Year: 2014

WhatsApp now indicates if your message has been read

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

As we patiently await an update to make WhatsApp support native display sizes of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the tremendously popular Facebook-owned messaging service on Wednesday enabled a new check mark in the chat UI indicating that the recipient has read your message.

Now when you're chatting with someone, pay attention to read receipts in the form of blue check marks, as discovered by designer, Dutch translator at Twitter and jailbreak developer Timon Olsthoorn (and many others on Twitter).

This is an over-the-air update so those with WhatsApp installed on their iPhone can start using this feature immediately, without the need to update the app manually.

WhatsApp, which has more than 600 million active users, is free in the App Store.

Expedia is now ready for iOS 8 and new iPhone 6 screen sizes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

After redesigning its iPad app with combined flight and hotel search in early September, Expedia on Wednesday gave its iOS app some more love by issuing an update which makes the software compatible with iOS 8 and the latest iPhones.

Expedia now supports the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively, so you'll see more content and scroll less.

Expedia Hotels & Flights is available at no cost in the App Store.

Google Maps for iOS revamped with Android’s Material Design UI

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

Keen on deploying Android Lollipop’s Material Design across its mobile apps on all platforms, Google on Wednesday announced a new version of Google Maps for the iPhone and iPad featuring engaging animations, shadows and depth.

The fresh new design is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world, the search firm said.

With Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons “come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery”. The update will be rolling out over the next few days.

Google Maps is available free in the App Store.

This Chrome extensions lets you open Google Drive files in compatible Mac apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Google on Wednesday announced a new extension for the Chrome browser which makes it easy to open files stored in your Google Drive in compatible applications on your Mac or Windows PC.

“This includes apps like advanced image and video editing software, accounting and tax programs, or 3D animation and design tools,” wrote the search firm in a blog post.

Simply right-click on the file from Google Drive and select “Open with” to see a list of applications on your computer that can open it. The extension is called “Application Launcher for Drive” and you can download it for free in the Chrome Web Store.

Cydia Installer updated to version 1.1.16 to fix bugs with iTunes backup restores and more

Jeff Benjamin ∙ November 5, 2014

Once again, Saurik has pushed an update for Cydia Installer. This update provides several important bug fixes that makes it a must-update for anyone who is currently jailbroken.

In this update, you'll find a bug fix for the previous Cydia releases related to iTunes backup restores, iOS 8 multitasking timeouts, App Store redirects, and more. Check out the full change log after the break.

Poll: are you using your iPad less often because of iPhone 6?

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

I myself am a heavy tablet user who's picking up his iPad at least a dozen times a day. I especially find the tablet indispensable for catching up on morning news and before nap time, when I would typically consume interesting stories I was saving for later throughout the day.

A month into my new iPhone 6 Plus and already I've found myself using my iPad Air less often.

And if a sketchy report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News is to be trusted, Apple itself is mulling winding down iPad mini development and devote resources to developing a 12.2 or 12.9-inch iPad model.

While mini tablets may not be dead yet, there's no question that today's smartphone consumer is gravitating toward smartphone-tablet hybrids (phablets) like the iPhone 6 Plus. Which brings me to our question of the day: have you noticed using your iPad less often due to the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus?

How to enable full 60 FPS video recording on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple's brought out support for shooting full HD video in a smooth sixty frames per second (FPS), as opposed to prior models which limit 1080p video capture to a suitable thirty frames per second.

High frame rates make motion-intense videos even more awesome. For example, video shooting at 60 FPS gets rid of the stutter when panning the camera or capturing fast-moving objects.

And with YouTube now accepting 60 FPS uploads, you can share your silky smooth footage with the web at large. While both new iPhones default to capturing video in the traditional 30 FPS, all it takes to enable the new frame rate is flipping a switch in the Settings app, here's how.

Apple overtakes Samsung as China’s top mobile brand in awareness and loyalty

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

Zooming past its biggest rival Samsung, Apple has officially emerged as China's #1 mobile brand in both awareness and loyalty, according to the latest consumer survey conducted by the China Brand Research Center’s.

The research firm's 2014 China Brand Power Index polled a whopping 13,500 Chinese across 30 cities, aged 15 to 60, from August 2013 to January 2014.

According to CNET, Samsung's focus on market share rather than customer satisfaction and loyalty has contributed to its fall from the top spot it had previously held in China since 2012.

Artists now receiving more revenue from Spotify than iTunes in Europe

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

Spotify seems to have surpassed iTunes in Europe where royalty payments from the popular streaming-music service is now earning artists more revenue than Apple's stagnant music store, which to this date continues to sell music downloads and does not offer all-you-can-eat subscriptions.

At least that's the key takeaway from a survey conducted by Kobalt Music Publishing, which collects royalties on behalf of 6,000 songwriters and music makers in Europe.

According to the data cited Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, Spotify in Europe brought artists an average of thirteen percent more revenue versus iTunes during the first quarter of 2014.

The data seems to corroborate recent findings by the Recording Industry Association of America which found that digital music sales on iTunes dropped between thirteen and fourteen percent globally since the start of this year, with Apple officially confirming the drop in its SEC filing.

BricksItOut provides mindless fun while waiting in line for your coffee

Lory Gil ∙ November 5, 2014

The casual game genre on mobile devices is something to be reckoned with. Some might even argue that it has changed the face of gaming forever. Now, a retired grandparent can spend just as much time playing a video game as a teenager and no one questions the coolness of either party.

BricksItOut is one of those casual games built simply for mindless fun. You don’t need fast action or puzzle solving skills. You just need a few minutes of time and a desire for distraction.

VolumeNotifier makes your device beep as you increase or decrease the volume

Alihassan Mahdi ∙ November 5, 2014

Normally, when you increase or decrease the volume on your iPhone, a large volume HUD appears on the center of the screen that displays the volume level as you adjust it. VolumeNotifier is a brand new jailbreak tweak that goes a little step further and notifies you when you change the volume on your device.

The tweak adds a sound effect when you're changing the volume such that when you increase or decrease the volume, a beep sound is made, just like how it works on Mac.

Jawbone introduces new ‘UP3’ and ‘UP Move’ fitness trackers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Jawbone joined the onslaught of pre-holiday wearable announcements this morning, introducing two new connected devices for tracking movement: the UP3 and the UP Move. The UP3 is a much improved version of the current UP24 band, and the UP Move is an inexpensive, clip-on tracker.

The UP3 is billed as the "world's most advanced fitness tracker," and is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. It's also sporting a refreshed design, and it contains some cutting edge new sensors that allow it do things like measure your resting heart rate, and identify what you are doing.