When Apple launched its first-party mapping software alongside iOS 6, users immediately discovered that there were a significant number of issues with the map data. Apple eventually issued an apology and said that the release was not up to the company’s standards. A new Reddit post today seems it point to the fact that Apple is finally ready to start making serious changes to how it corrects Maps data. Ever since the app debuted, it has had an option to report incorrect POI data to Apple....

As expected, Apple Pay is now available in Canada. You can use use eligible American Express bank cards to make mobile payments at a whole host of retailers that support the NFC technology across Canada. Apple Pay retailer mobile payments works with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Some had suggested that Apple may need to push out an iOS software update but iOS 9.2 remains in beta — this all works from within the Wallet setup on iOS 9....

In addition to updating the iTunes Festival lineup with new acts including Ed Sheeran and deadmau5 and reviving the Apple TV channel for viewing the concert on-demand and live, Apple’s recently acquired Beats Music is now promoting the iTunes Festival with a contest to attend the music festival in London. While tickets to Apple’s annual music event are free for attendees (and very limited), the contest by Beats Music to attend the iTunes Festival covers airfare both to and from London....

Fortune has put together its “Change the World” list, which recognizes company’s that are making a positive impact, and Apple has come in at number three. Tim Cook also spoke with Fortune to explain more about how he thinks Apple is changing the world for the better and also shared that he believes Apple products aren’t just for the rich (a day before the ~$1000 iPhone X debut). Fortune notes that under Tim Cook, the “company transformed in terms of how it projects onto the world its social awareness and its place in the corporate community....

Apple has released the first iOS 11.4.1 beta to registered developers for testing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 11.4.1 likely focuses on bug fixes to any issues created by yesterday’s iOS 11.4 release. iOS 11.4 delivers major new features including Messages in iCloud, AirPlay 2, and stereo support for HomePod. Check out our hands-on coverage below: iOS 11.4 with AirPlay 2, Messages in iCloud, HomePod stereo now available Hands-on: HomePod’s AirPlay 2 multi-room audio, stereo pairing, and Calendar support [Video] Messages in iCloud arrives with iOS 11....

While Apple has mostly moved on to iOS 10 beta testing at this point, the minor iOS 9.3.3 update is still in beta and received its third developer release today. iOS 9.3.3 beta 3 for developers brings the build to 13Y823. Changes so far haven’t been noticeable as the update is likely focused on security enhancements and bug fix improvements. Apple last released an iOS 9.3.3 beta in early June including the first version for iPad Pro 9....

Apple TV+ today released the trailer for its upcoming original feature film ‘Finch’, starring Tom Hanks. Hanks plays the eponymous ‘Finch’, the last man alive in a post-apocalyptic world, with only a dog for company. Fearing he will soon die, Finch builds a robot to look after the dog rather than leave it on its own. The trio embarks to find a safer place to live. Watch the trailer below …...

In addition to seeding the second beta of iOS 9.3.2, Apple today has seeded the second beta of watchOS 2.2.1 to developers. The new build comes two weeks after the first beta was released. The update comes several weeks after Apple released the more substantial watchOS 2.2 update. watchOS 2.2 so added a totally revamped Apple Maps app and glance, and it’s required to use iOS 9.3 beta’s new multi-watch feature....

According to Re/code, Apple may soon drop the Fitbit health tracking devices from its retail stores. The report lacked a specific reason for Apple planning to no longer carry Fitbit bands but noted Fitbit’s lack of support for HealthKit on iOS 8 so far as well as Apple’s own fitness tracking device plans with the release of the Apple Watch in 2015. Apple may soon stop selling the popular Fitbit devices, as it clears way for its own wearable technology product set to launch sometime next year, according to sources....

Apple RomaEst in Italy will permanently close on October 17 as Apple prepares to open a historic flagship store in the center of Rome. The plan to close Apple’s oldest store in Italy was outlined in early January, but delays due to COVID-19 significantly impacted the progress of the project. The webpage for Apple RomaEst was updated Friday morning to thank customers for more than 13 great years at Centro Commerciale RomaEst, a shopping center in Rome’s suburb of Lunghezza....

