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Apple to allow third-party Apple Watch accessories that integrate inductive charging pads

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 23, 2015

Apple has changed the terms of its 'Made for Apple Watch' licensing program to allow accessory makers to integrate charging pads directly into third-party docks and stands for the Apple Watch, 9to5Mac reported Thursday.

Currently, makers of Apple Watch stands and docks are prohibited from providing Apple Watch charging pads so, for example, stands like Twelve South's HiRise for Apple Watch typically have an opening into which users themselves must insert the charging pad that came with their Apple Watch.

Apple Back to School Promotion: buy a Mac, get a free pair of Beats Solo2 Headphones

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated July 24, 2017

Apple today launched its Back to School Promotion, offering a free pair of Beats Solo2 Headphones for the purchase of a qualifying Mac. Starting July 23, and going through September 18, 2015, this promotion is available at US Apple retail stores and participating Apple Authorized Campus Stores.

Days of Wonder’s board game Splendor goes digital: we go hands-on

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Splendor is a hugely popular board game distributed by Asmodee that first launched in 2014 and has received much acclaim in its short lifespan, including a nomination from the board game world's most coveted Spiel des Jahres awards.

Splendor is now available on iOS so you can keep your merchant skills sharp without waiting for your board game group to be ready. We've got a hands-on game review of Splendor for you today.

The JAM Classic provides better audio playback at a low price

Lory Gil ∙ July 23, 2015

There are some situations in which one may want to listen to Apple Music using more than just the iPhone 6 speakers, but don't need a big sound and don't want to take up too much space.

The JAM Classic is the perfect portable Bluetooth speaker for listening to tunes in the office, at the beach, or while studying for finals in the dorm. Think of it as a personal sound system.

LyricForMusic: display song lyrics for Apple Music tracks

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 22, 2015

Apple Music is great, but with all of the new music discovery it brings, you're bound to run into situations where you wish you had quick access to song lyrics. That's where a brand new jailbreak tweak called LyricForMusic comes into play.

LyricForMusic lends you nearly instant access to a song's lyrics simply by tapping on its album artwork. And this works, not only for the music that you own or for the music that you have saved locally to your device; it also works for music streamed directly from Apple Music's 30+ million song catalog.

New Snapchat tweak sidesteps crackdown on jailbreakers [updated]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 22, 2015

A new jailbreak tweak for Snapchat just launched, and it works on the latest version of Snapchat—version 9.12.0.0—without causing a lockout.

As you'll recall, Snapchat started cracking down on Snapchat-oriented jailbreak tweaks after an update to one of the more popular tweaks (Phantom) allowed users to spoof locations and snag coveted filters from places across the world.

Though an update to Phantom is said to be on the way, a new update to another Snapchat-centric tweak—Snapchat+— is the first release that actually lets users bypass the Snapchat ban hammer.

Apple’s focus on privacy slowing HomeKit rollout as cutting-edge encryption produces unacceptable lag

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 22, 2015

HomeKit, Apple's platform for the connected home, sounds terrific on paper. In reality, HomeKit is like CarPlay, another Apple platform plagued with slower than expected rollout.

There are currently only five HomeKit-compatible accessories on the market: the Ecobee3, Elgato Eve, iHome iSP5 SmartPlug, Insteon Hub and Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit.

A new report alleges that wider HomeKit adoption is being held back by Apple's stringent encryption requirements. Apparently, Bluetooth chips currently available on the market and certified for HomeKit just can't handle Apple's super strong encryption without degrading the experience.

As Forbes reported Wednesday, Apple imposes a high level of encryption on HomeKit accessory makers in order to prevent eavesdropping and protect the privacy of its users. Apple's focus on privacy, however, has created unacceptable levels of lag in prototype Bluetooth products whose chips have sub-par processing capability.

Google Maps gaining a cool new feature to revisit all the places you’ve explored

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 1, 2017

Google yesterday announced a new feature for users of its mapping service which makes it easy and fun to reminisce about the places you've explored with Google Maps.

Currently available on desktop and Android, the “Your Timeline” feature lets you revisit any place you’ve been on a given day, month or year.

Your Timeline is private and visible only to you.

As a bonus, if you use Google's new Photos mobile app, available free of charge in the App Store, it'll show you the photos you took when viewing a specific day.

Google finally updates Chrome for iOS with swipe to navigate

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 27, 2015

File this one under the “better late than never” drawer. It only took like nearly two years since iOS 7's debut but Google has at long last given users of its Chrome for iOS browser the ability to swipe right or left to navigate backward or forward.

The iPhone and iPad browser, now bumped to version 44.0.2403.65, also brings stability improvements and bug fixes while laying the groundwork for another major feature addition: Physical Web integration in the Notification Center's Today view.

Physical what?

Apple seeds public beta 2 of OS X El Capitan

Cody Lee ∙ July 22, 2015

In addition to iOS 9, Apple on Wednesday seeded the second public beta of OS X El Capitan to testers. The release comes just a day after beta 4 of El Capitan was pushed out to developers and two weeks after the first public beta.

The new build is available to registered public testers who are already on beta 1 via the Updates section of the Mac App Store, or through the beta web portal as a standalone download. You can enroll in the program by clicking here.

Apple releases iOS 9 beta 2 to the public

Cody Lee ∙ July 22, 2015

Apple on Wednesday released the second public beta of iOS 9 to testers. The seed comes just 24 hours after beta 4 of iOS 9 was pushed to developers, and roughly two weeks after Apple dropped the first public beta.

Beta 2 is available to anyone in Apple's public testing program, either via the web portal or as an over-the-air update for folks already on beta 1. If you're looking for help updating to iOS 9, we have a great tutorial here.

Microsoft launches Send for iPhone, a hybrid app for quick IM-style emails

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 1, 2018

Microsoft's hybrid email/IM app which leaked back in May is now official. Today, the Windows giant said a new app called Send is launching exclusively on the iPhone. Designed for “in-and-out email,” Send for iPhone lets you engage in brief and snappy communications with co-workers using quick text message-like conversations without a subject line or formal email constructs. All of your communications gets automatically saved in Outlook for reference later.