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Poll: is your Apple ID protected with two-step verification?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Two-step verification protects your Apple ID from unauthorized access when accessing iCloud.com and the Apple ID web interface or when when making an App Store or iTunes purchase from a new device. It's an additional layer of security which combines something you know (your Apple ID password) with something you have (an iOS device).

Once enabled, it requires that you enter a four-digit code after providing your Apple ID credentials, with the code being pushed to a trusted iOS device.

You will also get a 14-character Recovery Key to regain control of your account should you ever lose access to your trusted devices or forget your password.

So, is your Apple ID protected with two-factor verification or do you still trust your digital life with the good ol' password in conjunction with security questions?

eBay revamps iPad app with exclusive deals on Apple accessories

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

The popular e-commerce service eBay on Tuesday launched its updated iPad client with a redesigned interface and exclusive deals on Apple accessories.

The 52.2-megabyte download improves your buying and selling functionality with the native tablet interface featuring bigger product images, better item suggestions, tabbed navigation, swiping, smarter search results, a brand new Today homepage and more.

Designed to put your products at the forefront and create an engaging shopping experience for buyers, the refreshed experience is aimed at “giving sellers the best platform to showcase their products and make it effortless for buyers to discover and engage with their inventory,” as per RJ Pittman, chief product officer at eBay.

Natalie Portman passes on Jobs biopic, Jeff Daniels being considered for role

Cody Lee ∙ December 9, 2014

Natalie Portman has decided to pass on the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, according to a new report from Variety. Portman was said to be in talks for a lead female role in the movie, either as Jobs' daughter Lisa or former Mac marketing chief Joanna Hoffman.

Additionally, The Wrap reports today that Universal Pictures is eyeing Jeff Daniels for the role of former Apple CEO John Sculley. If he signs on to the project, Daniels would join fellow Newsroom alumni in writer Aaron Sorkin and producer Scott Rudin.

63% of iOS devices now run iOS 8

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

Apple noted today on its developer portal that 63% of iOS devices are now running iOS 8. The data, which was measured by the App Store on December 8, 2014, shows that the adoption rate has gained 3 percentage points since November 24, which was the last time Apple shared that data. Although the adoption rate of iOS 8 has been slower than previous major annual software releases, it seems that it's slowly but surely picking up steam.

iCloud.com’s Find My iPhone replaces Google with Apple Maps for all users

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2014

Nearly two years after supplanting the stock Google Maps iOS app with its own much-maligned service that resulted in Scott Forstall's ousting, Apple's web-based Find My iPhone service available over at iCloud.com seems to have adopted Apple Maps backend for all users, reports 9to5Mac.

Previously, using the web-based version of Find My iPhone used to rely on Google Maps data. The move could indicate plans to roll out a web-based Apple Maps accessible to anyone through a web browser, allowing the iPhone maker to better compete with Google Maps.

My Verizon Mobile app lets you track your data usage from Notification Center

Sébastien Page ∙ December 9, 2014

Verizon customers who use the official My Verizon Mobile app can now track their data usage directly from the Today tab of Notification Center. The app was updated yesterday with this new feature that should allow users to keep their data usage in check. The widget is updated automatically based on users' plan and usage, showing the total data allocation as well as currently used data.

How losing your Apple ID Recovery Key could permanently lock you out of your account

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

With two-step verification enabled for your Apple ID, you don't need to create or remember any security questions because your identity is exclusively verified using your password, verification codes sent to your trusted devices and your Recovery Key.

The added layer of security is a tremendous convenience, but with great power comes great responsibility and I can't stress enough how crucial it is to ensure you never forget where you stored your Recovery Key. As Owen Williams of The Next Web learned the hard way, they're calling it "Key" for a good reason.

Losing your Recovery Key puts you at risk of being locked out of your Apple ID if Apple's temporarily disabled it as a security precaution because someone's tried to hack it.

Apple cannot grant you access back into your Apple ID. This is by design: the system's been engineered in such a way so that only you can regain access to it. And in order to do that, you absolutely need a Recovery Key.

Here's what to know about securing your Apple ID with two-step verification.

LockGlyph updates result in a significantly better Lock screen tweak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

LockGlyph, a tweak that we reviewed last month, was met with a ho-hum response due to some of its shortcomings. It's a tweak that brings the Apple Pay authentication animation and sound to the Lock screen. It was slow, a little clunky, and lacked many of the customization options necessary to make it great. However, some recent updates have quickly changed the perception of this jailbreak tweak.

Apple releases iOS 8.1.2 with fix for missing ringtone bug and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 15, 2023

Apple has released iOS 8.1.2 this afternoon with a handful of bug fixes and other improvements. Specifically, the release notes say the update addresses an issue where ringtones purchased through the iTunes Store may have disappeared from users' devices.

You can access the new firmware over the air via Settings > General > Software Update, or via iTunes by connecting your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to a computer. But as usual, we recommend that users who are jailbroken, or plan to jailbreak, avoid the update for now.

With new Password Changer feature, Dashlane can change all your passwords at once

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Password manager Dashlane introduced today Password Changer, a new feature that allows you to change all your passwords at once, including accounts secured by two-factor authentication. Powered by Dashlane's recent acquisition of startup PassOmatic came up with the core technology, the feature, that is just entering beta, currently works with about 70 different websites, including Apple, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, but will open up to more sites in the future.

Cut the Rope’s Om Nom is getting its own virtual pet app next Thursday

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2014

As noted by TouchArcade, Om Nom, the cutesy protagonist of the Cut the Rope series of puzzle games, is getting its own virtual pet app soon. Developer ZeptoLabs is reportedly aiming to release the forthcoming virtual pet simulator app in the App Store as soon as next week.

You'll be expected to attend to your candy-loving monster's daily needs by playing with him, feeding him sweeties, keeping him happy and more.

Apple TV gains revamped YouTube app with ads, Dailymotion and other new channels

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2014

As first noted by Re/code, Apple's $99 streaming box is getting a flurry of new channels today, including a redesigned YouTube app that for the first time shows ads on the platform which cannot be skipped.

It brings Apple's device on par with other platforms that have been enjoying YouTube with personalized recommendations, predictive search and all the videos for quite some time now.

In addition to the refreshed YouTube appearance with improved functionality, the set-top box has gained a set of four new channels, including Dailymotion, a video-sharing website owned by French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange.