Top Stories: Apple's New Software Approach, iPhone Duo-Optimized Apps, and More
Apple's wild past few months are finally starting to slow down with the last of the big hardware launches coming this week.
Meanwhile, developers are continuing to optimize their apps for the all-new form factor of the iPhone Duo and Apple looks to shake up its internal iOS and macOS development to give engineers more time to explore and develop new features within the existing update cycles, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple has
made a change to its development process for iOS 28, macOS 28, and corresponding software updates, according to
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his
Power On newsletter this week, he said Apple separates development of each year's new operating systems into three major stages. Typically, he said each stage consists of four weeks of coding followed by a four-week "convergence" period where new features are integrated into the operating systems.
This time around, Apple has made a change, extending the coding period of each stage to six weeks and compressing the convergence period to two weeks, giving engineers more time to come up with and explore ideas before having to lock them in. The change could allow Apple to move more quickly on feature development, part of a general shift toward trying to become more nimble under new CEO John Ternus.
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
Apple this week abruptly announced that the long-running
Apple Support Community discussion forums will be permanently closing on Friday, November 20. Effective immediately, the Apple Support Community forums are in a read-only state, with new posts no longer being accepted.
Longtime members of the community were
blindsided by the move and left without an opportunity to post farewell messages to others in the community.
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple last week announced that
more than 100,000 apps have been optimized for the iPhone Duo, delivering full compatibility with the device's inner and outer displays. Despite the volume of apps that have been updated, a number of high-profile apps have yet to be optimized, but more and more are being updated each day.
The new form factor of the iPhone Duo opens up new possibilities for app functionality and layouts, and we've shared several rounds of
fun new apps,
innovative games and utilities, and
more.
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro, HomeView Smart Home Hub, and Apple TV
Apple's long-rumored MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is now in the hands of customers, and
we've shared our initial impressions of Apple's first touchscreen Mac.
The touchscreen functionality arrives as part of a new display based on OLED technology, and the machine is significantly lighter than previous models while also delivering a number of other improvements. And yes, the long-lost lighted Apple logo on the lid has made a return!
In addition to the new MacBook Pro, we've also gone hands on with the just-launched
HomeView smart home hub and the
fourth-generation Apple TV 4K box.
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
In a series of YouTube videos shared over the past few weeks, electronics technician and consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann has exposed a controversy in which
some Apple Store employees have allegedly signed up customers for auto-renewing subscription trials for Apple One and other services without their informed consent.
Apple has historically tracked the "services attach rate" for retail employees, leading some to feel pressure to push the limits on signing customers up for trials without getting clear permission.
Apple has recently removed the attach rate metric for retail employees, though the company has said it is because the metric is less relevant for the holiday season when users are more often buying as gifts rather than for themselves, but the timing of the change is certainly convenient given the recent publicity.
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
Apple this week
released iOS 27.2.1 and related updates, delivering a number of
security-related updates and other unspecified bug fixes.
tvOS 27.2.1 also arrived on Friday, bringing Siri AI to 2nd- and 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K boxes.
The releases come as much more substantial 27.3 updates remain early in beta testing ahead of public releases next month.
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