Facebook Messenger testing iOS 10 Messages-like chat interface redesign

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2017

Facebook is testing a redesign of the chat interface in Messenger for iPhone, which in some aspects resembles Apple's overhauled iOS 10 Messages app. The enhanced chat UI is currently being tested with a small subset of Messenger's user base, but there's no telling when, or if it might launch for everyone. I spotted Messenger's upcoming chat UI refresh on a friend's device. At the time of this writing, the Messenger app on App Store had version 103.0.

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BeatsX earphones will be available to buy this Friday, two new colors added

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2017

Corroborating yesterday's report, CNET today said that the upcoming BeatsX earphones with the Apple W1 wireless chip and a new neckband design will be launching this Friday, February 10, in the United States. The earbuds will be available to purchase from Apple.com and company-owned retail stores. Aside from the existing Black and White color options, CNET has learned that the $150 accessory will be available in two additional finishes, Gray and Blue, following this Friday's launch.

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YouTube creators with 10,000+ subscribers can now stream live on mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2017

Google-owned YouTube announced on Tuesday that creators who have more than 10,000 subscribers can now stream live video on mobile. This feature has been built directly into YouTube's mobile app for iOS and Android. If you're a YouTube creator with 10,000 subscribers, launch the app and hit the capture button to start streaming instantly. Streamed videos have all the same features as regular YouTube videos, meaning they can be searched for, found via recommendations or playlists and protected from unauthorized use.

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Truphone rolls out global data plans with Apple SIM in 40 countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2017

Truphone today announced that its 4G data plans aimed at cellular iPads with Apple SIM are now available in 40 countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Germany. Truphone's pay-as-you-go roaming plans start at €8 (about $8.5) for 500 megabytes of cellular data over 30 days and go all the way up to €20 (about $21.3) for 3 gigabytes of high-speed 4G cellular data over 30 days. They'll also treat first-time customers to 100 megabytes of data at no charge.

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Eclipse 4 released, brings system-wide night mode to jailbroken iOS 10 devices

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 7, 2017

It seems as thought night/dark mode jailbreak tweaks are really hot these days, and the popular Eclipse night mode jailbreak tweak by developer Guillermo Moran has officially been re-released this week with full support for iOS 10, officially raising the bar for all the hype.

The new version of Eclipse, named Eclipse 4 because it's the fourth iteration of the tweak since its initial inception back in 2014, is a free download for anyone who owns any of the previous versions from any other jailbreak they may have had in the past.

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This tweak removes the “Share This App” option from 3D Touch app shortcuts

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 7, 2017

When Apple initially started adding support for 3D Touch to apps on the Home screen in iOS 9, there were some that supported the feature, and some that didn’t. Then came iOS 10, where Apple attempted to make the feature more 'useful' for apps that didn't utilize 3D Touch in creative ways by adding the “Share This App” menu option to those apps.

Because a lot of people don’t need or want to share their apps, and because it feels like unnecessary clutter to even have this menu option there in the first place, a new free jailbreak tweak called NoSharePlz by Olxios&Nico is now available in Cydia to remove it once and for all.

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TapticPasscodeButtons adds haptic feedback to your passcode buttons

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 7, 2017

Lots of people are fans of haptic feedback, and now that most of the latest iPhones have that sleek taptic engine instead of a clunky vibration motor, those haptic responses are even better to feel than ever.

A new free jailbreak tweak called TapticPasscodeButtons brings that satisfying haptic feedback to the passcode buttons on your Lock screen, and it taps into the power of the taptic engine we previously mentioned in order to do it.

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Let’s Talk iOS 173: Make iPad great again

Sébastien Page ∙ February 7, 2017

Cody and Sebastien play armchair analysts as they go over Apple's record Q1 financial results, and discuss various points of interests, including iPad, and the new hot services category. Sebastien is happy he can finally hide that Spotlight icon in the Menu Bar, and he's ecstatic when he finds out Cody has been an Alfred user for years too.

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Apple posts Shot on iPhone 7 ad ‘One Night’

Cody Lee ∙ February 6, 2017

Apple late Monday posted a new ad to its YouTube channel called 'One Night—Shot on iPhone 7.' The clip, which first popped up on Apple's website last month, shows a number of photos and videos taken using Apple's latest handset.

In the description of the YouTube post, Apple says the commercial features content from 16 photographers, in 15 cities, on 6 continents, taken in one night. The song you hear playing the background is SnowFall by Ahmad Jamal Trio.

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Apple taps an old plug to ease connectivity and adapter woes with Lightning headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2017

Apple will soon allow vendors who design MFi-certified accessories to build support for an obscure but already-existent port in order to ease some of the connectivity and adapter woes associated with Lightning-based headphones. 9to5Mac reported that the company might market UAC, an intermediary in headphone cables, as “Ultra Accessory Connector” (UAC).

Citing sources at Apple, The Verge adds that UAC is an old plug you might have seen with your Nikon DSLR camera rather than a proprietary new connector type from Apple. Apple's ultimate goal with UAC, The Verge claims, is making Lightning and USB-C work better together rather than replacing them with a brand new I/O port.

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Apple’s 2017 Back to School promo launches in Australia, New Zealand & Japan

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2017

Apple today kicked off its annual Back to School promotion across Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Advertised under the “Back to Uni” tagline, these deals offer students, teachers and university staff members an Apple Store credit in exchange for a qualified iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook/Air/Pro or iPad Pro purchase made from February 7 to March 16.

The promotion is combinable with educational pricing discounts on Macs, iPads and AppleCare products. Built-to-order Mac models qualify for these deals as well, but refurbished devices and lower-cost computers like Mac mini do not.

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