Much like the somewhat controversial face unlock feature built-in to Google’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone, a new patent application reveals Apple too is working on similar, but more advanced user detection solutions. As PatentlyApple pointed out, Apple noted these recognition systems could land in a future iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or MacBook. The basics of the patent entitled “Low Threshold Face Recognition,” is to allow a user to unlock a device—such an iPhone or iPad—using facial recognition....

As expected, today during its iPad and Mac event Apple announced an official Oct. 20 launch date for Apple Pay, its new payments service unveiled earlier this year alongside the NFC-equipped iPhone 6 models. CEO Tim Cook also announced that the company has signed up 500 additional banks since first announcing initial partners last month. The banks will rollout Apple Pay this year and next, according to Cook. Initially the service will only be available for users in the US....

After over a month of beta testing, Apple has released iOS 15.5 RC to developers and public beta users. This suggests that the updates could be released to the public as soon as sometime next week. Head below for the full release notes… iOS 15.5 new features Apple says that iOS 15.5 makes enhancements to Apple Cash, with support for more easily requesting and sending money from the Apple Cash card in the Wallet app....

An iOS 8 app that allowed users to create custom shortcuts and access them from a Notification Center widget has been removed from the App Store by Apple for what it calls “misuse of widgets,” the developers said in a notice posted on the app’s website. The app, called Launcher, worked by letting users enter a URL or select an application to be launched when a shortcut was tapped. The shortcuts would then be displayed in Notification Center, allowing quick access to a variety of tasks such as starting a phone or FaceTime call, creating a new text message, email, or iMessage, opening an application, or more....

Apple has requested that programming partners who will take part in the company’s upcoming television streaming service provide their own content streams, Re/Code reported today. It’s not an unreasonable request on Apple’s part—in fact, it makes a lot of sense—so it doesn’t seem like this will be a big holdup for the service’s launch. Most TV networks already provide online streams in one form or another, so giving Apple access to that content shouldn’t put too much of a burden on them, though some network executives are said to be worried about the idea of paying the streaming costs on a platform promoted by Apple, versus one solely promoted by the network itself....

Apple is updating its Clips video creation app with a handful of new features. The app, which focuses on short-form video creation, now includes support for Memoji and Animoji characters, and more. Adding support for Animoji and Memoji characters to Clips allows users to create personalized videos using their custom characters. They integrate with other Clips features as well. Apple explains: Clips for iPhone and iPad also now includes new Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse stickers, a new poster, and more:...

In this article, you’ll learn more about iCloud Keychain, how to use it, and its best uses. What is iCloud Keychain? Apple’s iCloud Keychain offers one secure location to save personal information. Perhaps most importantly, it remembers this information so you can auto-fill content across the web and apps such as usernames/passwords, credit cards, and social log-ins. You can use iCloud Keychain to store Wi-Fi passwords and credit card information....

Over the past few days, it appears that Apple Maps has gained support for in-app reviews and images from two new sources. Since its launch, Apple Maps has only supported reviews of businesses from Yelp, but now it appears that the app is integrating user content from TripAdvisor and Booking.com for hotels, as seen below. At this point there does not seem to be any criteria for when you will see content from Yelp, Booking....

Apple products may last a long time, but as we know, the batteries do not. For Macs, Apple provides a handy way to determine the battery’s cycle count, but for a product like the AirPods, that may not be possible. This means that when your AirPods batteries eventually degrade to a noticeable degree, you’ll have to get them replaced. Apple has recently updated their iPhone Service Pricing page with details on the AirPods’ battery replacement pricing, but there is still some clarity to be had in how it all works....

If you checked your Wallet app today, you might have noticed that it features a notification badge there – this is because Apple Pay is upgrading fraud prevention features for some cards. Here’s what we know so far about this function. Apple says it will also share ”fraud prevention assessments as well as information about your transaction (such as purchase amount, currency, and date) with your payment card network for fraud prevention....

