Apple has released version 3.0 of its COVID-19 screening app. The latest update includes tips for using cloth masks as well as the updated symptoms and recommendations from the CDC.
A few weeks ago, Apple updated its coronavirus screening app with guidance from state health authorities. Now, version 3 of the app brings tips for how to best use cloth masks to keep yourself safe as well as cleaning them, and the latest recommendations and symptoms to look out for as detailed by the CDC.
Apple highlights in the new info among other mask tips:
To sanitize your mask, routinely wash it in the washing machine in hot water.
Version 3.0 of Apple’s COVID-19 screening app is still propagating in the App Store, so check back a bit later if you’re not seeing the update now.
Earlier this week the CDC added these symptoms to its official page on COVID-19: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.
Release notes:
This update includes additional language support, bug fixes and improvements, including:
• Updated symptoms and recommended actions to align with latest CDC guidelines
• Tips for using a cloth mask to protect yourself and others
Last week saw contradictory claims about iPhone Mail vulnerabilities, with a security company claiming that they had been exploited in real-world attacks, and Apple stating that it can find no evidence of this.
Two leading security researchers have now weighed in on this, agreeing with Apple on one point, while stating it remains possible that the bugs have been exploited …
Everyone now appears to agree with one of Apple’s statements: that the iOS Mail app vulnerabilities discovered by ZecOps cannot be exploited on their own. Apple said:
The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections.
ZecOps accepts this, and it has been backed by other security researchers. However, as we noted last week, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t have been exploited alongside other vulnerabilities in order to carry out a successful attack.
The denial is not a complete refutation of the claim. It may be the case that the specific vulnerabilities alone cannot bypass security safeguards, but that they can be combined with existing exploits in order to do so.
Wired reports that our take has now been echoed by two high-profile security researchers.
iOS security researcher and Guardian Firewall creator Will Strafach points out that while Apple and ZecOps are correct about the limited utility of the Mail bugs alone, it’s still important to take these types of bugs seriously.
“A zero-click like this is especially interesting because it is not a full exploit chain, yet due to the nature of how it works, it could enable something like a smash-and-grab for mailbox data. Even the prospect of copying emails then self-deleting the crafted ‘attack email’ is quite scary.”
Former NSA hacker Patrick Wardle agrees, making the point that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and saying it wouldn’t be surprising that Apple would be unable to detect these attacks even if they have taken place.
“It is unlikely that if this vulnerability was used in highly targeted attacks that Apple would find evidence of such attack,” Wardle says. “Either way, it would be helpful for Apple to articulate how they came to this conclusion.”
Even the crudest zero-click attacks leave little trace, which makes tracking them an issue. Security analysts say that in many cases, the very features that make software more secure often make zero-click attacks harder to detect […]
“We don’t see a lot of these zero click vulnerabilities exploited in the wild and that is because they’re so difficult to detect—it’s not because they’re not out there.”
If the iPhone Mail vulnerabilities have been exploited, however, this is mostly likely against specific, high-profile targets.
Apple and Google announced their partnership two weeks ago to develop contract-tracing via Bluetooth in iOS and Android. Last week we shared details about how it will work and roll out, and today we’ve got answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 contact tracing for iOS and Android as well as updates on the Bluetooth and cryptography specifications.
We learned last week how contact tracing will work and roll out as well as how people will be able to participate. Those details should also help to further qualm security and privacy concerns from US Senators as well as the public.
Today we’ve got more details from Apple and Google representatives that cover some of the most frequently asked questions about contact-tracing in iOS and Android, now called Exposure Notification.
How can contact tracing help slow down COVID-19?
Smartphones can be an important part of slowing down the pandemic as they offer an automated solution that scales to understand when people are exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus. This gives valuable anonymous data to public health authorities to make the best decisions to slow down COVID-19.
Contact tracing is being used by public health authorities and governments around the world.
How does the software ensure privacy and security?
