Apple

iFixit gives Apple’s Smart Keyboard the lowest repairability score possible

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2015

Repair experts over at iFixit today pried open Apple's new $169 Smart Keyboard case for the iPad Pro.

As you know, the Smart Keyboard is covered in Apple's mysterious conductive fabric that actually connects the keyboard to the iPad Pro's Smart Connector and allows for a “two‑way flow of power and data.”

But more important than that, the accessory is completely glued together, which makes servicing next to impossible. In fact, the Smart Keyboard files as one of the least repairable devices iFixit has ever analyzed so small wonder they gave it a repairability score of zero out of ten, ten being the easiest to repair.

Microsoft updates OneDrive for iOS with 3D Touch shortcuts on Home screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2015

Windows maker Microsoft today updated its cloud-storage client for iOS, OneDrive, with a trio of new features.

For starters, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus owners can now quickly access their most recently used files by pressing OneDrive's Home screen icon lightly to bring up a menu providing direct access to their recent files.

Additionally, scoped folder search for personal OneDrive accounts is now back by popular demand and business users will appreciate support for Microsoft's Intone mobile app management service.

Viber for iPhone now lets you recall sent chats, attach files, reply from notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2015

Viber today pushed a couple notable improvements to its iOS messaging app in the App Store. Bumped to version 5.6.5, Viber for iPhone now makes it easy to delete a sent message for everyone, not just for yourself, which could come in handy after accidentally sending a message to the wrong person, allowing you to recall it immediately.

You can now send media directly from your shared iCloud albums, in addition to your Camera roll like before.

As a bonus, Viber now includes the ability to reply to messages directly from the notification banner and permits you to search your Viber chats and contacts from the Home screen, using iOS 9's much improved Spotlight Search function.

Pebble rolling out Text Reply for iOS feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Pebble today announced a new messaging feature for iOS users designed to make it possible to send text messages through a carrier.

Dubbed Text Reply for iOS, this feature is in beta and available on the Pebble Time, Pebble Time Steel and Pebble Time Round family of smartwatches.

In addition, Text Reply for iOS is currently an AT&T exclusive though Pebble says it's working on bringing this capability to Pebble fans on other carriers.

Review: collect resources, terraform new worlds and survive in space in Last Horizon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

As an avid stargazer who's been dreaming about space travel for ages and a sucker for minimalist games, Last Horizon immediately piqued my interest.

In fact, Last Horizon was an instant purchase for me and I never regretted dropping $2.99 on this space survival and exploration title from Pixeljam. Last Horizon puts you in the shoes of a pilot of a lone spacecraft.

Your oxygen and fuel supplies are limited and your goal is a simple one: you must travel the space and seek out new worlds to inhabit. You're going to encounter a range of varied planets along the way and harvest their resources.

Some planets hold terraforming resources you need to create a beautiful, harmonious new planet for yourself. Others only provide oxygen and ore to repair your ship.

How to bring back old password-entry grid on fourth-generation Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 26, 2019

To me, the new software keyboard in tvOS is absolutely the biggest pain point and a major step back from the old password-entry grid on previous Apple TV models.

As ridiculous as it sounds, Apple has opted to put all the characters in a single line, two-row layout. This isn't just odd from a user experience standpoint, the new keyboard design in tvOS is a lot slower and clunkier to maneuver than the previous grid-style one.

And with the amount of passwords needing entering in third-party video apps, it's especially annoying and cumbersome. But as it turns out, there's a way to bring back the old password-entry grid to speed up typing those passwords.

WordPress launches native Mac app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

If you blog in any capacity at all, chances are you're on WordPress, the world's top blogging platform that now powers one out of each four websites on the Internet. Automatic, the company behind WordPress, has been updating its mobile blogging app on a regular basis and today they're introducing a brand new WordPress for Mac app.

Billed as “a new way to write,” the free app lets you manage, edit and publish content to your WordPress-hosted or self-hosted sites and WordPress VIP ones.

The Mac app is available now alongside a thorough redesign of wordpress.com, both of which are also going open-source today with the launch.

This flexible mounting system attaches Apple TV and Siri Remote to the back of your telly

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2015

A United States company called Innovelis today announced that its brand new flexible mounting system for the fourth-generation Apple TV set-top box and Siri Remote is available for purchase exclusively via Apple's retail and online stores around the world.

Retailing for just $29.95, this useful accessory is especially convenient for Apple TV fans with a wall-mounted TV.

Dubbed the TotalMount Pro, it attaches your Apple TV directly to the back of a television set, helping eliminate both the clutter and the need to tunnel the HDMI cable through the wall from your TV area.

Cool Google promotion asks you to join the Dark or Light sides of the Force

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 4, 2017

Tons of Google properties are getting Star Wars-themed Easter eggs today in an interesting new promotion celebrating the arrival of Disney's highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, which opens on December 18, 2015.

Just point your browser at google.com/starwars/ and log in with your Google Account.

You'll then be asked to choose between the Dark or Light sides of the Force. Depending on your choice, a number of Google's most widely used web properties will be skinned and themed accordingly, including Gmail, Chrome and Google Maps.

MasterCard now offering free public transit to Apple Pay users in London

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2015

As part of its Fare Free Mondays promotion, global financial services corporation MasterCard is now offering Apple Pay users free public transit in London for a limited time. The promo starts today, November 23, and is valid over the next four consecutive Mondays ending December 14, 2015.

During those Mondays, customers in London can take advantage of Apple Pay on their iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch to use London's public transit network at no charge. That is, up to £27.90 in daily fares per customer is included in the form of refundable funds.

Skype for iPhone and iPad gains Maps integration and other improvements in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2015

Microsoft's Skype for iPhone and Skype for iPad apps received an update this morning in the App Store, bringing out new features including integration with Apple Maps. Now you can check locations in Maps directly from highlighted addresses and also call a phone number using Skype Credit directly from highlighted numbers.

The app is now easier to multi-task as well: you can now return to a call by pressing the Active Call banner in Skype.

PowerMe will turn any device into a power source

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 25, 2016

A new accessory that launched earlier today on the crowdsourcing platform Indiegogo attempts to solve an important concern with mobile devices—battery life—with an interesting twist.

Dubbed the PowerMe, this tiny multi-purpose dongle turns almost any mobile device outfitted with a microUSB port into a mobile battery pack for your other gadgets, including Lightning-enabled iPhones, iPads and iPods.

In addition, the PowerMe lets you share photos, music and other documents between devices and it's small enough to easily snap onto your keyring.