Apple has released iOS 6.1.3 beta 2 to developers for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The first beta was known as iOS 6.1.1 beta 1, but it has been renamed to iOS 6.1.3 due to the recent public releases of iOS bug fix updates. As we previously covered, iOS 6.1.3 includes several enhancements to the Maps application for Japan. Notably, the upcoming iOS 6.1.3 update will also fix the recently publicized Lock Screen bug, according to Apple....

A couple of weeks following the first beta, Apple today released iOS 8.4 beta 2 to developers for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 8.4 beta 2 is available via Software Update for those running the first beta, and it should be available for download soon via the Apple Developer Website. Apple has also released the iOS 8.4 Public Beta 1, which corresponds to this second developer seed, and Xcode 6....

While Apple continues beta testing of macOS 12 Monterey, a new macOS Big Sur update has landed for all Mac users with 11.6. The new software hasn’t been beta tested and brings two important security updates that may have been actively exploited. There’s also an update for those running macOS Catalina. macOS 11.6 arrived today alongside iOS 14.8 and watchOS 7.6.2. The main changes are two security updates. And along with the update for Big Sur, Apple has also released the security update for macOS Catalina, however, just one flaw fix was needed there....

LinkedIn updates suggest that Apple is beefing up its mapping efforts by poaching senior staff from Here – the map technology company which Nokia once hoped to sell to Apple. Now co-owned by German automotive companies Audi, BMW, and Daimler, Business Insider spotted half a dozen hires over the last few months from Here. Interestingly, the roles appear to be based in Berlin, where Apple does not officially have a base but was once the site of Apple Car rumors …...

In a report by Bloomberg, Apple is said to be preparing an update to its iOS Apple Store app, where customers can buy Apple’s hardware and accessories online. The new update will feature recommendations for suggested purchases, in a new ‘For You’ tab (mirroring Apple Music). According to the Bloomberg report, the new recommendations will be part of a wider update to the Apple Store app. Right now, the design of the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad is quite distinct with the iPad app favouring interactive photo galleries for presentation....

[Still waiting… Comment: Managing expectations for AirPower release, price, and features] Alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X last September, Apple showcased its wireless charging accessory called AirPower. The charging mat will allow Apple users to charge their iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch on the same surface. At the time, Apple teased a 2018 debut, and now it looks like we’re inching closer to that release…. According to a new report from Macotakara, Apple is on schedule to begin selling AirPower sometime in March through its own retail stores, as well as resellers such as Best Buy....

Apple’s Find My app is one of the key features of devices like iPhone and iPad, as it lets users track them even offline. This time, however, the app helped Colorado police find and arrest a man after a deputy “accidentally” dropped his phone on the suspect’s truck. As reported by Denver NBC affiliate 9News (via Gizmodo), Deputy Travis Peck was about to arrest Steven Sandoval, who was wanted for evasion after failing to appear in court....

A new report from Bloomberg indicates that Apple’s global mobile market share gains can be attributed to Samsung missing analysts’ shrinking sales estimates. As the rising popularity of cheaper smartphones erodes Samsung’s profit margin, the company continues to struggle to meet industry estimates. According to the report, Samsung also faces a new threat from Apple in China. Following the Cupertino company’s deal with China Mobile, Apple is expected to make tremendous gains in that country, further pressuring Samsung to drop prices in order to maintain any hope of competing in the market....

Apple has launched its Back to School promotional offer for the 2021 season. Customers can get a free pair of AirPods bundled with the purchase of eligible Mac and iPad purchases. Free bundled AirPods are available as standard, and customers can pay the extra to get AirPods Pro. Students, parents and school faculty in the United States can take advantage of the offer from now until September 27. Details after the break …...

Yesterday we revealed that Apple was revamping the third-party accessory selection in its retail locations with new boxes designed by Apple itself. Apple has recently launched a new webpage that showcases the testing that all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch cases are required to go through before they are sold in an Apple Store. Apple first notes that it analyzes the design of the case to ensure that all ports and buttons are still easily accessible and that the case design is strong enough for day-to-day use....

