Apple

Apple temporarily pulls watchOS 3.1.1 following bricking complaints

Apple on Tuesday pulled watchOS 3.1.1, following complaints that the software is bricking some Series 2 Watch models. The update, which was released yesterday, includes support for new Unicode 9.0 emoji, some customization features, and more.

According to the complaints, after installing watchOS 3.1.1, affected Apple Watches begin displaying a red exclamation point and the URL www.apple.com/help/watch. A force restart does not fix the issue, and these Watches will likely need servicing.

Apple’s ‘Designed by Apple in California’ promo video now on YouTube

In November Apple debuted a hardbound photo book chronicling 20 years of product designs. The book is titled "Designed by Apple in California," and it comes in two sizes: small and large, priced at $199 and $299 respectively.

Alongside the release, Apple posted a promotional video by the same name on its website featuring voiceover from Chief Design Officer Jony Ive and a sneak peek into their design studio. And now the clip is available on YouTube.

Amazon’s shopping app is now available for Apple TV with purchasing support for Prime members

Online retail giant Amazon today rolled out a tvOS version of its existing shopping app for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch.

With Amazon App for Apple TV, you can browse Amazon's entire product catalog on a big screen TV from the comfort of your couch using Siri Remote and your fourth-generation Apple TV.

The app lets you get product details and watch videos for products that are available on Amazon.com and from other merchants. And if you're a Prime member ($99 per year), you'll even be able to make purchases on your Apple TV.

Here’s why macOS Sierra 10.12.2 removes your battery’s estimated time remaining

Aside from a number of fixes, GPU improvements and a few new features in macOS Sierra 10.12.2, the update's introduced a significant change related to the Mac's Battery menu. Long story short, Macs with macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or later no longer display the battery's estimated time remaining in the Mac's menu bar.

Here's what prompted Apple to make this change, according to The Loop.

iTunes 12.5.4 is out with support for TV app, Touch Bar-enabled scrubber & more

In addition to releasing macOS 10.12.2 Sierra today, a second major update to the Mac operating system following the initial Sierra release in October, Apple also released iTunes 12.5.4 today. The new version of iTunes includes minor app and performance improvements, as well as official support for Apple's new “TV” app and the ability to jump to different parts of your media during playback using a Touch Bar-compatible scrubber.

Snapchat update enables group chat, Shazam integration, sticker creation & more

Snapchat today updated its iPhone and iPad app on the App Store with a trio of new features. You can now engage in groups chats with multiple users at once, create your own stickers from within the app and even identify a song that's currently playing around you thanks to Shazam integration.

There's also a new Paintbrush tool in Snapchat 9.45 for iOS that will turn your snaps into artistic-looking images.

Adobe updates Photoshop CC for Mac with rich support for Touch Bar shortcuts

Adobe today refreshed Photoshop CC 2017 for Mac with support for customizable shortcuts on the new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar. Apple showed off Touch Bar shortcuts in Photoshop during its Mac event last month, and now you can try them out yourself. This release brings three categories of Touch Bar-supported functions to Photoshop CC for Mac: Layer Properties, Brushes and your Favorites.

Apple warns customers to stay away from counterfeit chargers and batteries

Apple this morning updated its Support website with a notice cautioning customers to stay away from counterfeit and even some third-party chargers and batteries that it says could result in safety issues due to the fact that they may not be designed properly. “Beware of counterfeit parts,” says the notice. As for the batteries, the company is advising customers to visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to ensure they receive a genuine Apple battery replacement.

Apple delays W1-equipped BeatsX earphones until February 2017

While Apple's online store this morning began accepting orders for $159 AirPods ahead of their Christmas delivery, another pair of earphones from Apple that use W1 chip just got delayed.

Announced at the iPhone 7 event in September and originally listed as arriving in late-2016, Beats X Wireless Earphones won't be available before February 2017, according to Apple's online store.

Everything new in iOS 10.2

Apple yesterday released the latest iOS 10.2 software update for public consumption. Being a second major update to iOS 10 following its debut in September of this year, iOS 10.2 brings out more than a dozen new features and enhancements for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

There's Apple's new channel guide app, named “TV”, 100+ new emoji, the Emergency SOS feature from the Apple Watch, options that let you preserve Camera settings, two new fullscreen effects for Messages, several improvements for the Music app and much more.

AirPods now available to buy from Apple.com

Following an unexpected delay over manufacturing issues, AirPods are now finally available to purchase from Apple's online store, with delivery before Christmas. Apple's first Bluetooth earphones, AirPods feature an in-house designed wireless chip, dubbed W1, which provides reliable wireless connection, extended battery life and a few smart features, such as one-tap Siri integration, seamless zero-configuration pairing via iCloud, the ability for AirPods to automatically turn on when you put them in your ear and more. When used with non-Apple devices, the $159 earphones act as any standard Bluetooth device.