Users have explicit choice whether or not to turn on and use COVID-19 contact-tracing
Users control all data and if they want to share it
No location data is tracked, the software works via Bluetooth-based rotating beacons
Contact-tracing from Apple and Google will only be available to be used by apps from public health authorities
Apple and Google can turn off COVID-19 exposure notification on a regional basis
Will the government have access to information through contact tracing?
Approved apps from public health authorities will have access to Bluetooth beacon data that retains user privacy and security.
Explicit user consent is required for their anonymous data to be shared
Where is contact tracing data stored and who can see it?
Contact tracing data is only stored on a user’s device
Contact tracing data is only processed on a user’s device
Public health authorities will be able to see anonymous Bluetooth beacon data for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and those that receive exposure notifications
Data will also include the day the contact occurred and how strong the Bluetooth signal was
Will Apple and Google monetize contact tracing data?
There will not be any monetization for contact tracing data
Apple and Google reiterate that the software relies on a user’s device for processing and data storage
Where can you find contact tracing apps for iOS and Android?
As public health authorities develop and update apps to work with Apple and Google’s contact tracing software they will be made available in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Apple and Google are partnering with public health authorities to see about ways they might be able to contact users about available apps
Apple and Google will highlight contact tracing apps when they become available on their app stores.
How will the software know if I’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive?
Each public health authority will decide how each determines if someone has been exposed.
Apple and Google’s software supports data that includes how long someone has been in contact with someone who has tested positive
Health authorities will determine a minimum threshold for the time in contact with someone who has tested positive and Apple and Google will have a 30-minute maximum set to retain user privacy.
Apple and Google representatives highlighted that contact tracing is just one part of the solution for the coronavirus pandemic.
More resources can be found on Apple’s website. There are also updates today on the Bluetooth specification, Cryptography specification, and framework API for the iOS software. These include the API keys being randomly generated, changing the encryption algorithm from HMAC to AES, associated metadata is now encrypted, and more.
Every so often, a bug in iOS emerges where a certain string of text will cause your iPhone or iPad to crash. This week, another such string of text is going viral, and a fix from Apple is not yet publicly available.
The string of text, which we aren’t going to share here, includes the Italian flag emoji and characters in the Sindhi language. When an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch receives a notification with this text string, things get wonky. Sometimes, your device will crash, while other times it completely stops responding to touch input, and much more.
Details of where this text string originated are somewhat unclear, but the original source seems to have been a Telegram group. It’s now going viral on Twitter and other social media platforms, though, so it’s worth being aware of. It can spread through theoretically any application, including Twitter, Messages, and more
These sort of bugs have surfaced at various times over the last few years. For instance, back in 2015 the “effective power” text string went viral. Essentially, when you sent the string to another iPhone user, it would cause their Messages app, and sometimes iOS as a whole, to crash.
What’s usually most important about these text string bugs, including today’s, is that it’s almost completely out of the end user’s control. What this means is that someone can send the text to you, and immediately crash your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.
Other such stories include :
Receiving an Indian character crashes Messages and other apps in iOS 11
PSA: This link will crash Messages on iOS and macOS, cause resprings & more
iOS bug causes Messages to crash, iPhone to reboot when a certain text is received
Sending this text will crash almost any iPhone, but don’t expect it to become a major problem
The issue does appear to be fixed in the latest iOS 13.4.5 beta, but that update is not available to everyone just yet. Generally, Apple rolls out a fix for these problems quickly, so we should expect iOS 13.4.2 or even iOS 13.4.5 to be released to everyone sooner rather than later.
One temporary fix, until Apple releases software updates to resolve the problem, is to disable notifications on your devices. Thankfully, if you do receive a message with the text string in it, you can reboot your device and things should be back to normal.
Have you seen this bug in the wild? Let us know down in the comments! We’ll keep this post updated with the latest details as well.
A fix on Reddit claims to protect users with a jailbroken device from the bug :
A new string of characters is making the rounds similar to the Telugu text that would cause iOS to crash. CaptureTheFlag is similar in that it hooks CoreText to replace any occurrences of it with “REMOVED.”
Update: A new video from EverythingApplePro shows that you dont necessarily even need the Italian flags, just the Sindhi characters.
