The big news this week is Apple’s release of iPadOS 13.4 with trackpad support and the announcement of the trackpad-equipped Magic Keyboard, scheduled for May. Also new is the long-promised iCloud Drive folder sharing in macOS 10.15.4 Catalina, iOS 13.4, and iPadOS 13.4. watchOS 6.2, tvOS 13.4 and iOS 13.4 for HomePod are much smaller updates. In SARS-CoV-2 news that intersects with our world, Apple has released a COVID-19 Screening Tool app and Web site and media company O’Reilly announced it would be exiting the in-person conference business completely. Finally, if you’re in need of tech gear during this time, Josh Centers shares advice on ordering products and disinfecting them when they arrive. Notable Mac app releases this week include Ulysses 18.6, Security Update 2020-002 (Mojave and High Sierra), Safari 13.1, and Cyberduck 7.3.
iPadOS 13.4 brings dramatically improved support for mice and trackpads, iOS 13.4 provides a return to always-visible controls in Mail, and both gain the long-promised support for iCloud Drive folder sharing, along with a variety of bug fixes.
Although Apple focused most of its operating system update work on iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4, the integration of the company’s platforms means that everything else received updates as well. Here’s the rundown.
Apple has released a Web site and free iOS app to help you screen yourself for COVID-19 and learn more about the disease.
The media company O’Reilly has announced that it is not just canceling its in-person conferences, it’s also exiting the entire in-person conference business. The world has been forced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to change, and it may never return to its previous state. But that may not be an entirely bad thing.
Numerous brick-and-mortar stores are closed, and you’re likely stuck at home, perhaps without some gear you need to do your job. Josh Centers offers some advice about package precautions, why you may need to look beyond Amazon, and how Best Buy is adapting to the coronavirus pandemic.
Watchlist
Brings bug fixes and improved performance when loading large sheets to the writing app. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 18.9 MB)
Patches security vulnerabilities in Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes)
Patches a variety of security vulnerabilities for those running Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes)
Adds label bookmarking capability and improves support for Google Drive and Backblaze B2. (Free, 101 MB)
