Beta

Apple launches downloadable iMessage sticker packs for iOS 10

Apple on Friday released four sets of sticker packs for iOS 10 that can be downloaded from the App Store and used in the new Messages app that Apple demonstrated at the WWDC 2016 keynote.

Each of the packs are free to download and include animated stickers that behave much like those in Facebook Messenger do when they're sent to the recipient.

Apple seeds beta 4 of iOS 9.3.3, tvOS 9.2.2, and OS X 10.11.6

Apple on Wednesday seeded the fourth beta for iOS 9.3.3 to both developers and public testers. The beta can be installed via the over-the-air update mechanism in iOS, or it can be downloaded from either Apple’s dev center or the Beta Software Program website.

The update comes just one week after the third iOS 9.3.3 beta was released, suggesting that it may soon be ready for public launch. Don't get too excited though. It's mostly bug fixes, as Apple tries to tie up a few loose ends and turn its full attention to iOS 10.

macOS Sierra preview: Universal Clipboard + Desktop & Documents sync

Our ongoing macOS Sierra previews continue unabated as Andrew and I take a closer look at two new useful features in Sierra: Universal Clipboard and shared Desktop. You're definitely going to use Universal Clipboard quite a bit: in addition to being a great time-saver, it “just works”.

Universal Clipboard lets you copy and paste items across your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch devices and Mac computers like a boss. Sierra also puts your iCloud storage to good use by keeping any Desktop items along with the files within the Documents folder synchronized across your other devices.

The new Music app in iOS 10: a big bold confusing mess

Apple Music is a great service, but the confusing and bloated user interface of the application has been criticized since the app was first released about a year ago. So when rumors started popping up that Apple had been working on simplifying the app, many got really excited, myself included.

Yet, when Apple showed off the new Music app on stage at WWDC a little over a week ago, I didn’t see anything simpler or more streamlined about the app. It’s only when I started using iOS 10 beta and the new Music app that my fears were confirmed.

Now that I’ve been playing with the Music app for a few days, I feel I have enough feedback to share a few quick thoughts with you. Don’t worry, it’s not all bad.

Apple seeds beta 3 of iOS 9.3.3, OS X 10.11.6 and tvOS 9.2.2

Apple on Tuesday seeded the third beta for iOS 9.3.3 to both developers and public testers. The beta can be installed via the over-the-air update mechanism in iOS, or it can be downloaded from either Apple's dev center or the Beta Software Program website.

The update comes two weeks after the second iOS 9.3.3 beta was released, and it’s mostly bug fixes. Apple is obviously trying to iron out a few remaining bugs in iOS 9.3 so it can turn its attention to iOS 10, which arrived in beta form last week during WWDC.

iOS 10 available for public beta testers this July

Apple today showed us what's new for iOS 10 during its keynote presentation this morning, including things like an awesome new Messages app with animated chat bubbles and downloadable stickers, camera effects and other extensions, voicemail transcriptions, a new Home app, a revamped Apple Music, a smarter Maps, Photos with facial recognition, Siri in your apps, a revamped Lock screen and more. And you, my friend, will be able to check all these goodies out next month.

Apple posts public betas of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

After seeding iOS 9.3.3 beta 2 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 beta 2 to the registered members of the Apple Developer Program yesterday, these new betas are now available to public beta testers who are signed on the Apple Beta Software Program.

Public beta testers can apply these updates through the Software Update mechanism on devices enrolled into the Beta program that run a prior iOS/OS X beta.

Apple seeds second developer betas for tvOS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.11.6, first beta for watchOS 2.2.2

In addition to iOS, Apple also seeded new betas for watchOS, tvOS and OS X on Monday. The betas are available to registered developers, and can be installed via the Apple Watch app on iPhone, OTA in tvOS for those with the latest beta profile, and the update tab in the Mac App Store.

The software version numbers are watchOS 2.2.2, tvOS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.11.6, and from what we saw in the first betas, they're not adding any significant new features. The 10.11.6 change log reads "improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac," and the others follow suit.

Apple seeds iOS 9.3.3 beta 2 to developers

Apple on Monday seeded the second beta of iOS 9.3.3 to developers. Registered iOS developers can grab the new build from the Apple Developer Center, or via an over-the-air update on a compatible device with the latest software.

The update comes two weeks after the first iOS 9.3.3 beta was released, and it's mostly bug fixes. It's also worth noting that Apple has seemingly fixed the 9.7-inch iPad Pro issue, as there's now a beta available for the flagship tablet.

Apple seeds first betas of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X 10.11.6 to public testers

Following Monday's developer release of the first iOS 9.3.3 beta, Apple has made the software available to public testers. This means that folks in the Beta Software Program can now install iOS 9.3.3 on compatible devices via the over-the-air update mechanism.

The update comes just one week after iOS 9.3.2 was released to the public, which brought about a Bluetooth fix for iPhone SE models and other improvements. As we said yesterday, it appears that iOS 9.3.3 has also been earmarked for under-the-hood bug fixes.

iOS 9.3.3 jailbreak teased, but don’t expect anything

There is a jailbreak for iOS 9.3.3, but you shouldn't hold your breath for it as you most likely won't be able to enjoy it anytime soon, if ever. As he did in the past, Italian hacker Luca Todesco teased what appears to be an iPod touch running iOS 9.3.3. beta 1 with Cydia installed earlier today, and if the past is any indication of the future, nothing will materialize for jailbreak users like you and me.