iPhone News

New in iOS 8 Safari: use your device’s camera to scan in credit card info

As folks continue to comb through the recently released iOS 8 beta, a new feature has been discovered in mobile Safari. When the updated browser detects a credit card field within a webpage, it offers to let the user scan their card with their device's camera.

Scanning your credit card automatically enters its information in the appropriate text fields, saving you from having to enter it manually. It takes just a moment, and it doesn't appear that websites will have to do anything special to enable the new feature...

Mexican carriers can no longer use ‘iPhone’ name in ads

As reported by the Mexican publication El Universal, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has ruled that Mexican carriers are no longer allowed to make use of the "iPhone" name, since it violates the phonetically identical sounding "iFone" trademark owned by a small call center in Mexico. The trademark is filed under Class 38, which covers telecommunications services.

To be clear, Apple will still be able to sell the iPhone in Mexico and use its own trademark as it sees fit, but carriers won't be able to. The basis behind the ruling is that, since Apple is not considered to be a telecommunication services provider, it is acquitted of being at fault. Instead, the IMPI has placed the blame directly on Mexican carriers, which do provide telecommunications services… 

Tim Cook and Eddy Cue visit Apple’s new Austin campus

In late 2012, Apple began work on a major 39-acre campus in Austin, Texas. According to its development agreement, the grounds will house more than 1 million square feet of office space for various operations including human resources, finance and the like.

After completing phase one of the construction earlier this year, the campus held its opening celebration today. CEO Tim Cook was on hand for the event, offering up a recap of WWDC announcements and teasing that "exciting" new products are on the way...

Apple said to be working on master list of games that support MFi controllers

Apple is reportedly working on a way for its users to view a master list of games that support MFi (made for iPhone) controllers in the App Store. The feature works a lot like App Match, which can point users to compatible apps of recently attached accessories.

The company first introduced the MFi controller specification in iOS 7 last summer, and a number of third-party accessory makers have since created gamepads. The new platform, however, has been hobbled by the lack of user knowledge of compatible iOS titles...

New Pebble firmware enables music volume control, Launcher item ordering and more

Pebble released a new firmware for its smartwatch line that enables two new features dealing with the App Menu and music playback controls, alongside a few other minor improvements.

The new 2.2 firmware finally enables the volume control for music playback, something the company first demoed in the Pebble Music app months ago.

In addition to music controls, the software makes it easy to rearrange the items in the Launcher Menu.

The refreshed firmware is available through Pebble's companion iPhone app, available free in the App Store and updated to the latest version last week...

Apple offering limited time pricing on refurbished iPads

Folks in the market for an iPad may want to check out the refurbished section of Apple's online store. The company is currently hosting some sort of sale on its tablets, with several models showing 'Special Limited Time' pricing.

The deals start with the first generation iPad mini (16GB, Wi-Fi only), which has been discounted down to $219, and go all the way up to the iPad Air. You can get a refurbished 64GB Air, with built-in cellular support, for $699...

PayPal integrating Touch ID into its iOS app

A year ago, PayPal CISO Michael Barrett spelled doom for existing verification methods based on passwords and expressed hope that the then unreleased iPhone 5s would kill the password once and for all. As it turned out, Apple limited the handset's fingerprint scanner to iTunes purchases and user authentication on the Lock screen.

But with the iOS 8 SDK now official, Apple has opened up Touch ID to developers and PayPal is first out of the gate with the official confirmation that it is working on integrating Touch ID authentication into its mobile apps...

iWatch components said to be going into production this month

Cantor Fitzgerald's Brian White reports that several components for the so-called iWatch are going into mass production this month. The analyst believes that Apple is planning to unveil the long-rumored smartwatch in September, perhaps alongside the iPhone 6.

White bases his report on his recent tour of Computex, Asia's largest technology show, where wearables were by far the most talked-about products. There, sources from supply chain companies told him iWatch component production would soon begin ramping up...

You can add photos to Notes app in iOS 8

Here's another nice-to-have in iOS 8: you can finally add photos to your documents in the Notes app.

This is yet another small but very appreciated improvement in a long list of useful enhancements that haven't gotten any air time during Apple's keynote, or even deserved a mention on Apple's iOS 8 webpage for that matter.

Earlier in the day, I told you about a new Today summary and 10-day forecast in the stock iOS 8 Weather app, the ability to hide images in the Photos app and Apple's use of the power-sipping M7 chip and motion sensors for accurate indoor positioning in iOS 8...

1Password for Mac gains WhiteHat Aviator browser support, tons of fixes

AgileBits has updated 1Password for Mac with support for the WhiteHat Aviator browser, adding several minor improvements as well. The new 1Password for Mac version 4.4.1 is now live in the App Store and you should update your copy now because the new version comes with a ton of bug fixes, too.

Additionally, AgileBits has reflected on Apple's technological announcements announced during the WWDC keynote.

Developers have touched on such hot topics as Apple opening up the Touch ID fingerprint scanner to third-party developers and allowing apps to install system-wide extensions, explaining what it all could mean for 1Password...

New in iOS 8 Weather: 10-day forecast, Today summary

If you're a fan of weather apps, you're going to love the minor but welcomed changes Apple has made to its stock Weather software in iOS 8. In addition to replacing Yahoo with Weather Channel for weather data, the stock iOS 8 Weather app now finally gives you a 10-day forecast as opposed to the current five-day forecast in iOS 7.

Moreover, it's now easier to get an at-a-glance overview of daily weather conditions right inside the Weather app...

Free edition of the premium Camera Fx8 app now available in the App Store

Camera Fx8 by Apalon Limited is great if you want to liven up your photos by adding creative borders and apply fun effects. Having gone temporarily free a week ago, the iPhone and iPad download is now a paid download again, setting you back 99 cents for the iPhone and iPod touch app.

But as fine folks at Apalon Limited want everyone to experience Camera Fx8, they've decided to release a free version in the App Store so everyone can now check it out before buying the full edition...