The Most Affordable iPhone Features A13 Bionic, the Fastest Chip in a Smartphone, and the Best Single-Camera System in an iPhone
Introducing the second-generation iPhone SE, a powerful and compact new smartphone.
Cupertino, California — Apple today announced the second-generation iPhone SE, a powerful new iPhone featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, paired with Touch ID for industry-leading security. iPhone SE comes in a compact design, reinvented from the inside out, and is the most affordable iPhone. The new iPhone SE is powered by the Apple-designed A13 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone, to handle the most demanding tasks. iPhone SE also features the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone, which unlocks the benefits of computational photography including Portrait mode, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust and water resistance.
iPhone SE comes in three beautiful colors — black, white and (PRODUCT)RED — and will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, April 17, starting at just $399 (US).
“The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE features the industry-leading performance of A13 Bionic that enables great battery life, takes stunning Portrait mode and Smart HDR photos, shoots amazing videos with stereo audio, is great for games and super fast web surfing, and is built with the same industry-leading security features our customers expect. We can’t wait to get iPhone SE into customers’ hands.”
iPhone SE features an aerospace-grade aluminum and durable glass design with an all-black front.
Popular Design with a 4.7-inch Display
iPhone SE features an aerospace-grade aluminum and durable glass design with an all-black front, and is available in black, white and (PRODUCT)RED. The rear glass finish includes a centered Apple logo and is made using a seven-layer color process for precise hue and opacity, delivering rich depth of color with a color-matched aluminum band. It is water- and dust-resistant with an IP67 rating for water resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.1
The 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone adjusts the white balance to match the ambient light for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience. The vibrant wide color gamut Retina HD display offers incredible color accuracy, and supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback. iPhone SE uses Haptic Touch for Quick Actions — such as animating Live Photos, previewing messages, rearranging apps and more — as well as contextual menus.
iPhone SE also features the familiar Home button designed with sapphire crystal to be durable and to protect the sensor, and a steel ring to detect a user’s fingerprint for Touch ID. Using Touch ID is an easy, private and secure alternative to entering a passcode to unlock iPhone, fill in passwords using iCloud Keychain, log in to apps, authorize App Store purchases, and make Apple Pay transactions.
iPhone SE comes in three beautiful colors, black, white and (PRODUCT)RED, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust and water resistance.
A13 Bionic — The Fastest Chip in a Smartphone
Introduced with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, A13 Bionic is the fastest chip ever in a smartphone and provides unparalleled performance for every task iPhone SE handles. Perfect for photography, gaming and augmented reality experiences, A13 Bionic makes every action feel fluid.
A13 Bionic was built with a focus on machine learning, with a dedicated 8-core Neural Engine capable of 5 trillion operations per second, two Machine Learning Accelerators on the CPU and a new Machine Learning Controller to balance performance and efficiency. Together, A13 Bionic and iOS 13 enable new intelligent apps that make use of machine learning and Core ML.
Built for efficiency, the A13 Bionic also enables great battery life for iPhone SE. iPhone SE is wireless-charging capable with Qi-certified chargers and also supports fast-charging,giving customers up to 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes.2Lightning-fast download speeds are available with Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit-class LTE.3Dual SIM with eSIM provides the flexibility for users to have two separate phone numbers on a single device while traveling abroad or for use as a business line.4
A13 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone, comes to iPhone SE enabling great battery life, power and efficiency.
New Camera Experience Powered by A13 Bionic
iPhone SE features the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone with a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture Wide camera, and uses the image signal processor and Neural Engine of A13 Bionic to unlock even more benefits of computational photography, including Portrait mode,all six Portrait Lighting effects and Depth Control.5 Using machine learning and monocular depth estimation, iPhone SE also takes stunning Portraits with the front camera. Next-generation Smart HDR comes to iPhone SE, intelligently re-lighting recognized subjects in a frame for more natural-looking images with stunning highlight and shadow details.
iPhone SE takes amazing photos with Smart HDR, stunning portraits with Portrait mode including all six Portrait Lighting effects, and with QuickTake, users can easily transition to video recording without switching out of Photo mode.
