Apple

iOS 8 Translator Keyboard lets you translate text from one language to another

You can now put Translator Keyboard by developer Steven Barnegren on your list of system wide third-party keyboards available in the App Store for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 8 or later.

First spotted by MacRumors, the $1.99 iPhone and iPad software makes it easy to translate any text to 44 different languages (and translate from 30 languages) by choosing your source and target language straight from the keyboard.

Twitter for Mac gains photos in DMs, picks up supports for multiple images per tweet

After refreshing its iPhone and iPad app with support for Interactive Notifications on iOS 8 and revamped profile pages, the micro-blogging platform Twitter on Thursday issued an update to its Mac client implementing a pair of new photo features.

The first allows you to add an image to your direct messages and the other introduces support for attaching up to four images to a single tweet.

Twitter for Mac 3.1 is available free in the Mac App Store.

Samsung confirms building 14nm A9 processors for 2015 iPhones and iPads

Echoing previous rumors, Samsung of South Korea confirmed to reporters Thursday that it will start churning out mobile processors for Apple before end of the year, ZDNet reported. The chips, likely to be branded under the “A9” moniker, will be manufactured on Samsung's cutting-edge 14-nanometer process technology.

The confirmation came through the mouth of Kim Ki-nam, president of Samsung's semiconductor-making arm and head of System LSI business.

Speaking to reporters at company headquarters in Seoul, Ki-nam quipped that his company's fortunes “will improve positively” once sales are boosted thanks to the lucrative Apple chip deal. The new mobile processor should make their way into 2015 iPhone and iPad devices.

Pioneer releases aftermarket CarPlay systems, Spotify updated with CarPlay support

A pair of CarPlay-related news reports is making the rounds this morning, one confirming the official release of the first aftermarket CarPlay systems from Pioneer and the other announcing an updated Spotify application for the iPhone and iPad with built-in support for Apple's in-car platform.

As announced back in April, CarPlay is now available as a software update for Pioneer's existing 2014 in-dash multimedia systems, the $1400 AVIC-8000NEX, $1200 AVIC-7000NEX, $900 AVIC-6000NEX, $750 AVIC-5000NEX and the $700 AVH-4000NEX systems.

The company also announced a new $600 smartphone receiver, AppRadio 4, with CarPlay compatibility.

Chinese carriers booked more than 2 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus reservations in just 6 hours

Though Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus won't officially launch in the Chinese market until later this month, the nation's three mobile carriers have already managed to book more than two million reservations just six hours after opening their queues, according to ITHome and Sina reports [Google Translate] cited by AppleInsider.

What's even more interesting, the vast majority of initial reservations have been 64GB iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models in gold.

Given both models cost nearly $1,000, early demand proves again that colorful jumbo-sized handsets are all the rage in the 1.33 billion people market.

Apple Pay reportedly launching alongside iOS 8.1 on October 20

Apple is planning to debut Apple Pay on the third Monday of the month, reports Bank Innovation. The outlet claims that according to "multiple sources close to Apple," the mobile payment service is scheduled to launch on October 20, alongside iOS 8.1.

On Monday, Apple released the first beta of iOS 8.1 to developers, and hidden settings pertaining to Apple Pay were discovered within the firmware. Bank Innovation says it has learned that this code is there so Apple can test Apple Pay prior to launch.

Wunderlist gains Dropbox integration and more

Wunderlist, the increasingly popular cross-platform to-do and task list by German developer 6Wunderkinder, picked up support for cloud-based Dropbox storage in its most recent 3.1.1 update Wednesday, in addition to other enhancements designed to improve your experience.

Available free of charge in the App Store, Wunderlist for the iPhone, iPad and Mac now uses your profile picture when you sign up with Google+.

Last but not least, the app features crisper looking items on Retina HD screens on the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and packs in a few other nice-to-haves and fixes.

Meet Xsser mRAT, Chinese trojan that steals treasure trove of info from jailbroken iOS devices

There's a new trojan in town, one that attacks jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

As discovered by Lacoon, the malicious software dubbed Xsser mRAT uses social engineering to steal valuable data from jailbroken devices by fooling unsuspecting users to tap on an install link in phishing messages from unknown senders.

Created by Chinese hackers, it can extract a vast range of personal information including your iOS address book, SMS messages, call logs, GSM identities, your approximate geographical location (as determined by the cell tower ID), on-device pictures, as well as passwords and other authentication data in the iOS keychains used by your Apple ID, mail accounts and other services.

Bloomberg: iPad Air 2 to be offered in Gold, 12.9″ ‘iPad Pro’ due next year

Apple's second-generation iPad Air will be offered in Gold, in addition to Space Gray and Silver colorways, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday corroborating earlier rumors. Adding a gold color option is one way to “goose sales,” according to people familiar with the plans.

The iPad Air 2 should be unveiled at a media event expected sometime in October. Bloomberg's sources with knowledge of the situation have also added that a rumored 'iPad Pro' with a 12.9-inch display “won’t be introduced until next year”.

Apple’s design czar Jony Ive talks Apple Watch development and more in Vogue interview

Jony Ive, Apple's Senior Vice President of all Design across the company, sat down for an interview with Robert Sullivan of the fashion magazine Vogue.

Published today, the interview offers a rare look at “the man behind the Apple Watch” and covers a number of topics, including Ive's long-running friendship with fellow industrial designer Marc Newson, who himself recently joined Apple's design team.

Ive touches on a number of other topics as well, such as his passion for handcrafted objects and the design process behind Apple Watch development.

Official Pokémon trading card game now available on (Retina) iPads

The official Pokemon trading card game which was demoed in August is now available for the iPad in the App Store. Titled Pokémon TCG Online, the 504-megabyte download supports any iPad with the Retina screen and online multiplayer.

The game challenges players to collect a deck of Pokémon cards, customizes and use them against other computer opponents or human players in battles.

Your decks and card collection are stored in your Pokémon Trainer Club account so you can easily switch devices with ease without losing anything.

PayPal’s deal with Samsung ruined its chances of being an Apple Pay partner

Talks between Apple and PayPal regarding Apple Pay partnership soured following PayPal's deal with Samsung, reports Bank Innovation. The outlet says that the two sides began negotiations early on in Apple Pay's development, but when PayPal partnered with Samsung for Galaxy S5 payments, Apple backed out.

According to the report, PayPal’s now-former president David Marcus was categorically against the Samsung deal, knowing that it would jeopardize PayPal’s relationship with Apple. But apparently eBay CEO John Donahoe didn't agree with the executive, and essentially forced the company into the partnership.