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Apple seen testing push notifications for resolved Maps issues

Cody Lee ∙ April 9, 2014

Apple is apparently testing a new notification system for Maps, according to a report from MacRumors. The site has posted screenshots showing a new option that some users are seeing to receive a push notification when their reported issue with the app has been fixed.

It works like this: after choosing to 'Report a Problem' within the Maps app, users are given the option to be notified when engineers have fixed the issue. And once the problem has been resolved, Apple sends out a push notification to that user's device letting them know...

Downcast apps for iOS and Mac on sale for a limited time

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Folks looking to branch out in the world of podcast apps may want to check out Downcast for iOS and Mac. The two apps are considered by many to be best in their respective categories, and for a limited time, both of them are available at discounts of up to 50%.

The iPhone client, for those who haven't used it, is about as sharp as they come. It's packed with innovative features like gesture-based playback controls, and looks great thanks to its recent iOS 7 refresh. And the Mac version of the app is equally impressive...

Pocket updated with new languages, support for Medium and more

Cody Lee ∙ April 9, 2014

Last month, popular read-it-later service Pocket took its iOS client global, adding the support of French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish languages. Until then, the app could only display UI elements (not saved content) in English.

Today the service built on that achievement by adding support for 5 new languages, including both Chinese and Portuguese, via an app update. The release, marked as version 5.2.1, also features better support for Medium and other improvements....

Klout for iPhone goes 2.0: personalized content stream, topic explorer, Klout Perks and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

Klout started out in 2008 with the promise of measuring the world's influence. Although its rapid rise to fame has inspired a bunch of similar services, Klout has remained my favorite social media analytics.

Upon connecting your social media accounts with Klout, the service calculates your score on a scale of 1-100, depending on the popularity of your posts as measured by the number of interactions and reposts from your community, among other factors.

To derive your score, Klout processes an astounding 50 billion pieces of information every single day. Granted, Klout isn't the most accurate social analytics tool out there, but it does help you get noticed for your unique passions.

Besides, the team is dutifully adding new features on a regular basis. My only gripe with Klout: its sub-par iPhone app - and I'm using the term 'app' loosely here - that would only let me see my Klout score and nothing else.

Today's version 2.0 update changes all that by adding several much-needed features such as personalized content streams, the new content scheduler and topic explorers, Klout Perks and more...

New iPhone 6 renderings based on alleged leaked schematics

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

A little over a week ago, Japanese magazine MacFan published alleged schematics for a 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone 6. We called the drawings 'sketchy,' as they depicted a round iSight flash (instead of pill-shaped) and other oddities, but many of the details matched up with previous information.

With that in mind, MacRumors commissioned designer Ferry Passchier to create some full product renderings of the two iPhone 6 models, based on the schematics, in an effort to bring the black and white sketches to life. And we must say, the outcome is one (or two) good-looking smartphone...

iOS 7 adoption at 87 percent ahead of WWDC 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

After last summer's WWDC, Apple started charting iOS adoption numbers on Dev Center, its portal for registered Mac and iOS developers.

According to data from March 24, 2014, a whopping 85 percent of the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices in the wild ran iOS 7 at the time. The figure has now grown to 87 percent device, as per latest App Store numbers.

Although iOS adoption rates are now plateauing following the software's public release more than six months ago, the two percentage-point difference in two weeks time is nonetheless a notable accomplishment.

I bet Apple's executives will highlight iOS vs. Android adoption to paint Google's platform as highly fragmented, but there's more to data than meets the eye. Read on for more context...

NBC’s iOS app now streams free shows to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2014

Cord-cutters are well aware that the National Broadcasting Company, or NBC, is one of the rare few broadcasters that allow for free streaming of their shows right after they've aired on television, no cable subscription required.

The company has a nice iOS application which has received an interesting little update earlier today with support for wireless content streaming to the Apple TV, via Apple's AirPlay technology.

As a result, you can now send such shows as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Days of our Lives, The Blacklist and About a Boy to your big screen TV, through Apple's $99 media-streaming box...

