Apple’s Swift Playgrounds application is now available on Mac. The app was originally released for the iPad in 2016, but now Apple has brought it to the Mac as well using its Catalyst platform. Apple’s Swift Playgrounds platform makes it easy for anyone to learn the basics of the Swift programming language. Apple touts that Playgrounds requires no previous coding knowledge, with a focus on using code to solve puzzles. This is particularly useful for people who want to learn Swift without diving into Xcode right away....

As it has done in past years, Apple this evening has made transcripts available to accompany its WWDC 2017 session videos. These transcripts offer the WWDC content to developers in a searchable and manageable format. Apple’s transcripts are linked directly with the video, meaning that developers can search to see where a specific keyword is mentioned in a video, jump right to that part of the video, and even share a link to that timestamp....

In May, Apple Music announced Lossless quality audio coming to the service with Spatial Audio focuses. During the WWDC21 keynote, Apple said the new function would be available on Monday. Now, Apple Music exec Zane Lowe has explained how Spatial Audio “will transform music.” In a first-person article posted to the Apple Newsroom, Lowe talks about his experience with Spatial Audio support on Apple Music: “I first got the opportunity to listen to Spatial Audio on AirPods; I was confused at first....

Mockup: New, thinner MacBook Pro on the left. Current model on the right. Apple is putting the finishing touches on an entirely new 15-inch MacBook Pro that is the outcome of years of research and development in ultra-thin mobile computing and super-high-resolution displays. According to trusted sources in Apple’s supply chain, who have handled prototype components and casings for the new Apple notebook, the computer is currently undergoing test production rounds....

Nudging closer to a public release, Apple has seeded developers with macOS 12.3 beta 5. The software arrives as the latest build to officially include Universal Control to seamlessly work between Mac and iPad. Update 1:12 pm PT: The fifth macOS 12.3 beta is now available for public testers as well as developers. The fifth macOS 12.3 beta is now available via OTA for developers already enrolled in the beta as well as being available to download from Apple’s Developer website with build number 21E5227a....

Apple has now published the full 2-hour Gather Round keynote on YouTube. The event goes over the new Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone XR. This is Apple’s first lineup that takes on the all-screen design for the iPhone, ditching the Home button (and Touch ID) in favor of gestures and Face ID. For the Apple Watch, this is a pretty substantial upgrade as we see it gain electrodiogram functionality, a larger display, brining them now to 40 and 44mm, and an all new gold stainless steel finish....

Apple’s European tax rate is likely to increase from 12.5% to 15%, despite Ireland being reluctant to impose the higher rate. Apple based its European headquarters in Ireland, and has historically funneled most of its revenue from all 27 EU countries through the country in order to benefit from the low rate of corporate tax charged there … Background Apple’s approach of declaring all its European income in Ireland has already been challenged in some individual countries over the years....

Samsung will next week demo a new LCD display technology that will put future tablets in the Retina Display realm. Developed by Samsung’s subsidiary Nouvoyance, the new WQXGA 10.1-inch display stuns with a whopping 2560-by-1600 pixel resolution. Take a deep breath – that’s more pixels than on your 27-inch iMac and double the pixel count on full HD displays. It uses PenTile RGBW technology that consumes 40 percent less power, a statement claims....

Apple has released iOS 10 beta 6 for developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10 brings a refreshed look to Apple Music and News plus loads of new features to the platform. The software update will be ready for everyone likely sometime next month, and we’ll dig through the sixth developer version of the iOS 10 beta below. If you’re already testing iOS 10 beta on your iPhone or iPad, head to the Software Update section of the Settings app to find the OTA update....

Apple has today launched an online dashboard for Apple Card users to manage their account online. Previously, all interactions for the Apple Card took place through the Wallet app on the iPhone. This now means you can view your statements and pay your Apple Card bill online, for the first time. Before today, the only way to pay off your balance if you lost your iPhone was to call Goldman Sach’s telephone support....

Apple has been trying to boost domestic chip production in the United States, and for that the company has lobbied the U.S. government to get some tax reductions and other benefits. This suggests that the company is likely to increase its supply chain in the United States. As reported by Bloomberg, the U.S. government made public this week the lobbying disclosure for the second and third quarter of 2020, which reveals that Apple has lobbied the Treasury Department, Congress, and the White House....

Serving as a perfect companion to your new iPhone 13 or existing iPhone 12, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack arrives to dish out some extra power while on-the-go. It can refuel your handset at 5W speeds from the internal battery, though it steps up to offer the full 15W MagSafe charging speeds when plugging in a USB-C cable. It has a slick white plastic shell that will work with everything from Apple’s mini handsets all the way up to its Pro Max releases....

Alongside the iPhone XR debut, Apple has quietly added a new USB-C charger for the Apple Watch. The magnetic charger is identical to the existing Apple Watch charger, except you can plug it into a USB-C port rather than USB-A … The new Watch charger costs $29 and comes with a 0.3 meter cable. Like all Apple Watch cables to date, it features a magnetic inductive charger which snaps on to the back crystal of the watch....

Yesterday saw the announcement of Apple Q3 2022 earnings. While it was technically a record quarter, the analysts were right that this would be the point at which Apple’s pandemic-boosted growth would tail off. Mac revenue was down 10% year-on-year, iPad dropped 2%, and wearables (Apple Watch and AirPods) fell 8%. Services continued to rise, of course, but the only good news on the hardware side was the iPhone …...

Just one day after the release of iOS 16.1, Apple is restarting the beta testing process yet again. The company has now released the first betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 to developers, as well as macOS Ventura 13.1 and watchOS 9.2. Developers can update their iPhone to iOS 16.2 by heading to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software update. The build number is 20C5032e. Here are the details on all of today’s new releases:...

Apple has released the first iOS 11 public beta for iPhone and iPad. This allows users who are not registered developers to test pre-release versions of iOS with new features for free. Prior to the public beta availability, iOS 11 has only been available to test with a $99/year developer account. In terms of stability, the same warnings apply to any pre-release software: apps may crash, battery life won’t be optimal, and expect performance to be sluggish....

Following the release of OS X Mountain 10.8.3 build 12D78 to developers earlier this week, Apple today released 10.8.3 to the public with a number of new features and enhancements. One of the more notable new features is the ability to redeem iTunes gift cards using the Mac’s built-in camera within the Mac App Store. It’s a feature that Apple originally introduced with iTunes 11 in November. Other improvements in today’s release include support for install Windows 8 in Boot Camp and Boot Camp support for Mac’s using 3TB hard drives....

Back in March, the majority of Apple shareholders voted for an independent review of how the company has handled situations like employees speaking up about sensitive issues. Now that the investigation is complete, Apple has announced that it is eliminating its gag clauses related to workplace discrimination and abuse. First reported by the Financial Times, Apple’ board shared about the change in a letter titled “Our Commitment to an Open and Collaborative Workplace....

Lining up with our earlier report, Apple has reportedly scheduled a media event for Tuesday, September 9, which we can only assume will be the unveiling of its new iPhone lineup expected this fall. ReCode reports: While an event in the second week of September would line up nicely with past iPhone unveilings, there is still no confirmation on what exactly we’ll be seeing at the event. It looks like Apple has put the wheels in motion for scheduling the event, but it doesn’t appear that press has received invites or any confirmation from Apple....

Apple’s homepage returned to normal with the iPhone 4S headlining last night (US only atm). Apple had the Steve Jobs memorial picture up for two weeks following his passing. There is still a Remembering Steve link at the bottom of the page which leads to the thousands of words of condolence taken from the millions of submissions following his death. In fact, it appears that Apple has purchased the RememberingSteveJobs.com domain....