Apple Eliminating Back to My Mac Service in All Versions of macOS in July

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Apple today announced in an updated support document that the Back to My Mac service is being eliminated from all versions of macOS on July 1, 2019.

Apple previously warned that Back to My Mac support would be eliminated in macOS Mojave, but the updated wording seems to suggest the feature will be removed from all versions of macOS rather than just macOS Mojave.

As of July 1, 2019, Back to My Mac service is not available in any other version of macOS. You can use these alternatives for file access, screen sharing, and remote desktop access.

macOS Mojave has not had the Back to My Mac feature since the first developer beta launched, and Apple confirmed plans to end support for the feature in August 2018.

Back to My Mac is designed to let Mac owners connect to one Mac from another Mac for file transfers and screen sharing purposes. It lets users create a network of Mac computers with two or more Macs, but it can be complicated to set up and use, which is perhaps why Apple has decided to discontinue it.

In the support document, Apple suggests customers can access their files across all of their devices - including new machines - from iCloud Drive. Other Macs can be operated through screen sharing functionality, and Macs can be managed remotely with Apple Remote Desktop, software available from the Mac App Store for $80.

Some Back to My Mac users are sure to be unhappy with Apple's decision to sunset the feature entirely and the suggestion that users transition to Apple Remote Desktop for remote management purposes given its high price tag, but there are third-party options like TeamViewer and LogMeIn.


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Parental Control App Developers Urge Apple to 'Put Kids First' by Releasing Screen Time API

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Over a dozen parental control app developers have come together with a shared message for Apple: it's "time to put kids first."


Together, they have launched a new website called Screen Time API that urges Apple to release a public API granting developers access to the same functionalities that iOS 12's Screen Time feature uses. The developers have even proposed their own API, complete with samples of code and a diagram of how it would work.

"Protecting children online and teaching them good technology use habits are some of the biggest challenges facing modern parents," the developers plea. "That's why developers need a cross platform, open screen time API."

The website, shared by The New York Times and The Verge, is a joint effort by OurPact, Kidslox, Qustodio, Screen Time Labs, Safe Lagoon, MMGuardian, Boomerang, Family Orbit, Netsanity, unGlue, Mobicip, Activate Fitness, Parents Dans Les Parages, Lilu, FamilyTime, Bosco, and Tittle.

The developers were encouraged to act by Tony Fadell, a former Apple executive known as the "Father of the iPod." Fadell backed the developers in a series of tweets, and according to The New York Times, he also said he would help "push" their message "out to the world," adding "just make sure it's done BEFORE WWDC."

The campaign comes a month after The New York Times reported that Apple had removed or restricted many of the most popular screen time and parental control apps on the App Store since launching its own Screen Time feature in iOS 12 last year, raising concerns over potentially anticompetitive behavior.


Apple was quick to respond, stating that it became aware over the last year that some parental control apps were using a technology called Mobile Device Management or "MDM" that puts users' privacy and security at risk.

"Contrary to what The New York Times reported over the weekend, this isn't a matter of competition," wrote Apple. "It's a matter of security."

MDM technology is intended for enterprise users to manage their company-owned devices, and Apple says the use of MDM by consumer-focused apps carries privacy and security concerns that resulted in Apple addressing the situation in its App Store review guidelines in mid-2017.

Apple added that when it found out about these App Store guideline violations, it communicated with the necessary developers, giving them 30 days to submit an updated app to avoid being removed from the App Store.

Many developers quickly refuted parts of Apple's press release, with OurPact claiming that its parental control app for children was removed from the App Store on October 6, 2018 without any prior communication from Apple, just three weeks after iOS 12 was publicly released with Screen Time.


Three other developers added that Apple was slow to respond and did not provide any resolution for the sudden guideline violations.

Apple has yet to indicate whether it will release a public API for Screen Time. While it is certainly possible that Apple could announce that it will offer such an API at its WWDC 2019 keynote next week, on short notice, no rumors have indicated that the API is coming in the initial release of iOS 13.