Apple has updated its HomeKit accessory list with the latest information on which smart home devices will support the latest HomeKit features introduced alongside iOS 13.2, namely HomeKit Secure Video and HomeKit routers. The changes were first spotted by HomeKit Hero. Apple first announced its new HomeKit partnerships at WWDC, showing logos for Eufy, Logitech, and Netatmo camera manufacturers and router brands like Linksys, Eero, and Charter Spectrum. The exact models to be supported were not confirmed at the time....

Apple is holding a media event at 10 a.m. PST today to unveil the new iPad mini, iTunes 11, and new Macs. For those looking to tune in to the event (we are sure that’s all of you), Apple just confirmed that it would live stream today’s happenings to the Apple TV. 9to5mac readers have noticed a new “Apple Event” icon on the home screen of their Apple TVs that launches a player for when things go down in a few hours....

When Apple released the iPhone 12 line last September, the company was able to take some of Samsung’s market share in South Korea. Now, a report says the Android maker was able to take back some of its market share in its home country. According to a Counterpoint Research report [via ZDNet], Samsung controlled 67% of South Korea’s smartphone market in Q1 2021. This is a “3% increase from the 64% of the same time period of 2020 and a 9% jump from the previous quarter’s 58%....

Well, that’s the latest claim to emerge from TechCrunch, which reports that MobileMe user’s public iDisk file sharing pages can easily be used to determine a member’s email address…“There is no way as a user to hide or delete your public folder. If you are a MobileMe customer, you have one.” “Gathering the entire MobileMe username list, and therefore email list, via a simple dictionary attack is trivial,” the report explains....

Since March, the old Mac Pro has not been available to buy in Europe as changes in regulations meant that the old Mac Pro no longer complied with EU law. In particular, the large exposed fans of the Mac Pro were the main reason behind the ban — the amendment required fan guards and minor changes to electrical ports. With the design of the new Mac Pro, Apple once again complies with regulatory requirements....

Apple is planning to announce support for Apple Pay in the United Kingdom during its Monday Worldwide Developers Conference kickoff keynote, according to a report from The Telegraph. The report adds that the service will go live in the U.K. within two months. Mike Cowan, a Senior VP at MasterCard, told the publication that his company is “absolutely” ready to support Apple Pay abroad. We have heard this as well, including that major bank Lloyds is a planned launch partner....

Retail data analytics firm InfoScout has told payment industry conference PYMNTS R2 that the percentage of U.S. iPhone 6 owners who have tried Apple Pay fell from 15% in March to 13.1% in June. Usage has also fallen sharply among those who have tried the service. Surveying iPhone 6 owners who have previously used Apple Pay and were shopping in a store that accepts the payment method, the percentage using Apple Pay fell from 39....

Following a delay, Apple has officially announced that it is launching its new Apple Podcasts Subscriptions platform next week. According to an email sent to podcasters today, Apple said that subscriptions and channels in the Apple Podcasts application will go live on June 15. The Apple Podcasts Subscriptions platform was originally slated to go live in May, but Apple delayed the rollout to “ensure the best experience for creators and listeners....

Apple last week pulled the first watchOS 5 beta due to it bricking certain Apple Watch models. Today, Apple has re-issued the first beta that will hopefully resolve any bricking issues. The initial watchOS 5 beta launched just after the WWDC keynote last week, adding new features such as Walkie-Talkie and Activity Competitions. As per usual, we highly advise against updating to the watchOS beta. Unlike Apple’s other platforms, there is currently no way to revert back to a public stable version of watchOS after updating to the beta without sending your Apple Watch off to Apple....

Apple has released the first iOS 10.3 public beta for testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10.3 public beta 1 follows two days after the first developer version of the upcoming software update. Apple’s public beta program is free to participate in unlike its paid developer program. iOS 10.3 will be released to everyone likely this spring, and the public beta allows more users to test pre-release versions of the software update before it’s finalized....