Approximately two weeks following the launch of the revamped iTunes 11 application, Apple has released iTunes 11.0.1 via the Mac App Store Software Update tab to users. The update is generally a bug fix release. It includes fixes for items from iCloud not properly appearing in user libraries, an issue with the AirPlay button not appearing, and making libraries with several items more responsive. Additionally, this new update restores the ability to display duplicate items in user libraries....

Following the launch of iOS 13.4 and watchOS 6.2, Apple today has released macOS Catalina 10.15.4. This update includes several improvements and bug fixes across the system, in addition to the iCloud Drive folder sharing, Apple Music time-synced lyrics, and more. The Music app on macOS Catalina 10.15.4 now offers the same time-synced lyrics feature that came to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac last year. This feature allows you to follow along with a song in real-time....

Apple has released the second beta of WatchOS 2.0 to developers. First announced at WWDC earlier this month, the new version of WatchOS brings both new features to the Apple Watch and support for native applications. This new beta will allow developers to continue testing apps that run directly on the Apple Watch hardware with access to local sensors, the Digital Crown, and the device’s own processor. For consumers, new WatchOS 2 software features include a new Nightstand Mode for seeing the time and alerts in a larger font, three new watch faces, access to third-party watch face complications, a new Time Travel mode for seeing past and future calendar events and weather data on clock faces, and a more feature-rich Music app....

Apple demoed the technology to the Associated Press earlier in the week in New York City. Apple has setup over 20 iBeacon transmitters in its flagship 5th Avenue store. However, starting today, everyone can benefit from the update, as the Apple Store app has been updated silently from the server side. Customers in the US can sign up inside the app today … Upon opening the Apple Store app, users will be asked whether they want to install In-Store notifications....

Today’s best deals include Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Pro at $100 off, plus previous-generation iPhones are on sale, and Logitech’s Slim Folio for iPad Pro gets a discount. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break. Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro Trusted Apple retailer Expercom is taking up to $100 off the new 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro. Prices start at $1,234. Every other retailer out there, like Best Buy, is charging full price at this time....

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the Apple veteran employee who has been overseeing the company’s “Project Titan” electric car initiative is leaving the company. The report, citing “people familiar with the matter,” says Steve Zadesky, who has been with Apple for 16 years, is leaving the company for “personal reasons.” The timing for Zadesky’s departure is unknown at this point, as are his specific reasons for leaving, although the report makes it clear that it was for “personal reasons and wasn’t related to his performance....

Apple’s iPad is rapidly emerging as the most quickly adopted consumer electronics launch in history, with sales rates surpassing the last de rigeur consumer tech purchase, the DVD player. Sounds incredible? Yes, perhaps so, but these aren’t my words but the findings of new data from Bernstein Research, who point out that sales are blowing past Q1’s one million and already massively eclipsing the 350,000 DVD players sold in year one, the previous “most quickly adopted non-phone electronic product....

We’re starting the week off with fresh discounts on Apple’s new 2020 MacBook Air, plus a new Anker Work from Home sale, and various price drops on official iPhone cases. Head below for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break. Apple’s 2020 MacBook Air hits all-time low Anker’s work from home essentials sale Official iPhone cases see fresh discounts Save 25% on Logitech’s Slim Folio for iPad Pro CalDigit’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock is $45 off Best trade-in deals Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!...

The Apple jobs website has been revamped, with a new video providing a taste of what it’s like to work for one of the world’s most desirable employers. This is where some of the world’s smartest, most passionate people create the world’s most innovative products and experiences. Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life — and make a difference in other people’s lives. A new About Apple page aims to give a flavor of what it’s like to work for the company, albeit heavily biased toward new product development roles....

Market intelligence company Canalys last week demoted Apple’s smartphone sales in China to part of the ‘Others’ category, a far cry from the 2015 peak where its market share was somewhere in the 40-50% range in Urban China. Analysts are now saying that Apple’s relegation to the ‘also ran’ stakes may be permanent … Business Insider cites three different analysts, with even noted Apple bull Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley predicting ‘continued weakness in China....

