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IOS Apple IT Technology

Apple Releases First Public Betas of macOS Catalina, iOS 13 and iPadOS 61

Apple today seeded the first beta versions of upcoming macOS Catalina update, iOS 13 update, and iPadOS update to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers a chance to try out the software ahead of their fall public release. Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will be able to download the macOS Catalina beta through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper profile. Those who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. Similarly, beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will receive the iOS 13 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on an iOS device. New features in macOS Catalina update includes: macOS Catalina eliminates the iTunes app, which has been a key Mac feature since 2001. In Catalina, iTunes has been replaced by Music, Podcasts, and TV apps. The new apps can do everything that iTunes can do, so Mac users aren't going to be losing any functionality, and device management capabilities are now handled by the Finder app. macOS Catalina has a useful new Sidecar feature, designed to turn the iPad into a secondary display for the Mac. For those with an Apple Watch set up to unlock the Mac, there's now an option to approve security prompts in Catalina by tapping on the side button of the watch. Macs with a T2 chip in them also support Activation Lock, making them useless to thieves much as it does on the iPhone. There's a new Find My app that lets you track your lost devices, and previously, this functionality was only available via iCloud on the Mac. There's even a new option to find your devices even when they're offline by leveraging Bluetooth connections to other nearby devices, something that's particularly handy on the Mac because it doesn't have a cellular connection. For developers, a "Project Catalyst" feature lets apps designed for the iPad be ported over to the Mac with just a few clicks in Xcode and some minor tweaks. Apple's ultimate goal with Project Catalyst is to bring more apps to the Mac.
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Apple Releases First Public Betas of macOS Catalina, iOS 13 and iPadOS

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  • "The new apps can do everything that iTunes can do, so Mac users aren't going to be losing any functionality, and device management capabilities are now handled by the Finder app."

    I've found it useful to stick with the iTunes 12.6.4.x branch simply because it can still be useful to manage iOS apps via computer - for instance, when a developer decides to surreptitiously and arbitrarily neuter their app in hopes of extorting more money from users. If you've downloaded and saved a previous version of the app,

  • I've not used these betas but word from others is that Beta 2 is pretty rough still, and it's what the public release is based on - wait for Beta 3...

    It's funny because on the Apple Developer download site for betas the message for iOS13 Beta 2 is:

    Important Note for Thrill Seekers: If you're interested in living on the edge and trying out the great new features in iOS 13, we strongly advise waiting for the many bug fixes and refinements coming to the public beta next month.

    Not quite sure if we'll see beta

  • Does this mean another generation of 4 year-old iPads will become obsolete?

    • The most recent iPad not supported by iOS13 is the original iPad Air, the iPad Air 2 is supported (released late 2014).

      It's not like the older iPads stop working though... they just stay on iOS12 (which receives updates for some time).

      • It's not like the older iPads stop working though

        Try to install the Kindle app on a 4th generation iPad. Is there a version that will work? Yes, but you can't get it from the App Store without tricking it into thinking you're someone who already has Kindle on their iOS device. Once you do that, Kindle works just great, but you can't get it to work without violating the Apple terms of service. Same goes for Chrome and Firefox.

        • A device from 2012 which was frankly the time when a lot of tablet tech was far from mature. Time to throw it into BestBuy's recycle bin. The iPad (2018 model) prices regularly dip below 300 on holiday sales. The iPads that run iOS12 should still remain useful for a while.

          • Time to throw it into BestBuy's recycle bin.

            Does your Linux machine from 2012 still work?

            All I want is for Apple products to still run the same software that they ran when they were released. Is that too much to ask? If I installed Kindle when I just bought my iPad, I should still be able to install it today. Don't you think? Is there some reason for breaking this functionality besides forcing people to buy new hardware they don't need?

            • Time to throw it into BestBuy's recycle bin.

              Does your Linux machine from 2012 still work?

              Let's very quickly put the lid back on that particular can of worms.

              All I want is for Apple products to still run the same software that they ran when they were released. Is that too much to ask? *snip* Is there some reason for breaking this functionality besides forcing people to buy new hardware they don't need?

              It's not too much to ask, really, but you'd have to either stop installing new OS versions (because Apple has no inclination to test everything in the App Store), or rely on app developers to keep their software updated (which they often don't, from one-guy operations to whoever bought the rights to Monkey Island)

              Phones, tablets etc. were never meant for tinkering; as users we sacrifice being able to readily fiddle around with things for no

              • It's not too much to ask, really, but you'd have to either stop installing new OS versions

                That's not the answer either. Because the version of major apps, like Kindle, Chrome, etc that are on the App Store will only work with the latest versions of iOS. If you try to install them on an older iPad, it will just throw up a dialog saying, "no way, San Jose".

