Apple

Skype starts pre-release program for iOS, rolls out small 5.9 update

Microsoft-owned Skype announced a new pre-release program for its iOS app on Wednesday, aimed at its most engaged users.

The company said in a blog post that users accepted into the pre-release program will get access to early versions of Skype in exchange for their regular feedback and NDA signature. Skype is limiting access to those 18 or older and who have a valid email address and Skype or Microsoft Account.

Facebook launching Work iOS app for FB@Work

Facebook announced on Wednesday that it's launching FB@Work, a new product that will allow businesses to create their own social networks for their employees that are built to look and act like Facebook itself, to collaborate on work projects.

Facebook is finally bringing itself to the enterprise after ten years.

As part of the new service, Facebook plans to launch a new app titled "Work" for iOS. The FB@Work product will also be accessible through the web and looks exactly like the consumer facing version of Facebook.

Apple brings iAd platform to Latin America emerging markets

Apple is continuing its iAd international push by beginning to sell the advertising service to businesses in Brazil and Mexico, with eventual plans for Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina, to help the struggling service better reach consumers.

Latin America is a key emerging market for Apple growth, and as such the company has selected MS Internet Media Services (IMS), a "leading" digital marketing and communications company that partners with businesses seeking to expand into and within Latin America, to handle sales in the Latin American market.

Analyst: Apple to announce $200 billion buyback and dividend program

Apple has plans to announce a $200 billion program to buy back shares and raise its dividend, heavily upgrading its current buyback program announced three years ago, analyst Kulbinder Garcha of Credit Suisse told CNBC. Furthermore, Garcha raised the stock to "outperform" from "neutral", seeing the stock rising 19 percent over the next year.

New report offers details on Apple Watch companion app

Yesterday we reported that Apple had released a new iOS 8.2 beta to developers, and that it enables pairing with the upcoming Apple Watch and its companion app. Today, 9to5Mac is out with a new report detailing that app and what it's capable of.

Citing a source familiar with the project, the outlet's Mark Gurman says that the "Companion" app has the ability to manage settings for Apple Watch apps, as well as settings for the wearable itself so users can customize how it interacts with iOS.

TextBlade physical multitouch keyboard collapses to just a third of iPhone size

If you're in the market for a physical keyboard for your iOS device but can't stand the size of existing offerings, a company called WayTools may just have the most curious answer to your needs.

Bringing a whole new typing experience, their new TextBlade keyboard has the same QWERTY layout you're accustomed to but collapses to a tiny rectangle just a third of the size of an iPhone 6, thank to built-in magnets that snap the individual pieces together.

The eyebrow raising design calls for a set of eight large touch-sensitive keys providing full access to the entire alphabet, and then some more.

Weighing just 1.5 ounces, or 43 grams, the device sports an ultra-low profile half as thick as an iPhone 6. And unlike standard rubber spring keyboards, the TextBlade does not suffer from drag, stretch or wear. Inside, it's immense technology based on six issued patents and more than a dozen patent filings.

Apple granted patent for GoPro-like camera system

Apple has been granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office that covers a camera system like the popular GoPro action camera, Patently Apple first reported.

The patent notes that the new camera system could be secured to various objects, such as a bike helmet or scuba mask, or mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle or the front of a surfboard, like a GoPro.

Siri to soon speak Polish, Czech and Slovak

iOS 8 has added more than two dozen new languages to Siri, but Apple isn't standing still. As first noted by Czech blog LetemSvetemApplem [Google Translate], the voice activated personal assistant feature for the iPhone and iPad could soon start parsing queries in Polish, Czech and Slovak.

The publication has made the conclusion after uncovering a series of text strings within the ‘Localizable.strings’ file in iOS 8.1.2.

For those wondering, the file contains translated content for Siri responses concerning stuff like restaurants, sports information and more.

Facebook adds AMBER Alerts to people’s News Feeds on mobile and the web

Facebook on Tuesday announced adding AMBER Alerts to both its mobile applications and the web interface in order to help find missing children in a more systematic way than before.

Realized through a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the initiative will deliver AMBER Alerts, which include photographs and other details about the missing child, to people’s News Feeds in targeted search areas after a child has been abducted and the National Center has issued an alert, said the social networking behemoth.

Facebook is betting that the power of its network will help find the missing children and is encouraging users to share these alert with friends and link directly to the National Center’s missing child poster.