Year: 2016

If Apple brought dark mode and Split View multitasking to iPhone 7

I've been a huge fan of OS X's dark theme which debuted with the release of OS X Yosemite back in October 2014. I also like to multitask on my iPad using OS 9's new Split View and Slide Over modes because they definitely increase productivity for me. But how cool would it be if Apple brought Split View to the iPhone 7 and OS X's dark mode to iOS 10?

A detailed conceptual renderings, created by Brazilian magazine iHelpBR imagine precisely this future playing out.

Apple releases eight new ‘Shot on iPhone’ ads

Apple today posted a total of eight new commercials to its YouTube channel, each running fifteen seconds long and highlighting cherry-picked camera work by iPhone photographers from around the globe.

The ads showcase the various video capture features of the iPhone's camera, including Slo-Mo. One of the photographers actually shot his video on an airplane flight between Miami and Curaçao.

Instagram’s new iOS extension finally lets you share without needing to launch the app

It's hard to tell from release notes alone, which only mention bug fixes and performance improvements, but Instagram's version 8.2 update that went live this morning on the App Store packs in a much improved Share sheet extension.

Long overdue, the new extension finally lets you upload photos and videos directly to the service, without needing to open the app at all.

15 Instagram hacks, tips and tricks you should know about

Over the years, I've learned or picked up a few Instagram hacks and tricks that I'm going to share with you. They aren't life changing by any means, but they can be helpful, fun, or just make your Instagram usage more enjoyable. Chances are, you already know some of these tips, but I'm hoping you will still learn a thing or two along the way.

Xbox One is getting Cortana soon

Microsoft's personal digital assistant Cortana is coming to the Xbox One console with an forthcoming software update for the console, the Windows giant revealed this morning. Cortona is currently available on Windows as an integrated feature and on iOS and Android devices as a standalone app.

Cortana for Xbox One will let players find new games, see what their friends are doing, start a party, perform common tasks and even turn on the console with their voice.

Apple seeds second developer betas for tvOS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.11.6, first beta for watchOS 2.2.2

In addition to iOS, Apple also seeded new betas for watchOS, tvOS and OS X on Monday. The betas are available to registered developers, and can be installed via the Apple Watch app on iPhone, OTA in tvOS for those with the latest beta profile, and the update tab in the Mac App Store.

The software version numbers are watchOS 2.2.2, tvOS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.11.6, and from what we saw in the first betas, they're not adding any significant new features. The 10.11.6 change log reads "improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac," and the others follow suit.

Apple seeds iOS 9.3.3 beta 2 to developers

Apple on Monday seeded the second beta of iOS 9.3.3 to developers. Registered iOS developers can grab the new build from the Apple Developer Center, or via an over-the-air update on a compatible device with the latest software.

The update comes two weeks after the first iOS 9.3.3 beta was released, and it's mostly bug fixes. It's also worth noting that Apple has seemingly fixed the 9.7-inch iPad Pro issue, as there's now a beta available for the flagship tablet.

SemiRestore is now (sort of) available for Mac OS X

Three days after the release of SemiRestore for Windows and Linux, the tool is also now supporting Mac OS X. Well, sort of, as the developer notes in the ReadMe file that "SemiRestore for OS X is provided on a 'works for me' basis." So our initial warning about using this tool still applies here, as you might do this at your own risks.

Microsoft rolls out Planner to all eligible Office 365 customers worldwide

Microsoft today said that its new productivity and teamwork app, called Planner, is now rolling out to all eligible Office 365 customers worldwide. “Beginning today, Planner will start rolling out to all eligible tenants,” said the Windows giant.

“We expect the rollout to be complete in the next several weeks.” Companion Planner apps for iOS, Android and Windows are currently being worked on and should release later this year.

Checking out Focus, a minimalist task manager for iPhone

Focus for iPhone, a new task manager by Oslo, Norway-headquartered digital marketing agency Dots Design, is a beautifully conceived application with a minimalist user interface which makes creating lists built around your lifestyle a breeze.

Available at no charge on the App Store, Focus, as the name suggests, is all about focusing on the task at hand. The minimal user interface lends itself nicely to keeping the app very easy to use, with gestures-driven actions and a single screen on which everything takes place.

Viber gains iCloud backup, support for sending money, animated GIFs and more

Messaging service Viber this morning pushed a new update to its App Store app, adding several new long overdue features. For starters, iPhone users can now back up and restore their chat history through iCloud, making keeping their conversations after an iOS restore possible.

The application now has a brand new native watchOS 2 app for your wrist with canned responses on your Apple Watch. Other new features in this edition of Viber include support for sending and receiving animated GIF images, sending money from within the app and low-rate Viber Out calling plans via a redesigned screen.