Apple

Hulu gains 50+ Disney films in exclusive streaming deal

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 29, 2017

Subscription video on demand service Hulu just announced an exclusive multi-year deal with the entertainment conglomerate Disney that gives it rights to stream a collection of hit movies and family favorites from the rich library of blockbuster films from The Walt Disney Studios. This means that Disney movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mulan, Pocahontas, Hercules, Sister Act and Air Bud are all now available to stream exclusively via Hulu.

iPhone 7 mockups in Jet White shown on video

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 28, 2016

Japanese blog Mac Otakara heard last month from unverified sources in the Taiwanese supply chain that Apple might be developing a new Jet White color option for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus series.

Yesterday evening, avid Apple leaker Sonny Dickson posted a video on Twitter that shows off glossy white iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus casing mockups, giving us an indication what the rumored Jet White colorway might look like. The mockups were clearly obtained from a third-party vendor and we're posting them for the discussion's sake.

Friendly Run event launches in Super Mario Run, earn Rally Tickets no matter if you win or lose

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 27, 2016

After launching a new Friendly Run mode in Super Mario Run six days ago, Nintendo today announced a limited-time Friendly Run event that gives you a little bonus for playing Friendly Run. No matter if you win or lose, playing Friendly Run during the event earns you some free Rally Tickets.

The event is running from December 27, 2016 8:00am to January 11, 2017 07:59am.

Apple Watch pinging wearers of new Activity achievement launching tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 27, 2016

Apple recently challenged Apple Watch wearers in the United States to bag a special Thanksgiving Day fitness achievement and now it's doing the same with a brand new achievement launching tomorrow in the Activity app. As MacRumors notes, the notification is currently being pushed to Apple Watch owners.

It informs users of a new achievement, aptly titled Ring in The New Year, that challenges them to close all three Activity rings each day for an entire week in January in order to earn the new virtual medal.

Video converter Handbrake exits beta after 13 years

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 27, 2016

In a better-late-than-never move, the free cross-platform video converter Handbrake has finally hit version 1.0. The app had been languishing in beta for more than thirteen years. Handbrake 1.0, a free download for Mac, Windows, Ubuntu and other platforms, lets you convert videos easily from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. With subtitle support, capable transcoding engine and built-in presets for devices like Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, Handbrake makes it easy to optimize videos for your specific hardware.

Apple may launch five-inch iPhone 7s with vertically aligned dual cameras on the back

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 27, 2016

In addition to an iPhone 8 model with all-new industrial design and an OLED-based display, Apple is expected to refresh its existing iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones next year. According to the fairly reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara, a brand new five-inch iPhone 7s model should join the mix next year, acting as the medium size option between the expected 4.7-inch iPhone 7s and 5.5-inch iPhone 7s Plus refreshes. The device is expected to feature a dual-sensor camera out the back in a vertical alignment rather than a horizontal one.

Apple reportedly partners with Foxconn on R&D facilities in China and Indonesia

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

Last month, Apple officially agreed to set up a research and development center in Indonesia. Now we learn from a report Monday by Chinese-language outlet Economic Daily News that the company's allegedly partnered with contract manufacturer Foxconn to accelerate the planned expansion into the Southeast Asia region. The report was cited by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes.

Check out Apple II made out of gingerbread

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

I got for Christmas everything I wanted, but seeing this makes me wonder... One very creative dad who's obviously handy in the kitchen has built an Apple II out of gingerbread for his Apple-loving son and posted the images of it on Imgur for the whole world to see. Batter yet, the Apple II modeled in gingerbread comes complete with an edible chocolate keyboard, motherboard and floppy disk.

Why is Apple reviving its old AirTunes trademark?

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

It seems that Apple may be reviving its old AirTunes trademark for purposes unknown, Patently Apple reported Monday. AirTunes became AirPlay in 2010 so it's a mystery as to why precisely Apple has now decided to file for the figurative trademark “AirTunes” with the European Union's Trademark Office.

According to a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) document, the U.S. trademark for “AirTunes” expired on November 11, 2016. The AirTunes feature originally worked with the original AirPort router.

Here’s one last iSpaceship drone flyover before 2016 wraps up

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

Following his recent Apple Campus 2 construction progress time-lapse video, YouTuber Matthew Roberts today posted a brand new holiday update on his YouTube channel in the form of fresh 4K birds-eye footage of the iSpacehip site captured on Christmas.

Work on the forthcoming campus is expected to be finished early next year, although landscaping work will extend into the second half of 2017. The company should begin moving in employees some time in early 2017.

Google I/O will reportedly return to San Francisco’s Moscone Center

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

Google I/O, the search giant's version of Apple's WWDC, will return to the Moscone Center in San Francisco next year, TechCrunch has learnt. Google I/O 2016 was held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View to mark the 10th anniversary of the company's first developers conference at their headquarters. Google I/O 2017 should mark a return to the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where Apple has for years held its own annual developers conference.

Withings products removed from Apple Stores following Nokia patent row

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

iOS-compatible smart bathroom scales, thermometers, fitness watches and other HomeKit-enabled smart accessories by French health tracking company Withings have been removed from both online and brick-and-mortar Apple Stores following the latest legal spat with Nokia.

Wait, what do Withings products have to do with the Nokia patent row, you ask. Well, Nokia bought Withings in April 2016 for a reported $192 million, integrating their products into its Digital Health unit led by former Withings CEO Cedric Hutchings. The removal was first reported by MacRumors.