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Nest and Google clarify: recalled smoke detectors returning soon, no ads on thermostats

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Contrary to a flurry of reports yesterday, Google was never going to put ads on the Nest Thermostat. Moreover, Nest co-founder and the iPod Godfather, Tony Fadell, has confirmed that recalled thermostats will be returning to store shelves sooner than you think.

Allow me to refresh your memory: soon after it was discovered that a safety bug with a Protect Wave feature could prevent the alarm from sounding, Google's Nest unit has responded by preemptively recalling about 40,000 faulty units.

This should set the record straight and put to rest the ridiculous notion that recalling smoke detectors and not doing ads in thermostats is somehow evil...

Pixelmator 3.2 is out: all-new Repair tool, Lock Layers feature, 16-bit channels and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 22, 2014

After previewing Pixelmator 3.2 a little more than a month ago, the team on Thursday released the updated software for public consumption.

Bumped to version 3.2, Pixelmator's 'Sandstone' update is now available free in the Mac App Store to those who own this popular Photoshop alternative for the Mac. The headline new feature: a much improved Repair tool.

It uses “the latest breakthrough technologies” to make it easy and fun to remove dust, blemishes and entire objects from your images, “with an unsurpassed level of precision and quality”.

Also on tap in this Pixelmator update: a Lock Layers Feature and 16-bits per channel support for all Macs (previously, only the new Mac Pro supported higher-fidelity color channels)...

You can now create mixes from Spotify tracks in Algoriddim’s djay for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Germany-based Algoriddim - which develops the popular djay software for the iPhone [$1.99], iPad [$9.99] and Mac [$19.99] - today announced a major partnership with Swedish startup Spotify, which operates the world's leading streaming-music service.

Spotify Premium subscribers and DJ wannabes can now mix any of the more than twenty million Spotify tracks, right inside djay for the iPhone and iPad. This seamless integration extends to such advanced features as Automix Radio, Spotify Match, desktop-class audio effects and pro-grade DJ hardware integration, to name a few.

The newly introduced capabilities are available via a major update to djay for the iPhone and iPad. Based on my brief hands-on time with djay for iPad, I can safely say that Spotify integration has just become a major selling point for these kinds of apps, here's why...

Apple to fix iMessage phone number issues in a ‘future software update’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 4, 2023

No, Apple is not intentionally trying to make life tougher for its former users who switched to another smartphone brand.

According to a statement a company spokesperson issued to Re/code, a fix for the issue with texts not being properly delivered to people who switched away from the iPhone is in the works.

Apple says a two-fold nature of the problem requires changes on the server end, as well as fixes to iOS, to be delivered in "a future software update"...

Apple’s environmental chief talks current and future clean energy initiatives

Cody Lee ∙ May 22, 2014

Apple's newly appointed VP of Environmental Initiatives, and former head of EPA, Lisa Jackson spoke at Fortune's Brainstorm Green conference earlier this week. The executive talked about a number of topics, including the iPad-makers various green projects.

Jackson noted that although Apple has done a good job reducing its carbon footprint over the past few years, it still has a long way to go. Their next major challenge, she says, is getting their 400+ retail stores around the globe to run on 100% on renewable energy...

Infinity Blade III goes on sale as ‘Blade Masters’ update arrives

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Chair has just released a monstrous update for its popular Infinity Blade III game this morning. The so-called 'Blade Masters' update brings the app to version 1.3, and offers up a number of new features and characters, as well as other improvements.

Among the changes is a new character called the Collector, an ancient Deathless Blade Master who has a penchant for fine weapons. Ryth also makes a return, along with 6 new enemies, and you can prepare for them using the brand new Trainer feature...

Apple renews exclusive Liquidmetal deal for consumer products

Cody Lee ∙ May 22, 2014

According to a filing with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), Apple has renewed its exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies' alloys in its consumer products through at least February of next year.

Apple originally purchased the rights back in 2010, and the agreement was set to expire in February. The company has thus far only used the alloys in smaller applications, but it's believed to have bigger plans for the tech...

Apple.com promoting new version of Asphalt 8: Airborne coming, but why?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Apple rarely, if ever at all, advertises other people's software on its front page, so imagine our surprise after noticing a line at the bottom of Apple.com saying that a "new version of Asphalt 8: Airborne is coming to the App Store this summer". Yup, just like that.

The message seems to have first appeared on the Apple homepage nearly a month ago on Sunday, April 27, 2014.

I know what you must be thinking, but no - this game has not been featured in Apple's iPhone 5s 'Powerful' television commercial in the United States - though you could be partially right because localized versions of the ad that Apple is airing in other countries do feature Asphalt 8...

Spotify announces it now has 10 million paying subscribers, 40 million active users

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Spotify has announced that it's surpassed two new major milestones in recent weeks. The streaming service says that it now has more than 10 million paying subscribers and over 40 million active users, in 56 markets around the globe.

For context, Pandora said last month that its active user count for March was 75.3 million. It didn't say how many of those were paid accounts, but looking at its numbers from last year (2.5 million) Spotify may be close to passing it...

Apple said to be expanding in Sunnyvale, California with new 7-building campus

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting today that Apple plans to expand its operations into Sunnyvale, California. Citing city documents and sources familiar with the matter, the outlet says that the iPad-maker has agreed to lease a new campus in the Santa Clara city.

According to building permit applications, the agreement includes Sunnyvale Crossing, a 290,000 square foot complex with a total of 7 buildings. Apple is currently listed as a tenant in one of the facilities, and is expected to take over the remaining 6 structures very soon...

LockInfo7 brings essential info to the Lock screen

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated December 28, 2017

There are a countless number of jailbreak tweaks that aim to improve the Lock screen experience, such as Convergance and IntelliScreenX, but not many come close to LockInfo7 in terms of usefulness. The newly released tweak by iOS developer David Ashman expands the functionality of the Lock screen in several different ways. Read ahead to see what I mean…

Hackers create tool to bypass Apple’s ‘Activation Lock’ security feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Two hackers have created a tool that they claim can bypass Apple's 'Activation Lock.' It's called 'doulCi, and it uses a man-in-the-middle attack to intercept users' Apple ID credentials as well as unlock devices disabled by the highly-lauded security feature.

The hack utilizes a vulnerability in iTunes for Windows that has to do with verifying security certificates. And apparently, all you have to do to get it to work is plug in the device to a computer, and alter a file, directing it to an alternate server instead of iCloud...