Apple

New Google for iOS update adds always-listening “Ok Google” to in-app browser and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

It's been a while since Google last refreshed its native search application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad with meaningful new features, but today Google for iOS got bumped to version 7.0 in the App Store.

Most notably, the app now supports the always-on “Ok Google” feature within in-app browser, but not only that—it understands what you're searching for in the context of the webpage you're browsing.

Before today, “Ok Google” was only available on the app's search screen and you weren't able to use it if you navigated away from search results.

Apple joins NFC Forum to help advance interoperability between NFC devices and services

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

NFC World is reporting that Apple earlier in the week joined the NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that promotes implementation and standardization of the Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology in order to ensure interoperability between devices and services.

NFC, as you know, is at the heart of Apple Pay and other contactless payment systems and has been used on Android devices for easier sharing of content directly between devices.

The iPhone maker joined the organization as a top-tier sponsor and also has a seat on NFC Forum's Board of Directors, meaning it's now in a position to significantly influence the development of the NFC standard.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 launches on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, no In-App Purchases whatsoever

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad just hit the App Store. This popular construction and management videogame franchise that simulates amusement park originally management debuted on Windows PCs back in 1999.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 released on Windows more than a decade ago (it dropped on October 26, 2004) and today's release has finally brought the classic strategy simulation title to the iOS platform.

The game costs $4.99 and is free of In-App Purchase schemes.

Apple’s seventh-generation iPod nano has just received a software update

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

As first noted by 9to5Mac, Apple’s seventh-generation iPod nano has just received a software update to version 1.0.4.

The free-of-charge software update can be applied by connecting your iPod nano with a Lightning cable to a Mac or Windows PC and firing up iTunes.

Twitter removes 140-character limit from Direct Messages

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 28, 2018

Two months into the announcement that it would remove the archaic 140-character limit from Direct Messages, Twitter today officially made the move in the hope of taking on popular instant messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Skype, iMessage and others.

For people who use Direct Messages to communicate with their Twitter followers privately, this change couldn't have come sooner because they can now chat on in a single Direct Message without restrictions and “likely still have some characters left over.”

Rdio just brought 500 traditional AM/FM live radio stations to its iPhone and iPad app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Internet radio services like Pandora, Rdio, iHeartRadio, Deezer and many others have been feeling the heat following the launch of Apple Music with free 24/7 Internet radio, called Beats 1. Responding to competitive pressure, Rdio announced Wednesday that it is bringing live-broadcast radio stations to its iOS app, beginning with 500 stations owned and operated by its partner, Cumulus Media.

Siri voice actors share tidbits on becoming instantly recognizable voices around the world

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple debuted the iPhone 4s with Siri on October 4, 2011. The unexpected arrival of the digital personal assistant was called a life-changing moment bound to reshape how we interacted with mobile devices.

A year later, Siri went live on iPads. Siri is also an important feature of CarPlay and this year got added to the Apple Watch as a crucial method of hands-free user interaction. The digital personal assistant is now in the pockets, on wrists and in the cars of the millions, answering the world’s questions.

But what does it take to become the voice of Siri? Former Siri voice actors have shared secrets of the trade with The Guardian newspaper and talked about becoming instantly recognizable voices around the world.

Here are the juiciest bits.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus appear in web traffic logs, but not iPhone 6c

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2015

Yesterday, we told you that reliable leaker Evan Blass claimed on his @evleaks Twitter account that it “Sounds like iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and 6c will all arrive concurrently.” Blass has proved himself extremely reliable in the past and has leaked accurate details and images pertaining to unreleased smartphones.

But now research firm Fiksu says it couldn't find traces of the iPhone 6c in logs, unlike iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus which it captured in web traffic logs and identified as 'iPhone 8,1’ and 'iPhone 8,2’.

Apple Store app updated with support for gift cards

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple on Tuesday pushed out an update to its Apple Store app, bringing the mobile client for its online store to version 3.4. The update adds support for making purchases using gift cards.

In the change log, Apple says "you can now make purchases with an Apple Store Gift Card. Use the built-in Camera to scan new Gift Cards, or import existing Gift Cards from the Passbook app.

Apple adds 20 new Flyover locations to Maps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple on Tuesday added 20 new locations to the 3D Flyover feature in its iOS and OS X Maps applications. The new spots include cities and landmarks in the US, Japan, Italy, Spain and France.

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.

Reliable leaker claims Apple will launch iPhone 6c next month after all

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 11, 2015

The elusive 'iPhone 6c,' or whatever it will be called assuming it exists at all, is launching next month alongside the widely expected 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones, reliable leaker Evan Blass wrote Tuesday on his @evleaks handle on Twitter.

“Sounds like iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and 6c will all arrive concurrently,” reads his post. We normally wouldn't even be telling you about such a cryptic message if it weren't for Blass, who has leaked reliable details and accurate images of several unreleased smartphones.

Inaugural trailer for The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land for iOS debuts

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 11, 2016

Developer Next Games on Tuesday debuted the first trailer for its eagerly awaited release, The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land, which is launching in the App Store in October.

The official mobile game of AMC's TV show, this nerve-wrecking survival game is set in a post-apocalyptic, walker-infested world and puts you in the shoes of Daryl Dixon, the TV show's crossbow-toting character portrayed by actor Norman Reedus.