Apple this week has started a new Apple Music “Ambassador” marketing campaign for its streaming platform, quietly recruiting students and giving them perks in exchange for promoting the service and recruiting others. The new effort targets college students specifically, making them so-called official “Apple Music Ambassadors” on Twitter to promote the service. The program is being run via a third-party marketing company called Social Chain that it appears Apple has hired (Social Chain lists Apple alongside other high-profile clients on its website)....

Customers in need of a whole unit replacement for their fourth generation iPad may now receive a newer and more capable iPad Air 2 as a substitute from Apple Stores and authorized service providers. Apple is 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. Apple’s memo also notes for staff to inform customers of the replacement unit’s color and capacity....

Apple released iOS 6.1.3 beta 2 to developers just last week with enhancements to Maps in Japan, as well as the promise of a fix for the highly publicized Lock Screen bug. While we noted at the time that the update could fix exploits used for the recent evasi0n jailbreak, the evad3rs team has now had time to test the update and confirmed to Forbes that 6.1.3 breaks evasi0n. Team member David Wang, aka @planetbeing, explained Apple has patched one of the five critical exploits that evasi0n is currently using:...

A couple more recently granted Apple patents are emerging today (via PatentlyApple), one of which details an interesting new docking station with intelligent accessory power management, while once again providing hints at a secondary 30-pin connector for landscape orientation. The idea is to be able to provide various devices– portable media players(iPod), cell phones (iPhone), monitors (iTV?)– with the ideal power source through a single accessory. It would also allow Apple to safely power larger devices such as a monitor through the same accessory....

Apple Pay continues to pick up new banks and credit unions every month — and soon to Germany and possibly Austria. These are the latest new banks and credit unions added in the US and China that let you pay with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac… United States: First Calgary Financial Carrollton Bank Community Bank of Pleasant Hill Community Bank of Raymore Essex Bank Farmers & Merchants Bank (LA) First Bank and Trust (OK) First Community Bank (SC) First National Bank in Howell First National Bank of Sandoval First State Bank New London Flint Community Bank Forward Bank Generations Credit Union Green Dot Bank Home Federal Bank Kentucky Bank Los Alamos National Bank MembersOwn Credit Union Old Hickory Credit Union Old West Federal Credit Union Park View Federal Credit Union POPPY BANK Prospera Credit Union Rhode Island Credit Union Seacoast Commerce Bank Security State Bank (WA joins TX) St....

This may not be the first time there have been rumors that Apple Pay is coming to the Czech Republic, but there’s more evidence that Apple’s mobile payment service is actually about to launch in the country. According to a local report, Apple Pay could go live in the Czech Republic as soon as Tuesday, February 19. The latest Apple Pay country rumor comes from a site that says its source was employed by a company working to bring Apple Pay to the country....

According to newly surfaced screenshots of a modified version of the recently released iOS 8.1 beta, it appears that the upcoming iPad line will have some amount of Apple Pay capability and a Touch ID sensor to match. Additionally, screenshots of a hidden Passbook settings page have surfaced showing what it might look like when adding a credit card for use with Apple Pay. The above screenshots come via Hamza Sood, and include one of the “About Apple Pay and Privacy” page as well....

If an iPhone or iPad stops working, it’s often necessary to restore the device’s firmware using a Mac or PC. That used to work well in the past, but it became complicated as the devices are more independent of a computer now. The situation is even worse with devices like the Apple Watch and HomePod, since they don’t have any kind of external connectors. In this case, if the device stops working, you must take it to an Apple Store or an authorized service provider....

Apple is expected to shift up to 25% of its iPhone production to India by as soon as 2025. Following up on iPhone 14 manufacturing kicking off in September by Foxconn in the country, Pegatron has become the second vendor to start making Apple’s latest smartphone in India. Reported by Bloomberg, Taiwanese-based Pegatron Corp. is the second manufacturer to start iPhone 14 production for Apple in India. Historically, Apple’s operations in India would start producing iPhone a year or more after a model was released....