Tag: Screen Time

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HP Unveils New Elite x2, EliteBook x360, Envy 13, Envy 17, Envy x360 13, Envy x360 15, VR Backpack PC & More

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How to download apps over 200MB on iPhone & iPad

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Trying to download a large game or app using only your mobile data? Here's how to get around the 200MB iOS cellular download restrictions

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Best cloud storage service for Mac

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iCloud Drive is much improved in recent years, but there are plenty of other options. Which is best? We round up the best cloud storage options for users of Macs and other Apple devices

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Deals: New Low Prices on 2018 iPad Pros and iTunes' Ultimate Movie Weekend Sale

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Amazon is ending the week with a big sale on the 2018 iPad Pros, with up to $200 off both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models in both Wi-Fi and cellular configurations. Prices start as low as $674 for the 64GB 11-inch iPad Pro, and rise from there.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple updated the iPad Pro lineup in October 2018 with an all-new design that removed the Home Button, introduced a TrueDepth camera system with Face ID onto the tablet for the first time, and reduced the bezels around the display. These iPads also support the new Apple Pencil 2 as well as the revamped Smart Keyboard accessories.

Amazon's 2018 iPad Pro Sale

11-Inch

• Wi-Fi, 64 GB - $674.00, down from $799.00 ($125 off)
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• Wi-Fi, 512 GB - $999.00, down from $1,149.00 ($150 off)
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• Cellular, 64 GB - $824.00, down from $949.00 ($125 off)
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• Cellular, 256 GB - $949.00, down from $1,099.00 ($150 off)
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• Cellular, 512 GB - $1,149.00, down from $1,299.00 ($150 off)

12.9-Inch

• Wi-Fi, 256 GB - $949.00, down from $1,149.00 ($200 off, lowest ever)
• 
  
• Wi-Fi, 512 GB - $1,149.00, down from $1,349.00 ($200 off, lowest ever)
• 
  
• Wi-Fi, 1 TB - $1,529.00, down from $1,749.00 ($220 off)
• 
  
• Cellular, 64 GB - $999.00, down from $1,149.00 ($150 off)
• 
  
• Cellular, 512 GB - $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00 ($200 off, lowest ever)
• 
  
• Cellular, 1 TB - $1,699.00, down from $1,899.00 ($200 off, lowest ever)

iTunes' Ultimate Movie Weekend

Anyone planning on staying in this weekend should head over to the iTunes Movies store and check out Apple's new Ultimate Movie Weekend sale, which has movie rentals at $2.99 for new releases and as low as $1 for older films. The sale also includes the latest movies as low as $10. Additionally, there are numerous sales on Disney, Godzilla, and 4K movies.


$2.99 rentals / $9.99 purchases

• Isn't It Romantic (4K)
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• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (4K)
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• The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (4K)
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• Bumblebee (4K)
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• Escape Room (4K)
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• Aquaman (4K)
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• A Star is Born (4K)
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• Glass (4K)
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• Overlord (4K)
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• The House With a Clock In Its Walls (4K)

• What Men Want
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• The Mule (4K)
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• A Dog's Way Home (4K)
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• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (4K)
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• Miss Bala (4K)
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• On the Basis of Sex (4K)
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• First Man (4K)
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• Mortal Engines (4K)
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• Holmes & Watson (4K)

Be sure to visit the iTunes Movies store to check out the full Ultimate Movie Weekend sale. You'll find $1 rentals for films like La La Land, Sicario, Wonder Woman, The Intern, and Dredd. $2 rentals are also available for movies like Interstellar, Star Trek Beyond, Girls Trip, Atomic Blonde, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and much more.

Our Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest discounts heading into the weekend.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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iTunes Expected to Be Retired After Over 18 Years

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Apple will be replacing iTunes with standalone Music, TV, and Podcasts apps in the next major version of macOS, expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2019 next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


This information lines up with a recent report from 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo, who claimed that iTunes will be renamed to "Music" on the Mac. In other words, iTunes is going away and will be replaced by the new Music app, which is expected to become the new utility for syncing and managing Apple devices.

It was initially reported that iTunes would live on in macOS 10.15, but it now looks like the app will be retired, over 18 years after it was introduced by the late Steve Jobs at Macworld on January 9, 2001.

Steve Jobs quote from Apple's press release at the time:

Apple has done what Apple does best — make complex applications easy, and make them even more powerful in the process. iTunes is miles ahead of every other jukebox application, and we hope its dramatically simpler user interface will bring even more people into the digital music revolution.

Here's what iTunes looked like in 2001:


iTunes has attracted its fair share of criticism over the years for being bloated software, so its split into dedicated Music, TV, and Podcasts apps will be much welcomed. Earlier this week, leaked screenshots provided us with our first glimpse at what the Music and TV apps should look like on macOS 10.15.

Apple is widely expected to announce iOS 13, macOS 10.15, watchOS 6, and tvOS 13 at its WWDC 2019 opening keynote on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors will have live coverage of the event on our website and through MacRumorsLive on Twitter, so be sure to follow along for the latest updates.

Related Roundup: macOS 10.15

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