Apple

Day One for Mac updated with search and tag refinements, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

My favorite journaling app for iOS and OS X, Day One, has received a nice update today on the Mac side, bringing a couple improvements to the already well-rounded experience, along with a host of bug fixes.

The 2012 Mac App of the Year, Day One version 1.9.4 will now show your most recent entry location in the Map view by default. Your tags are now included in Momento text entry imports and there's a "greatly improved search" for multi-byte characters, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Emoji and so forth.

This update is of course free for existing users. Day One for OS X is $9.99 in the Mac App Store...

Google could serve ads to your Nest in the future

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Google has hinted in a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it's envisioning the future in which ads could be served to a dizzying range of devices such as thermostats, refrigerators, cars and more.

Based on a letter Google sent to the SEC in December, which was disclosed Tuesday and picked up by the Wall Street Journal, its advertising content could in the not-so-distant future appear on “refrigerators, car dashboards, thermostats, glasses, and watches, to name just a few possibilities.”

Google shocked watchers after announcing its $3.2 billion acquisition of smart thermostat maker Nest Labs back in January. Immediately, watchers expressed concern over the repercussions of the buy. Nest co-founder Tony Fadell responded by assuring customers in a blog post that Nest won’t share their data with Google...

Google Maps gains faster Street View transitions

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Google last night issued a minor but welcomed update to its free Google Maps for iOS app. In addition to some bug fixes, version 3.1 now offers "smoother, faster transitions when you move through Street View."

The latest update arrives two weeks after the Internet giant issued a major 3.0 update, bringing the much-needed offline mode to Google Maps in addition to lane guidance, Uber integration, Voice Search, pins and more...

Italian watchdog to Apple: respond to In-App Purchase allegations or else…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Italy's Antitrust and Competition Authority is probing Apple, Google, Amazon and Gameloft over accusations that these companies are intentionally misleading consumers who download freemium smartphone and tablets apps without realizing In-App Purchases are needed to unlock more features.

According to a new report, Italian investigators have asked Apple and others to submit their defense within the next twenty days or face a fine of up to €5 million each (about $6.84 million), although the punishment would be proportional to each company's size...

Google surpasses Apple as world’s most valuable brand in latest study

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

It seems like every couple of weeks, a new study comes out telling us who the most valuable brand in the world is based on various metrics. The winner changes from time to time, but I'd guess more times than not in recent years, it's been Apple.

That's not that case, however in the latest study. Marketing research firm Millward Brown is out with its annual BrandZ study this morning, and after sitting at the top for 3 years in a row, the iPad-maker has been usurped by Google for the #1 spot...

Dutch court upholds sales ban of older Samsung Galaxy devices

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

Recode reports that a Dutch appeals court has upheld a lower court's sales ban of some older Samsung Galaxy devices that infringe on Apple's IP. The patent in question involves how iOS users are able to peak at the next photo in a gallery by swiping the current image.

The ruling will apply specifically to the Galaxy S2, and the Galaxy Ace—both of which include Samsung photo apps that run an exact copy of the feature—and it could possibly be extended to other Samsung devices found to similarly infringe on Apple's European patent...

Apple updates iWork for iCloud with interactive charts, improved collaboration

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Apple has updated its iWork for iCloud apps with a number of improvements today. The web versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote have each received new features with a focus on enhancing the user's ability to collaborate with others on a document.

All three apps have been updated to support collaboration with up to 100 people, edit larger documents of up to 1 GB, and support for images of up to 10MB. Additionally, they all now support chart formatting, and allow you to create 2D/interactive charts...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and 3 hit Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 1, 2017

Texas-based Aspyr Media today announced that it's ported Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 shooters to the Mac.

Both games, including all downloadable packs for each, are available starting today through multiple outlets, including the Steam platform, Aspyr’s online store GameAgent.com and other participating online Mac game retailers.

At the time of this writing, neither game was available through the Mac App Store. Aspyr is the same company which brought you the Mac port of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare back in 2008 as the first title in the series...

Apple talking with ISPs as it prepares to launch its Content Distribution Network

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

According to a new report from CDN and Internet Services analyst Dan Rayburn, Apple is going ahead with plans to develop its own content delivery network. Rayburn says the company is working on interconnection deals with Internet Service Providers, as it prepares to take its CDN live.

Apple is said to have spent the last 5 years building its CDN, which would be responsible for carrying out iTunes and iCloud content to customers. Currently, the iPad-maker outsources this delivery to third-party companies like Akamai, which means it has no control over quality of service...

Morgan Stanley also believes the iPhone 6 will feature NFC tech

Cody Lee ∙ May 20, 2014

It seems like every time Apple is about to release a new smartphone, NFC rumors pop up. I'm not sure if some folks just really want the technology to succeed, or think the iPhone needs it to be compatible with various products and services, but the talk has seriously become an annual thing.

And this year is no different. Back in March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that his supply chain checks signaled that Apple was building NFC chips for its iPhone 6, and earlier this month, Brightwire echo'ed the claim. Today, Morgan Stanley adds its weight to the claim in an investors note...

Apple planning new flagship Manhattan Store in retail push

Jake Smith ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple is getting serious about its retail expansion, amongst record sales. The latest Apple Store murmurs are a new flagship store in New York City - an area where it's already represented well in the streets.

Apple Store tracking blog "ifo Apple Store" is reporting a building permit has been issued for a greater Apple presence on New York City’s Upper East Side. The permits are dated May 15th and cover soil testing underneath the structure, and demolition of the building’s interior, costing $20,000 and $60,000 respectively.

Google+ Stories combines your media into beautiful digital travelogues

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Google today announced new photography and video features for its Google+ social thing.

Available later this week on Android and the web and coming soon to iOS, Google+ Stories and Google+ Movies offer digital travelogues and movies created automatically from your Google+ photos and videos and location data.

The feature is basically on auto-pilot.

Google is constantly analyzing the photos and videos you upload to Google+, along with the places you’ve visited. It then automatically uses your best and most popular media to create full-screen presentations...