How to pair Android Wear without an Android Phone using a virtual machine on Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

I know, it may sound fairly niche, but hear me out. Recently, there's been a lot of buzz about using Android Wear devices with the iPhone, and that's the reason why I started exploring this topic to begin with.

As it turns out, when you buy an Android Wear device, you need an Android device to "activate" the smartwatch (go figure). Since I don't currently own an Android phone, my LG G Watch was stuck at the pairing screen.

Yes, there are more "in-depth" ways to go about getting passed this screen, but not everyone is up to that task. With this in mind, I've created a video tutorial that shows you how to run an Android virtual machine on your Mac with Parallels, and how to then pair an Android Wear device with the virtual machine.

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How to use a secret Activator gesture to keep your Lock screen secure

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Worried about unscrupulous individuals trying to unlock your device or accessing Control Center or Notification Center without your prior approval? If so, then Secret-Lock may interest you.

Secret-Lock is a recently released jailbreak tweak that freezes the iOS Lock screen until a secret Activator gesture is used. This allows you to secure the Lock screen and prevent swipes, and Control Center or Notification Center invocation gestures.

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New report offers behind-the-scenes look at Apple-HBO deal

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

Alongside Tuesday's launch of HBO's new standalone streaming service, HBO Now, Fast Company published a wide-ranging interview with the network's chief executive Richard Plepler. The piece offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Now came about, and more interesting to us, how Apple got involved.

As Plepler tells it, HBO had been working on a streaming service for a few years, with plans to launch in 2016. But due to increasing competition from Netflix, and a looming takeover bid from media mogul Rubert Murdoch, they decided to speed up the timetable. So he gave his old friend Jimmy Iovine a call.

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Let’s Talk iOS 076: Doing time

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Episode 76: the guys break down their Apple Watch pre-order plans and discuss their final purchase decisions.

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Mujjo Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 6 holds the essentials without adding bulk

Lory Gil ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

These days, people don’t need wallets as much as they just need a pocket or two to hold a couple of credit cards and an ID. Even if you need to bring cash with you somewhere, chances are, you don’t need much.

Mujjo’s Leather Wallet Case for the iPhone 6 is designed with a back pocket so you can carry just the essentials and leave the bulky wallet mess at home.

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CustomStatusBar: sanitize the iOS 8 status bar

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

CustomStatusBar is a brand new jailbreak tweak that allows you to customize the status bar in iOS 8. Customization is limited to hiding items, but in a future update you will be able to rearrange items in the status bar as well.

We've taken CustomStatusBar for a spin on video, and we'll show you how easy it is to clean up your iOS status bar in seconds.

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Instagram announces new ‘Fade’ and ‘Color’ tools

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Instagram on Tuesday announced that it would be adding two new options to the suite of tools in its photo editing app. Those tools are 'Fade' and 'Color,' and they will allow users to further tweak the appearance of their photos before sharing them on the social network.

More specifically, Color will bring about the ability to tint the highlights or shadows within photos with choices of yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, cyan and green. Fade, on the other hand, will enable users to bring a quiet tone to their photos by softening colors.

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HBO NOW launches on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad with 30-day free trial

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2015

As previously announced at Apple's March 9 media event, HBO's online-only subscription services has just launched on Apple's $69 set-top box, the iPhone, iPad and on the web ahead of the series premiere of its hit show Game of Thrones on April 12.

The video subscription service will be available exclusively on the Apple TV and the iOS platform for a limited time. A free 30-day trial is available if you sign up in April, after which watching HBO NOW will set you back $14.99 each month.

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1Password for Mac gains 2-factor code generation

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

After releasing a massive update to its freemium iPhone and iPad password-keeping application back in January, developer AgileBits on Tuesday posted a matching update on the Mac App Store, bringing support for two-factor authentication codes and a bunch of other improvements to its 1Password for Mac utility.

In addition to two-step verification, the app has gained the ability to email and start a FaceTime Audio or Skype call by clicking numbers in the Identities section and given some existing features “a big power-up.”

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NCMeters: add customizable system vital meters to Notification Center

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

NCMeters is a non-intrusive tweak for monitoring system vitals via Notification Center. It allows you to check CPU usage, memory and storage usage, and monitor both upload and download speeds.

NCMeters only runs when you have Notification Center open, so it's not going to be overly taxing on system resources when going about your daily business. To ensure accuracy, data is collected using traditional command line tools.

Along with those basics, NCMeters features quite a bit of customization. Have a look at our video walkthrough and see for yourself.

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Apple Watch reservations for in-store pickup will be limited to one per customer

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2015

When pre-orders for the Apple Watch kick off this Friday, April 10, making reservations for in-store pickup will be limited to one per customer through Apple's Reserve and Pickup service, MacRumors has learned from sources.

Would-be buyers in the United States, the United Kingdom and possibly in other launch countries will be required to present a valid government-issued photo ID upon pickup at the Apple Store where they placed their Apple Watch reservation, the publication reported Tuesday.

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