Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.3 updates to developers, one week after seeding second betas and three weeks after the release of iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 with new emoji, Siri privacy controls, Deep Fusion, and more.
iOS and iPadOS 13.3 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.
iOS 13.3 introduces Communication Limits for Screen Time, a feature that Apple promised would be coming in an iOS 13 update. Communication Limits allow parents to control who their children are able to contact both during downtime and during Screen Time.
Communication Limits include FaceTime, Phone, and Messages, along with iCloud contacts. Calls to emergency numbers are always allowed and will turn off communication limits for 24 hours when placed.
The update includes support for NFC, USB, and Lightning FIDO2-compliant security keys in Safari. That means physical security keys like the Lightning-equipped YubiKey can be used for more secure two-factor authentication in place of a software-based two-factor authentication option.
In the Keyboards section of the Settings app (under General), there's a new toggle that prevents Animoji and Memoji stickers from being displayed as an option on the Emoji Keyboard, and when editing a video, there's an option to save the edited version as a new clip rather than saving over the original.
Apple has also tweaked the Apple Watch app icon, changing the color of the Digital Crown from black to gray.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
Why do you have to type in your iPhone password when starting the software update? I mean, isn't FaceID secure enough???
Apple explains this in their security white paper:
In the case of an Over-The-Air (OTA) software update, the user is prompted for their passcode when initiating the update. This is used to securely create a one-time Unlock Token, which unlocks the user keybag after the update. This token can’t be generated without entering the user’s passcode, and any previously generated token is invalidated if the user’s passcode changed.
There's more details there, if you're curious. Look for Escrow keybag. I pulled the text from the iOS 12.3 white paper. If there's one for 13 I haven't seen it yet.
so after all the fuss about animoji & memoji and emojis, someone came to their senses over there and now we can turn the whole bloody show off via a keyboard toggle. Thank goodness. Granted a couple of the emoji are useful (red dot, green check etc) but it has become so overwhelming that I never wanted to open up that Pandora's box anymore.
Why do you have to type in your iPhone password when starting the software update? I mean, isn't FaceID secure enough???
FaceID can handle 2 faces. Let's say I decide to give my child one of those slots so they can play on my phone. Do I really want a 5 year old deciding to install an update? Probably not. Or the other face belongs to my wife. Again, I wouldn't want her to install an update on my phone without my knowledge.
My boys are actually 17 and 22 and have their own devices and I don't let ANYONE else into my phone. But it's a possibility that ought to be considered. Especially with the older TouchID system where you could in theory have 4 other people who could unlock your phone.
The other explanation I've heard is that your passcode is your security. FaceID is a quick and easy way to bypass that security. It's a biometric convenience, not the actual security itself. Which is why you need to enter your passcode after a reboot or when doing something as important as updating the entire OS.
There's some (possibly) lame excuses that may or may not satisfy your curiosity. Honestly, it's a question I've asked myself and I all I could come up with was "extra security". Like asking "Are you sure?" before deleting a file.