Apple last month launched its traditional Back to School offer in the United States, which gives students free AirPods on the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad. Now the offer has been expanded to most countries in Europe, as well as other regions. Students who purchase an eligible Mac or iPad model from the Apple Store for Education can get a pair of second-generation AirPods for free. If the student prefers, Apple offers an upgrade to AirPods with a wireless charging case or AirPods Pro for an additional price....

Apple is said to owe 13 billion euros (estimated $16 billion USD) to Ireland, according to the country’s tax collectors, Reuters reports. Niall Cody, Revenue Commissioners’ chairman, says that Apple’s bill (which it is disputing) is “ in that ballpark,” and that nearly all calculations will be done and sent before the end of April. As we reported back in January, Ireland was ordered to recover 13 billion euros from Apple in underpaid taxes, and it looks like this will indeed be the final amount that will be owed....

Siri and Apple Music in every room If I were in charge of Apple’s home projects, my number one goal would be to have a device in every room that enables access to Siri, Apple Music, and Apple Podcasts. I actually think it should come in two flavors. There should be a $69 model with an Echo Dot quality speaker, and then there should be a $99 option that is a Wi-Fi mesh access point for a revived Airport Extreme Wi-Fi product....

Apple has announced that it is celebrating Black History Month with a number of different initiatives this year. One of the most notable announcements is a new-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and matching Unity Lights watch face, which Apple says are inspired by Afrofuturism. Here’s how Apple describes the new Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop: To complement the band, Apple has also launched a new Unity Lights watch face for Apple Watch users everywhere....

Apple kicked off today’s keynote with a video highlighting some of the accessibility features of Apple products, such as spoken alerts letting a blind person know when the camera has detected a face and locked focus on it … Tim Cook said that he could not be prouder to share the video as Apple’s teams work so hard to make products accessible to everyone, and the company was highlighting those in a new accessibility website....

Apple is continuing the expansion of Apple Pay today with the addition of four new countries; Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates – the Scandinavian countries first reported last week . See a list of banks for the new countries after the jump. Apple Pay enables users to pay with their iPhone or Apple Watch at retailers with contactless terminals. Users can also Apple Pay on supported websites with iOS devices or the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar....

Following the release of iOS 14.4 beta 1, watchOS 7.3 beta 1, and tvOS 14.1 beta 1, Apple has just released the first beta of macOS Big Sur 11.2 to developers. The update comes two days after the company released macOS Big Sur 11.1 to the public. It’s unclear what’s new in the macOS Big Sur 11.2 beta, but based on the iOS 14.4 beta 1 — which was released earlier today — Apple is focusing on bug fixes and general improvements in today’s release....

Apple has released iOS 9.3.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The bug fix update to iOS 9.3, released last week, contains a crucial improvement for iOS users: it addresses the widespread issue where apps (and sometimes the whole OS) would crash or hangs when tapping links. We’ll update the post if we spot anything else notable, although the Release Notes do not suggest anything else has changed … The 9....

Yesterday, we told you the U.K. Court of Appeal in London ordered Apple to remove “inaccurate comments” from the Samsung apology posted on its U.K. website within 24 hours. As part of the initial ruling, Apple was also supposed to post newspaper advertisements in the country explaining the court ruled Samsung did not copy the iPad’s design. Today, Apple removed the apology from its U.K. website, but it has yet to publish an altered version removing the four paragraphs the court took issue with....

Apple has contributed to Bono’s (PRODUCT)RED charity for quite sometime by donating a portion of profits from sales of special red editions of iOS devices and accessories. Today, the official PRODUCT(RED) Twitter account (via TheLoop) revealed that Apple’s contributions to fighting AIDS through the charity have now topped $65 million, making it the largest contributor to the charity out of all participating companies. U2 singer Bono, who cofounded the charity back in 2006, commented that “Apple is certainly leading the crew” when it comes to donations from (PRODUCT)RED partners....