Videos are even more immersive with stereo audio recording and cinematic video stabilization on the front and rear cameras. The rear camera supports high-quality video capture at 4K up to 60fps, and extended dynamic range comes to iPhone SE for more highlight details up to 30fps. Customers can also take advantage of QuickTake video on the front and rear cameras, allowing video recording without switching out of Photo mode.
With advanced Camera and Photo features in iOS 13, native editing is even more comprehensive and intuitive through powerful tools that were once available only for photo editing.
iPhone SE features the best single-camera system in an iPhone capturing high quality video up to 4K 60fps on the rear camera, cinematic video stabilization on the front and rear camera, and studio audio recording.
Everything Apple has to Offer
iPhone SE gives customers access to Apple’s robust ecosystem of products, services and accessories. Users can take advantage of the almost 2 million apps on the App Store, including the best third-party apps and AR experiences, stay up to date on current events with Apple News, enjoy original series, movies and documentaries from the world’s greatest storytellers with Apple TV+, stream over 60 million songs from their favorite artists on Apple Music, make secure and private purchases with Apple Pay, and store photos, files and contacts on iCloud with the ability to access content on all of a customer’s Apple devices. With a Lightning connector, iPhone SE is also compatible with more than 25,000 Lightning accessories, including camera accessories, audio and speakers, docks, CarPlay and more.
iPhone SE is built with the same industry-leading security features that customers expect from Apple — protecting privacy and giving customers control of their information. For example, Touch ID and the Secure Enclave protect fingerprint data, Intelligent Tracking Prevention on Safari helps stop advertisers that follow users from site to site, Photos uses machine learning to organize photos on device and more.
iPhone SE with iOS 13 delivers a seamless experience with software and hardware integration unlike any other smartphone. iOS 13 features a dramatic look with Dark Mode, a more private way to sign in to apps and websites with Sign In with Apple, and an all-new Maps experience that delivers faster and more accurate navigation and beautiful street-level imagery with Look Around.
iPhone SE integrates hardware and software for a seamless experience allowing access to Apple’s unparalleled ecosystem of products, services and Lightning accessories.
Pricing and Availability
iPhone SE will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in black, white and (PRODUCT)RED starting at $399 (US). Customers can also get iPhone SE for $9.54 a month or $229 with trade-in from apple.com, in the Apple Store app and Apple Stores.6 iPhone SE is available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
iPhone SE is available to pre-order on apple.com and the Apple Store app beginning at 5 a.m. PDT on Friday, April 17, and will be available from Apple, Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers on Friday, April 24, in the US and more than 40 other countries and regions.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and other platforms including online (tv.apple.com), for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Customers who purchase iPhone SE can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free.7
Customers with questions about iPhone SE or which iPhone is right for them can contact a Specialist at 1-800-MY-APPLE or start a chat in Messages directly from the Apple Store app.
Anyone who purchases online from Apple will receive free no-contact home delivery and the option to trade in their current iPhone for credit toward the purchase of iPhone SE.8
Customers get 3 percent Daily Cash when they buy iPhone SE from Apple with Apple Card.
Customers can extend their limited warranty with AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, and get 24/7 priority access to technical support.
A portion of proceeds for iPhone SE (PRODUCT)RED purchases will go directly to Global Fund’s newly established COVID-19 Response — providing funding to countries in need of PPE, diagnostics treatment, lab equipment, public safety communications, supply chain support and more — as well as HIV/AIDS grants that provide testing, counseling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from mothers to their babies.
