Year: 2016

Dropbox gains document scanner, secure file sharing and other productivity improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

Dropbox today announced a major update to its mobile and desktop clients across platforms, including the ability to scan documents in the mobile app, create Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel files on the go, share files securely with others using access privileges and much more.

On the downside, Dropbox's existing Camera Sync feature has been removed from the mobile app so you now must manage photos using the desktop client. Dropbox for iOS is available at no charge via the App Store. The Mac client must be downloaded directly from the Dropbox website.

Does your Mac meet minimum system requirements to run macOS Sierra?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 9, 2017

During his WWDC 2016 keynote segment, Apple's software boss Craig Federighi briefly flashed a slide listing Mac models that will be able to run the operating system out of the box when it releases publicly this fall (the macOS Preview webpage does not yet mention anything in terms of the minimum system requirements for the new OS).

It seems that Macs manufactured in 2008 and older models won't be eligible for the new OS. But if your Mac is not on Apple's list, an unofficial option might allow you to run macOS Sierra anyway, with some caveats.

tvOS 10 tidbit: download prompt for companion apps for your Bluetooth accessories

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

In addition to helping you manage your HomeKit accessories remotely through the fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 10 beta also packs in expanded support for a wider variety of Bluetooth accessories. It's interesting that after connecting an accessory to the Apple TV, tvOS 10 puts up a prompt offering a user to download a companion App Store app.

The same hardware accessories download prompt first appeared on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch following the iOS 3 software update back in September 2009, but this is the first time we've seen it implemented on tvOS.

Unicode 9.0 goes official with 72 new emojis

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

The Unicode Consortium, the organization which develops the Unicode standard that specifies the representation of text in all modern software, officially announced Unicode 9.0, the next major revision to the Unicode standard.

The Unicode 9.0 specification is now available to vendors with 7,500 new characters for a total of 128,172 characters, including six new scripts and 72 new emoji characters.

Food for thought: is 3.5mm audio plug the new floppy drive?

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

Responding to Nilay Patel's controversial article on The Verge, titled “Taking the Headphone Jack Off Phones Is User-Hostile and Stupid”, Daring Fireball's John Gruber pulls out the floppy drive analogy.

As you know, the next iPhone is rumored to ditch the industry-standard 3.5mm jack in favor of Bluetooth and Lightning-based headphones.

Gruber goes on to compare Nilay's arguments against removing the century-old analog jack from mobile devices to the similar arguments that had been made in response to Apple's decision to ditch the good ol' floppy drive from the iMac in 1998 for USB.

iOS 10 beta kernel is unencrypted, but why?

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

MIT Technology Review has discovered that the kernel in iOS 10 beta is unencrypted, making it a lot easier for technology-minded users, jailbreak developers and the like to take a peek under iOS's hood and pinpoint any potential vulnerabilities.

For those wondering, kernels in all prior iOS betas used to be encrypted. Is this a bold move meant to help strengthen security in iOS 10 or will this decision actually introduce further security risks and open new attack vectors for hackers to exploit?

Emulate the CarPlay experience on your iPhone or iPad with CarPlay iOS 2.0

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 22, 2016

Two years ago, we showed you a jailbreak tweak called CarPlay iOS, which allowed you to emulate the CarPlay head unit user interface directly on your jailbroken iPhone or iPad.

Although the tweak was limited due the nature of the features that come bundled in the CarPlay interface, the developer has been working on a treat for those who liked playing with the original tweak; CarPlay iOS 2.0 is now available in Cydia.

Apple TV’s universal search expands to nine new video channels

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2016

After adding support for video content from Bravo, E!, Syfy and USA channels ten days ago, tvOS's universal search feature was refreshed earlier today with official support for nine additional channels. The full up-to-date list of universal search providers can be found in Apple's support document.

Quick review: traveling smart with Radar, Yahoo’s new iPhone app for planning trips

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

Yahoo today released a brand new mobile application for planning trips, Radar for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The app is available at no charge in the App Store and includes a smart chat bot that you can interact with. Using data from a number of popular third-party services, like Yelp and TripAdvisor, Radar delivers personalized recommendations of sights to see, activities and restaurants in an attractively designed mobile user interface.

After using it briefly, I can safely say that Radar is one of the best mobile apps Yahoo has published in a while.

Twelve South’s most popular iPad stand, Compass 2, now available in Gold and Rose Gold

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2016

Compass 2, a compact, ultra-portable iPad stand from the United States-based premium accessory vendor Twelve South, is now available in two new colorways to match your Gold or Rose Gold Apple tablet. The accessory is designed to work with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and all generations of the iPad Air and iPad mini, in both landscape and portrait mode. The new Gold and Rose Gold editions of the Compass 2 are now available for $39.99 a pop each on Amazon and via Twelve South's web store.

Judge tosses ‘Error 53’ lawsuit against Apple out of the window

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2016

A United States district court judge has tossed so-called 'Error 53' lawsuit against Apple out of the window on grounds that the plaintiffs “lack standing to pursue injunctive relief”. The plaintiffs argued that the iOS 9 software update causing certain devices with a faulty Touch ID or Home button, like the iPhone 6, to be bricked has resulted in permanent data loss.

They were unable, however, to frame the argument in court a legal loss.

WSJ: iPhone 7 to feature similar design, bigger changes coming next year

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2016

Another report is out on Tuesday claiming that the iPhone 7 will closely resemble its 6 and 6s predecessors. Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal says that the company plans to break with its recent patten of overhauling the iPhone design every two years.

Thus, Apple's new handset this year will only feature subtle changes. They'll maintain the current 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, as well as the overall design. The biggest planned change for the iPhone 7, the Journal says, will be the removal of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack.