Apple

Apple Watch Hermès collection now available in 10 different style and size combinations

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 5, 2015

The Apple Watch Hermès collection, which got announced at the September 2015 media event, is now available at select retail locations in ten different style and size combinations. As first reported on by AppleInsider, sales are in-store only and unavailable online, with prices starting at $1,100.

Hermès is a Paris-based fashion label specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery and luxury goods. The company is “dedicated to serving European noblemen” though its products are renowned around the world.

Tim Cook issues email to troops commemorating fourth anniversary of Steve Jobs’s death

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 5, 2015

Steve Jobs succumbed to cancer and died of respiratory arrest on this day four years ago. To commemorate the fourth anniversary of his tragic passing, current CEO Tim Cook, whom Jobs suggested as his successor to the Board of Directors, issued a company-wide email to employees.

The message, a copy of which was obtained by The Telegraph, praises Jobs as a visionary leader, a mentor and “a dear friend.”

The internal message wraps up by suggesting that employees honor Steve by “continuing the work he started, and for remembering both who he was and what he stood for.”

Adobe releases Photoshop Fix and Capture CC for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 5, 2015

Adobe launched new services at its annual Adobe MAX creativity conference today while updating the Creative Cloud lineup and releasing a pair of brand new mobile apps: Photoshop Fix and Capture CC.

Built on the Photoshop technology, Photoshop Fix, a free download from the App Store, brings desktop tools like Liguify and Healing Brush to image editing on the go.

Capture CC, another new app available at no charge, includes functionality provided by several mobile apps like Adobe Brush, Adobe Color, Adobe Hue and Adobe Shape.

Apple promises to open up universal search on Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 5, 2015

When the new Apple TV launches toward the end of this month, it will allow viewers to use their voice to search movies and television shows across iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime and HBO. Fans of the device were initially concerned that the new box would offer preferential treatment to the aforesaid services. Thankfully, that won't be the case.

As CEO Tim Cook noted in an interview this weekend with BuzzFeed News's John Paczkowski, the new box will allow apps beyond launch partners to expose and make their content discoverable and searchable via iOS 9's universal search feature.

It's a crucial confirmation: content from other broadcasters and studios such as NBC, Disney and CNN must be exposed through the Apple TV's Siri-based search if the device is to streamline the user experience.

Phillips brings HomeKit support to Hue bulbs and lamps, launches HomeKit-compatible Bridge 2.0

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 5, 2015

Keeping true to its promise of adding support for Apple's homeKit platform to its Hue lineup of smart lights, Philips today launched a brand new Hue Bridge 2.0 with HomeKit support, bringing HomeKit compatibility to existing Hue bulbs and lamps. In addition, the new Bridge supports other connected home platforms so it's future-proof while the original, round-shaped Bridge will continue to be supported with software updates.

Apple acquires UK-based voice technology startup VocalIQ

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Apple has acquired UK-based voice technology startup VocalIQ, according to a report from the Financial Times. A spokesman for the Cupertino company has confirmed the buyout with the usual boilerplate statement of "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

How to quickly access Wallet and Apple Pay on the Lock screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 8, 2022

Those who have tried Apple Pay can attest that paying with your iPhone couldn't be simpler. You just hold your device near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID or your face authenticated with Face ID to pay for the goods or services you bought.

But wouldn't it be great if you could choose any payment cards, passes, and loyalty cards from your Apple Pay account on the Lock screen, without having to unlock your iPhone?

You can now make your purchases by double-pressing the Side button or Home button to access Wallet without unlocking your iPhone, a feature partially borrowed from the Apple Watch. You then simply choose a card and authenticate your purchase via Touch ID or Face ID.

Here's how you can enable Wallet access right from the iPhone's Lock screen with just a few taps.

How to save your iPhone voicemails to the Voice Memos app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 21, 2022

The iOS Phone app makes it easy to save your voicemail to the Voice Memos app. Saving voicemails as voice memos lets you trim the audio before sharing them with others. Plus, the files in the Voice Memos app are automatically uploaded to iCloud and stay safely saved. So, if there is a memorable voicemail, you can keep it forever in iCloud.

In this brief tutorial, we show you how to save your voicemail as an audio note.

AT&T delays public release of Wi-Fi Calling

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 2, 2015

As reported by Fierce Wireless, U.S. carrier AT&T is delaying a public release of the Wi-Fi Calling feature over the decision to wait for a waiver by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would temporarily relieve the company of having to support options for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Attempting to enable the feature on iPhones running iOS 9.0 or later by flipping the Wi-Fi Calling switch in Settings → Phone to the ON position yields a “Wi-Fi Calling is not yet available. It will be coming soon” message.

How to play Apple Music high quality streams on cellular

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 16, 2019

Apple Music on iOS includes an option to stream your music at high bitrates over a mobile data network at all times. As you know, Apple Music defaults to high-quality streams on Wi-Fi.

With this toggle, you can control your cellular data usage by enabling or disabling high bitrates when streaming or downloading music over your carrier's cellular data network.

Google Photos gains people labeling and animation sharing to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 2, 2015

As promised, the Internet giant Google today pushed an update to its Photos for iPhone and iPad app in the App Store. Bumped to version 1.4, the software has gained some of the features Google promised to enable before the end of this year. For starters, you can now label people in photos and merge face groups so they're easier to search.

Apple ‘trying to fix’ iPhone roaming charges

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 2, 2015

The wireless industry has been plagued with a bunch of illogical business practices, most of which were conceived to take advantage of consumers, really. On the other hand, carriers like T-Mobile have successfully exploited the sad state of the U.S. wireless industry to fix some of the most glaring customer pain points.

Apple, too, appears to have vested interest in wrestling power away from the carriers. According to Apple's Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue in the British publication The Evening Standard, the Cupertino firm is now “trying to fix” one of the wireless industry's dirtiest tactics: exorbitant roaming charges.