O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: 30th

  • Apple releases iOS 13.2, iPadOS 13.2 updates

    It’s a hefty pair of updates and they’re here.

    On Monday, Apple released its long-awaited iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 updates, which bring a slew of new features to its mobile operating systems.

    The updates add support for the newly-announced AirPods Pro, more than 70 new emojis, as well as new features for Siri, the Home app, and multiple bug fixes.

    Kicking off, Deep Fusion serves as an image-processing feature that does a pixel-by-pixel comparison of multiple images, and then fuse the best parts together for, “dramatically better texture, detail, and reduced noise in lower light.”

    Deep Fusion requires the the A13 Bionic Neural Engine, which means it’s currently limited to iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max handsets.

    iOS 13.2 also gives users the ability to change video resolution directly from the Camera app for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

    iOS 13.2 adds support for the new AirPods Pro units, which were announced on Monday. The AirPods Pro offer a new in-ear design as well as active noise cancelation. The units will ship on October 30th for $249 and require iOS 13.2 or iPadOS 13.2 to function.

    iOS 13.2 adds support for AirPods Pro, which were also announced on Monday. AirPods Pro offer an in-ear design and active noise cancellation. They ship on October 30th for $249, and require iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 or higher.

    Among other new changes are an additional of 70+ new emojis, including new animals, food, activities, new accessibility emoji, gender neutral emoji, and skin tones selection for couple emoji.

    Apple has also included two new features to HomeKit in iOS 13.2, including HomeKit Secure Video, which, “enables you to privately capture, store, and view encrypted video from your security cameras and features people, animal, and vehicle detection.”

    The update also adds support for HomeKit-enabled routers for improved security. The company has stated that HomeKit-enabled routers allow you to control what your HomeKit accessories are communicating with over the Internet.

    Where Siri is concerned, Apple has included supplemental privacy controls that allow users to choose whether or not to opt-in to stored audio of both Siri and Dictation interactions for possible analysis by human quality assurance staff.

    Users will also now have the ability to delete Siri and Dictation history from within Siri Settings.

    Other bug fixes include the following:

    • Fixes an issue that may prevent passwords from autofilling in 3rd party apps
    • Resolves an issue that may prevent the keyboard from appearing when using Search
    • Addresses an issue where swipe to go home might not work on iPhone X and later
    • Fixes an issue where Messages would only send a single notification when the option to repeat alerts was enabled
    • Addresses an issue where Messages may display a phone number instead of a contact name
    • Resolves an issue that caused Contacts to launch to the previously opened contact instead of the contact list
    • Fixes an issue that may prevent Markup annotations from being saved
    • Resolves an issue where saved notes could temporarily disappear
    • Fixes an issue where iCloud Backup might not successfully complete after tapping Backup Now in Settings
    • Improves performance when using AssistiveTouch to activate App Switcher

    The iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 updates are several hundred megabytes in size and can be downloaded and installed via the usual Settings -> General -> Software Update route.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the new operating systems and have any feedback to offer, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via The Mac Observer

  • Apple releases watchOS 5.1.1, seeks to resolve watchOS 5.1/Apple Watch “bricking” issue

    Following the release of watchOS 5.1 on October 30th, a number of early downloaders reported that the update had “bricked” their devices. Apple quickly pulled the release “as a precaution.”

    On Monday, Apple release the fix via watchOS 5.1.1, which is now available for download.

    Apple’s patch notes on the update didn’t mention the bricking issue, instead citing the usual “improvements and bug fixes.”

    (more…)

  • Email notification hints towards possible MacBook Air replacement notebook due to be released on October 30th

    The rumor machine rolls on, and today it’s dropped word of a a potential new MacBook that might be slated for release at Apple’s media event in Brooklyn on October 30th.

    A leaked email received from Apple suggests that the new model will arrive on October 30th. The email’s recipient, a K-12 education customer who had recently placed an order for a MacBook Air, iPad and Apple Pencil, cited that the message stated that the MacBook Air is delayed, and will now ship on October 30.

    With Apple’s event on the same day expected to include the announcement of an all-new 13-inch MacBook, that seems unlikely to be coincidence. At minimum, it’s thought that this might be a minor spec-bump to the existing Air, the smart money betting on the new machine being a new MacBook Air replacement.

    (more…)

  • Apple offering iPad Air 2 units to some customers looking to repair their iPad fourth-gen units, dwindling stock cited

    If you’re looking for a replacement fourth-gen iPad, Apple may send you a newer and more capable iPad Air 2 as a substitute from Apple Stores and authorized service providers. The company is apparently implementing the new policy, allowing its repair staff to ship an iPad Air 2 for a unit replacement when stock of the aging and now discontinued 4th gen iPad isn’t available.

    A leaked company memo offered the following information:

    Starting March 30th, iPad 4th generation whole unit repairs may be substituted to iPad Air 2.

    (more…)

  • Next-gen iMac to go on sale Friday, November 30th

    If you’re hankering for the new, thinner iMac, just wait 72 hours.

    Per AppleInsider, Apple on Tuesday announced that its all-new iMac desktop will launch this Friday, Nov. 30, meeting its deadline to launch before the end of the month.

    The 21.5-inch model will be available through Apple’s online store, Apple retail stores and select authorized resellers. The 27-inch variety will begin shipping in December, but orders will begin at Apple’s online store on Friday.

    The 21.5-inch iMac will feature a 2.7-gigahertz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce G6 640M graphics for a suggested retail price of US$1,299. A faster 2.9-gigahertz model will be offered for US$1,499.

    The larger 27-inch iMac will have a 2.9-gigahertz quad-core Intel Core i5 and GeForce GTX 660M graphics for US$1,799. The high-end 3.2-gigahertz model with GTX 675MX graphics will cost US$1,999.

    The redesigned iMac has an aluminum and glass enclosure that is 5-millimeters thin at its edge. It also features a reengineered display that Apple has said reduces reflections by 75 percent.

    The new iMac also sports 8 gigabytes of 1,600-megahertz memory, along with a 1-terabyte hard drive and standard Intel Core i5 processors that can be upgraded to a Core i7. The new Nvidia GeForce graphics processors also promise up to 60 percent fast performance.

    The all-in-one iMac desktops also sport Apple’s new hybrid Fusion Drive, which gives customers the performance of flash with the capacity of a hard drive. This is accomplished by combining 128 gigabytes of flash with a standard hard drive, creating a single storage volume that intelligently manages files to optimize read and write performance.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.