Apple

iOS 8: better inter-app sharing, improvements to Messages, Notification Center, CarPlay and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 14, 2014

Continuing on his series of iOS 8 scoops, the usually reliable Apple blogger Mark Gurman is out with a new story offering alleged new findings pertaining to iOS 8's Notification Center, Messages, Game Center, Voice Memos, CarPlay and inter-app communication.

The latter is obviously the highlight of the report because unlike Android, iOS has been plagued with very limited inter-app sharing. As a result, operations that are normally trivial on Android are virtually impossible on iOS.

For instance, there's no way to edit a photo in one app and send it, say, to the Instagram app without having to go through the cumbersome process of exporting the image to your Camera roll first and then manually importing it into Instagram.

According to the report, iOS 8 could finally fix this problem. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Flipboard update brings direct sharing

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 14, 2014

A new update to the magazine-style social news reading app, Flipboard, has expanded sharing features with a new ability to share articles directly with other Flipboard users.

You've always been able to share stories on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and more, but you can now send an article over to a friend on Flipboard directly.

Your friends will receive the message both inside the Flipboard app and in an email message.

Additionally, you'll receive handy notifications when other people on Flipboard share stories with you. This update is now live and available free of charge right in the App Store so go ahead and grab it now while it's hot...

Apple launches new ‘Sharing Selfies’ section in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

Oxford Dictionary named 'selfie' its Word of the Year for 2013, and it's not hard to see why. The act of taking a selfie—a photo taken of you, by you—has moved on from bathroom mirrors and is now at the Oscars and the red carpet of the Prince's Trust Awards—you name it.

Perhaps looking to capitalize on the hype, Apple has launched a new section in its App Store specifically for apps that specialize in taking self portraits. Aptly named 'Sharing Selfies,' the section highlights various apps like Snapchat, Frontback, FaceTune and Selfie Cam...

Apple pushing iPhone 5c with new animated web ads

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Apple has been having a little more trouble selling the iPhone 5c than it anticipated. We've known this for a long time, and Tim Cook himself confirmed it during the company's last earnings call, essentially telling analysts that the handset has not been as popular as they expected.

But instead of throwing in the towel, Apple appears to be experimenting with a new advertising campaign to push the device. Animated ads, like the one you see in the screenshot above, have begun popping up on high profile websites like Tumblr, Yahoo and The New York Times...

Twelve South unveils Rutledge BookBook case that gives your MacBook unique look

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 13, 2014

It's all too easy to get lost in a dizzying array of accessories for Apple devices, especially with too many companies rehashing same old ideas and doing the exact same thing. That's why my initial experience with Twelve South instantly made me a believer.

They've been crafting gorgeous, functional accessories exclusively for Apple products since 2009, prompting big media like Forbes to suggest that Apple should just buy them outright.

And not because of the profits, but due to Twelve South's thoughtful design which is often reminiscent of the utmost care that can be observed in every aspect of Apple's industrial design.

On Thursday, the Charleston, South Carolina firm launched the Rutledge BookBook, a new edition of its popular BookBook case for MacBooks, hand-distressed to give each one a slightly different appearance, so no two look exactly alike...

Titanfall for Mac? You bet!

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 13, 2014

Released with great fanfare on Tuesday, Titanfall is seemingly destined to become the next smash hit for super publisher Electronic Arts and developer Respawn Entertainment (of the Call of Duty fame). For the uninitiated, Titanfall is a fast-paced first-person shooter multiplayer video game which has players fighting as mech-style Titans and their pilots in six-on-six multiplayer skirmishes.

You can assume control of the Titan's pilot or the Titan itself at any time. When playing as a Titan's pilot, you can run along walls and link jumps together parkour-style. After entering your Titan - well, what can I say - all hell breaks loose as you shatter your opponents to pieces using destructive armaments and special protective shields.

And now, Respawn's co-founder Vince Zampella has officially confirmed that the studio is in talks with Aspyr Media on delivering a Mac version of Titanfall.

Count us excited!

Darklings goes free until next Thursday in Apple’s App of the Week promo, grab it now

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

There have been some justifiable complaints lately among our commenters about the value, or the lack of it, in Apple's ongoing Free App of the Week promotion. Indeed, Apple's last few picks have been - and I'm putting it mildly - less then stellar.

