Apple is planning to adopt a new connector type for accessories for iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices through its official Made-for-iPhone (MFi) licensing program. Dubbed the “Ultra Accessory Connector” (UAC), Apple has recently launched a developer preview of the new connector type to prepare manufacturing partners for the component that in some cases will replace the use of Lightning and USB connectors, according to sources familiar with the program....

Apple just released a third beta version of the upcoming iOS 5.1 firmware (Build 9B5141a). The software is available as an over-the-air update for existing iOS 5.1 beta users, but is not yet available (update: now available) as a standalone download through Apple’s developer portal. As you might imagine, it contains the obligatory bug fixes and improvements. According to the tips we’ve received, it also restores the Enable 3G toggle in the Settings app which has been strangely absent on the iPhone 4S since it’s mid-October release....

Bloomberg reports this evening that Apple has secured a new deal with Warner Music Group for Apple Music. The deal is Apple’s first since introducing Apple Music two years ago, while the company hopes it will set precedent for future negotiations with other labels. Today’s report explains that Warner will provide Apple with a catalog including recent stars like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars, as well as older artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, for both the iTunes Store and Apple Music....

Having originally planned to add a new transit directions feature to Maps last year, only to pull the feature before WWDC 2014, Apple now hopes to launch its Transit service with iOS 9, according to sources. Apple currently plans to debut bus, subway, and train route navigation as the central upgrade to the Maps app in iOS 9 at WWDC, using a user interface similar to the one intended for last fall’s launch, as depicted in the screenshots above…...

Alongside iOS 14.4, Apple today has also released HomePod Software 14.4 with new features for HomePod mini users. The update brings a revamped Handoff experience, new personalized listening suggestions, and more. The leading change with HomePod Software Version 14.4 is an all-new Handoff experience powered by the Ultra Wideband, or U1 chip, in the iPhone. Previously, users would just hold their iPhone near the top of a HomePod to transfer audio to or from the device....

In addition to releasing software updates across iOS, Mac, and watchOS, Apple today has released an update to iTunes. The update brings iTunes to version 12.4 and includes the design tweaks that were initially rumored earlier this month. iTunes 12.4 introduces a variety of interface tweaks that Apple says make it easier to navigate the app and switch between different kinds of content. First off, there’s a new media picker that allows users to quickly switch between Music, Movies, TV shows, and more....

Ahead of the April 24th launch of its first wearable, Apple has started removing competing health and fitness products from its retail stores. Re/code reports that the company is pulling fitness bands from Nike and Jawbone from its shelves. It’s not the first time Apple has stopped selling a product to avoid competition. Last year the retailer removed Bose products from its stores after the NFL banned Apple-owned Beats headphones from appearing on camera to accommodate a Bose sponsorship deal, and Bose filed a lawsuit against Beats....

Apple is rolling out the fifth macOS 10.12.5 developer beta through the Mac App Store. macOS Sierra 10.12.5 beta is currently only available to developers. Public beta versions usually come a few days after developer versions if not the same day. The upcoming update follows macOS 10.12.4 which brought Apple’s color shifting Night Shift feature to the Mac for the first time. Apple is also running developer betas for iOS 10....

Update #2, 3:30AM ET: 4-5 week shipping times across the board from Apple. Update: Most all models are now shipping in 2-3 weeks via Apple. The iPhone X is now available for pre-order on Apple’s website. After 6 hours of downtime, the Apple Online Store has returned with the iPhone X in tow. Head there now to get the pre-order process started. The iPhone X is also now available from carrier websites:...

The company has won a China network license for the iPhone 4 from China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. That’s broadly in line with statements from Apple’s Chinese iPhone carrier, China Unicom, which has previously said it expects to offer the iPhone in China later this year. China Unicom spokesman Wen Baoqiu and Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu, both based in Beijing, declined to comment when approached by Dow Jones. This will potentially be a very big deal for Apple’s adventures in China....

