Following the release of macOS 10.13, iOS 11, watchOS 4, and tvOS 11 betas, Apple has released a newly updated version of its macOS Human Interface Guidelines. These design guidelines help designers and developers alike to build out applications that follow models based on Apple’s recommendations. While not everything in the guidelines needs to be strictly adhered to, it helps designers understand Apple’s ideals and to create cohesion across the platform....

Our colleagues over at 9to5Google have regularly reported on a new standard referred to as Rich Communications Services – or RCS. Touted as an upgraded version of SMS, RCS is being spearheaded by the carriers, Microsoft, and Google. Now, it appears that Apple also might be involved in RCS, at least in some capacity. On Reddit, a slide from an October GSMA event has surfaced. The GSMA is a trade body representing mobile network operators....

Apple has seemingly decided to crack down on antivirus and antimalware apps, removing them from the App Store. Although there has been no official statement from Apple on a policy change, Apple’s loose guidelines allow them to pull pretty much anything at any time, particularly something like antivirus which has questionable utility within the sandboxed iOS environment of iPhones and iPads. One casualty of the removal is Intego’s VirusBarrier, which claims that this takedown was not specific to its product with Apple deciding the entire category of antivirus products is now off-limits....

A report today from The Guardian details claims from one of Apple’s contractors about the conversations that are heard as interactions with Siri are reviewed and analyzed. The report brings up privacy and transparency concerns and Apple has released a statement addressing the matter. The Guardian’s source for this latest report is said to be a contractor that “grades” Siri. The whistleblower said that “Apple contractors regularly hear confidential medical information, drug deals, and recordings of couples having sex, as part of their job providing quality control” for Apple’s voice assistant....

As highlighted in a report from Bloomberg today, the opportunities for Apple revenue growth in one of its biggest markets, China, are unclear as the company has been unable to launch its new paid services in the region due to strict local laws concerning content availability and censorship policy. This year, Apple put a big focus on Apple News+, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+ launches. None of them are available in China....

Images via Chipworks Back in July, Mark reported that some code in iOS 7 showed that the 64-bit A7 would be made by Samsung. If that weren’t enough, Anandtech reported that they also believe that Samsung made the A7 last week after their iPhone review. The evidence was pretty strong but we now have what appears to be definitive evidence from iFixit/Chipworks. Chipworks goes further and identifies what Apple calls the M7....

Last week, Apple revised its app store policies in an effort to adhere to an Authority for Consumers and Markets’ (ACM) order for the iPhone maker to update its app store policies so dating app providers could use payment systems other than the one offered by Apple. The changes entailed Apple providing an option for dating app providers to use either a third-party payment system within the app or include an in-app link directing users to the developer’s website to complete a purchase....

Apple has shared its annual Holiday Gift Guide as we approach the holiday shopping and gift-giving season. The company also has new details on special offers through the holiday season, content coming to Apple TV+, and much more. Apple’s annual Holiday Gift Guide is never that interesting. It basically includes every Apple product currently available, and this year is no different. Hint: The company that makes Apple products wants you to give Apple products as holiday gifts this year....

Following the revelation that Apple’s top lawyer Bruce Sewell will testify before Congress this coming week over encryption, another attorney for the company has sat down with CNN to discuss the ongoing case. In the interview, current Apple representative and former United States solicitor general Ted Olson discussed how what the government is asking Apple to do is “limitless.” Olson explained that if the tool that the government wants is created, any judge anywhere could essentially order to listen to any customer’s conversation, track location, and much more....

Apple announced its plans to transition the Mac from Intel to Apple Silicon processors on June 22, 2020. At the time, the company said it would “ship the first Mac” with Apple Silicon by the end of 2020 and “complete the transition in about two years.” That two-year road map has passed, and Apple hasn’t completed the transition quite yet. Here’s what we’re still waiting on. The Apple Silicon transition timeline There’s always been a debate over when exactly Apple initially planned to finish the Apple Silicon transition....

In March, we covered Spotify’s It’s time to play fair campaign where the company laid out reasons it felt Apple wasn’t playing fair. Like most services, Apple obligates Spotify to pay a 30% cut in order to use in-app purchases when signing up new subscribers (it drops to 15% in year two of the subscription). Ultimately, Spotify wanted the EU to probe Apple Music in relation to how Apple treats its competitors vs its own business....

Facebook announced last spring at its F8 developer conference that it would be bringing Apple Music integration to its Messenger app. Now, the feature is beginning to roll out to users. When in a Messenger message, tap on the + symbol to the left of the text box. Then look for the Apple Music extension and tap on it to get going. Alternately, another way to share with Facebook Messenger is from within the share sheet in Apple Music....

Alongside the release of iOS 15.1 last week, Apple announced that Apple One Premier would be available in 17 new countries, as the company is expanding Apple Fitness+ to 15 new regions starting November 3. Now, before the release of Fitness+ in these countries, more users can already subscribe to Apple One. Apple One Premier is now available in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UAE....

Following the addition of eight additional card issuers and banks earlier this month, Apple has updated its list of supported institutions and card types to include 15 more credit unions and banks. These new banks are listed as supporting Apple Pay as of today: -A+ Federal Credit Union -Amegy Bank of Texas -America First Credit Union -Bethpage Federal Credit Union -California Bank & Trust -Connex Credit Union -Goldenwest FCU -Huntington Bank -KeyPoint Credit Union -Meijer Credit Union -National Bank of Arizona -Nevada State Bank -TCF National Bank -The Bank of Greene County -Vectra Bank -Zions First National Bank...

Apple has added dozens of new banks and credit unions to its list of institutions that support its Apple Pay mobile payment service. The new banks include several credit unions from around the United States as well as Charles Schwab Bank, RBC Bank, and other notable additions. The more than 30 banks added today are rolling out ahead of next month’s Apple Watch launch which will support making Apple Pay payments in stores....

According to a new report from GigaOM, Apple is planning to build a new solar panel farm in Reno, Nevada in conjunction with NV Energy. Reno is also where Apple’s latest data center is located. The company already has two similar-sized solar farms in North Carolina to power its data center there, but this is the company’s first in Nevada. The solar farm, dubbed “Ft. Churchill Solar Array,” will be able to proved between 18 to 20 MW in power, which is about the same as its plants in North Carolina, which both put out 20 MW in size....

After Tim Cook recently claimed at an environmental conference that its new ‘Spaceship’ headquarters would be “the greenest building on the planet,” Apple today provided (via Business Insider) a few illustrative facts and figures to support the claim. This includes recycling all of the concrete from its present headquarters to form part of the foundations of the new campus. Trees cleared from the construction site are being turned into lumber for use in the building....

Following its notification of the upcoming release, Apple has seeded the first build of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2 to developers. It is build number 12C31a, and Apple says to focus on Facebook, Messages, Game Center, and Reminders. Earlier today, Apple released the first maintenance update of OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1) publicly. OS X Mountain Lion Update 10.8.2 is an update to OS X Mountain Lion 10.8. Installation Instructions...

One day after seeding iOS 15.6 beta 1 to developers, Apple is now releasing the public beta version to users enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. Alongside the first public beta of iOS 15.6, Apple is also making available the new versions of tvOS 15.6, macOS 12.5, and watchOS 8.7. Today’s iOS 15.6 beta 1 build is 19G5027e. Different from past versions, Apple hasn’t made available any important features so far....

Apple has updated the watch bands page on its website to provide an easier selection process for potential buyers. The page now lists each individual band under its own section with a brief description and price. Shoppers will then be able to select an appropriately-sized band for their watch. Previously the site looked like any other collection on the store with a grid view that featured little more than a photo....