Apple

WhatsApp brings back text-only status, adds new features in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

A few weeks ago, WhatsApp rolled out auto-vanishing slideshows with photos, videos, emoji characters, drawings and more. Called Status, it supplanted WhatsApp's text-only feature that's been part of the app since its inception. Turns out many users are hating the change, turning to social media to express their disdain with WhatsApp's relentless cloning of Snapchat. WhatsApp developers responded by promising to bring back text-only statuses.

Today, WhatsApp for iPhone was updated with the addition of text-only statuses, called About, whilst gaining a few new features.

Hackers tying to extort Apple over dubious claims, threatening to remotely wipe iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

As reported Tuesday by Motherboard, hackers that go under the code-name “Turkish Crime Family” have allegedly obtained, through unknown means, access to hundreds of millions of Apple email accounts, including iCloud inboxes with email addresses on @icloud and @me domains.

They're threatening to remotely wipe iOS devices unless Apple pays a laughable ransom. It's notable that iCloud has never been hacked into directly and other reasons make this story hard to swallow.

Google Maps gains real time location and trip sharing features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

Google today announced that you can now let your friends and family know where you are and when you'll get there, right from Google Maps for iOS and Android. The answer to “where are you?” is only a tap away—with this useful new feature, people you share with can track your real-time location on iPhone, iPad, mobile web and desktop. Additionally, you can share your trip progress from navigation with others.

iPhone 7 Plus (RED) gets unboxing treatment

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

YouTuber Marques Brownlee has managed to get his hands on one of Apple's new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 devices announced yesterday and has now posted an unboxing video on his YouTube channel. Mimicking the handset's white front face and its vibrant red aluminum casing, product packaging features a white box with red text and red iPhone graphics. The manual that's shipping in the box sports red branding as well.

How to teach your iPhone or iPad to recognize people’s faces in the Photos app

Steffen Reich ∙ Updated March 16, 2018

Organizing one’s photos by date or occasion is by far the most common methodology in photography, and of course why wouldn’t it be? The simple fact of the matter is that a chronological structure of photos satisfies most search requests because you pretty much know immediately where to look for a certain snapshot. With that said, more unconventional efforts such as accumulating every single photo taken by the beach or all shots of your family ever snapped, quickly render the chronologic album structure rigid and dated.

Everything Apple announced today

Sébastien Page ∙ March 21, 2017

Apple showed today that it doesn't need a special event to launch a bunch of different products. Without too much fanfare, the company launched a handful of new products and also updated, or rather upgraded a few ones in the process.

For those of you who didn't have time to read through it all, we've put together a short video rounding up everything Apple announced today.

Google previews Android O, check out the top new features ahead of iOS 11’s June beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

If you think Apple's innovation in the smartphone OS space has stalled, wait until you see the next major revision to Google's Android operating system.

Today, the search giant released a developer-only preview of Android O (it's the working title). While it won't release for public consumption before the fall, developers can download Android O and begin testing it right away. Android O adds many of the same features Apple customers have enjoyed for more than six months with iOS 10, or even longer.

These include things such as richer notifications, picture-in-picture modes, wide color gamuts in apps, limits on what apps can do in the background to improve battery life and more. Here's our preview of Android O's enhancements and new capabilities available to customers and developers.

iTunes 12.6 brings support for cross-device access to movie rentals

Cody Lee ∙ March 21, 2017

Apple on Tuesday seeded an update for iTunes, bringing the content management software to version 12.6. The release brings about minor app and performance improvements, as well as the ability to watch your iTunes movie rentals across your devices with iOS 10.3 or tvOS 10.2.

Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED contributions have topped $130 million

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Tucked away as a side-note in today's press release with which Apple unveiled (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition iPhone 7 is an interesting update: the Cupertino firm's raised more than $130 million for the RED organization thus far. Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to (RED).

For those not in the know, (RED), spearheaded by U2 frontman Bono, aims to fight preventable and treatable diseases like AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (RED) also funds programs that help prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their unborn babies.

Apple phases out iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Apple today bid farewell to both the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 model and its smaller, older brother—the 7.9-inch iPad mini 2.

As of today, neither iPad Air 2 nor iPad mini 2 are available to purchase from Apple. Earlier this morning, the Cupertino firm announced a new 9.7-inch tablet model, called simply iPad.

Simultaneously, the company phased-out the 32-gigabyte edition of iPad mini 4 while giving the iPad mini 4 lineup twice the storage without increasing prices.

Apple’s silicone and leather iPhone 7 cases are now available in six new colors

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Aside from refreshing Apple Watch bands with half a dozen new Spring-themed designs, Apple also announced this morning that its family of silicon and leather cases for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus family now comes in six new Apple-designed colors that conveniently match the new Apple Watch bands.

Like with the new Apple Watch bands, Apple's silicone and leather cases can now be had in Azure, Camellia, Pebble, Taupe, Sapphire or Berry finishes.

32GB iPad mini 4 discontinued, replaced with 128GB model for $399

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Apple today unveiled a new $329 9.7-inch tablet with a brighter, non-laminated Retina display and the A9 chip while discontinuing the 32-gigabyte edition of the fourth-generation iPad mini. At the same time, the Cupertino company has replaced the 32GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 4 model with a 128-gigabyte one priced at $399 for the Wi-Fi-only version, or $529 for the 128-gigabyte Wi-Fi + Cellular edition.