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:...

Earlier this week, Apple announced a deal with GT Advanced Technologies to increase production of sapphire for use it’s in products. This production will take place in Apple’s new Arizona facility. Via AllThingsD, as part of an earnings call on Monday, GT shed some light on just how big this deal is for both companies. This means that GT’s sapphire business will generate between $480 – $640 million of the company’s 2014 revenue, an increase of almost twenty-times compared to 2013....

With an estimated half a million sites vulnerable to the “Heartbleed” vulnerability revealed earlier this week, which allows an attacker to access user details of websites previously believed to be secured by industry-standard SSL/TLS, your favorite social networks, stores, and other services around the web could potentially be handing out your password or other personal information to anyone who exploits the issue. The bug exists in a library called OpenSSL, which is an open-source SSL implementation that many—but not all—web services use to secure sensitive traffic....

Apple today has shared a new Guided Tour video to its YouTube channel that highlights Apple Pay on the iPhone. Apple has previously shared a Guided Tour showing off Apple on the Apple Watch, but this is the first video in which Apple has demonstrated the feature on its smartphone. In the video, Apple highlights the ease of use that Apple Pay provides. The company demonstrates how you can use it at compatible checkout terminals in retail locations, as well as use it in apps for buying goods and apps like Uber for buying services....

MacRumors posts that Apple is getting rid of boxed software in its stores this morning. They quote this line from a previous 9to5mac post: Sure, you may ask about software that can’t be put in the App Store. Like Apple’s OSes for instance. Or Hard Drive utilities. Or Creative Suite. Or any software that doesn’t fit in the App Store for one reason or another. That’s a good question because those products are on Apple’s store shelves now and there doesn’t appear to be a quick replacement....

We’re less than an hour away from WWDC 2019, where Apple is expected to unveil major enhancements to the iPad. Ahead of the event, Apple has updated its Apple Developer Program License Agreement with new references to iPadOS. The iPad Home screen is also expected to be revamped, while the new iPadOS is also expected to include support for mouse interaction as an Accessibility feature. Further, there’s also a new desktop extension feature coming to macOS 10....

Apple has today shared trailers for two more of its original content TV shows airing on Apple TV+ when the service launches on November 1. Ghostwriter and Helpsters were previously announced for the launch lineup but trailers were not yet released. These previews are now available to watch on tv.apple.com. Ghostwriter is a reboot of an American children’s mystery series from the 90’s. The series is based around four kids who team up to solve mysteries as a huanted bookstore releases fictional characters into the real world....

According to a report from Reuters, Apple is apparently under investigation in Italy related to unpaid taxes on more than $1.34 billion. The report quotes a “a judicial source with direct knowledge of the matter” and noted that the investigation is currently underway with authorities in Milan. Reuters notes that Italian authorities in June handed down prison sentences and hundreds of million in fines for unpaid taxes to fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana....

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....

Apple isn’t the only smartphone manufacturer seeing falling sales. New figures from Strategy Analytics show what the global smartphone market saw its first-ever year-on-year drop on sales, down 3%. Apple’s fall was of course far more dramatic, iPhone sales down 18% year-on-year, with CEO Tim Cook blaming economic ‘headwinds’ – and Strategy Analytics’ numbers show that strong competition from Chinese brands forms a large part of those … Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments fell 3 percent annually from 345....

If you’re one of the many excited buyers chomping at the bit to get one of Apple’s latest-gen Retina iMacs, you might want to take a second to consider the specs on the new models. According to Apple’s website, the 1 TB Fusion Drives used in the new all-in-ones have seen a significant decrease in the amount of included flash storage. How significant? The new drives ship with less than one-fifth of the previous flash storage....