Zac Hall

Apple started shipping special research iPhone hardware to security experts in 2020. Naturally, security researchers have been mostly coy about sharing the specifics of what Apple calls “rooted” hardware. Still, there are some program participants who grant a peek behind the curtains from time to time.

Culture Code’s Things, the tasks system I’ve relied on for over a decade, is going spatial for Apple Vision Pro. The standalone visionOS app brings the full project management experience to Apple’s first spatial computer.

Last month I wrote about two features that I consider missing from Apple’s Screen Time parental controls. In retrospect, what I should have written is how Screen Time is broken. I thought the next software update would fix things.

A long, long time ago (last Friday) we shared that Meta appeared to be planning to officially support spatial videos shot on iPhone without workarounds. Now, on the eve of Apple Vision Pro hitting stores, Meta has made it real. Quest headsets will indeed gain spatial support for Apple’s spatial video format.

Not hyped enough about Apple Vision Pro yet? Apple has cranked up the anticipation with a countdown clock on apple․com that tells you how soon Apple Vision Pro will officially launch.

Ray Wong from Inverse has uncovered an interesting new tidbit about the Apple Vision Pro battery. The cable that runs from the battery to the headset is removable with a SIM-eject tool:

The connector looks like Lightning at first glance, but wider and with additional contact points.

Apple recently launched its collaborative playlist feature for Apple Music as part of iOS 17.4. This lets Apple Music subscribers share, edit, and enjoy playlists together. Now Apple has clarified the age restriction for playlist collaboration.

Apple Vision Pro now has a newer software update awaiting customers on Friday. visionOS 1.0.2 is now the current software version released by Apple.

Update: The public beta is now available as well.

Apple has released the first watchOS 10.4 and macOS 14.4 developer betas. tvOS 17.4 and HomePod 17.4 public betas are also available now.

Apple TV has long been a conference room hit for sharing content on the big screen. tvOS 17 and iOS 17 add the ability to use your iPhone as your webcam and join video calls from your TV.

Now Cisco is launching Webex for Apple TV 4K so you can turn your TV into the best screen for work meetings.

NBA fans will soon have a new leaderboard to climb. NBA Infinite, the upcoming player versus player mobile basketball game, is launching on iOS and Android during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend.

I recently asked developers making Apple Vision Pro apps to send me their work (with the subject line WHY YOU NEED VISION PRO), and the response has been excellent!

Hearing from developers and seeing their ideas for the first visionOS apps has lit a spark. I think there’s a larger story to tell here in the early days of Apple Vision Pro.

I believe podcasting is the best medium for discovering and telling that story. That’s why I’m launching my first-ever Kickstarter campaign to help create a new podcast series, Visioneers: Developing for Vision.

Update: TikTok statement to 9to5Mac added.

The music will stop for TikTok if a new licensing deal with Universal Music Group isn’t reached by January 31. Universal says it will pull its songs from the viral video giant as the existing deal expires.

The Iconfactory basically gave Twitter its brand identity before X deleted it all and kicked Twitterrific into the void of space. Now the legendary team of programmers and designers is back with an ambitious project for a new app that will help unify the fragmented world of online media. It’s called Project Tapestry, and The Iconfactory needs your help to make it happen.

It’s that time again. Apple is releasing another round of somewhat nebulous AirPods firmware updates. This time it’s the AirPods Pro AirPods 2, and AirPods Max hardware that are due for an update.

watchOS 10.4 and iOS 17.4 betas introduce a new toggle on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. The new setting is specifically to avoid a conflict between the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro when gesturing.

Update: The first public beta version is now available as well. Get your new emoji, folks! The new EU-only browser prompt is also now live.

With iOS 17.3 shipped, Apple is moving on to iOS 17.4 beta. The first developer beta version for iPhone is now available. We’ll update our coverage and share any new changes as they surface.

Brian Tong provides four interesting Apple Vision Pro battery life details in his full video review:

Apple Vision Pro arrives in the US on Friday, and the first reviews are rolling in today. Here’s what the early reviewers are saying about Apple’s $3500 “spatial computer” headset.

Last week Apple announced a bunch of very specific changes to iOS and the App Store only for EU customers. Apple refers to these changes as risks that it has smartly tried to mitigate. Apple simply can’t guarantee the same consumer protections to customers in the EU, however, now that the Digital Markets Act is dictating the company’s policies.

As part of the same news drop, Apple announced a complete one-eighty on its App Store ban on streaming game services. This change is immediate, global, and seemingly not directly a result of the DMA. Why the sudden change of heart?

Update: Apple says iTunes and Apple Music are back online, but AppleCare on Device purchasing is offline. All resolved now.

Apple Music may be experiencing an outage for some users. Both Downdetector and reports on X point to an ongoing disruption for music streaming service.