Just a week after the last version, Apple has released iOS 9.2 beta 4 to testers for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The first iOS 9.2 beta appeared alongside Xcode 7.2 beta in late October. We’ll dive into the latest beta and update with any changes we discover. Included in the release up to this point has been an improved Safari View Controller for web links you open within other apps, support for AT&T’s new NumberSync feature for using your iPhone number on other connected devices (although this has since been removed), and Arabic language support with Siri for the first time....

In addition to releasing iOS 7.1.2 today for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Apple has just released OS X Mavericks 10.9.4 for Macs (direct combo update download link). The update brings various bug fixes, improvements, and security enhancements to the Mac: Fixes an issue that prevented some Macs from automatically connecting to known Wi-Fi networks Fixes issue causing the background or Apple logo to appear incorrectly on startup Improves the reliability of waking from sleep Includes Safari 7....

Swift is Apple’s programing language designed from the ground up and coinciding with the other software releases today, Apple has pushed version 4.1 of Swift to developers… Today, Apple is releasing Swift 4.1. The new update, albeit a small one, includes updates to the core language, new build options, and minor enhancements to Swift Package Manager and Foundation. Apple notes that code written in Swift 4.0 will be compatible with Swift 4....

As expected, Apple has released OS X 10.10 Yosemite Developer Preview 4. It is available via the Mac App Store Software Update tab for developers running earlier versions of Yosemite. Apple has also released a revamped iTunes 12 to developers (full gallery here). Previous updates previously brought various design tweaks and feature enhancements, and Preview 4 is likely to do the same thing. Yosemite launches this fall with updated Mail, Messages, and Calendar apps, in addition to a system-wide redesign and improved integration with iOS Devices....

Following the death of a Chinese flight attendant believed to have been electrocuted by a faulty third-party iPhone charger, Apple has added a new webpage to its Chinese site showing how to identify genuine Apple chargers. The usefulness of the webpage is slightly doubtful, given the fact that most third-party USB chargers come from trusted brands and are perfectly safe to use and that the issue is with the counterfeit chargers that mimic Apple’s charger so closely that it would be hard to tell them apart even with this guide....

Apple today announced its annual meeting with shareholders and also published its proxy statement, which is a document provided to shareholders that contains background information about the company. This year, Apple’s statement nearly confirms that the company is concerned with antitrust risks. As noted by CNBC, this is the first time the document highlights how antitrust issues have become a risk for Apple as the company has been investigated for monopoly practices....

Earlier this month, Apple announced its first ever Taiwan retail store, revealing that it would be located in the Taipei 101 skyscraper. Now, Apple has officially confirmed a grand opening for the store: July 1st. As reported by Focus Taiwan, Apple’s Taiwan retail store is set to open at 11AM on July 1st, with the festivities kicking off with a ceremony showcasing art work from paper cutting artist Yang Shih-yi....

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSuo4xEucqE] Video Taken down due to copyright claim from Apple We received some disturbing tips today that a Russian developer has published a method of obtaining in-app purchases from iOS apps for free. First noticed by Russian blog i-ekb.ru, the “in-app proxy” method does not require a jailbreak, can be completed by novices in three steps using just an iOS device, and allows users to install in-app content for free. The hack also works on all devices running iOS 3....

Apple’s lawyers have been appointed to defend it against the lawsuit filed by Epic Games, from LA-based Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. The firm is an acknowledged leader in antitrust cases. The firm is the same one that gave Apple its victory in the second Apple versus Samsung patent infringement case … In that case, Samsung was found to have infringed five Apple patents, and the Cupertino company was awarded $539M in damages....

Super Bowl 50 may not be until 2016, but preparations are already underway for the landmark game, which will be held in the brand new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. To help pay for the costs of holding this massive event, several Silicon Valley companies, including Apple, Google, and Intel, have each pledged $2 million. This money will go toward funding the public costs associated with bringing a throng of excited sports fans from across the nation into the same city, such as police overtime....

Following our report from this morning, Apple made the much-awaited unlocked iPhone 5 available in the United States on its online store this evening. The unlocked device’s price range is set at $649, $749, and $849 for 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage, respectively. Apple has offered an unlocked version of the iPhone 5 in several countries around the world since the device first launched in late September —including Canada and in Europe....

According to sources, Apple is planning a major new addition to their Apple Store Genius Bars; an addition that will change the way the company handles Genius Bar support. When an iOS device user comes to the Genius Bar with advanced hardware issues that are deemed unrepairable via software, these users commonly find Apple willing to replace their device with a working unit. With users typically keeping so much important content on their devices like contacts, calendars, text message conversations, media data, apps, application content, and more; the need for device backups is critical....

As it originally announced back in July, Apple has confirmed that it plans to release Swift 3.1 sometime during the Spring of 2017. Following the Swift 3.1 release, focus will shift to Swift 4. Swift 3.1 is intended to be released in the spring of 2017. Swift 3.1 is slated to be source compatible with Swift 3.0, with improvements focusing on a additive enhancements to the core language, improvements to the Swift Package Manager, Swift on Linux, and general quality improvements....

Apple has just released iOS 11 to the public, for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. The major update brings a variety of new features including a redesigned Control Center, a brand-new App Store, the new Files app, Do Not Disturb While Driving, a new Lock Screen / Cover Sheet experience, and much more. iOS 11 is also a major focus for iPad with new ways to share data and multitask with Drag and Drop, upgraded Split View and a whole new Dock....

Apple has released iOS 12.5.1 for older iPhones and iPads today, roughly one month after the release of iOS 12.5. The update includes bug fixes for the COVID-19 exposure notification feature. Apple rolled out iOS 12.5 to older iPhones and iPads last month, bringing support for COVID-19 exposure notifications. This was a major change as it expands contact tracing to iPhones that don’t support iOS 14, including devices like the massively popular iPhone 6 series....

Following Monday’s release of iOS 14.5 to the public, Apple is pushing ahead with beta testing of iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6. The company is now rolling out the second beta of these updates to developers, coming just over a week after beta 1 was released to developers and public beta users. Update: iOS 14.6 beta 2 is also now rolling out to public beta users as well. Today’s new release of the iOS 14....

Following a day after the macOS Monterey beta 5 for developers, the latest release has been made available to public beta testers. Unfortunately, the anticipated Universal Control feature still isn’t available to try out. Update 10:52 am PT: Apple has also made the HomePod 15 beta 5 available today. With macOS Monterey beta 4, Apple said in the release notes that Universal Control had been enabled before the mention was quickly pulled....

Apple this evening has pushed a small update to its developer software Xcode. The update bumps the app to version 7.2.1, following the initial release of version 7.2 late last year. Xcode 7.2.1 carries the build number 7C1002 and includes a handful of under-the-hood fixes and improvements. Apple says that a variety of bugs have been fixed with this evening’s Xcode update. Hiccups relating to the command line and debugger have been fixed, while the certificate used to developer Wallet passes, Safari Push Notifications, and Safari Extensions has also been updated....

Bose headphones and audio products could soon get the boot from Apple retail stores, according to a report from MacRumors citing “a reliable source.” While Apple’s acquisition of Beats would seem like the obvious reason behind replacing the many Bose headphones and speakers currently used with iOS and Mac demo units, the report also claims that Apple will be removing Bose products from store shelves in addition to the demo units....

A nice overview on the state of Apple’s Worldwide Video division was published by the New York Times, including a recap of what we know and a few new tidbits. With 12 projects currently in the works, the paper says Apple is targeting a launch somewhere around the summer of next year, as soon as March 2019. The original content group comprises about 40 staff spanning adult dramas, children’s TV, Latin America and European content....