News

watchOS 3 update for Apple Watch now available

In addition to iOS 10, Apple on Tuesday also released watchOS 3 for the Apple Watch. The update, which has been in beta for the past 3 months, is free and compatible with all available models of the Apple Watch.

To install the new software, you'll have to ensure your iPhone is on iOS 10. Once that's confirmed, simply open the Watch app and navigate to General > Software Update. Your Watch must be within range of your iPhone on Wi-Fi, connected to its charger, and have at least 50% battery life.

iOS 10 software update now available

As promised, Apple on Tuesday released iOS 10 for its mobile devices. The software update is free and technically compatible with the iPad 4, iPad mini 2, the iPhone 5, the iPod touch sixth-generation, and all subsequent models.

If you have one of these devices, you can update to iOS 10 by navigating to the Settings app > General > Software Update, and it will install automatically. The update is also on our Downloads page, and you can install it manually by plugging your device into a computer with iTunes installed. Obviously if you're jailbroken, you'll want to steer clear of iOS 10.

Google’s new app lets you capture three-dimensional panoramas on your iPhone and iPad

Google today released a brand new camera application on the App Store, allowing iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to take three-dimensional panoramas in 360-degree freedom. The interactive VR photography app is called Cardboard Camera and in addition to capturing 360-degree images, it also lets you share VR photos online and enjoy them in virtual reality with Google's Cardboard and similar accessories along with VR photos taken by other people.

iPhone 7’s much improved low-light photography comes into focus at U.S. Open

After sharing gorgeous action pics Sports Illustrated photographer snapped at yesterday’s Titans-Vikings NFL matchup with an iPhone 7 Plus, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted on Twitter a new batch of images that show off improved low-light capabilities of the new camera system on the iPhone 7/Plus. The shots were taken on an iPhone 7 Plus by ESPN photographer Landon Nordeman during the men's final between Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka on the last day of the US Open.

Stunning NFL game day photos show off the power of iPhone 7 Plus camera

Professional photographer David Klutho took some stunning action photographs for the Sports Illustrated magazine at yesterday's Titans-Vikings NFL matchup. The images were taken with an iPhone 7 Plus and highlighted on Twitter by Apple CEO Tim Cook. The iPhone 7 Plus contains the same camera smarts as the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, except for the addition of a second lens with 2x optical zoom.

New Surface Pro 4 ad pokes fun of the Mac because it doesn’t have a touchscreen

Microsoft over the weekend fired another ad salvo at Apple's tablet/computer strategy with a new (somewhat) amusing commercial. Simple titled “Get the Surface Pro,” the 30-second ad highlights Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 hybrid device which includes a stylus and comes with a detachable keyboard and an Intel chip allowing it to be transformed into a computer that runs Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Using the same singer from the previous commercial, the new video informs us that “If you try to write on a plain old Mac, the difference can be seen. It doesn't work.”

For today only, iTunes is offering 10-movie bundles for just $10

Ten years ago this month, digital movies launched on iTunes with just 75 titles, all from studios owned by Disney in which Steve Jobs was the largest individual shareholder. Today, iTunes offers more than 85,000 feature-length movies for purchase or rental. To celebrate ten years of iTunes Movies, Apple is offering six ten-movie bundles, priced at just $9.99.

For today only, customers in the United States can buy these bundles packed with releases from Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate and Sony Pictures that cover a wide range of genres.

The top stories of the week on iDB

Like every Sunday, we get to take a look at some of the most popular posts that were published on iDB during the week that just ended. Whether it is a news item, a new jailbreak tweak, a tutorial, or an app review, we sum it all up in one convenient place for you.

As always, if you like what you're reading, please feel free to spread the love by sharing our posts on your favorite social network.

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Apple shutters parts of its car project as it rethinks strategy

Apple is rethinking what it plans to do about self-driving cars, reports The New York Times. Citing sources familiar with the project, the outlet said on Friday that the company has shuttered parts of its self-driving car project and laid off dozens of employees.

These moves are the latest signs of trouble involving Apple's oft-rumored initiative, codenamed Project Titan. In July it was reported that the team, under new leader Bob Mansfield, had shifted its focus from building a vehicle to an autonomous driving system.

KGI: dual rear camera expected to remain exclusive to iPhone Plus next year

The dual-lens camera system introduced on the iPhone 7 Plus this year is expected to stay exclusive to Apple's larger 5.5-inch handset in 2017, reports KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst issued a new research report on Friday, claiming that high costs and the need to differentiate high end iPhone models is likely to keep the feature Plus-only next year.

Has Apple Watch Series 2 gained a second mic to improve Siri reception?

In case you missed this little yet important detail in an avalanche of web reports about the Apple Watch Series 2, Apple's second-generation wearable packs in a few handful improvements, among which is what appears to be a second microphone opening. As the original Apple Watch had a single tiny microphone hole, it couldn't suppress background noise.

In turn, the “Hey Siri” function on the original watch behaves somewhat erratically, struggling to recognize the command in noisy environments.

Wait, does that mean that the Apple Watch Series 2 should respond to the “Hey Siri” hot phrase more reliably than before? It's complicated...