Year: 2014

Apple updates Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and iMovie to improve iCloud compatibility

Apple just updated several of its applications for both iOS and OS X with the usual "stability improvements and bug fixes", but after looking into it more closely, it seems there is more to the updates than the changelog shows, with apparent iCloud compatibility improvements.

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote have all been updated for both iOS and OS X, while iMovie has only been updated for OS X so far. All updates show as "stability improvements and bug fixes," except iMovie for Mac, which "includes iCloud compatiblity improvements for iMovie Theater."

If these update look benign on the surface, it seems they do improve iCloud compatibility...

Sprint debuts $60 per month unlimited plan ahead of iPhone 6 announcement

With precisely nineteen days until the alleged September 9 iPhone 6 unveiling (notably, Apple hasn't denied the rumor) and three days after refreshing its Family plans, the nation's third-largest wireless carrier, Sprint, has introduced a potentially disruptive and new unlimited plan.

Specifically, the new plan is offering unlimited talk, text and data in exchange for sixty bucks per month. How cool is that?

Quickly, do the math in your head — that's $20 less compared to Sprint's closest competitor T-Mobile. By the way, T-Mobile promptly responded to Sprint's announcement by promising to treat switchers to a year of free unlimited LTE data.

Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

T-Mobile offering free year of unlimited LTE data for referrals and switchers

Now that the T-Mobile-Sprint merger is off, it looks like the race is on for the definitive third place spot in the ranks of US carriers. Sprint fired the first shot with its new 'Family Share Pack' plan, and today, T-Mobile responded.

The magenta carrier announced today a new promotion that will benefit both current and new customers. Starting next week, the company will start giving away one free year of unlimited LTE data for referrals and switchers...

Sci-fi robot platformer Atom Run goes free as Apple’s new Free App of the Week

It's Thursday and you know what that means, don't you? That's right, today is the day Apple editors get to pick another paid app to go free for seven days, as part of the App Store's ongoing Free App of the Week promotion.

Reminder: last week's freebie was Uppercut Games' excellent post-apocalyptic shooter, Epoch 2.

This week's free app is Atom Run by Fingerlab.

Normally costing three bucks a pop, this retro-futuristic platformer set in a mechanical-dynamic environment will be free until next Thursday so best thing you save yourself $2.99 and download Atom Run for free right now...

All iCloud services are currently down for some users [resolved]

According to Apple System Status, all iCloud services are currently down for some users. The outage has been going on for a little over an hour now with no indication of when the service might be restored.

iCloud services appear to be the only services affected by the outage, which again, doesn't affect all users. Other online services such as FaceTime, iMessage, Siri, and the App Stores are currently working just fine.

Update: System Status page now says all services have been restored.

Pangu 7.1.x untether package released on Cydia, causes issues for some users [update]

An update for the Pangu 7.1 - 7.1.x untether jailbreak is available now on Cydia. Version 0.3, available to those who jailbroke their iOS device using Pangu, comes under the form of a package update in the Cydia/Telesphoreo repo, one of Cydia's default repos. According to the description, version 0.3 adds small improvements to the untether jailbreak. More specifically, it fixes sandboxing issues.

All users who see this update available in Cydia are prompted to update the package, regardless of what device or what iOS version they are currently running, but a few reports from users who have updated Pangu to version 0.3 can be cause for concerns.

OS X Yosemite Public Beta 2 and new iTunes 12 build now available

Apple has just released the second version of the OS X Yosemite Public Beta and a new beta build of the thoroughly overhauled iTunes 12 for Yosemite.

The second public Yosemite beta arrives after the first public beta was made available at the end of last month and is basically the same as OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 6 seeded to Apple's registered developers last week.

Both updates are available to download through the Mac App Store for those who've applied for the OS X Beta Program...

Tempo becomes the first iPhone calendar app with Uber integration

After adding in Reminders and Waze integration, Mailbox support and other new features to Tempo earlier in the summer, now developers behind the smart iOS calendar application have issued another update making it the first iPhone calendar app that integrates with Uber, the tremendously popular ride-sharing service.

Uber integration is another way Tempo ensures that you’re never late to that crucial meeting.

Unlike the vast majority of alternatives to the stock iOS Calendar app offered in the App Store, Tempo sets itself apart with a built-in smart assistant which anticipates what you need and surfaces that information right in the calendar, when you need it most...

Google Play Music update improves music management, accessibility and more

A month and a half ago, the Internet giant Google pushed a nice update which added several useful enhancements to its Play Music for iOS client, including support for gapless playback, playlist downloading and other nice-to-haves.

Today, another Play Music update has dropped. Available free in the App Store, the new 1.3.2.2559 build brings out even more useful stuff like ability to remove cloud tracks on the go, improved playback and accessibility features and more...

Sequel to exquisite stargazing tool Star Walk now available in App Store

Yours truly used to be an amateur astronomer during his education years. And while I'm saddened because no longer do I have the time to set out to stargazing trips, my love for the stars has never waned.

And who could blame me?

Even nowadays, I'd sneak outside on a clear night whenever I feel like reliving the excitement of spotting breathtaking comets or gazing up at the shimmering Milky Way.

But instead of lugging around astronomy binoculars, compact telescopes and other heavy gear, you can see me exploring the night skies using just my iPhone and specialized astronomy apps such as Night Sky 2 and Star Walk.

The latter, by Vito Technology, is one of the best stargazing apps in business. Used used by over ten million people and the winner of Apple Design Award, Star Walk is beyond doubt among the best astronomy apps in the App Store.

As of today, a sequel to Star Walk, predictably called Star Walk 2, is now available on iOS as a $2.99 download for the iPhone and iPad...

Disney’s iOS-exclusive combat strategy game Star Wars: Commander launches globally

After soft-launching in Australia nearly two months ago, Disney Interactive on Thursday released its real-time strategy game for iOS, Star Wars: Commander, on a worldwide basis.

Available as a free-to-play download for the iPhone and iPad, Star Wars: Commander lets you play on the side of the Empire or the Rebellion and "lead epic battles with your favorite heroes".

You'll be challenged to invade other players' bases, charge into battle on distant planets, command your troops and lead machines of war like AT-ATs and TIE fighters into battle, while rising through the ranks as a powerful battlefield commander.

The premium game is set in the period of Galactic Civil War when the Rebellion rallied for justice and freedom while the Empire — as is its wont — sought control of the galaxy.

So, where does your allegiance lie?...