Apple

Apple Pencil ships with extra tip and Lightning-to-Lightning adapter for USB charging

Apple's $99 stylus accessory for the iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil, conveniently comes with a spare tip and includes a special Lightning-to-USB adapter to save users from having to precariously charge their Pencils directly from their iPads.

A spare tip is a nice addition as it gives Pencil customers piece of mind knowing that wearing down the tip won't force them to take their accessory for servicing.

Facebook to let you hide posts from your ex, without blocking or unfriending them

Most of us have been there before. You break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend, and maybe choose to unfriend or even block them on the service, but traces of your relationship are still all over the place on your Timeline, for everyone to see. So, what do you do? Do you block them outright, which will remove all their posts and also hurt their feelings?

There's got to be a better way to handle this first-world problem, don't you agree? Facebook though about that, too, and it seems they've come up with an interesting solution.

Apple provides interim fix for iPad Pro sluggishness after long charge

Following reports from iPad Pro owners who have been complaining about the device becoming unresponsive after being charged for a lengthy period of time, which typically occurs during overnight charging, Apple has now acknowledged the issue and confirmed it's working on a permanent fix.

In the meantime, the company has provided an interim fix that it says will temporarily restore normal operation after the iPad Pro becomes unresponsive.

Google+ for iOS gets a facelift and new features in latest update

Following yesterday's overhaul of Google+ Communities and Collections on the web, today Google+ for iOS gets bumped to version 5.0 and thoroughly redesigned.

The new-look Communities and Collections are now accessible through the new Google+ 5.0 for iOS app. This edition of the software includes other improvements, too, including switching between multiple accounts and expanded options for sharing with folks outside Google+.

Apple Pencil packs in the smallest logic board iFixit has ever seen

According to a teardown analysis of the Apple Pencil performed by iFixit, Apple's optional Bluetooth stylus accessory for the iPad Pro packs in the smallest logic board that the repair firm has ever seen. Despite its minuscule appearance, Apple's engineers had to fold it in half to fit inside the Pencil's tiny enclosure.

As if that weren't enough, the Apple Pencil is choke full of other radical technological solutions, said iFixit.

New Microsoft app, Forum for iPhone, lets employees speak their mind freely

Microsoft continues releasing mobile apps for the iPhone first before they eventually trickle down to the “other” operating systems. The latest example: Forum, a new iPhone application born out of Microsoft's Garage division responsible for skunkworks projects.

It was conceived to help employees within an organization speak their mind and state their opinion on any topic.

Fellow workers can then vote on your favorite posts (and optionally flag them) and find out what everyone else is really thinking about any given topic. Forum is a free download and available primarily to businesses.

Official Google app revamps voice search interface and Google Now cards

In addition to refreshing the layout for Communities and Collections on Google+, the search monster today also rolled out an update to its iOS search app.

Available at no charge in the App Store, the native Google search experience on your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad now includes an overhauled voice search interface with a nicely animated logo.

More important than that, the layout of your Google Now cards has been reworked and updated to better organize and surface content for you.

Google+ looks a little different today…

Google's ailing Google+ platfom is getting a major facelift today as the Internet company continues to struggle for relevancy in social. Today, a brand new Google+ design went live and it puts the Communities and Collections features front and center.

You should see a prompt to try out the redesigned interface when visiting your Google+ profile through a browser. Revamped Google+ mobile apps for iOS and Android devices will hit in the coming days.

Apple Pay launches in Australia with Amex

After bringing Apple Pay to Canadian users 24 hours ago, the iPhone maker's mobile payment service is now available Down Under with American Express.

Amex issued card members in Australia can now add their card to Apple Pay using the Wallet application on their iPhone or through Settings. Local bank-issued debit and credit cards are not supported yet.

Using Apple Pay with American Express lets customers enjoy all the rewards and benefits of American Express membership and pay with Apple Pay anywhere contactless payments are already accepted.

Google to stream apps you don’t have installed on your phone, right from search results

Google on Wednesday announced that its search engine has now begun to surface app content and said that it's started experimenting with a cool new app-streaming technology to let mobile users accomplish tasks as if they were in the app itself.

“This uses a new cloud-based technology that we’re currently experimenting with,” wrote the Internet giant. App streaming will kick in when a user taps on app content in search results but doesn't have the app installed on their device.

tvOS 9.1 beta 3 now available to developers

In addition to releasing iOS 9.2 beta 4 to developers and public beta testers, Apple on Wednesday also released a third beta of tvOS 9.1 to developers, its operating system for the fourth-generation Apple TV.

The tvOS 9.1 beta 3 update (build number: 13U5077a) is available over-the-air on the new Apple TV to developers who are on a prior tvOS beta, as well as a standalone download through Apple's portal for developers.