Apple

Viber updated with iOS 8 Share extension, Interactive Notifications and other improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2014

Although it's been losing ground to rival WhatsApp, which recently passed 600 million registered users, Viber very much remains the second-most popular instant messaging and VoIP solution on mobile.

Following WhatsApp's most recent half-baked update which brought out support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screen but no iOS 8-specific features, Viber on Monday refreshed its iOS app for headline iOS 8 features.

You now have Interactive Notifications for easy interactions with Viber alerts and a brand new Share extension making it easy to send content from other apps directly to Viber.

Also new in this update: the unavoidable bug fixes, stability fixes and performance improvements, plus some design changes and other nice-to-haves to provide a more intuitive experience.

Viber is available free of charge in the App Store.

John Gruber: Apple working on ‘the biggest camera jump ever’ for the next iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

In the latest episode of The Talk Show, famed Apple pundit John Gruber mentions that he’s heard “from a birdie of a birdie” that Apple is working on the “biggest camera jump ever” for the next iPhone, as first noted by The Tech Block.

He's heard little in terms of camera features aside from a brief mention of a “weird two-lens system” that should take the next iPhone's camera into “DSLR quality imagery,” those are Gruber's exact words.

Apple's been using a five-element lens design for iPhone back cameras since the 2011 introduction of the iPhone 4s.

Fleksy keyboard clocks in a new typing speed record

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 30, 2017

Fleksy keyboard, among the first soft-keyboards for iOS 8, broke the Guinness World Record for fastest texting six months ago and now they've done it again.

As announced Tuesday, following September's release of its iOS 8 keyboard Fleksy has now made the iPhone 6 Plus the fastest phone for typing by clocking in a new typing speed record on the device.

Brazilian teenager Marcel Fernandes Filho, who is seventeen years old, used Fleksy’s iOS keyboard to break his previous record of 18.19 seconds with a new time of 17.00 seconds.

Fleksy Keyboard is a 99-cent download from the App Store.

Apple to let vendors outfit ‘Made for iPhone’ gear with Lightning port starting early 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2014

Apple during its MFi Summit that took place last week over the course of three days in Shenzhen, China told its 'Made for iPhone' (MFi) accessory vendors that it will be relaxing rules of the game.

Specifically, makers will be permitted to outfit their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad accessories with Apple's proprietary Lightning port beginning early next year, Jordan Kahn reported Tuesday morning over at 9to5Mac.

Accessories such as iPhone docks and battery cases with a built-in Lightning port would benefit from using Apple's proprietary I/O technology to provide power to both an accessory and the iOS device. The current implementation requires such accessories to provide an additional USB cable for charging.

iPhones found to infringe pager tech, Apple ordered to pay $23.6M in damages

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2014

Bloomberg is reporting this morning that Apple's iPhone and other devices have been found to infringe half a dozen pager technology patents owned by a Texas company called Mobile Telecommunications Technologies LLC.

Six patents owned by Mobile Telecommunications Technologies are valid and infringed, a federal jury in Marshall, Texas, has found.

The iPhone maker was ordered to pay the Texas company $23.6 million in damages.

Nokia is back with an iPad mini look-alike running Android

Jake Smith ∙ November 18, 2014

Nokia rejoined the world of consumer electronics on Monday, after selling its devices unit to Microsoft last year. The Finnish-based company announced the Nokia N1, an iPad mini-clone featuring a strikingly familiar 7.9-inch screen, 2048x1536 resolution, and aluminum design. The N1 will be released in China early next year for $250, undercutting the iPad mini prices heftily.

Wi-Fi issues continue to persist for some after updating to OS X Yosemite 10.10.1

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2014

After upgrading their Macs to yesterday's OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 software update, some users continue to experience a range of intermittent Wi-Fi issues that have been plaguing Apple's latest desktop operating system since its release, according to user feedback over at Apple's Support Communities containing more than a thousand posts.

Issues vary on a case-by-case basis and include dropped or unreliable wireless connections, slow data transfer speeds, connections randomly dropping every few minutes or so, inability to connect to a Wi-Fi network after waking from sleep and more.

Apple credits Pangu team for discovering vulnerabilities patched in iOS 8.1.1

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has posted a support page on the security content of the just-released iOS 8.1.1, reaffirming previous reports that the firmware breaks the Pangu jailbreak tool. In the page, the company credits the Pangu team for discovering three vulnerabilities patched in 8.1.1.

Among those vulnerabilities was a state management issue in the dyld directory, which has to do with app launches. There was also a validation issue in the handling of metadata fields with the kernel, and a sandbox profile bug that allowed apps to launch arbitrary binaries.

Eddy Cue demos Apple Pay for local news program

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

During a Monday night segment of the Tech Report on local LA news station KTLA, Eddy Cue took host Rich DeMuro on a "shopping spree" to demonstrate how easy it is to use Apple Pay for purchases. The pair visited a number of places, including Panera Bread, Bloomingdale's and the Disney Store.

Using his gold iPhone 6 Plus, Apple's SVP of Internet software and services, pre-ordered food from Panera Bread using the restaurant's app, and paid for it via Apple Pay. He then went to Bloomingdale's to buy sunglasses, the Disney Store for a few toys, and of course they ended up at an Apple Store.

Intel goes after Apple Watch with $495 MICA fashion band for women

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Hot on the heels of the Apple Watch, Intel unveiled a new luxury wearable at a media event on Monday, aimed at women with a snakeskin band and AT&T connectivity - no phone pairing necessary. Priced at $495, the smart bracelet, thing, allows users to receive, dismiss, and reply to text messages, email, and Facebook and Google notifications, completely independent of a smartphone.

Chinese authorities shut down WireLurker site, suspects arrested

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Chinese authorities arrested three individuals last Friday that are believed to have developed the "WireLurker" malware, according to a police post on Sina Weibo. The authorities were tipped off by Chinese security company Qihoo 360 technology. Additionally, the post says that authorities have also identified and shut down the website that was hosting and distributing the malware.

Sony debuts 21MP camera sensor with 4K video, could be used in future iPhone and iPad

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple supplier Sony has announced a new 21-megapixel mobile camera sensor, dubbed the Exmor RS IMX230, that could see itself in a future iOS device after the sensor begins shipping in April 2015. The IMX230 camera uses a stacked CMOS imaging sensor design, allowing for faster auto-focusing and better image quality. It also features 4K HDR video.