Author

Peter Cao

Peter writes for 9to5Mac. He has a passion for music and technology and has accepted the Bluetooth audio revolution, but will never give up the beauty of vinyl.

Tips to peter@9to5mac.com

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iOS 12

Apple releasing iOS 12.1.3 and watchOS 5.1.3 developer beta 3 later today [U: Now available]

Peter Cao Jan 7 2019 - 9:35 am PT

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[Update: Now available. tvOS 12.1.2 beta 3 is also out now as well.

Update 2: macOS Mojave 10.14.3 beta 3 is now available.]

Apple is releasing its third iOS 12.1.3 developer beta later today, after releasing its second iOS 12.1.3 beta late last month. The release notes only mention bug fixes, but we’ll update if anything notable is discovered on the new beta. Apple is also seeding the third watchOS 5.1.3 beta to developers as well.

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How to view lyrics in Apple Music on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Jan 7 2019 - 12:01 am PT

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A hidden feature, similar to the shuffle and repeat buttons, in Apple Music is lyrics. Not only can you search lyrics, but you’re able to actually view them within the app. Follow along to learn how to view lyrics in Apple Music…

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Headphones

Comment: Making the case for over-ear Apple headphones in 2019

Peter Cao Jan 5 2019 - 2:00 pm PT

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I’m currently working on a handful of headphone reviews over at 9to5Toys, and during my extensive testing with various headphones, I’ve realized more and more that I want Apple over-ear headphones. Here’s why…

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New Pandora update includes Apple Watch app with offline playback

Peter Cao Jan 4 2019 - 3:31 pm PT

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With Apple Watch becoming more of an independent device that you can use without your iPhone, developers are hard at work to build Apple Watch apps to compliment while you’re on the go. Pandora has today updated to its app with support for Apple Watch offline playback…

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Charter now offering Apple TV 4K at $7.50/mo for existing Spectrum TV & Internet customers

Peter Cao Jan 4 2019 - 3:03 pm PT

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After Spectrum TV launched just last night for Apple TV, the company has now announced a new Apple TV 4K deal for subscribers.

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How to turn on Airplane Mode on Apple Watch

Peter Cao Jan 4 2019 - 12:01 am PT

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With Series 3 or later Apple introduced LTE on the Apple Watch. While you’d likely use the feature more on your iPhone than your Apple Watch, here’s how to turn on Airplane Mode on Apple Watch…

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App Store

Apple announces ‘record-breaking’ App Store holiday revenue, $322 million earned on New Year’s Day

Peter Cao Jan 3 2019 - 9:16 am PT

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As the company does every year, Apple today announced new App Store records for the holiday season. Apple says it has been another “record-breaking year.” Apple revamped the App Store with iOS 11. It brought a visual refresh and a new Today view with curated content.

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How to turn off cellular data on Apple Watch

Peter Cao Jan 3 2019 - 12:01 am PT

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With Apple Watch Series 3 or later, users can optionally purchase an LTE data plan on compatible models. If you’ve purchased an LTE data plan, here’s how to turn off cellular data on Apple Watch.

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How to turn off automatic play/pause with AirPods

Peter Cao Jan 2 2019 - 12:01 am PT

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AirPods have a nifty feature that automatically pauses your audio when you take one out of your ear, and automatically resumes when you put the AirPod back in your ear. This is useful, however, some may prefer to have it off. Follow along to learn how to tutor off automatic play/pause with AirPods.

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Bluetooth audio codecs explained: Comparing ‘lossless’ vs. ‘lossy’ compression

Peter Cao Dec 31 2018 - 11:31 am PT

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Apple did its part in moving the world to wireless headphones. With the removal of the headphone jack with iPhone 7, the company made it clear that the future of audio is wireless. However, the company had already noted its vision well before the iPhone 7 with the original Apple Watch. Years later, the company continues removing the jack in more devices such as iPad Pro.

Today, we’re looking at wireless audio. Specifically, the different Bluetooth audio codecs and why they play an important role in the future of audio. Earlier this year we broke down Bluetooth 5.0 and its role in pushing the wireless revolution forward. Learn more about that here.

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How to take a screenshot on iPhone X, XS, or XR

Peter Cao Dec 31 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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With the new generation all-screen displays of the iPhone X, XS, and iPhone XR, Apple has changed the method in which you take a screenshot. Follow along to learn how to take a screenshot on iPhone X, XS, or XR.