Apple allegedly working on its own baseband chips for 2015 iPhones and iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2014

As you know, Apple's in-house teams have been designing the engine that drives the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices for years now. However, the company still sources one crucial piece of silicon from a third-party: it buys baseband modems that provide the iPhone and iPad with cellular connectivity from Qualcomm. But even that could soon change, if a new rumor is an indication.

DigiTimes, the hit-and-miss Taiwanese trade publication, is reporting that Apple is planning to form a research and development team to engineer baseband processors for iPhones fully in-house. The move would empower the firm to take an even greater control of its chip destiny.

In years past, Apple acquired several fabless semiconductor makers such as PA Semi and Intrinsity for their talent and technology. Apple now has over a thousand silicon and wireless engineers who design A-series of chips in house by licensing CPU and GPU blueprints from ARM and Imagination Technology, respectively, optimizing their designs for speed, low power consumption and iOS...

Persistent search bar and swiping improvements added to Vimeo’s iOS app

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2014

Back in February, the video sharing service Vimeo added support for the handy swiping gesture to its free iOS app.

You can swipe right to reveal options to share a video, like it or add it to your Watch Later list. Swiping left marks a video for download so it can be accessible on your device without an Internet connection.

Today's update, now available in the App Store, removes the Watch Later option when you swipe from left to right, leaving only sharing and liking options in the menu. But don't worry, Watch Later is now available when you swipe from right to left. As a bonus, the app now adds a clip to your Watch Later list and marks it for download at the same time.

Vimeo version 4.0.10 also includes a new persistent search bar at the top, but more on this after the break...

Amazon Instant Video gets overhauled with iOS 7 styling

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2014

Amazon on Monday issued a new version of its Instant Video for iOS app. Available free in the App Store, the new Amazon Instant Video version 2.5 now finally features a brand new user interface on the iPhone and iPad which honors Apple's human interface guidelines for iOS 7 development.

Released initially for the iPad in August 2012 and later updated with iPhone UI, the app picked up support for background AirPlay wireless streaming to the Apple TV back in September 2013.

If you live in the Amazon cloud, Instant Video for iOS is your gateway to the world of Hollywood entertainment available on Amazon's video service. Today's facelift arrives after the online retail giant announced (and started selling on the same day) its own set-top box last week, the $99 Fire TV that does voice and runs games.

Read on to learn more...

What early iPhone 5 buyers wanted: stronger battery, better Maps, bigger screens and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2014

According to Apple's internal survey conducted with early iPhone 5 buyers, the company was well aware it didn't have what consumers wanted most, as far back as the Fall of 2012.

An internal research note from Apple’s lawsuit with Samsung, published by Business Insider reporter Jay Yarrow, indicates the one thing iPhone 5 buyers wanted most was longer battery life, hardly a surprise as the longer-lasting battery is the most frequently cited complaint among smartphone buyers in general.

Early iPhone 5 adopters were also asking for a much improved built-in Apple Maps application, the #2 item on the wish list, and a bigger screen as the third most often requested feature. We're of course expecting iPhones with bigger screens in the second half of this year.

If there's any substance to the rumors floating around, Apple is working on a 4.7-inch iPhone and another one with a screen measuring between five and 5.7 inches diagonally, although the latter model could be delayed over issues with in-cell production technology for the larger screen size...

Apple’s iPhone trade-in program extends to Germany

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2014

Apple's own iPhone trade-in program is now available across company-owned online and brick-and-mortar retail outlets in Germany. Now available via the Online Apple Store and through Apple's free Apple Store application for the iPhone and iPad, the initiative allows German shoppers to trade-in their existing device in good condition and receive a gift card worth up to €230, or about 315 in US dollars.

Like in the United States, German customers can then redeem the amount on the gift card against a new iPhone purchase to help bring down the upfront cost of the hardware. Your existing devices get disposed of in an environmentally friendly way instead of ending up in landfills...