                However, if you log onto your iPad with the account of someone who has an iOS device that has the older version of Kindle (or Chrome, etc), then guess wh

                • Because the version of major apps, like Kindle, Chrome, etc that are on the App Store will only work with the latest versions of iOS.
                  That is complete bollocks. You always can install a version fitting to your iOS. Just click the button, dumbass.

                  • That is complete bollocks. You always can install a version fitting to your iOS. Just click the button, dumbass.

                    That is simply not true. There is no "button, dumbass".

                    If you were to be given a wiped iPad 4th generation and have no other iOS devices, and try to install Kindle (or Netflix, or Chrome) the App Store will only tell you "The app requires iOS 11" (which of course, cannot be installed on an iPad 4th generation). There is no option to download an older version. The only "button" is one that says

                    • If you were to be given a wiped iPad 4th generation and have no other iOS devices, and try to install Kindle (or Netflix, or Chrome) the App Store will only tell you "The app requires iOS 11" (which of course, cannot be installed on an iPad 4th generation). There is no option to download an older version.
                      That is nonsense.

                      If an older version fitting to your OS is existing: then there is a button to download it. I have iOS 8 on my phone and all my apps are "old versions". And the ones that no loner run are de

                    • There is an interesting program for Macs, called iExplorer. Perhaps it makes your maintaining of your iOS devices more easy? It basically exposes the iPad/iPhone as a "plug in drive" in Finder ... or was it an extra app, don't remember. At least you can access "all files" on your device.

                    • If an older version fitting to your OS is existing: then there is a button to download it. I have iOS 8 on my phone and all my apps are "old versions"

                      That's because you installed them before Apple went to 64-bit.

                      If you were to give someone who was never an Apple user a wiped iPad 4th generation, and they created a new Apple ID. They would not be able to install Kindle, Chrome, Netflix, or many other apps from the App Store. There would be no "button" to install an earlier version. However, if they had an

            • by hawk ( 1151 )

              My 1984 Mac still works . . .

              For that matter, so does my MacClassic (1991?), and my MacPortable *would* if I redid the caps (someday . . .)

              My 2008 overhaul (turned out to be all but power cord :). ) of my 1996 FreeBSD box runs, but is rarely pulled out of the closet.

              And then there's that working Apple //e waiting to be delivered to my nephews . . .

              My last linux box was the first year (?) of the FreeBSD box, as it had hardware that FreeBSD didn't support. I checked one day when Debian fubared it in a rout

              • My 1984 Mac still works . . .

                Unfortunately, we're not talking about 1984 Macs. We're talking about 2013 iPads.

        • Once you do that, Kindle works just great, but you can't get it to work without violating the Apple terms of service. Same goes for Chrome and Firefox.
          What have Apples terms of service to do with that?

    • No. Please stop spreading FUD.

      They dropped support for all devices with only 1GB of RAM. For example, the ipad mini 3 (2014) will not be getting the 2019 iPadOS update, but the iPad Mini 4 (2015) will. Moreover, considering that it is highly likely that apple won't be dropping support for devices with only 2GBs of RAM, the 2015 ipad are probably going to get a couple more OS updates and will remain useful well into the next decade.

      Compare this to the BS going on in the Android-land. My Samsung Galaxy Tab S

      • They dropped support for all devices with only 1GB of RAM. For example, the ipad mini 3 (2014)

        As I said, planned obsolescence.

    • Since when do iPads go obsolet?

  • It's bad!
    Version 1.0 is the bestest of anything!!
  • by swell ( 195815 ) <jabberwock@poetic.com> on Monday June 24, 2019 @07:07PM (#58817396)

    Almost half my applications are 32 bit. Most utilities, many text editors, games, graphics & music applications. Even parts of Adobe CS6 are 32 bit. Some of these can be updated to 64 bit versions, complete with spamware, cruft and software-as-a-service ripoffs.

    Apple's unserviceable hardware for years has ignored the needs of the consumer and now the software is going the same way. I don't see any reason to 'upgrade' either hardware or system software for many years to come. I'm in the market for some 7 year old MacBookPros to cover me in case mine develops a problem I can't fix.

    • It's a nice theory but, over the last 40 years I've discovered that it is not practical to live in the past, computer-wise. If you are currently over 80 then it might be possible otherwise, good luck living the rest of your life using 20-teens technology. Progress is inevitable and you can't stop it.
  • Anyone know of a way to transfer files from a PC to the iPad and its new Files app without using iTunes or some 3rd party program? You can transfer files from a usb stick now apparently but not a PC?

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