week with another awesome selection of jailbreak tweaks, exciting new apps and games to try out, handy tutorials to master your devices and more.
Welcome to the new installment of our Editor’s Desk weekly column in which we round up content published on the site from February 17 through February 23, 2020.
Let’s talk iOS #331: Extreme precision
In episode #331 of iDB’s “Let’s Talk iOS” podcast, Cody keeps reminding Sebastien how much he’s changed since he started making watches and drinking fancy coffee. It doesn’t stop the two friends from talking about new Samsung devices, nonsensical design decisions and imagining what a new Apple TV could bring to the table.
Be sure to follow your hosts @Sebastien and @melvco and don’t forget to send a tweet to @LTiOS_fm if you’d like your question to be answered at the end of next week’s podcast.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts — Spotify — Overcast — RSS
Wallpapers: smooth vector pack
Rounding out our February collection, these smooth vector wallpapers include gradients, vibrant hues, opactity transitions, and make incredible images.
Smooth backdrops continue our focus on designed images.
Follow our Wallpapers of the Week roundup
Gradients, assorted hues and opacity modified layers combine for incredible photo quality walls. The final edition in the February vector gallery, this wallpaper pack makes a great addition for either your Home or Lock screen.
Deals
The following deals may still be alive:
- The best Presidents’ Day deals from around the web
- These Presidents’ Day app deals may still be active
- iTunes movie deals include bundles starting at $10, action flicks under $8 and more
Save money Visit our Deals Store — Follow Daily Deals — Check posts tagged with “deal”
News and rumors you should know about
Here are the most important Apple stories that were making rounds this week:
- AAPL: Warren Buffett sold $800+ million Apple stock last quarter.
- AirPods: DigiTimes corroborates the AirPods Pro Lite rumor, “AirPods X Generation” and other unannounced products appear in Target’s inventory.
- Apple TV+: Watch the first trailer for Apple’s “Amazing Stories” reboot ahead of March 6 premiere and go behind the scenes of the “Little America” episode ‘The Son”. The Apple streaming platform has picked up “Swan Song” starred by Mahershala Ali and directed by Benjamin Cleary. The upcoming show “Shantaram” starring Charlie Hunnam has seen its production halted due to a writing backlog.
- Apple Event: A sketchy rumor claims an iPhone 9 event on March 31.
- Apple Music: Your personalized, auto-refreshing Replay 2020 playlist awaits you on Apple Music. Also, you can now intelligently sort alternate versions of albums.
- Apple Watch: watchOS 6.1.3 arrives with bug fixes, watchOS 6.2 to enable apps to authenticate users via Facebook, Google and other OAuth logins.
- Apple OS betas: Second betas of iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, watchOS 6.2, tvOS 13.4 and macOS Catalina 10.15.4 are available to developers and public beta testers.
- Catalina 10.15.4: Apple Music live lyrics now available on the Mac.
- Coronavirus: Apple says it’ll miss quarterly revenue targets over the Coronavirus, promises to double its donations to help battle the virus spread. Supply chain reports indicate the next AirPods model could get delayed due to the virus. Bloomberg says a low-cost iPhone is still on track to launch next month, but other sources beg to differ.
- Facebook: The company confirms it’s internally prototyped a tabbed News Feed interface to make it easier to sort by posts you’ve already seen.
- Instagram: CEO explains why we still don’t have an iPad app.
- iPhone: Supposed iPhone 9 video on TikTok is probably fake.
- iPad Pro: We could get a 12-inch iPad Pro in March.
- iOS 13.4: Another tweak for the Mail toolbar, CarKey sharing via Messages, separate settings for download and streaming quality for the TV app, listen for Hey Siri even when iPhone is face down or covered, ask Siri to take you back to the Home screen.
- iOS 14: Setting email clients and web browsers as favorites, as well as music apps such as Spotify and Pandora on your HomePod.
- Kuo: AirTags production to ramp up during the summer ahead of launch in fall.
- Legal: Apple’s legal sharks are trying to pull the book “App Store Confidential” from shelves for revealing “business secrets.”
- Mac: A 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh may use Intel’s tenth-generation chips.
- Samsung: The Galaxy Z Flip uses folding glass that Samsung claims “bends the laws of physics”, but it appears to be overblown marketing.
- Security: Microsoft to bring its Defender ATP security platform to iOS. Apple has been forced to secure a restraining order against a stalker who’s been harassing its boss.
- Tidbits: An Apple-branded 65W GaN charger may be coming.
Tutorials & tips to master your devices
Learn something new these tutorials, tips and tricks for your Apple devices:
- Apple Watch: How to limit the number of photos stored on the device
- Apple TV: Customize Music, TV, Shows and Podcasts — Set up content restrictions
- Apple Maps: See Apple Pay locations — Measure distance between locations
- iPad: How to use your iPad Pro with a computer or as a desktop workstation
- Mac: Work with Mail conversations — Install/disable fonts — Dock navigation shortcuts
- Smart home: How to set up your HomePod, Apple TV or iPad as a HomeKit hub
- Spark: How to customize the email action toolbar on iOS
- Spotify: How to disable the auto-play feature
- Twitter: How to delete all your tweets
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New apps, games and updates to check out
We took a closer look at these apps, games and updates:
- Apple Maps: Transit coverage expands across a few countries in Europe — Look Around feature launches in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
- Alto’s Odyssey: Now available for the Mac
- Office: The new mobile app that consolidates Excel, PowerPoint and Word hits iPhone
- Photoshop: New features available for the Mac and iPad apps
- Survey: Completely free apps remain a popular option
- ROUNDUP: The best iOS codings apps for kids
- ROUNDUP: uLouder, Calendar by 44, Familiar and other apps to check out this weekend
Don’t miss other great apps and games, follow our Apps of the Week roundup.
Accessories for your Apple devices
We covered the following accessories this week:
Jailbreak tweaks
These are the latest tweaks for your jailbroken devices:
- Central: Fun and quirky Home screen rearrangement
- ColorFlow 5: A fresh coat of paint for the Now Playing interface
- Cyanea: Colorize your iOS experience, add custom effects or animations
- Dot 2: Better notification indicators on OLED iPhones
- Gravity: The Home screen icons respond to gravity
- OneHandWizard2: Make one-handed use of massive iPhones easier
- Quanta: Make the charge indicator on Apple’s Smart Battery Case more accurate
- ReachCC13: Open your Control Center with the native Reachability gesture
- RoundedCC: Give the Control Center a rounder aesthetic
- Runaway: Your current internet speed in the iOS status bar
- ScreenshotAction: An easier way to share and interact with your screenies
- StatusWiz: An audio visualizer for iOS’s status bar
- VolVibes: Haptic feedback when adjusting your iPhone’s volume level
- ROUNDUP: Jailbreak tweaks of the week
Be sure to read Anthony’s tutorial on getting Cydia to run alongside Sileo on checkra1n.
To stay on top of new releases, be sure to follow posts tagged with “Jailbreak Apps & Tweaks”.
Your favorites
What are you favorite picks from this week’s roundup?
Let us know in the comments!