Apple

Apple granted patent for iOS docking station with flexible Lighting connector

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Tuesday published dozens of Apple patent grants on its website, among them an invention describing a docking station for portable devices with a flexible Lighting connector.

First revealed in March 2014 and then filed in October 2014, the U.S. Patent 8,986,029 titled 'Dock connector with compliance mechanism' outlines a compliance mechanism in the iOS device dock that flexes when the connector is stressed in order to pivot the connector at a point where the connector protrudes from the dock housing.

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Apple TV gains TED Talks, Tastemade and Young Hollywood channels

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Apple continues adding new content sources to its recently-discounted $69 set-top box at a relentless pace, with news Tuesday that Apple TV owners can now enjoy content from TED Talks, Tastemade and Young Hollywood on their TV sets.

The three new channels were added to Apple's set-top box in the United States. Just recently, the Apple TV gained UFC, The Scene, Fusion, Daily Motion and other content sources.

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Images of refreshed Apple Wireless Keyboard with backlit keys pulled from Online Apple Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Images of Apple's Wireless Keyboard with backlit keys and a power button were removed today from the Online Apple Store, suggesting the product has prematurely leaked or isn't ready for prime time yet.

Yesterday, the Online Apple Store in Czech Republic and Hungary got refreshed with new images showing a power button on the $69 keyboard and controls for adjusting the brightness of the backlight.

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Becoming Steve Jobs releases on iBooks Store, Kindle and Amazon.com

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2015

Becoming Steve Jobs, a highly anticipated Apple-endorsed biography of Apple's mercurial co-founder and late CEO Steve Jobs, on Tuesday released on the iBooks Store, the Kindle Store and on Amazon.com.

Written by veteran Wall Street Journal and Fortune reporter Brent Schlender, who is 58 years old, and Rick Tetzeli, Executive Editor with Fast Company, the 464-page book published by The Crown Publishing Group offers new details of Jobs' personal and professional life that did not quite get the treatment in Walter Isaacson's biography that such a high-profile iconic figure in technology, media and arts deserves.

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Review: Twelve South SurfacePad, a stylish jacket for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

In the market for a smartphone case that offers reasonable protection and doesn't bulk up your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Look no further than the SurfacePad, a stylish, ultra-slim protection for your precious pocket computer by Twelve South, the premium maker of Apple-exclusive accessories.

Unveiled in November 2014, the SurfacePad is a leather jacket that doesn't conceal key design elements of Apple's gorgeous new iPhones. It's going to appeal to fashion conscious types like yours truly who like their iPhones naked.

But how does it hold up in everyday life and, more crucially, over longer periods of use? Having used the SurfacePad exclusively as my iPhone 6 Plus case for the past four months, here's what I was able to gather from my hands-on experience with it.

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Instagram releases photo collage app Layout

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Facebook-owned Instagram on Monday announced a brand new mobile application called Layout, dedicated to making interesting photo collages.

Layout from Instagram is rolling out today for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. The app will be available as a free download in the App Store. Currently only available for iOS, Layout will be available for Android in the coming months.

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Twitter prepping Foursquare tagging in tweets

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 23, 2015

You will be soon able to tag specific locations in tweets thanks to an expanded Foursquare integration, the micro-blogging platform announced in a tweet Monday.

“We're working with Foursquare so you can tag specific locations in tweets,” reads the message. The new features is “coming soon,” added the firm.

Currently, users can add additional location context to their tweeting by adding a general location label, such as “SoMa, San Francisco," to their tweets using Twitter for Android, Twitter for iOS, twitter.com or other mobile apps.

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Facebook readying Phone app, may turn Messenger into a platform

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 23, 2015

Facebook wants to be more than just a social network. The company has been working on a dedicated Phone mobile app and is considering moves to turn its standalone mobile Messenger service into a platform of its own, according to web reports Monday. The dedicated Phone app would show rich information about callers and automatically block calls from commonly blocked numbers.

As for enhancing Messenger, this could entail adding features beyond exchanging media and instant messages, like bringing news and way richer content sharing to the service.

We'll know for sure next week at Facebook’s F8 conference, an annual gathering for Facebook developers where the company usually announce major platform advancements and new services.

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Fitbit Surge gains bike-tracking, multi device support announced

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 23, 2015

Monday, fitness tracker maker Fitbit took pre-emptive steps ahead of Apple Watch launch next month, giving its fitness bands new features.

The company announced a new outdoor bike-tracking feature on its $249 Surge fitness tracker. In addition, it rolled out multi-tracker support allowing users to easily switch between multiple Fitbit models throughout the day. Multi-band support allows Fitbit fans to register up to six fitness trackers in their Fitbit account, one of each model.

The system then automatically pings the user when she or he switches trackers.

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