1 iPhone SE is splash-, water- and dust-resistant, and was tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes). Splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty. iPhone SE is resistant to accidental spills from common liquids such as soda, coffee, tea, beer and juice. In the event of a spill, rinse the area with water and wipe your iPhone, and dry it. 2 Up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes with 18W adapter or higher (sold separately). 3 Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier and see apple.com/iphone/LTE. 4 Use of Dual SIM requires two wireless service plans (which may include restrictions on roaming). Certain restrictions apply to use. 5 Portrait mode on iPhone SE has the ability to recognize people. 6 Trade‑in values vary. iPhone SE promotional pricing is after trade-in of iPhone 8 in good condition. Additional trade‑in values require purchase of a new iPhone, subject to availability and limits. Must be at least 18. Apple or its trade-in partners reserve the right to refuse or limit any Trade In transaction for any reason. In‑store trade‑in requires presentation of a valid, government-issued photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Sales tax may be assessed on full value of new iPhone. Additional terms from Apple or Apple’s trade-in partners may apply. Monthly pricing: Available to qualified customers and requires 0 percent APR, 24-month installment loan with Citizens One or Apple Card Monthly Installments and iPhone activation with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon. Taxes and shipping not included. Additional Apple Card Monthly Installments terms are in the Customer Agreement. For additional information on iPhone Payments terms, visit apple.com/legal/sales-support. 7 One subscription per Family Sharing group. Offer good for three months after eligible device activation, starting April 24, 2020. Plan automatically renews until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply. 8 Online Trade In is not available in Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.
Apple and Google announced a collaboration to release a COVID-19 contact tracing API at the end of last week. It will enable health departments around the country to release apps to track and contain the pandemic but there are still privacy and security concerns even though Apple and Google have described how the approach will work anonymously via Bluetooth as well as questions about how it will all roll out to users. Here are a couple of ways we could see health departments across the US implement Apple and Google’s contact tracing API in iOS and Android apps to move us closer to reopening society (or at least portions of it).
Executive Director at the non-profit Voting Works, Ben Adida shared optimism on Twitter about Apple and Google’s contact tracing software as a path to reopening society as a vaccine is in the works.
After diving into the documentation from Apple and Google he highlighted how privacy and security concerns can be addressed with the API, how we could see the apps roll out through “clumps of counties” as one of the best options to move toward reopening society, and more.
He notes the API means Apple & Google have done the heavy lifting and will make it easier for local health departments to build contact tracing apps.
For privacy and security, he said most of the pieces are in place with user anonymity and data staying on users’ devices. But some fine details will need to be ironed out…
When it comes to how the contact tracing API will be implemented, suggests that we could see counties band together in the US to create apps.
Adida mentions that it could help drive contact tracing app adoption and help local authorities make decisions on when to reopen society.
He also shared that Apple and Google could opt to use a system notification on iOS and Android to drive app use.
After talking a bit about making apps open-source, Adida also notes how health departments could tie-in testing directly with the apps for a more efficient system of containing the pandemic.
If you’re curious about Apple and Google’s contact tracing API and how all of this might come together, the whole thread is definitely worth a read.
One way to track the spread of COVID-19 across a population is through contact tracing. Apple and Google today announced a “joint effort” that leverages Bluetooth on Android and iOS phones to “help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus.”
The two companies are launching a “comprehensive solution” for contract tracing that encompasses “application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing.”
This is an alternative to relying on location data approaches from carriers and other telecom companies that some countries have already implemented.
Based on these upcoming tools, governments will be able to build COVID-19 contact tracing apps that work across Apple and Google devices. When two people are in close-range, their phones will exchange anonymous identifiers. If an individual gets diagnosed with COVID-19, they can have their device transmit a list of everybody they’ve been in contact with to the cloud.
Meanwhile, the second person’s phone will periodically download a list of everyone that has tested positive in their area. If a match occurs, they will be notified and prompted to contact health authorities.
These APIs will be available by May, and those “official apps” from public health agencies can be downloaded through Google Play and the App Store.
A second joint effort is focused on creating a “broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms.” Third-party apps will no longer be required, with contact tracing built into Android and iOS directly. While still requiring manual opt-in, this should increase adoption.
This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities
Both companies in their joint press release this morning are heavily focused on the privacy angle. Key points include :
Explicit user consent required
Doesn’t collect personally identifiable information or user location data
List of people you’ve been in contact with never leaves your phone
People who test positive are not identified to other users, Google, or Apple
Will only be used for contact tracing by public health authorities for COVID-19 pandemic management
All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.
