Apple

Google Photos launches shared albums

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

As promised back in September, Google Photos has now begun rolling out shared albums on the web and in its mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Arriving just in time for the holiday season, a shared album allows friends and family to add photos to it. Those who have joined a shared album will receive a notification about any changes and newly uploaded photos.

If it sounds similar to Apple's own iCloud Photo Sharing, that's because it is, with one crucial difference: shared albums on Google Photos aren’t designed for a social world—you can't like, comment on or caption them.

Sketchy rumor claims Apple’s been secretly working on its own GPU for years

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2016

Apple is making its own GPU to cut the cord from Imagination Technologies and has been secretly developing its own GPU in-house for a few years now. That's what a sketchy rumor published Thursday by Fudzilla contends, citing sources in the graphics industry.

An in-house-designed GPU would let Apple reduce the cost of its own mobile chipsets further. More importantly, such a move would help it advance the iPhone and iPad's graphics capabilities beyond what Imagination's designs (that Apple licenses) permit.

For end users, this should result in an even smoother iOS and flashier graphics in games (the overhyped term “console-quality” comes to mind) with more realistic special effects.

Product Hunt overhauls iOS app, adds audio player, live chatting, 3D Touch support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

Product Hunt, a Y Combinator-backed website and mobile app for sharing and discovering new products, on Thursday received a major 3.0 update in the App Store, its biggest update since the app was introduced over a year ago.

Featuring a brand new design, Product Hunt now includes live chat and a built-in audio player for listening to podcasts. An expanded search feature lets you zero in on apps, websites, gadgets, games, podcasts and books—and you can now search Product Hunt within iOS's Spotlight feature.

But that's just tip of the iceberg as Product Hunt 3.0 packs in new profile pages, expanded Collections features, enhanced product pages and much more.

GoPro releases companion Apple Watch app

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

I hope for your own sake that you're not one of those irresponsible guys who can be seen interacting with GoPro's mobile app on their smartphone while skating, parachuting or cycling. If you are, however, you might want to download GoPro's latest iPhone app which now includes a native Apple Watch app that lets you start and stop recording with a simple tap on your wrist.

Less time spent starring at the smartphone screen gives you more time to avoid those obstacles. What do you mean, you don't skate?

Analysts are confident that TSMC will grab 100% of Apple’s chipset business in 2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

Although the present-generation A9 and A9X processors are being built by both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) and Samsung, it appears that Samsung will be left out entirely from the lucrative contract to build the forthcoming A10 chipset for 2016 iOS devices.

Barron's on Thursday cited analyst Bonil Koo with investment bank UBS as saying that all A10 orders will be exclusively handled by TSMC, posing a major problem for Samsung.

Pixelmator updated with support for iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and 3D Touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Just two days after Pixelmator for Mac got updated with several new features, the iOS edition of the app has received a major update in the App Store this morning.

Pixelmator 2.2 now works great on the iPad Pro and takes full advantage of Apple's $99 Pencil stylus accessory. In addition, Pixelmator now includes full support for 3D Touch gestures on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

iDB holiday gift guide: Christian’s picks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Is it that time of year again? Gosh, time surely flies, doesn't it? And what an action-packed year it has been in terms of exciting Apple product releases and upgrades, new-category product launches, interesting new accessories, novel new apps and games and what not.

I believe in smart holiday shopping that doesn't force you to break the bank just to purchase cool gifts that your friends and family will actually love, not pass along like a hot potato. So without further ado, I present you my personal holiday gift guide.

Apple adds Pittsburgh, Detroit and other new Flyover locations to Maps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Apple on Wednesday added 11 new locations to the 3D Flyover feature in its iOS and OS X Maps applications. The new spots include major cities such as Detroit, Pamplona and Pittsburgh.

First introduced when Apple Maps launched in 2012, the Flyover feature allows users to take interactive, three-demensional virtual tours of various points of interest from around the world.

Tim Cook comments on Apple’s controversial new iPhone battery case

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Tim Cook on Wednesday attended one of Apple's Hour of Code events in New York, where he fielded questions regarding his company's new iPhone battery case. Mashable's Lance Ulanoff asked the CEO if he was excited about the new case, which many folks have started referring to as "the hump."

"You know, I probably wouldn’t call it ‘the hump,'" he said, adding that Apple was well aware of the comments being made about the Smart Battery Case. He went on to talk about some of the advantages of it over competing products, such as how easy it is to attach and remove the case from your phone.

Duet Display now works on iPad Pro, lets you run iOS and Mac apps together

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2015

Duet Display, a terrific app which turns an iOS device into an external display for the Mac, has been updated in the App Store with official support for the iPad Pro and major performance improvements on both iOS and OS X.

The best thing about the updated app is its ability to allocate one-third of the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4' display for iOS apps, with the remaining two-thirds of the screen real estate dedicated to Mac apps.

Dual-screening using an iPad Pro and Duet Display comes with zero lag, developers claim. Crafted by ex-Apple engineers who worked on the iPad and iMac, Duet Display through its desktop helper app appears as an external display hooked up to your Mac or Windows PC via the USB port.

Apple releases Best of 2015 charts on iTunes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Apple on Wednesday posted its annual Best of 2015 charts on iTunes. “We debated. We argued. Everyone had favorites, but to make this list of 2015's finest, there could be no doubts,” wrote the company. “What you see here made the cut—they're the most visionary, inventive and irresistible apps and games of the year.”

Apple named Twitter-owned Periscope the App of the Year and Square Enix's excellent Lara Croft GO its Game of the Year.

Workflow, the popular iOS automation app, is listed as the Most Innovative App of 2015 and Dark Echo the Most Innovative Game of 2015. Facebook-owned Instagram is the Best App on iPhone 6s while Pixel Toys' Warhammer: 40,000 Freeblade took home the Best Game on iPhone 6s award, thanks to immersive 3D Touch controls.

Here's the full list of titles the topped Apple's charts in 2015.

You can now download Microsoft’s Cortana personal assistant to your iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2015

After rolling out a beta of Cortana for iOS to a limited number of beta testers in late-November, Microsoft today released the software to everyone via the App Store.

A free download, Cortana for iOS helps you get things done “by letting your PC and iPhone work together,” as per the official description. The app takes advantage of your schedule, interests, contacts and reminders to deliver personalized results.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and give Cortana a try right now!