AirPods have become a huge success since they were introduced in 2016, and Apple has already expanded its lineup of wireless headphones – which also includes Beats products. According to a Statista survey, Apple leads the headphone market in the United States “by a considerable distance” thanks to AirPods and Beats. Statista’s Global Consumer Survey of over 4,000 people in the United States last month revealed that AirPods account for about 34....

Just hours after disclosing the upcoming retirement of Communications VP Katie Cotton, Apple has disclosed that Vice President of Sales for North America is, too, leaving Apple. Apple VP Doug Beck, who currently runs sales for Japan and Korea, will add North America to his portfolio of responsibilities. Apple told the WSJ: Rowe joined Apple approximately two years ago after being the long-time CFO of United Continental Airlines. The reasoning behind Rowe’s departure is not currently known....

During a developer session at WWDC in June, Apple revealed that it would soon make uploading screenshots much easier for developers via iTunes Connect. Now, Apple has posted a new update on its Developer website confirming the change is now rolling out. With the change, developers can now submit just one set of screenshots and one optional app preview per device family. In the past, developers would have to upload screenshots for each different iPhone and iPad variant....

A widespread issue appears to be affecting CarPlay users running iOS 14.5.1. According to a report from Autoevolution, as well as multiple reports on Reddit and other forums, the Music app on CarPlay has started repeatedly crashing upon launch for some users. Apple first released iOS 14.5.1 two weeks ago to address a bug related to App Tracking Transparency. The CarPlay Apple Music crashing happens exclusively on iOS 14.5.1, but it did not start immediately when the update was released....

Following yesterday’s iOS 14.5 release, Apple has officially launched Apple Music City Charts, a collection of playlists updated daily with what’s trending in over 100 cities around the world. With Apple Music City Charts, you can listen to 25 songs that are trending in a city. For example, in New York, Solid by Young Stoner Life is trending while in São Paulo Batom de Cereja by Israel & Rodolfo is “making waves” in the city....

Brydge has been making great iPad keyboards for years now and we’ve noted how they offer a MacBook-like experience for iPad in our reviews, something even Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folios don’t match. Now Brydge Keyboards have landed at Apple.com and some Apple Stores. Spotted by Jason Snell, two of Brydge’s keyboards for iPad showed up in Apple’s online store today. For now, Apple is selling the Brydge 10.2 Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for the 7th gen iPad and the Brydge 10....

Apple has started selling a mesh Wi-Fi system from Linksys both on its website and in stores. The move is notable as Apple hasn’t updated its own Wi-Fi base station hardware since 2013 and doesn’t currently offer its own mesh Wi-Fi system. The future of Apple’s networking hardware has long been unclear for that reason. Bloomberg reported over a year ago that Apple disbanded its AirPort team and planned no future hardware releases....

Following the first shipments of Apple’s new 27-inch Thunderbolt Display, a new support document reveals some limitations regarding multiple display support that we weren’t exactly expecting. Nearly every current Mac model is able to support two Thunderbolt displays. The exceptions are the 13-inch MacBook Air (mid 2011), which only supports one, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro which supports two, but disables the device’s main display to do so. Also of note, the $800 Mac mini can support three Thunderbolt displays thanks to the AMD graphics and its HDMI port....

The popularity of the iPhone 12 meant Apple overtook Samsung in smartphone sales in the final quarter of last year, the first time this has happened in four years, says Gartner. The market intelligence firm says Apple saw year-on-year growth of 14.9%, while Samsung saw its own sales fall by 11.8% in the same period… Gartner says that across the whole of 2020, Apple enjoyed more modest growth of 3.3%, while Samsung’s sales fell by a larger 14....

Apple has released iOS 15.5, macOS 12.4, and more today with updates like new features for Apple Cash, the Podcasts app, and the Studio Display webcam fix. However, a bigger reason to update your devices is the security patches with today’s releases. iOS 15.5 includes almost 30 security fixes while macOS 12.4 features over 50. Apple shared all the details for the security fixes in its latest software for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more on its support page....