Apple

Apple Watch can track workouts without an iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2015

The Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi and GPS from your iPhone, in addition to its own accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate and barometer sensors, to track your physical activity and movement. Now, there's been a lot of commotion regarding whether or not the wrist-worn gizmo can operate independently as a fitness tracker.

As first noted by MacObserver, American model and activist Christy Turlington-Burns, who blogs about the Apple Watch on Apple's website, said in her most recent blog entry that the device can learn about the user's stride enough over time to start accurately track workouts without an iPhone.

Apple rumored to launch four-inch iPhone 6c this year, in addition to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2015

In addition to this year's S-upgrade to the iPhone in the form of an ‘iPhone 6s’ and ‘iPhone 6s Plus’, Apple is also expected to release a third iPhone model, a four-inch ‘iPhone 6c’, according to a sketchy rumor last night by DigiTimes, a Taiwan-based trade publication.

Citing industry sources, the hit-and-miss publication claims the three devices will release in the second half of 2015.

Twitter releases live-streaming app Periscope

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2015

Ever since Twitter shut down Meerkat, the popular live-streaming app that cleverly uses Twitter existing account and social graph infrastructure, it became clear that the micro-blogging startup was about to launch a similar service of its own.

Indeed, on Thursday the company announced immediate availability of Periscope, a live-streaming video service it acquired back in January.

The free iPhone app, like Meerkat, allows users to start live-streams from their device in an instant.

NY Times: Apple/Beats music streaming service to rival Spotify, iTunes Radio overhaul coming

Jake Smith ∙ March 25, 2015

Stating what's pretty close to the obvious, the New York Times reports the teams at Apple and Beats are working on a digital music service to directly compete with Spotify, one year after the Cupertino-based company paid $3 billion for the headphone maker. It won't bring lower prices than its competitors, the publication says, and is currently being planned for launch this year.

2K’s best iOS games are on sale, starting with BioShock at $3 and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Publisher 2K Games is having a killer Spring Sale deal on its premium 2014 releases in the App Store, reports TouchArcade. Avid gamers can now grab triple-As at a sharp discount, for a limited time. iPhone and iPad titles like BioShock, NBA 2K15, NHL 2K and others are now available starting at just three bucks each.

BioShock for iOS, for example, can be now yours in exchange for $2.99, down sharply from its usual asking price of $10.99. This is actually the first time BioShock has been discounted below five bucks since its release on the App Store.

Recommended, but not necessary, Apple Watch try-on appointments kicking off April 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2015

9to5Mac has learned from several Apple employees that try-on appointments for the Apple Watch will begin on April 10, the same day the pre-ordering process is scheduled to kick off. You'll be able to book an appointment through Apple's website or via the company's free of charge shopping app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Google to take on Twitch with own game streaming video service

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 2, 2018

Google is going to announce a new YouTube-branded live video streaming service with an emphasis on gaming, according to the British newspaper The Guardian on Wednesday citing a scoop by tech blog The Daily Dot.

The Internet giant is reportedly prepping to introduce its live-streaming service under the YouTube Live moniker. YouTube Live will apparently relaunch later this year, re-focused on game streaming and e-sports.

Such turn of events wasn't entirely unexpected. A year ago, Google wanted to buy Twitch but has failed to seal the deal and got outbid by Amazon, which paid a cool $1 billion for the popular game-streaming service.

Users reporting problems accessing App Store and iTunes (update: back up again)

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2015

A growing number of users are taking to Twitter this morning to complain of yet another outage affecting Apple's App Store and the iTunes Store. Several folks around the world have reported problems purchasing new applications, with the App Store and iTunes returning a "The item you've requested is not currently available” error message.

Others complain about not being able to conduct searches for content on the iTunes Store and App Store and download apps and other content.

UPDATE 11:35am ET: all systems seem to have become operational again following a brief outage that lasted about an hour or so.

Apple’s iSpaceship campus will use recycled water

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

Apple's upcoming Campus 2 building, nicknamed by the press iSpaceship due to its appearance resembling a flying saucer that has just landed in a field, will be more environmentally friendly than initially thought with news Wednesday that the facility will take full advantage of recycled water.

As reported by The San Jose Mercury News, the Santa Clara Valley Water District board last night approved a $17.5 million project that will deepen the use of recycled water in the parched South Bay “and make Apple's futuristic new campus a little bit greener.”

Apple building futuristic looking technology center in Yokohama, Japan

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Apple is building a futuristic looking, large-scale technology development center in Yokohama, Japan, home to nearly four million people, reports the NHK News website. The city of Yokohama held a press conference today to announce the project.

City officials have even provided renderings depicting the scope of the project and Apple's unusual design for a massive, environment friendly R&D building.

Apple acquires database company FoundationDB to bolster web services

Jake Smith ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

As it looks to build out its web services, Apple has acquired FoundationDB, a company that specializes in speedy, durable NoSQL databases, Apple essentially confirmed to iDownloadBlog after TechCrunch first reported the news.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” the company said in a boiler plate statement it gives when it acquires smaller companies.

Kickstarter project brings MagSafe inspired functionality to standard 3.5mm audio jack

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2015

It's too early to tell whether or not Apple's latest one-port Mac notebook spells doom for MagSafe, Apple's proprietary magnetically attached power connectors. Be that as it may, a duo of entrepreneurial engineers is taking a page from Apple's book to implement magnets on the types of connectors we use the most.

Magzet, a new Kickstarter project by Jon Hallsten and Jeff Russell, is aiming to do for standard 3.5mm audio jacks what MagSafe has done for Apple notebooks.