NCTextColor lets you add vibrancy to Notification Center

Notification Center always has white text by default, but with a new free jailbreak tweak called NCTextColor, you can mix things up a little bit with some of your own favorite colors and settings.

This tweak works great for anyone who themes their iPhone and wants Notification Center's colors to better compliment the theme they're using, but you don't have to be a theme user to love what you can do with this tweak.

Refurbished iPhones now available on Apple’s website

Apple on Tuesday updated its online store to include refurbished iPhones. It's currently offering a handful of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models in a variety of color and storage combinations for 15% off.

The company has long sold refurbished Mac hardware and other products online, but this is the first time in recent memory it has offered handsets. I believe it did this briefly in the early iPhone days.

iOS 10.2 beta 2 now available to public beta testers

If you're enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, you can now download a second beta of iOS 10.2 to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Apple yesterday released iOS 10.2 beta 2 to members of the Apple Developer Program and now the software is available to public beta testers, too. In addition to this new public beta, Apple also seeded macOS Sierra 10.12.2 beta 2 to registered developers today.

Apple seeds macOS Sierra 10.12.2 beta 2 to developers

Apple today seeded a second beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.2, a major software update being worked on. macOS Sierra 10.12.2 beta 2 (build 16C41b) is now available in Apple's portal for developers for members of the Apple Developer Program. The latest build can be installed over-the-air on computers with a prior beta using the Software Update mechanism via the Mac App Store's Updates tab.

In addition to the latest Sierra build, Apple also released iOS 10.2 beta 2 to public beta testers today following yesterday's developer-only release of iOS 10.2 beta 2.

Apple promotes exclusive holiday offers available to users of Apple Pay on the web

Apple has set up a new webpage at apple.com/apple-pay/holiday/ which provides a list of exclusive holiday offers from a number of retailers that are available with Apple Pay on the web, which recently launched with built-in support for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra devices.

“Experience the fast and secure way to shop online with Apple Pay, now on the web in Safari,” reads Apple's notice, adding that would-be shoppers receive exclusive benefits such as free rush shipping, discounts and other rewards.

Apple granted a patent for augmented reality-enhanced maps and navigation on iPhone

We know from Tim Cook's remarks that Apple dabbled in virtual reality systems before deciding that augmented reality is the way to go. As opposed to virtual reality which completely immersed you in computer-generated environments, augmented reality overlays computer imagery on live video feed of the real world, enhancing or augmenting the images of your real-life surroundings.

Apple's latest patent award for augmented reality maps that surfaced today in the database of the United States Patent & Trademark Office underscores the company's commitment to augmented reality technologies.

Vine could potentially live on as Twitter reviews multiple offers from prospective suitors

Twitter is currently entertaining multiple purchase offers from potential Vine buyers, meaning the once very popular shortform video-sharing service could live on assuming Twitter manages to sell it, according to a new report from TechCrunch. As you know, Twitter last month announced plans to phase out the video-looping social networking app. After acquiring the startup behind the Vine app, Twitter released Vine on the App Store in January 2013.

Facebook halts WhatsApp data collection in UK following privacy probe

As of late-August 2016, WhatsApp has been sharing account data with Facebook in what the firm framed as an effort to improve targeted advertising on the social network. Although users can easily opt out of the WhatsApp → Facebook data sharing with just a few taps, most novice users are unaware that their WhatsApp usage data is being shared with Facebook.

In the United Kingdom, the Information Commissioner Office head Elizabeth Denham said her office had launched a probe into WhatsApp's updated Terms of Service a few weeks ago.

The new terms previously drew ire from European privacy watchdogs who expressed “serious concerns” over the policy change. As a result of the UK government probe, WhatsApp has now suspended account data collection and sharing with Facebook.

Apple aggressively boosting MacBook Pro orders with 15M estimated shipments in 2016

As the Internet keeps whining about supposed lack of features on the new MacBook Pro (let's bring back the floppy drive, shall we?) and Apple's master plan to make us buy more dongles, the Cupertino firm appears confident in the face of strong criticism that its latest notebook is indeed going to appeal to the general public and mainstream users.

According to supply chain chatter echoed by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, Apple's been pretty “aggressive” in placing orders for the new MacBook Pros.

Facebook for iOS will soon introduce AI-powered live effects for photos and videos

According to Facebook's chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer, the company's mobile applications for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android smartphones and tablets will soon bring out advanced Prism-like live filters and effects for your photos and videos.

Using artificial intelligence algorithms and high efficiency neural networks running directly on the device, these filters will let users turn their photos and videos into works of art, Schroepfer said.