Across the world, governments and health authorities are working together to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people and get society back up and running. Software developers are contributing by crafting technical tools to help combat the virus and save lives. In this spirit of collaboration, Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design.
Since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals, public health officials have identified contact tracing as a valuable tool to help contain its spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities, and NGOs around the world have been doing important work to develop opt-in contact tracing technology. To further this cause, Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing. Given the urgent need, the plan is to implement this solution in two steps while maintaining strong protections around user privacy.
First, in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.
Second, in the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms. This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders. We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze.
All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.
Apple has released iOS 12.4.6 for older model iPhone and iPad devices that are not able to run iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4.
The iOS 12.4.6 is said to include important security updates and thus is recommended for eligible users to download and install onto their devices. No new features are expected to be included with iOS 12.4.6.
Devices eligible for the iOS 12.4.6 update include iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 6th generation, iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2, and iPad Mini 3. Newer iPhone and iPad models are able to download iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 instead.
How to Update to iOS 12.4.6
Before anything else, backup the iPhone or iPad to iCloud, iTunes, or to MacOS before beginning any system software update. Failure to backup could lead to data loss.
The easiest way for most users to download iOS 12.4.6 is through the Software Update mechanism in Settings app on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch :
Open the “Settings” app
Go to “General” and then choose “Software Update”
Choose to “Download and Install” iOS 12.4.6
iOS 12.4.6 will download and install automatically, requiring a device reboot to complete. When the installation has finished, the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will automatically boot itself back up and be usable again as normal.
Release notes accompanying the iOS 12.4.6 update download are very brief stating that it “provides important security updates” and is therefore recommended for all users who are eligible for the update.
More advanced users can also choose to update iPhone or iPad manually by using IPSW as detailed here.
Separately, Apple has also released macOS Catalina 10.15.4 for Mac, along with Security Update 2020-002 for macOS Mojave and High Sierra, iPadOS 13.4 for newer iPad, iOS 13.4 for newer iPhone, along with updates for tvOS and watchOS.
Would you like to download music directly from Apple Music to iPhone or iPad? Doing so allows for offline listening, which is a really handy capability for many situations.
Like any other streaming service, by default Apple Music requires you to be connected to the internet. It’s all sunshine and rainbows as long as you’re streaming your music over Wi-Fi or cellular, but what if you lose connectivity? Or, what if you’re asked to switch your device to Airplane mode on a flight? The answer is pretty simple. You can’t stream music anymore. However, Apple does offer a solution in the form of Offline Listening, which lets you download music directly from Apple Music to iPhone or iPad.
Are you an Apple Music subscriber looking to download your favorite songs for listening offline? If so then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be discussing exactly how you can download music from Apple Music to your iPhone or iPad for offline listening.
How to Download Music from Apple Music for Offline Listening on iPhone & iPad
Apple Music only allows you to download songs that are in your library. So, if you’re trying to download a song that you just looked up, make sure you add it to your Apple Music library first. Now, simply follow the steps below to download music to your iPhone or iPad.
Open “Music” app from the home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
Head over to the “Library” section within the app and select any album where you want to download your favorite song from.
Now, tap on the “cloud” icon located right next to the title of the song to start the download. Once complete, this icon will disappear, indicating that the song isn’t stored on the cloud anymore and is available for offline access.
Here’s another way to download a song. While you’re listening to a song in the playback menu, tap on the “triple dot” icon located next to the song title.
A menu will pop up from the bottom of your screen. Here, simply tap “Download” to store the song offline.
As for the last step, in order to access all the songs you’ve downloaded to your iPhone or iPad, head over to the “Library” section and tap on “Downloaded Music”.
That’s all there is to it. You’ll be able to listen to your favorite music even if you aren’t connected online.
It’s always nice to have a few songs downloaded as a backup just in case you lose connection, especially while travelling.
