Apple

Apple posts major Logic Pro X update with new sounds, AirDrop support and more

Cody Lee ∙ January 21, 2015

Apple released a significant update for Logic Pro X Wednesday afternoon, bringing the popular pro audio software to version 10.1. The update includes an expanded sound library, support for Mail Drop and Air Drop in OS X Yosemite, and a number of other new features and improvements.

The expanded sound library contains over 200 new synth patches and 10 classic Mellotron instruments. There are also 10 new Drummers capable of producing beats in a variety of hiphop and electronic styles including Techno, House and Dubstep. We've posted the full 10.1 change log below.

Apple seeds sixth OS X 10.10.2 beta to developers

Cody Lee ∙ January 21, 2015

Apple has seeded a new beta of its upcoming OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 this afternoon. The update, labeled build 14C106a, is available through the Update tab in the Mac App Store, as well as the online Dev Center, for all Mac developers.

Today’s release comes exactly one week after the previous OS X 10.10.2 beta, and Apple has once again asked developers to focus their testing efforts on the long-standing issue of Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as Mail and VoiceOver.

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides gain Touch ID support and other new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2015

After adding a new Incoming section to Docs, Sheets and Slides iOS apps which lets you see all of the files that have been shared with you, Google on Wednesday issued another refresh to its trio of productivity applications for the iPhone and iPad.

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides now feature Touch ID support for passcode lock to keep your documents, app settings and more safe from prying eyes.

In addition to that, each app has gained a few noteworthy enhancements such as a brand new spell-checker in Docs, mentioned after the break.

Microsoft says Windows 10 will be a free upgrade, with a caveat

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2015

Realizing Windows has long been losing its momentum ever since that Vista train wreck in 2005, the Redmond-based software giant surprised attendees of its press event this morning by announcing that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade from Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 7.

But how on Earth is Microsoft going to make money from the forthcoming operating system? Well, in a typical Microsoft fashion Windows 10 upgrades will be free for just one year.

Apple doubles lobbying in Washington ahead of Apple Watch release

Jake Smith ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple has increased its lobbying presence in Washington heavily following the release of Apple Pay, and the impending release of the Apple Watch later this Spring. Bloomberg reports that Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, was even seen in December at the US capitol - a rare place for a company's executive.

Poll: should Apple add multi-user access to iOS?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Yesterday, I stumbled upon an intriguing post over at The Loop which I felt raised a valid point about multi-user access in iOS, or the lack of.

It's especially relevant in light of the fact that Android Lollipop enables multi-user support on phones.

Tablets, of course, have had this for nearly three years with Jelly Bean and up. Now, adding the ability to share your iPhone or iPad with someone else isn't as trivial as it may appear at first sight as there are many technical hurdles to overcome.

On the other hand, can anyone imagine Apple not working on solving this pain point for its users? I mean, OS X supports multiple user accounts by design and iOS is basically a slimmed down version of OS X.

Anyways, is multi-user access one of those features the company should prioritize for the next major refresh of iOS, do you think?

BBC previews revamped iOS app with personalized coverage, due later this week

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2015

The British Broadcasting Corporation announced Wednesday that its revamped BBC News app will be rolling out later this week to iOS and Android platforms. The refreshed software offers a lot more video content and local news and also includes a brand new personalized coverage feature.

Users will be able to follow specific topics via an all-new tagging system that makes it easy to create custom feeds for, say, topics like Apps, Taylor Swift, Genetics and what not.

Gameloft previews Dungeon Hunter 5 with a new multiplayer system, launching later this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

French mobile games maker Gameloft has formally announced Dungeon Hunter 5, the latest installment in its role-playing series that invites you to rediscover the thrill of dungeon crawling.

Launching soon on the iPhone, iPad and Android, Dungeon Hunter 5 will be “the most immersive, accomplished and addictive chapter of the acclaimed action RPG saga,” promises the blurb.

Dropbox buys Office document-editing app CloudOn, service shutting down in March

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Dropbox has snapped up CloudOn, a cloud-based Microsoft Office document editing application. The company said in a blog post announcing the deal that its more than 30 employees will be joining the Dropbox team and confirmed shutting down the service on March 15, 2015.

The free CloudOn iOS app, which launched in 2012, has been updated today with a note confirming the service will be no longer accepting new users as a result of the deal.

Apple acquires British media analytics company Semetric ahead of Beats Music relaunch

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2015

According to The Guardian newspaper Wednesday, Apple has acquired British media analytics firm Semetric ahead of Beats Music relaunch.

Semetric's Musicmetric analytics tool, launched in 2008, is used by record labels to track digital sales, streams and social networking statistics for artists.

It even tracks BitTorrent downloads. The service could become part of Beats Music streaming service relaunch later this year, speculates the report.

Head of TAG Heuer says he’ll wear an Apple Watch

Jake Smith ∙ January 20, 2015

Bloomberg has published an interview with Jean-Claude Biver, who is head of the Swiss time piece company TAG Heuer, discussing the state of the Swiss watch industry following the announcement of the Apple Watch and the impending flood of smartwatches. Surprisingly, Biver said he'll be among the customers who will be purchasing an Apple Watch.

iOS 8 adoption slowing, now sits at 69 percent

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

The rate at which people are upgrading their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices to iOS 8 is slowing in the post-holiday season. As noted on Apple's own App Store Distribution support page, though iOS 8 adoption is edging toward the 70 percent milestone it's barely hit the 69 percent mark on Tuesday.

That's a rather paltry one percentage point jump over an adoption rate of 68 percent as measured just two weeks ago. And by comparison, that figure was a healthy four percentage points increase over the previous December 22 update.