Apple

Chrome for iOS now supports Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Google today issued a small but important refresh to the Chrome browser for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on the App Store. The updated software bumps up version number to 52.0.2743.84 and brings official support for Accelerated Mobile Pages that, similar to Instant Articles on Facebook, load in a fraction of the time of their non-accelerated mobile versions. Any news stories and articles from partner publishers that have a lightning bolt and “AMP” next to them in search results will load instantly when tapped on.

Apple makes significant progress on its first retail store in Singapore

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Apple's first retail store in Singapore appears to be progressing nicely, with new photos obtained by MacRumors proving that the construction of the store's glass facade and canopy is now well underway. Apple confirmed in November 2015 that its first-ever store in the Southeast Asia city-state will be powered by hundred percent renewable energy, but did not provide a timeframe for the opening.

The store location has been under renovation since earlier this year.

Much-enhanced parking space information comes to Apple Maps courtesy of Parkopedia

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

Finding a parking lot in your area has gotten a whole lot easier with an announcement this morning from parking service company Parkopedia that its detailed parking data is now being used by Apple Maps across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Parkopedia offers detailed information on more than 40 million parking spaces in 75 countries and Maps users on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch can now view detailed information about parking garages and lots around the world.

Rumor: Apple is going to refresh MacBook Air after all and it’ll have USB-C

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

DigiTimes, a Taiwanese trade publication that more or less accurately reports unknown features of unreleased Apple products (although the timing on its rumors is usually off), is out with a new story Wednesday claiming that USB Type-C connection is coming to a next-gen MacBook Air, implying Apple might update its most popular notebook after all.

Is Xiaomi’s first-ever Windows PC notebook a shameless MacBook Air ripoff?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Xiaomi (pronounced “sh-YEOW-mee”), a booming Chinese smartphone and consumer electronics maker, today took the wraps off its first-ever Windows PC notebook and it looks awfully familiar to the MacBook Air. The familiarity starts with the device's silly 'Mi Notebook Air' moniker and extends to its unibody industrial design that's thinner and lighter than Apple's notebook.

Offered in 12.5 and 13.3-inch varieties, the product matches and—in terms of graphics, lightness and thinness—one-ups the MacBook Air while costing half as much. Xiaomi's new notebooks run Windows 10 and will hit store shelves in China on August 2.

Did Microsoft just make the best camera app with Pix for iPhone?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Microsoft Pix, a smarter camera app that helps you take better pictures without extra effort, is now available for download from the App Store. Microsoft says its app is “a bit like having a professional photographer inside your camera” in that it uses advanced artificial intelligence, computational photography and video stabilization to automatically pick the right settings to help boost and improve your iPhone photography skills.

Grab Microsoft Pix from the App Store for free and let us know if it impresses you.

Reports reaffirm non-moving Home button for iPhone 7 with haptic feedback simulating clicks

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

If you believe certain analysts, supply chain chatter and reports from outlets like Mac Otakara, Apple's next iPhone will feature an all-digital, touch-sensitive Home button flush with its front face. A pair of new rumors, first discovered by AppleInsider, have now reaffirmed that the iPhone 7's non-moving Home button won't physically click when pressed, instead simulating a click with vibration much like the trackpad on MacBooks uses haptic feedback to provide a click sensation.

Apple poised to open its first retail store in Mexico later this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Apple is gearing up to open its first brick-and-mortar retail store in Mexico City ahead of push into Latin America, AppleInsider has learned from a trusted source. Located at the Centro Santa Fe mall, the upcoming outlet will be three times the size of the regular boutique storefronts that comprise the mall's upscale Via Santa Fe wing.

Apple buys hit TV segment ‘Carpool Karaoke’ for Apple Music

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

Apple has purchased the rights to turn Carpool Karaoke—the viral segment that broke out on the Late Late Show With James Corden—into its own series, reports The Hollywood Reporter. It plans to develop 16 episodes, that will stream weekly on Apple Music.

"We love music, and Carpool Karaoke celebrates it in a fun way that is a hit with audiences of all ages," said Eddy Cue. "It's a perfect fit for Apple Music — bringing subscribers exclusive access to their favorite artists and celebrities who come along for the ride."

Adobe releases viewing-only Lightroom app for Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 9, 2017

Tuesday, Photoshop maker Adobe announced it's releasing Lightroom for Apple TV. A viewing-only app, Lightroom for Apple TV lets you instantly appreciate on your big screen TV any photos that are synchronized with Lightroom for mobile or uploaded via Lightroom CC on the desktop, mobile or web.

Your photos can be presented one by one or in a slideshow and you can zoom in on details using the Siri Remote. Separately, Adobe also released Lightroom CC 2015.6.1, which you can.

Supply chain rumor: Apple Watch 2 to release in September or October

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 26, 2016

The Apple Watch should receive its first hardware refresh this September or October, or about a year and a half following its April 2015 debut. That's according to supply chain sources that spoke to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. “Although the second-generation Apple Watch is estimated to be unveiled in September or October, related supply chain is seeing rather conservative orders for the device,” as per the report.

tvOS 10 Preview: Dark Mode comes to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

On tvOS 10, you can switch between Dark and Light appearance. Dark Mode, one of the new features of tvOS 10, adjusts the look of your Home screen and backgrounds so that posters and icons are easier to read at night. As such, it makes watching TV at home feel more like going to the movies.

Conversely, selecting Light background makes posters and icons pop. Our video guy Andrew O'Hara has tested Dark Mode on tvOS 10, here's his quick hands-on video.