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Netflix ditching iTunes billing for new customers

Peter Cao Dec 28 2018 - 12:24 pm PT

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One notable provider missing in Apple’s TV app integration is Netflix. While you can still search for content from Netflix within the app, it will not keep track of watching history or suggest content for the Up Next feature. The company will be distancing itself from Apple even more soon.

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How to check if your device supports Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Peter Cao Dec 28 2018 - 10:19 am PT

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Netflix today released a new interactive spinoff of its popular original series Black Mirror. Titled Bandersnatch, the new movie is causing some controversy in terms of how a user views the content.

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Capsicum is a new app that merges notes, to-do lists, and reminders on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Dec 28 2018 - 9:57 am PT

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Notes, to-do, and reminders applications are plentiful when it comes to iOS, with tons of alternatives available on the App Store. Today, a new app, Capsicum, is launching with a vision to take the place of your current calendar, notes, and reminder applications.

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Philips Hue outage causing issues with creating new accounts, company says fix is on the way

Peter Cao Dec 27 2018 - 11:35 am PT

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Naturally with the holidays, people are receiving tons of gifts including new gadgets. Philips Hue, a well-known smart lightning company, saw a surge which caused the company’s servers to see some downtime this week.

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How to use the built-in level feature on iPhone

Peter Cao Dec 27 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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With iOS 12, Apple has moved the built-in level from the Compass app to another app, removing it from the Compass app completely. Follow along to learn how to use the built-in level feature on iPhone.

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AirPods

Received AirPods for Christmas? Here are some tips & tricks to get you started

Peter Cao Dec 26 2018 - 3:58 pm PT

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AirPods were a super popular Christmas gift this holiday season. If you were lucky enough to receive them, here are a few tips and tricks to help make your listening experience even better.

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Apple responding to ‘bent’ iPad Pro controversy, insists flatness ‘tighter than previous generations’

Peter Cao Dec 21 2018 - 9:50 am PT

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Some iPad customers have been angered by a comment Apple made earlier this week to The Verge, stating that 2018 iPad Pros that come bent are normal and that Apple will not be replacing bent iPad Pros under warranty.

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Halide iPhone camera app donating 10% of holiday sales to three charities starting today

Peter Cao Dec 20 2018 - 10:58 am PT

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Halide has been gaining a ton of momentum in 2018 with constant and aggressive updates to the popular camera app over the year. Today, Halide is starting a special donation campaign.

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How to remove a user from a group iMessage chat on iPhone

Peter Cao Dec 20 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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Accidentally add someone to a group iMessage chat you didn’t mean to? Someone in a chat that’s spamming way too much? Luckily, in addition to removing yourself, you can also remove other users from a group iMessage chat. Follow along to learn how to remove a user from a group iMessage chat.

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T-Mobile’s ‘disruptive’ TV streaming service reportedly delayed until 2019

Peter Cao Dec 19 2018 - 2:43 pm PT

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T-Mobile has gone relatively silent over the last several months regarding its upcoming TV streaming service. Planned to compete against the likes of YouTube TV, PlayStation Vue, Hulu TV, and others, the uncarrier may be delaying the launch of its service for a bit longer.

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LastPass sees 50% increase in usage thanks to iOS 12 password autofill feature

Peter Cao Dec 19 2018 - 12:03 pm PT

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It’s becoming increasingly more important that users use strong passwords on their online accounts. Using something like a password management app can help not only generate more secure passwords, but keep track of them. News from one developer today shares some data on how iOS 12 has boosted usage of its password manager.

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How to disable automatic app downloads on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Dec 19 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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If you’ve ever owned multiple iOS devices, you’ll know that by default apps downloaded on one device will download to the rest. This can get a bit tricky if you’re intending both devices to have separate app layouts or collections. Follow along to learn how to disable automatic app downloads on iPhone and iPad.

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iPad Pro

Writing with iPad Pro: Integrating Shortcuts and drag & drop into my workflow, USB-C hub flaws

Peter Cao Dec 17 2018 - 3:38 pm PT

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Despite some hesitations from myself as well as others, I’ve not returned to the Mac and the iPad Pro continues to be my go-to computer. Now that it’s been a few weeks since my last piece, I’ve added a few things that aren’t necessarily new, but new to me when it comes to my daily workflow.

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