Apple has updated all three iWork iOS apps to resolve bugs that prevented Accessibility features working properly. Apple says that Pages, Numbers and Keynote all had “an issue that prevented proper navigation and editing with VoiceOver,” while Pages also blurred text when turning on Speak Screen on some iOS devices. The updates are to version 2.5.4. Updates are of course free for existing users, each app costing $9.99 to purchase. Pages, Numbers and Keynote can all be downloaded from iTunes....

Apple launched a new app last month to inform about how to stay safe and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Today the COVID-19 app for iOS was updated to version 2.0 with new features, including tips to stay mentally healthy, and more. According to the release notes of Apple’s COVID-19 app, the latest update allows users to choose the state in which they live for getting focused assistance from each government’s health department....

It was reported last week that Apple is working to turn the iPhone into a “one-stop shop” for medical record data and now a new report from CNBC offers up a bit more detail on those efforts. The report explains that Apple’s health team has been working with Health Gorilla, a small startup in the health industry. Health Gorilla and Apple are reportedly working together to add diagnostic data to the iPhone, including measurements such as blood work....

An earlier prediction by KGI’s Mingchi Kuo that the iPhone 5C would go on sale in China by the first week in October has been contradicted by a report in First Financial Daily claiming that the approvals process needed would push the launch date back by almost two months, to 28th November … All reports seem to confirm that the Chinese version of the handset will support the local TDD-LTE version of 4G....

Apple announced HomeKit support for routers at WWDC last year, but since then, many of the more specific details have remained a mystery. A new support document recently published by Apple, however, offers new information on how HomeKit routers will work, the setup process, and more. The elevator pitch for HomeKit routers is that they add more protection to your home accessories. Apple explains that using HomeKit routers will “add more protection to your home accessories by controlling which services and devices they communicate with on your home Wi-Fi network and over the Internet....

Following the launch of Apple’s “Start Something New” campaign on its website featuring artwork created on Mac and iOS devices, Apple is now transforming its retail stores into temporary art galleries showcasing art from the campaign. The images above come from customers on Twitter (via ifoAppleStore), and show off the campaign in Apple’s Regent Street, London store. The campaign, however, appears to be hitting Apple stores worldwide as other customers in New York and Toronto, Canada confirm Apple Stores there have also received the art gallery treatment....

It’s been over a month of Apple Watch Series 5 ownership, which has given me plenty of time to assess its value in our Apple Watch Series 5 video review. Series 5 is very much an iterative upgrade over its predecessor, perhaps more so than any other Apple Watch upgrade thus far. In fact, it shares so much in common with the Apple Watch Series 4 that they could easily be confused for the same device outside of a few obvious differences....

In the coming weeks, Apple will be making significant enhancements and changes to its AppleCare support service, according to sources. Planned to go live as soon as Monday, August 12th is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week AppleCare support via online chat. Sources did warn that August 12th is a “target date” that could be pushed back. Users who have support questions and issues at anytime of the day will now be able to have their concerns answered....

Seven European countries have now agreed to use an Apple-style contact tracing approach, where Bluetooth codes are stored on phones, not in a central server … Reuters notes that Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland have all agreed to this approach as part of an initiative to ensure that coronavirus contact tracing apps work across countries. They call for apps to allow users to simply switch countries within the app as they travel, instead of having to install a different app for every country they visit....

Many are viewing the expected removal of the headphone socket from the iPhone 7 as a radical move, even by a company noted for its readiness to abandon what it considers to be legacy ports. But a fascinating chart put together by The Verge (below) suggests that perhaps it’s not so radical after all. It shows that Apple typically supports a port, or I/O standard, for around 15 years. The headphone socket has been in every Apple product since 1984 – some 32 years....

Tim Cook has made it clear that Apple is focused and very bullish on the future of augmented reality. iOS 11 introduced a new ARKit framework for developers to bring the technology to their apps, and iOS 11.3 includes ARKit 1.5. Now, Apple’s head ARKit engineer is slated to give a public talk about the company’s work in augmented reality… Michael Kuhn, head of Apple’s ARKit engineering, is on the schedule to give an “Introduction to Apple’s ARKit” at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next month....

For the second year in a row, Apple will launch an Apple Watch Activity Challenge to celebrate the New Year. Set to start showing up from the 28th December, the new activity challenge promotes fitness by asking users to complete their Activity rings (Move, Exercise, and Stand) for seven consecutive days in January 2018. Apple Watch owners can earn a special iMessage sticker (pictured below) and achievement medal in the Activity app....

Apple kicked off its WWDC keynote starting with iOS 12 and Augmented Reality. Along with further ARKit developments, like USDZ file format, and upcoming native USDZ support in Adobe Creative Cloud, and ARKit 2, it unveiled Measure. Measure is a first-party ARKit-enabled Measuring app shipping with iOS 12 that can auto-detect dimensions of objects in 3D space and provide automatic measurements. Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, demonstrated Measure on stage in San Jose this morning....

Apple shared details on a new repair program for Apple Watch Series 5 and SE that have become bricked after entering Power Reserve. Below we’ll cover how check Apple Watch Power Reserve bug free repair eligibility and next steps with Apple. Apple released the watchOS 7.3.1 update for Apple Watch Series 5 and SE users that prevents the Power Reserve bug from happening. But unfortunately, if your watch has already been affected by the flaw, you’ll probably have to send in your Apple Watch for repair....

Well, because they’re desperate for you to spend more money with them. And, of course, because they want you to love them just a little bit more. Companies have a lot of Sally Field in them. Some, though, believe that the best way to send seasonal messages is to show that they understand you and your most intimate feelings. One can only conclude, therefore, that Apple thinks you’re worried about your very existence....

Apple’s new iPad processor will likely offer improved gaming performance Typically, when Apple’s product launched approaches, many industry watchers offer conflicting views on the features the new products might sport. Fifth-generation iPhone rumors mostly conflicted in terms of the product’s design, but industry watchers seemed to agree on features like an improved camera and a dual-core processor. With the upcoming iPad 3, most industry watchers agree on a design similar to the iPad 2’s design and a Retina Display....

We’ve already seen how Apple is presenting the upcoming Apple Watch, which it calls its most personal device yet, as not just another technology device but also a piece of jewelry that the fashion world will be proud to embrace. Aside from beefing up on how much of its staff is well versed in fashion and luxury lingo, there’s potential for greater changes in 2015 for Apple’s retail stores as it presents the Apple Watch to the world....

Bloomberg reports that Apple was sued on December 23rd over claims that App Store apps are proving user data to advertisers without consent. The lawsuit claims that Apple’s iOS devices “are encoded with identifying devices that allow advertising networks to track what applications users download, how frequently they’re used and for how long.” The lawsuit also states that user information like age, gender, and political views are being sold to advertisers as well....

Apple has today pushed an update to its Apple Support app, available for iPhone and iPad. Today’s update brings it to version 3.0 and adds a few handy features. Available now, the Apple Support app has added a new tab that lets users easily search support articles and documentation. The app replaces the current Account tab with a Search button at the bottom, moving access to your account to the Discover tab at the top right corner....

UPDATE [Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 7:25am ET]: A Samsung spokesperson chimed in, providing us with the official statement, included at the end of this article. After Samsung confirmed the addition of four more complaints to its German patent offensive (two are standard-related patents, the other two being utility patents) on Monday, Apple this morning fired back by extending its Australian patent complaint to include Samsung-made cases for Galaxy tablets and smartphones, according to Bloomberg....