Just a few examples: Wonderkind's Tiny Firefighters, Sega's Go Dance and Square Enix’s Mini Ninjas. Right.

That being said, you most definitely won't want to miss this one. Created by Mildmania and built on the Unity engine, Darklings was released last November to some rather glowing reviews (currently, a 4-star rating in the App Store) and has since gone to win several awards for its mechanics and interesting concept.

The universal app normally costs 99 cents and is now available free of charge until next Thursday, courtesy of the App Store's Free App of the Week promo.

Darklings is a gesture-driven endless atmospheric adventure game incorporating visually enticing Noire-style graphics (think Limbo or Badland) that puts you in the world of Lum as he tries to save the light. You'll be traveling through forests and caves battling darklings as you try to bring light back to the world.

What do I mean, Darklings is a heavily gesture-driven game? Well, you're mostly drawing various symbols in order to posses and purge your enemies. Read on...

Suspected iOS 8 screenies show Preview, TextEdit and Healthbook app icons

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 13, 2014

Following a credible report earlier this morning claiming that the Mac's Preview and TextEdit applications will make their way into iOS 8 with full iCloud support minus editing functionality, a pair of supposed screenshots allegedly depicting the iOS 8 Home screen has popped up on a Weibo account.

The images, included below the fold, are believed to depict purported prototype iOS 8 Home screen icons for the previously rumored Healthbook app, as well as the suspected Preview and TextEdit applications. By the way, iOS 8 is thought to be codenamed 'Okemo' after a ski resort in Vermont.

On the surface, the screenies look genuine. However, as we can't vouch for their authenticity, you're definitely advised to take them with a grain of salt, even though multiple reliable sources have allegedly confirmed their legitimacy.

We're only reposting them here for entertainment purposes so join us in comments...

Toyota says CarPlay coming to 2015 vehicles, then changes its mind

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

You probably know by now that Apple's CarPlay feature in iOS 7.1 has 100 percent guaranteed support from Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz in their select 2014 models.

The company also hinted in a media release that BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corp will be bringing CarPlay to their drivers "down the road."

It now looks like one of the aforementioned manufacturers, Toyota, may have officially joined the initiative. According to the car maker's original announcement, CarPlay was supposed to be "coming soon" to select 2015 vehicles, but it's quickly backpedalled on the claim without saying when exactly CarPlay will hit the dashboard of its vehicles...

iOS 8: Apple apparently working on TextEdit and Preview apps with iCloud integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 13, 2014

After reporting yesterday that Apple is considering moving iTunes Radio to its own standalone app in iOS 8, the same reliable blogger is now citing sources with knowledge of Apple's initiatives as claiming that the next major revision to Apple's mobile operating system will bring two apps over from the Mac - Preview and TextEdit - both supporting Documents in the Cloud, a feature that lets software store documents in iCloud to be readily available on all devices.

Preview and TextEdit in OS X Mavericks already have support for iCloud documents so this development indicates Apple's intent to make iOS 8 and OS X even more tightly integrated...

Eddy Cue talks iTunes Festival in SXSW interview

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Apple's iTunes Festival kicked off last night at the Moody Theater in Austin, TX. The 5-day concert is the company's first in the United States, and is headlining South by Southwest—a set of film, tech and music festivals—this week.

As we noted this morning, Apple's SVP of Internet software and services Eddy Cue was on hand for last night's show, and reporter Jim Dalrymple was able to sit down with him. The two talked about iTunes Festival, SXSW and more...

Pioneer exploring aftermarket CarPlay compatibility

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 12, 2014

Apple's CarPlay, a new iOS 7.1 capability designed to integrate select iOS features right into your car's infotainment system, has a major problem on its hands: it's currently hinging on the good will of manufacturers to support it in their future vehicles. Thus far, only Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Volvo have confirmed that some of their upcoming 2014 models will support CarPlay.

A bunch of other vendors have hinted they're considering implementing the feature. So, unless I buy a brand new car with CarPlay integration, I'll be left out in the cold, right?

Not so fast.

For starters, Mercedez-Benz has decided to cater to owners of unsupported vehicles by promising aftermarket CarPlay upgrades as a dealer installed accessory for select previous models.

But what about CarPlay in unsupported cars? That's where Pioneer Electronic jumps in. The maker of many in-car electronic systems, Pioneer's reportedly exploring the possibility of adding CarPlay compatibility to its existing and future products...