Apple

Apple Pay launches in Singapore with support from Amex, Visa and MasterCard due soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Through launch partnership with American Express, customers in Singapore can now take advantage of Apple's mobile payment system to pay for goods and services in stores with a touch of their finger. Adding Singapore to the list of countries that support Apple Pay was advertised earlier today on the local Apple Pay website in Singapore.

Local retailers like FairPrice, Starbucks, TopShop, TopMan, StarHub, Shaw Theaters and several others will now take Apple Pay as a form of payment. In the coming months, outlets like 7 Eleven, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Food Republic and Toast Box will roll out support for Apple Pay in the 5.4 million people country.

New MacBooks offer 90 percent faster SSD write speeds, Skylake CPU up to 20 percent faster

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 6, 2016

Apple today announced a second-generation twelve-inch MacBook which brings speed increases across the board thanks to the use of Intel's latest Skylake chip platform, PCIe-based flash storage and a speedier 1,866MHz RAM.

The Verge took the new machines briefly for a spin. Having put the new MacBook through its paces in Primate Labs' $0.99 Geekbench 3 benchmarking app to measure the performance of the new Intel CPU and using the free Blackmagic Disk Speed Test app for benchmarking disk I/O operations, the publication was able to determine just how performant the updated flash storage and Intel's new Skylake CPU are.

Privacy-enhanced Viber for iPhone lands with end-to-end encryption, hidden chats and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

Two weeks after rival WhatsApp announced that chats on its platform are protected from eavesdropping with end-to-end encryption, the popular messaging app Viber on Tuesday released a privacy-enhanced edition of its iPhone and iPad app.

Bumped to version 6.0, messages you send and receive through Viber are now protected with end-to-end encryption, as indicated by the new padlock icon, and you can also hide away specific chats.

Have you seen Pinterest’s new-look iOS app yet?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Pinterest today announced a completely overhauled iPhone and iPad application—“our fastest, cleanest app yet”—that lets you focus on more Pins than ever before. The app, used by more than a hundred million people around the world, is a lot faster than the previous version it replaced, with your Home feed now loading up to three times faster.

The refreshed application is now rolling in the App Store so check back later if the new version isn't immediately available where you live. The Android edition of Pinterest and its web-based counterpart are next on Pinterest's list to tackle, though they wouldn't commit to a firm release dates for these.

Apple confirms QuickTime for Windows is no more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

Following the disclosure of two new flaws in QuickTime 7 for Windows last week by software security firm Trend Micro, Apple has now officially confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it will stop releasing updates or patching security holes for QuickTime for Windows, marking the end of the road for the PC edition of the multimedia software after an eleven-year run.

The Cupertino firm added that keeping the software installed on Windows PCs may pose a security risk.

A support document on Apple's website details the steps that Windows users should follow in order to uninstall the software from their Windows PC.

Two hours after the announcement, refreshed 12″ MacBook gets its first software update

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

A mere two hours have passed since Apple launched a second-generation twelve-inch MacBook and already the new machines have received their very first software update—and this despite the fact that the new lineup won't be available before tomorrow.

The “Bluetooth Update for MacBook” is now available for the new 12" MacBook models.

Apple Maps web app may be in the works

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Latest checks indicate that Apple is getting ready to make the Maps service available to everyone on the web through a desktop web application which will permit you to embed an Apple Maps view into your own webpage, blog and more.

Look no further than Apple's own WWDC 2016 webpage, which appears to take advantage of what seems to be an interactive, embedded Maps view. This is the first time Apple has used an embeddable Maps view on the web.

With new 12″ MacBooks in the mix, Apple discounts refurbished models

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

With this morning's refresh of the twelve-inch MacBook lineup around Intel's latest processors, Apple's now discounted refurbished twelve-inch MacBooks, bringing their already reduced price down by up to an additional fifteen percent for most models.

If you've been eyeing Apple's ultra-thin notebook but have refrained from taking the plunge due to their a bit steep price point—and you don't mind buying a slightly used, good-as-new products—you can now get an entry-level model of the original twelve-inch MacBook for as low as $929, netting a savings of a cool $370 versus its standard $1,2999 asking price.

Apple’s generously made 8GB of RAM standard across all 13″ MacBook Air configurations

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

In addition to updating its twelve-inch MacBook lineup around Intel's latest SkyLake chips, a new Rose Gold finish and other perks, Apple also announced that all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air now ship with eight gigabytes of RAM.

“Apple also today made 8GB of memory standard across all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air,” reads a line in Apple's press release announcing its notebook refresh.

Apple's two 13-inch MacBook Air models still start at $999 (128GB model) and $1,099 (256GB model) like before so customers now get twice the memory for the same price. The 11-inch Air models continue to ship with 4GB of RAM as a standard option.

Apple updates 12″ MacBook with faster CPU/GPU, Rose Gold model, longer battery life & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

Apple on Tuesday via a press release and a website update announced a second-generation twelve-inch MacBook with Intel's latest Skylake chips with faster graphics, a longer battery life, faster flash storage, a brand new Rose Gold color option and more.

The twelve-inch notebook is now available in four aluminum finishes: Gold, Silver, Space Gray and Rose Gold. In addition, the Cupertino firm has made 8GB of memory standard across all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

The refreshed twelve-inch notebook starts at the same $1,299 like before and will be available starting tomorrow.

Apple opens registration for WWDC ticket lottery

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple on Monday confirmed Siri's claim that WWDC will take place June 13-17 this year, and opened registration for its WWDC ticket lottery. The company's annual conference has become so popular that it has to randomly issue tickets to registered developers.

Registration will be available from April 18, to Friday April 22nd. You must be a member of Apple's developer program (having joined prior to today's announcement) to qualify for the lottery, and if you are lucky enough to be selected, tickets are priced at $1,599.

Apple meeting with top talent to develop original programming

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has been secretly meeting with top entertainment talent, reports Fast Company. In a lengthy article detailing the streaming ambitions of various tech giants, the outlet says the iPhone-maker has its sights set on building a lineup of original programming.

According to sources, the company quietly set up shop at the Imperial Hotel in Utah during this year's Sundance Film Festival. There, it hosted a series of private events, known as the "iTunes Lounge," where it discussed content deals with actors and filmmakers.