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Apple recalling some third-generation Apple TV models due to faulty component

Cody Lee ∙ August 12, 2015

Apple is recalling some third-generation Apple TV models due to a faulty component, reports MacRumors. The site says that the company began contacting select customers yesterday who recently purchased an Apple TV, informing them that their devices had shipped with an unspecified faulty part.

Alongside the warning, Apple is offering to exchange the bad set-top boxes for new units shipped from the company. As of Wednesday afternoon, no word had been posted on Apple's official website regarding the recall, suggesting that the amount of affected devices out in the wild is fairly small.

New Google for iOS update adds always-listening “Ok Google” to in-app browser and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

It's been a while since Google last refreshed its native search application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad with meaningful new features, but today Google for iOS got bumped to version 7.0 in the App Store.

Most notably, the app now supports the always-on “Ok Google” feature within in-app browser, but not only that—it understands what you're searching for in the context of the webpage you're browsing.

Before today, “Ok Google” was only available on the app's search screen and you weren't able to use it if you navigated away from search results.

Apple joins NFC Forum to help advance interoperability between NFC devices and services

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

NFC World is reporting that Apple earlier in the week joined the NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that promotes implementation and standardization of the Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology in order to ensure interoperability between devices and services.

NFC, as you know, is at the heart of Apple Pay and other contactless payment systems and has been used on Android devices for easier sharing of content directly between devices.

The iPhone maker joined the organization as a top-tier sponsor and also has a seat on NFC Forum's Board of Directors, meaning it's now in a position to significantly influence the development of the NFC standard.

Apple Pay competitor CurrentC may not launch until 2016

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

CurrentC, the mobile payments app back by a consortium of major retailers known as MCX, may not launch until 2016, Recode reports. The outlet spoke with MCX CEO Brian Mooney yesterday, and he says that the app may not be ready to go this year like originally planned.

A public pilot of the app will go live in Ohio next month, and Mooney says that MCX won't push for a wider rollout if it's not ready. "This is a long game," he said said. “Certainly going faster is always better — that’s not necessarily a debatable point. But we’re going to do it right."

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 launches on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, no In-App Purchases whatsoever

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad just hit the App Store. This popular construction and management videogame franchise that simulates amusement park originally management debuted on Windows PCs back in 1999.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 released on Windows more than a decade ago (it dropped on October 26, 2004) and today's release has finally brought the classic strategy simulation title to the iOS platform.

The game costs $4.99 and is free of In-App Purchase schemes.

This was the most played music on Beats 1 last month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

As Apple and its executives continue to point out, what sets Beats 1 apart from other streaming radio services is its human curation. Instead of software algorithms, Beats 1 features real-life DJs that play whatever song they are feeling at any given moment.

But that doesn't mean you won't hear music get repeated. Quartz tracked the Beats 1 playlist throughout the month of July, and according to its data, out of 12,445 songs, only 3,371 were unique. This means that each song was played an average of 3.7 times.

Apple’s seventh-generation iPod nano has just received a software update

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

As first noted by 9to5Mac, Apple’s seventh-generation iPod nano has just received a software update to version 1.0.4.

The free-of-charge software update can be applied by connecting your iPod nano with a Lightning cable to a Mac or Windows PC and firing up iTunes.

Twitter removes 140-character limit from Direct Messages

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 28, 2018

Two months into the announcement that it would remove the archaic 140-character limit from Direct Messages, Twitter today officially made the move in the hope of taking on popular instant messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Skype, iMessage and others.

For people who use Direct Messages to communicate with their Twitter followers privately, this change couldn't have come sooner because they can now chat on in a single Direct Message without restrictions and “likely still have some characters left over.”

Catalyst unveils the world’s first waterproof Apple Watch case

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Last week, I went on a hike and ended up at a swimming hole where I promptly jumped into the cool, refreshing water and subsequently realize that I was still wearing my Apple Watch. Don't worry, everything worked out fine.

It got me thinking about how I wished there were a waterproof case for Apple Watch. Specifically, I was thinking about how it would be nice if Catalyst made one (I'm not making this up. I have a Catalyst waterproof iPhone case that I love). The good news is that Catalyst did make a waterproof case for Apple Watch. The bad news is that it doesn’t fit my model.

Let’s Talk Jailbreak 120: Keep it weird

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Episode 120: Join us for an outrageous episode filled with jailbreak talk, including a chit-chat about the best free tweaks, and tons of jailbreak-related side stories.

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Rdio just brought 500 traditional AM/FM live radio stations to its iPhone and iPad app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Internet radio services like Pandora, Rdio, iHeartRadio, Deezer and many others have been feeling the heat following the launch of Apple Music with free 24/7 Internet radio, called Beats 1. Responding to competitive pressure, Rdio announced Wednesday that it is bringing live-broadcast radio stations to its iOS app, beginning with 500 stations owned and operated by its partner, Cumulus Media.

Siri voice actors share tidbits on becoming instantly recognizable voices around the world

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple debuted the iPhone 4s with Siri on October 4, 2011. The unexpected arrival of the digital personal assistant was called a life-changing moment bound to reshape how we interacted with mobile devices.

A year later, Siri went live on iPads. Siri is also an important feature of CarPlay and this year got added to the Apple Watch as a crucial method of hands-free user interaction. The digital personal assistant is now in the pockets, on wrists and in the cars of the millions, answering the world’s questions.

But what does it take to become the voice of Siri? Former Siri voice actors have shared secrets of the trade with The Guardian newspaper and talked about becoming instantly recognizable voices around the world.

Here are the juiciest bits.