At the starting of February, Apple released iOS 6.1.1 beta to developers with some major enhancements to Maps for Japan. Apple has since released both 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 to the public, but both came without the Maps enhancements and instead included fixes for bugs and performance enhancements. Apple has apparently pushed out the new Map data to users today without including it in a new update, as noted by Macotakara....

Apple has published a new app for controlling and managing its Beats Pill+ speaker. Notably, this cross-platform release is the second Android app the company has released, following up on the Move to iOS app. The app includes features that allow multiple users take control of the music playing from one speaker, or use two speakers to achieve a higher volume level than one speaker can output. Dual speakers can also be put into a stereo mode that uses one speaker as the left channel and the other as the right channel....

Two days after making the release candidate of watchOS 7.1 available, Apple has released the public version of the update to Apple Watch users. watchOS 7.1 brings ECG functionality to new countries, notifications for headphone levels that could be harmful, and fixes issues like unlocking Mac with Apple Watch and a screen issue for the wearable. Apple releases iOS 14.2 with new emoji and wallpapers, HomePod Intercom support, more watchOS 7....

Apple’s second-generation AirPods aren’t the only newly updated headphones hitting the market this spring. That’s according to CNET which has a nice scoop on upcoming Beats Powerbeats that finally cut the cord. According to David Carnoy at CNET, Powerbeats headphones will be updated in April with an all-new truly wireless version: If accurate, new Powerbeats headphones will ship just a few weeks after Apple updated the original AirPods with a second-gen version that replaces the special W1 chip with a new H1 and adds an optional wireless charging case....

Apple announced MagSafe and MagSafe Duo chargers during its October event along with the iPhone 12 lineup, and although MagSafe charger is already available for customers, the launch date of MagSafe Duo remains a mystery. However, an Apple reseller in Switzerland suggests that the product will be officially launched on December 21. We were able to find the MagSafe Duo charger in the store, and in fact, consumers can already order it there....

A fresh report from Bloomberg today details the news that Apple will be bringing refreshed privacy controls for its devices and iCloud services. These updates are coming as Facebook is embroiled in a data privacy snafu and new European data privacy laws that will begin in May. Apple shared with Bloomberg that the refresh of privacy settings will include a new web page for managing Apple IDs, with new features and capabilities, and more transparency....

Apple’s advertising agency TBWA\Media Arts Lab has made a notable and rare change in leadership. Adweek reports that Geoff Edwards and Chuck Monn have been named executive creative directors, with the former overseeing creative for Apple’s growing Services sector and the latter focusing on the iPhone. Both Monn and Edwards will report to chief creative officer Brent Anderson, who was promoted to that position in October of 2016. Prior to joining Media Arts Lab, Edwards most recently served as an executive creative director for digital media firm R/GA, working on brands such as Disney, Nike, and Pepsi....

Apple first announced plans for an iOS App Development Center in Naples earlier this year, confirming in July that the location would open this October. Now, The Guardian reports that Apple’s iOS Developer Academy will open in Naples this week, hosting 200 students for its inaugural program. The inaugural program will last 9 months and see the 200 students receive the latest iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. The program is entirely free for students thanks to an investment by Apple and University of Naples Federico II....

The app “looks for item trackers that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with Apple’s Find My network. These item trackers include AirTag and compatible devices from other companies.” As long as the tracker someone is using works on the Find My network, this app will track it down. If it’s using another network (like Tile’s, for example), Apple’s app won’t do any good. As far as when you’d use this app, Apple says, “If you think someone is using AirTag or another device to track your location, you can scan to try to find it....

Apple has released a new dashboard specifically for musicians called Apple Music for Artists. The new dashboard has been created to give “deep analytical insight” about fans’ buying and listening habits. First reported by Billboard, Apple is releasing the new feature to “a few thousand” artists as a beta feature today, with what looks like a full rollout to all artists sometime this spring. Billboard got an early look at the dashboard and notes the clean and simple interface (see above) that is easy to use....