macOS

macOS Mojave 10.14.4 enables automatic Dark Mode on websites with black themes

Safari on the macOS Mojave 10.14.4 beta, which was released last week, permits websites to automatically adapt their styling to complement Mojave's dramatic new Dark Mode.

Apple in October put out Safari Technology Preview 68 with support for the prefers-color-scheme media query for styling dark mode content. This experimental feature's now made its way into the Safari browser that ships in the macOS Mojave 10.14.4 developer beta.

Websites that support dark themes still appear white in the current macOS Mojave 10.14.3...

This super-useful feature can be manually enabled or disabled in Safari's Develop menu under Experimental Features → Dark Mode CSS Support, as shown top of post. However, That option is nowhere to be seen in the current macOS Mojave 10.14.3 software.

...but on MacOS Mojave 10.14.4 they automatically adapt to OS appearance.

When macOS Mojave 10.14.4 releases, turning on Mojave's Dark Mode in System Preferences will now change the styling on websites you visit accordingly. This will, of course, require web developers to implement black themes and adopt the new media query.

If you have the macOS Mojave 10.14.4 beta installed, you can try this out yourself by visiting Kevin Chain's example webpage, then switch between Light and Dark mode in System Preferences to see the website automatically apply an appropriate theme.

Again, this does not work in Safari on macOS Mojave 10.14.3 and earlier.

A white webpage looks out of place when Dark Mode in the current Mojave version is on.

Safari Technology Preview gives you an early look at upcoming web technologies in macOS and iOS. Anyone can install it alongside the regular Safari and use them interchangeably.

This looks more like it, however. Courtesy of Safari on macOS Mojave 10.14.4.

The biggest annoyance with Mojave's Dark Mode currently is Safari's lack of support for the new media query. With macOS Mojave 10.14.4, Apple's web browser will finally be able to allow websites to automatically cycle their styling for Light and Dark system appearances.

TUTORIAL: How to get Dark Mode on any website with Siri Shortcuts

Dark Mode in Mojave transform your desktop into a darkened color scheme that puts the focus on your content. It changes the look of built-in apps like Mail, Messages, Calendar and more. An official API permits developers to do the same for their own apps.

What you'll find embedded below is a very cool comparison between automatic theme switching on websites when cycling between Dark and Light Mode in MacOS Mojave 10.14.4.

Just drag the vertical slider to see it in action.

Since macOS Mojave was released to the public in September, numerous apps have added support for the system-wide Dark Mode, including 1Password, HazeOver, Spark and more.

Dark Mode is officially unsupported on iOS, but a number of popular apps have adopted dark themes internally. Because there's no OS-level support for Dark Mode in iOS 12, users must manually turn on a darker interface in their favorite app, provided it supports it.

Dark Mode in Bear Notes for Mac.

Be sure to check out Apple’s list of the top apps that feature darkened or pure black interfaces. A fan-made website over at Darkmodelist.com highlights more than 70 iPhone and iPad apps with custom dark themes along with screenshots.

Apple's App Store list of apps with black themes.

macOS Mojave 10.14.4 will also bring support for Apple News in Canada and the ability for Safari to automatically fill in your saved passwords with a touch of the Touch ID button.

The software update should releases to all users in a few weeks.

Are you looking forward to Safari's support for Dark Mode styling on website?

Let us know by leaving a comment down below!

HomeKit support for Smart TVs shown in action

Developer Khaos Tian has managed to add his Smart TV to the Home app on the iOS 12.2 beta by hacking Apple's HomeKit protocol. As a result, he's discovered, screenshotted and capture on video some of the upcoming HomeKit features for Smart TV integration and control.

Set iPhone wallpapers that change throughout the day with AutoWall

One of my favorite features in macOS Mojave is the dynamic wallpaper, which changes from a daytime desert landscape during the day to a nighttime desert landscape come nightfall. Apple is evidently capable of implementing something like this on the iOS platform as well, but they haven’t yet; and there’s no guarantee they ever will.

Fortunately, jailbreakers don’t need to wait. A free jailbreak tweak called AutoWall by iOS developer Julio Verne lets you have time-centric dynamic wallpapers on your iPhone or iPad – perfect for replicating macOS Mojave’s treasured feature on the iOS platform.

Apple releases iOS 12.1.3, watchOS 5.1.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.3 & tvOS 12.1.2

Following weeks of testing, Apple today released new software updates: iOS 12.1.3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, iOS 12.1.3 for HomePod, macOS Mojave 10.14.3 for Mac, watchOS 5.1.3 for Apple Watch and tvOS 12.1.2 for the fourth-generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K . While mostly about bug fixes that improve your security, these minor software updates are worth the time because they happen to boost the stability, performance and reliability of your devices.

10 ways Apple could improve the MacBook Pro

Apple’s MacBook Pro has been my personal computer of choice for almost a decade now, and while I’ve loved every upgrade along the way, I can’t help but feel like Apple could do better.

Given just how expensive a MacBook Pro becomes as you start pegging out the specs on Apple’s website, it seems like Apple could do more to help me justify the price point. With that in mind, I’ll discuss at least ten ways Apple could improve their flagship notebook in this piece.

Video: former iOS chief Scott Forstall reveals tidbits about macOS & Apple TV development

Since his firing in 2012 over refusing to sign an apology to customers concerning the Maps debacle, Apple's former Senior Vice President of iOS software, Scott Forstall, has focused his energies on producing Broadway shows. Thanks to a rare interview with Scott published last week, we now have a nice glimpse of Apple's creative process during Steve Jobs's heyday.

Saurik warns against using Cydia Impactor alternative ‘AppSigner,’ says it’s unsafe

If you’ve ever used a semi-tethered jailbreak before, then you should be familiar with Cydia Impactor. Saurik (Jay Freeman) created this multi-platform application to let you side-load apps on your iPhone or iPad, especially of the jailbreak flavor, such as Electra and unc0ver.

Recently, a web-based alternative to Cydia Impactor called AppSigner received some public attention on /r/jailbreak, and as you might come to expect, prominent members of the jailbreak community are speaking up to explain why you should not use it.