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Microsoft to update Skype for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2014

Software giant Microsoft, which owns and runs the Skype service, will unleash an update next month that will optimize the popular VoIP platform for the bigger 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus's 5.5-inch display, according to a Skype spokesperson Tuesday.

“We’re currently working on an update to Skype for iPhone that scales for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus screen sizes, which we plan to release in the next month,” said Skype.

The company wouldn't reveal if the new version will take full advantage of the larger canvas or simply blow up the user interface on 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 devices.

iOS 8.0.1 said to bring fixes for bugs in keyboard, Safari, Phone and more

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2014

Apple has provided carrier partners with a pre-release version of iOS 8.0.1, reports MacRumors. This means that, barring any major issues, the public release shouldn't be far behind, and it sounds like it's going to include a number of bug fixes.

According to the site, iOS 8.0.1 will address the bug in mobile Safari that causes some videos not to play, and one that prevents Passbook passes from being shared over AirDrop. It will also address an issue with installing VPN profiles, and more.

Google rebrands Currents as Google Play Newsstand, adds new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2014

The search monster Google on Tuesday refreshed its Currents for iOS application with a revamped design featuring all-new navigation, the ability to subscribe and get news from topics you're most interested in, as well as discover new articles and editions in one place, and more.

There's also the new My Library feature which collates all of your content subscriptions so they can be easily browsed and managed.

For those unfamiliar with Currents, it's basically Google's version of Apple's stock iOS Newsstand application. The iPhone and iPad is available free in the App Store.

Microsoft updates Bing Search app with translation widget in Safari and Notification Center

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2014

First demoed at WWDC 2014 back in June, Microsoft's Bing translation widget and custom actions for Safari and the Notification Center in iOS 8 is now available by way of an update to the free Bing Search app for the iPhone and iPod touch devices. Available free of charge in the App Store, the new Bing Search 5.0.1 also contains bug fixes.

As shown on the screenshots top of post, enabling the Bing Search Translation action in Safari requires that you bring up the Share sheet in Safari.

Nearly half of iOS devices in the wild run iOS 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 15, 2023

Less than a week following its September 17 release, Apple's new iOS 8 mobile software is installed on 46 percent of all active iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices in the wild that have accessed the App Store recently, reveals a dashboard on the Apple Developers website.

At the same time, the number of devices running the iOS 7 software has dropped to 49 percent as of September 21, with older iOS versions grabbing a meager five percent share.

iMaker allows you to animate app icons on your Home screen

Alihassan Mahdi ∙ September 23, 2014

We've seen ActiveBoard, a tweak that allows you to add glowing effects to applications that are running in the background or have a pending notification. iMaker is a new jailbreak tweak with a similar goal, but packed with various different animations and options.

The tweak, which has been developed by Javier Brito, allows you to quickly identify the recently opened 5 apps that are still running in the background, applications that have a pending notification or which have been recently updated. This is done by applying various different animation styles to their icons.

Apple posts two new iPhone 6 ads: “Cameras” and “Huge”

Cody Lee ∙ September 22, 2014

Apple has posted two new iPhone 6 ads to its YouTube channel. The commercials are titled "Cameras" and "Huge," and they highlight some of the benefits of the updated cameras and larger displays found on the recently-launched handsets.

The two videos are very much inline with the spots we saw during the iPhone 6 event, in that they feature voice overs done by celebrities Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon running down various new features of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Report claims iPad Air 2 to launch in October, new iPad mini in early 2015

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Apple is planning to unveil a new iPad Air next month, according to a new report from the Commercial Times. The Taiwanese news outlet says that the refreshed tablet is entering mass production this month, and will be ready to ship by mid-October.

Interestingly enough, the site claims that the next iPad mini may not launch alongside the new Air. Instead, it says the second-gen Retina iPad mini could be delayed until early 2015, meaning it could land around the same time as the rumored iPad Pro.

Let’s Talk iOS 048: Analyzing the iPhone 6 and iOS 8

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Episode 48: It's been three days since we got the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and it's been nearly a week since iOS 8. In this episode, we sing praises and share complaints about the new iPhones and Apple's latest update to iOS.

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Sponsor: This episode of LTiOS is brought to you by Thinkful, a service that will teach you how to code iOS apps. For 10% off, go to www.thinkful.com/ios

Three days with the iPhone 6

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

The months leading to the announcement of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus seemed to drag on and on, but the week following flew by. Within seven short days of reserving my iPhone 6 at my local Apple Store, I had it in my hands. It's here. And it's lovely.

Backing up for a second, it's worth noting that I wasn't one of those people that was hankering for a new iPhone. I certainly wasn't desperate for one that was a great deal larger than my iPhone 5. That phone had been with me for two years, day in and day out. It felt like part of the family, and I'll almost miss it now it's gone.

It's gone because I took advantage of my two-year contract's expiration in order to get a new iPhone. More specifically, a 64GB Space Grey iPhone 6.

This isn't a review, by the way. It's a largely incoherent collection of thoughts after a weekend with what will probably be Apple's best selling iPhone ever. There are plenty of awesome reviews out there if that's your cup of tea.

So let's get started with my story.

Apple said to be working with GT Advanced on “super sapphire” screens

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple and GT are continuing their work to strengthen sapphire, according to a new report from Wall Street Forensics. The site says the pair are hoping to reduce the material's "fundamental flaw of cracking," as well as improve its reflective properties.

On September 18th, the US Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that covers new processes to both aid in the strengthening of sapphire, and cut manufacturing costs—a major point of contention with sapphire critics.

A first look at Minuum keyboard for iOS 8

Lory Gil ∙ Updated September 29, 2014

On the iPhone 6 Plus, screen real estate is not as much of an issue as it is for the 5s and smaller. For those of you lucky enough to get your hands on the biggest iPhone ever, you might turn your nose up at anything that truncates an app’s features in order to save screen space. But, the rest of us need every inch we can get.

Minuum is a keboard app that can be set as the default thanks to iOS 8. It features an intelligent auto-correct that learns your typing habits, predictive typing for getting to the next word faster, and a keyboard that can be minimized into a single line on the screen.