Apple

Apple patent outlines virtual Mac keyboard with haptic feedback

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2015

The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an interesting Apple patent application for a Mac keyboard that looks like an oversized Magic Trackpad accessory, but with virtual keys in place of the physical ones providing haptic feedback, similar to the new MacBook's Force Touch trackpad.

Filed in November 2014 and titled 'Method and Apparatus for Localization of Haptic Feedback,' the invention outlines a keyboard with a flat, touch-sensitive input surface incorporating multiple actuators to provide tactile feedback.

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Major Pixelmator for iPad update brings new watercolor painting mode, brushes and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2015

Pixelmator for iPad, the closes thing to a full-blown Photoshop tablet alternative, today received a massive update. Aptly codenamed Aquarelle, it's all about bringing watercolor painting features based on some pretty unique technology that can replicate real-life watercolor brushes.

In addition to a dozen artist-designed watercolor brushes and watercolor painting technology which allows creating real-life-looking watercolor paintings, Pixelmator 1.1 sports an optimized engine with up to two times faster painting performance, support for third-party styluses with enhanced pressure sensitivity features and much more. 

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Review: create iTunes affiliate links with Blink for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Whenever you click or tap on a link which leads to an iPhone/iPad/Mac app in the App Store/Mac App Store, or a movie, TV show episode or electronic book carried on iTunes, we earn a very small commission fee on each sale coming from that link.

Though not much, these things add up and anything that helps us run the site and keep the lights on for you guys is worth the effort from our standpoint.

For those not in the know, anyone can sign up to become an iTunes affiliate partner. Too bad Apple's web application for generating affiliate links is so tedious and a pain in the you-know-what.

Introducing Blink (or Better Affiliate Links) from Squibner, a nifty little iPhone and iPad application which eliminates the hassle of manually creating iTunes affiliate links with your own tokens and campaign tags.

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Launcher is back on App Store as Apple’s stance on widget restrictions softens

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

Launcher, a tremendously useful iOS application by Greg Gardner for creating app, web and contact shortcuts available from a widget inside the Notification Center, is now back on the App Store following a six-month hiatus. The update is still propagating and it should hit all App Stores worldwide in the coming hours.

The original app was short-lived.

Following its App Store debut on September 17 of last year, the day iOS 8 was released, Apple removed Launcher just a week later citing a misuse of widget functionality.

Thankfully, the re-released app continues to offer the same features like its predecessor, indicating Apple may have softened its stance on launching other apps via the Today view of iOS 8's Notification Center.

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Here’s how Apple will let customers try on Apple Watch

Jake Smith ∙ March 18, 2015

9to5mac is out with a report detailing how Apple plans to allow customers to try on the Apple Watch in its retail stores around the globe, when the wearable will be put out on tables starting April 10.

Given the jewelry nature of the Apple Watch, it won't be like walking into an Apple Store to try out an iPhone or iPad. According to the well-connected publication, starting on April 10th, Apple will allocate 15 minutes per customer for a guided and directed in-store try-on experience, using 10 try-on stations.

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You can now watch Vines offline

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Vine, a Twitter-owned video service that lets anyone share funny looping clips with the web at large, or just their followers, has received a nice update Wednesday.

Available as a free update in the App Store, the app now lets fans watch Vines quicker than ever, even with a slower or no Internet connection. You’ll also see that posts show up more quickly than before.

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Twelve South launches portable MacBook stand that folds up like iPad Smart Cover

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

Hot on the heels of unveiling its HiRise charging stand for the Apple Watch, premium accessory maker Twelve South on Wednesday announced another interesting accessory. This one attaches to the bottom of any MacBook and folds up to an instant stand akin to Apple's Smart Cover for iPad.

The BaseLift typing stand, as they're calling it, is a remarkable 3.7 millimeter thin, has a microfiber-layered pad and stays attached to the bottom of your MacBook all the time, so you’ll never forget it.

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Poll: should USB-C replace Lightning on iPhones?

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

Apple's new 12-inch MacBook has left watchers scratching their head over its one-port design.

By replacing Thunderbolt I/O, standard USB, MagSafe and SD card ports with a single, much slimmer USB-C port (also known as USB Type-C), the company was able to create “the future of notebook.”

At the same time, the new notebook does inconvenience users, at least over the short term, by requiring various adapters to connect the machine to their existing accessories. Thankfully, there're signs that the industry is going all in on USB-C.

Google's recently refreshed Pixel notebook has two USB-C ports, for example. In addition, upcoming accessories, like Nomad's versatile Apple Watch charging dock incorporate USB-C as the new charging standard.

It may be a safe bet to wager that USB-C will eventually take the gadget industry by storm, but this begs the question of Lightning I/O on iPhones, iPods and iPads. Is what we're seeing here Apple's next iPhone connector, do you think, or should the company stick with Lightning I/O for the next ten years?

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