In addition to downloading songs available on the streaming platform, your Apple Music subscription gives access to iCloud Music Library. Thanks to this nifty feature, the songs you’ve added to your iTunes Library on a PC / Mac will be automatically available for download on the rest of your Apple devices.
Most streaming services including Apple’s primary competitor Spotify, allows you to consume media offline, so it’s nothing new. Despite all the advances in technology, it’s still pretty difficult to stay connected at all times. A power outage or loss of cellular coverage is all it takes to stop you from accessing internet.
Offline Listening is actually pretty useful for people living in rural areas with unreliable internet connections, regions with less than stellar internet service, and even developing countries where a majority of the people don’t have access to fast and reliable internet yet. Considering how streaming could get interrupted due to poor connectivity, it’s better to listen offline and avoid all the buffering issues.
Apple Music is a hugely successful music streaming service that was introduced back in 2015 to compete against the likes of Spotify and Pandora, and it’s a great service for many users because it’s baked into the stock Music app that’s available on all iOS devices. Additionally, the service is also accessible on Android devices via a standalone app, and available on Windows PC / Mac through iTunes and the Music app in MacOS Catalina or later.
Need to clear up some disk space or get rid of some old iPhone or iPad backups on a Mac? With the latest versions of MacOS, managing iOS and iPadOS device backups is done entirely in Finder, including deleting and removing device backups.
Arguably the safest and most thorough way of backing up an iPhone or iPad is to do an encrypted backup via Mac Finder. When the backup is complete you’ll have a copy of all of your data on your computer, complete with encrypted keychain contents. But it all takes up space that you might want to reclaim. As you can imagine, doing a full backup of your iPhone or iPad can take a lot of space. That’s fine if you’re lucky enough to be using a Mac with a multi-terabyte SSD. But most of us aren’t, so we need a way to trip the amount of data used by backups. We need to delete old ones. And in macOS Catalina, that’s a whole new process compared to deleting backups with iTunes. As you’ll see, removing backups this way is similar, but since iTunes is no more in modern macOS versions, it’s obviously a bit different and using a different process.
Here’s how to go about deleting old iPhone or iPad backups in macOS Catalina.
How to Delete iOS & iPadOS Device Backups from MacOS Finder in Catalina
This assumes you have made a backup of iPhone or iPad to macOS before, if not there will not be any backup to remove.
Plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac using a USB cable.
Open a Finder window by clicking its icon in the Dock and click your iPhone or iPad in the sidebar.
Make sure that the “General” tab is selected and then click “Manage Backups.” You’ll find it at the very bottom of the window.
Click to select the backup that you want to delete and then click “Delete Backup.”
You’ll need to confirm that you want to delete the selected backup before the action is carried out.
The selected backups will be deleted.
Depending on the size of the device backups you removed, you can possibly get a ton more space on your Mac drive, whether it’s a hard disk or SSD, just by removing backups this way. This is particularly nice to do with old device backups that are no longer needed.
Of course you don’t want to delete the only copy of a device backup you have, so be sure you have a backup of the iPhone or iPad somewhere before deleting one from the Mac.
As a bonus, you’ll still have these backups safe and sound if you’re using Time Machine, assuming you use that feature to backup the entire Mac anyway. You can then go about restoring the backup if you still need it, depending on how much time has passed and how long Time Machine keeps files around. Another handy trick for redundant backups is to manually copy a copy of the backed up devices to other external storage mediums, like an SD card, USB flash drive, or external hard drive, which you can then refer to if needed.
Using a Mac is just one way of backing up your iPhone or iPad. You can also use a Windows PC with iTunes if you want to. If you’d rather not have to plug them into a computer at all, you can use iCloud for backups instead as well. With iCloud, your device will back itself up overnight and you won’t need to connect to a computer to restore anything, either. And just like the Mac and iTunes approaches, you can also delete backups from iCloud too.
Finder in MacOS handles all device management now that iTunes used to, and that includes not only device backups but also syncing music to iPhone or iPad in MacOS with the Finder too, along with other device management options. Basically all that used to be device management in iTunes is now in Finder.
