Apple

Apple and other Western firms removed from China’s approved government purchase list

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Apple, along with other leading Western technology companies, has been taken off the list of approved tech companies for state purchases in China, Reuters reported last evening.

Apparently in response to widespread Western cyber-surveillance, companies like Apple, network equipment maker Cisco Systems and chip giant Intel have now been removed from the Central Government Procurement Center's (CGPC) list.

The list, maintained and approved by China's Ministry of Finance, covers regular spending by central ministries.

Tim Cook to deliver commencement address at George Washington University

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple CEO Tim Cook will deliver George Washington University's commencement address at the school's graduation ceremony, the university announced on Wednesday. The ceremony takes place on May 17, at the prestigious 'National Mall' national park in downtown Washington, D.C.

“I am delighted that Tim Cook has accepted our invitation to give this year’s commencement address,” University President Steven Knapp said. "I know our graduating students will be inspired and enlightened by his reflections on the lessons he has garnered from his distinguished career."

Google Play Music bumps free storage limit from 20,000 to 50,000 songs

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

Google's music locker in the cloud, called Play Music, has just outsmarted every rival service out there by more than doubling its storage limit, letting you store 50,000 songs in the cloud as opposed to the previous 20,000-song limit.

You don't even have to be subscribed to the $9.99 per month Google Play Music All Access subscription service, meaning everyone can take advantage of this offer immediately, without upgrading their Drive storage.

The change, effective immediately, gives Google Play Music more competitive footing against Apple's scan-and-match $25 per year iTunes Match service that supports storing up to 25,000 user-uploaded songs in iCloud (more if songs are purchased from the iTunes Store).

Apple says FCPX is ready for the big leagues, showcases its usage in ‘Focus’ movie production

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 2, 2018

Focus, an upcoming movie starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, has become the first Hollywood flick to have been edited entirely in Apple's Final Cut Pro X software, USA Today reported Wednesday.

In advance of the film's silver screen debut this coming Friday, Apple set up a dedicated webpage on its website to showcase how the romantic comedy was shot and edited using not just Final Cut Pro X, but other standard software readily available to anyone on the Mac App Store.

Apple adds two new Maps data partners: GasBuddy and GreatSchools

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Apple's acknowledgements page for its Maps service has been recently updated with several new references, MacRumors reports. Among the companies cited are GasBuddy and GreatSchools, both of which are data aggregates that display information about nearby gasoline stations and schools, respectively.

Google says Android is ready for work, launches Android for Work initiative

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

Google on Wednesday announced a new initiative aimed at making greater inroads in enterprise, where Apple's devices are by and large the preferred choice.

Dubbed ‘Android for Work,’ the program revolves around four key technology components: work profiles, the Android for Work app, Google Play for Work and a set of built-in productivity tools. As is its wont, Google has partnered with a number of technology and solutions provider on the initiative.

Third-parties will help ensure consistent enterprise mobility management, Google said, adding it's given devs ability to create a single version of any Google Play app which can then be securely deployed to any Android device without alterations or wrapping.

Director explains how Modern Family episode was filmed using iPhones and iPads

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 22, 2018

The highly anticipated episode of ABC’s popular sitcom "Modern Family" that was shot entirely using iPhone and iPad cameras airs tonight, and to celebrate, BuzzFeed News got in touch with the episode's director Steven Levitan to find out how they pulled it off.

In a video conversation, which you can download here, Levitan explains that the iOS devices were placed in holsters operated by cameramen and held by the actors. This allowed the pros to control the shots, while still appearing as though the actors held the devices.

How to make Safari for Mac’s status bar more minimal and useful

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

I like my browsers minimal. Safari for Mac admittedly boasts an aesthetically pleasing, clutter-free interface. But if there's one thing I've always hated about Apple's browsers, it's that status bar at the bottom of the Safari window.

Though it conveniently lets you know where a URL will take you, once turned on it annoyingly just sits there whether you actually need it or not. I prefer Google's approach better: Chrome's status bar discreetly shows only when hovering over a URL.

Wouldn't it be great if Safari had a similar only-on-hover status bar? That's what Minimal Status Bar, a new browser extension by San Francisco-based developer Visnu Pitiyanuvath, does for you.

Jony Ive and Tesla’s Elon Musk reportedly ‘inseparable’ at Oscars afterparty

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

Apple's Jony Ive and Tesla CEO Elon Musk were acting pretty chummy at a party following the Academy Awards Sunday night, reports AppleInsider. The publication says that the pair were "basically inseparable" at Madonna's A-list afterparty, and exited together around 5am.

The conversation is interesting to us given the recent chatter that Apple is building an electric car. While we doubt they talked about automotive design all night, it seems unlikely that two of Silicon Valley's most influential people spent the entire night discussing the weather.

Check out cool Apple Watch print and video ad in Vogue’s March issue

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

Looks like Apple's marketing department has chalked up another win as the widely respected Vogue just gave the Apple Watch serious exposure.

The March issue of the magazine features a multi-spread feature containing actual-size photographs of Apple's wrist-clad device.

As MacRumors noted, the clean ads simply showcase different Watch casings and band designs.

Because the device is depicted in actual size, the magazine's fashion conscious readers can get a feel of how big the Watch is in real life.

You might be able to wear your Apple Watch in the shower after all

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

Apple has never said that its Watch would be safe to use in the shower or while swimming, but now CEO Tim Cook has ostensibly confirmed that the device can in fact be worn while taking a shower.

French blog iGen.fr reported that Tim Cook said speaking to employees at an Apple Store in Berlin today that he wears his Apple Watch everywhere, “even in the shower.”

Numerous gains Google Sheets, Tesla and Celestial Events channels and other perks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Numerous for iOS has been updated with three new channels today: Google Sheets, Tesla and Celestial Events, including SpaceX.

The Sheets channel is of particular importance as you can track any number or date in a Google spreadsheet. For instance, you could track changes to your checking account balance, your company's monthly recurring revenue and even the results of a survey created using Google Forms.

Of course, it's just as easy to track any other number or date in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. You can even elect to be notified when values change or exceed a threshold you set.