Apple

Fantastical for Apple Watch launches with dictation, reminders, customizable glance and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 3, 2015

Developer Flexibits has made a name for itself with Fantastical, an award-winning calendar replacement for the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Today, an important update to the iPhone app was pushed, bringing out a newly-added WatchKit extension so you can at last run Fantastical on your wrist!

This update is available to all existing users of Fantastical for iPhone at no additional cost.

You must be wondering what took them so long, right? I mean, Flexibits was among rare developers without an Apple Watch app in time for the device's April 2015 launch.

“We want to understand precisely what problem we're solving,” Flexibits co-founder Michael Simmons tells me via a Skype chat.

The net result of their undertaking is arguably the fastest and friendliest calendar experience on the wrist and that's saying a lot given Fantastical competes with Apple's stock Calendar app which comes preloaded on the wearable device.

Read More

Upcoming new iPhones rumored to upgrade to even sharper, higher-resolution Retina screens

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 3, 2015

Apple's upcoming iPhone refresh—tentatively dubbed by the press ‘iPhone 6s’ and ‘iPhone 6s Plus’—should feature sharper Retina displays thanks to a rumored screen resolution boost, according to the latest report coming out of Chinese blog Feng.

The publication is claiming knowledge that a 4.7-inch ‘iPhone 6s’ will feature a Full HD screen, literally matching the 1,920-by-1,080 Full HD pixel resolution screen of the current-generation 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. As for an ‘iPhone 6s Plus,’ Apple's phablet-class device should match high-end Androids by going from a Full HD Retina screen all the way up to a 2K one.

Read More

Tim Cook takes jabs at Google and Facebook in speech about privacy and security

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Tim Cook took time out of his busy schedule yesterday to talk about privacy with folks attending EPIC's Champions of Freedom event in Washington. EPIC, a non-profit research center focused on emerging privacy issues, was honoring the CEO for his superior "corporate leadership."

Cook addressed attendees via a remote video feed, and spoke about a number of topics regarding privacy, security and what they mean to Apple versus other Silicon Valley tech giants. TechCrunch has a transcription of the speech, and he takes quite a few jabs at Facebook and Google.

Read More

Wunderlist gets acquired by Microsoft

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

6Wunderkinder GmbH, the makers of Wunderlist, the popular to-do, list and tasks application for the Mac, iOS, Apple Watch and other platforms, confirmed today it's being acquired by software giant Microsoft.

With more than thirteen million users across platforms and more than one billion to-dos created in Wunderlist, the app should seamlessly fit in Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's mobile first, cloud first vision.

But don't fret, mobile Wunderlist apps aren't going anywhere, at least for the time being. “As Wunderlist becomes a part of the Microsoft family, we’ll introduce a host of new features, keep adding partner integrations, and progress further in delivering Wunderlist to billions of people,” Christian Reber, 6Wunderkinder founder and CEO said Tuesday.

Read More

Google Maps gains enhanced transit data with live arrivals for buses, metros and subway systems

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

According to a post on the official Google Lat Long blog, the company's mapping service now includes improved real-time transit information for select cities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hungary and the Netherlands.

The more accurate transit data includes real-time information on arrivals for buses, metros and subway systems, Google said. Google Maps will even alert you to cancelled routes, so you can “better navigate the intricate and unpredictable world of transit in major cities around the world.”

Read More

NatGeo TV now available on Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

Apple's $69 set-top box has just gained a new channel from National Geographic, as first noted by MacRumors. The new 'NatGeo TV' channel, now available on the device's Home screen, includes streaming content from National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, as well as current show episodes available for streaming the day after they air on television.

In addition to these shows, the new channel gives you on-demand access to past episodes of popular National Geographic shows. Some content is free, but on-demand streaming requires authentication with a cable TV provider.

Read More

iHome launches smart plug receptacle with HomeKit, pre-orders beginning June 15

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

Among the first wave of HomeKit-certified devices from SmartLinc and Ecobee, which dropped today ahead of Worldwide Developers Conference next week, iHome on Tuesday launched its HomeKit-enabled smart plug receptacle.

The first in iHome Control series of smart home products, the iHome iSP5 SmartPlug not only controls smart home appliances but “dumb” ones like lamps, using Apple's HomeKit. The accessory will be available for pre-order on iHome.com beginning June 15.

Read More

HomeKit-enabled $150 Insteon Hub now shipping, hitting retail stores in July

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Available for pre-order since CES 2015, Insteon said today its hub with support for Apple's HomeKit will begin shipping to retail stores early next month. Dubbed the Insteon Hub, the device can now be ordered at $149.99 through Amazon.com and via SmartHome.com.

Controlling HomeKit-enabled accessories away from home requires a hub in the form of a third-generation Apple TV with Apple TV software 7.0 or later, or a dedicated product like the Insteon Hub.

Read More

Ecobee announces HomeKit-enabled, Wi-Fi connected smart thermostat with Siri commands

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

First HomeKit-certified devices are beginning to appear ahead of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference next week. Tuesday, accessory maker Ecobee announced its smart thermostat for the connected home with HomeKit-certified chips for full compatibility with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Soon to replace Ecobee's existing thermostat that has been selling in Apple's retail stores, the refreshed third-generation accessory features Wi-Fi connectivity, compatibility with Apple's HomeKit and integration with Siri so you can control your room's temperature using spoken commands on your iOS device.

Read More

Elgato unveils HomeKit-compatible smart devices for the connected home

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

Ahead of Worldwide Developers Conference which kicks off next Monday with a keynote, accessory maker Elgato has launched several smart devices for the connected home built on Apple's HomeKit platform that it previewed at CES 2015. These accessories use Bluetooth Low Energy and a special iOS app so they're battery-friendly and fully controllable through your iPhone.

As first noted by German blog iFun.de, the company's smart home sensor dubbed the Eve, along with other accessories such as the Eve Room, Eve Weather, Door & Window Eve and Eve Energy, can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com.

These devices make a vision of the HomeKit-enabled connected home a reality by gathering data on air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy consumption and more.

Read More

Apple to live stream this year’s WWDC keynote

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

It looks like Apple is going to once again be providing a live stream of its WWDC keynote this year. On Monday the company updated its Events channel on Apple TV with a new program labeled "WWDC 2015 Keynote - LIVE."

There's no word on Apple's website yet regarding streaming to other devices, but the company typically offers live video on both Macs and iOS products via its Safari web browser. It's set to begin at 10am Pacific Time on June 8.

Read More