News

App Store placeholder listing for Apple Files app appears briefly ahead of WWDC keynote

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 15, 2017

A placeholder listing for a new Apple Files app has briefly appeared on App Store ahead of today's live-streamed WWDC keynote, as spotted by iOS developer Steven Troughton-Smith late Sunday. It's surfaced in the Utilities section of App Store and has since been removed.

No screenshots or the official description were provided.

The app requires iOS 11 and 64-bit support and is designed for both iPhone and iPad. It sports a blue file folder icon resembling the design for folder icons in macOS. It's entirely possible that the new Files app is really just a rebranded version of the existing iCloud Drive app.

It's unclear if the forthcoming app will be a new stock item in iOS 11 or an optional download. If I had to guess, I'd say it will likely come pre-installed with iOS 11. Since iOS 10, Apple has allowed users to hide most of the stock apps from their Home screen.

To help users easily re-install any removed stock apps, Apple has provided all of its first-party iOS apps that are removable as downloadable App Store items. iOS 11 will be previewed at WWDC later today along with tvOS 11, watchOS 4 and macOS 10.13.

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Apple to announce Siri support for larger variety of apps at WWDC

Cody Lee ∙ June 3, 2017

Apple is expected to announce plans next week to make Siri work with a larger variety of apps, reports Reuters. Currently the digital assistant integrates with apps from just six categories: ride sharing, messaging, photo search, payments, fitness and auto infotainment.

The move will make Siri more competitive against other assistants, such as Amazon's Alexa, which is capable of handling some 12,000 different tasks. Apple has taken criticism for lagging behind other tech giants in the AI space, and next week it looks to close the gap.

In addition to announcing improved app support for Siri, Apple is also expected to unveil an Echo-like speaker featuring the assistant. Reports have said that it is cylinder in shape, like the latest Mac Pro, and it features a high-end sound system and a dedicated touch panel.

Apple's WWDC keynote begins on Monday, June 5 at 10am PDT. Be sure to join us as we cover the event, and all subsequent announcements, live. Also make sure you check out our inaugural WWDC Fantasy Draft.

Source: Reuters

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How to live stream WWDC 2017 on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Windows and Android

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated June 24, 2019

Apple will be live-streaming its WWDC 2017 event, just as they have for the last several years, so the world can tune in and see what’s new in the world of iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and more.

No matter what type of device you’re using the day of the event, you can live-stream the keynote. In this piece, we'll go over all the methods on how for every operating system and platform.

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Another alleged iPhone 8 dummy with rear Touch ID surfaces

Cody Lee ∙ June 2, 2017

A new set of images surfaced this morning showing an alleged iPhone 8 dummy unit. It features a large display with small bezels, a vertically-aligned dual camera, and what appears to be a rear-mounted Touch ID/Home button.

While the device bears Apple and iPhone logos, and some of the rumored iPhone 8 features, serial leaker Benjamin Geskin says it's not the real thing. Geskin pointed to the photos on Twitter, calling the handset a "Chinese clone."

The consensus thus far seems to be that the next-generation iPhone will have Touch ID embedded into its display, but rumors—and as you can see, alleged leaks—claiming that it will have a rear-mounted Home button have persisted.

It's possible Apple considered such a design at one point, and it may have even made it to the prototyping stage. It's also possible this is the oft-rumored iPhone 7s expected to debut alongside the iPhone 8 this fall—it's been reported that Apple has had issues with mass-producing displays with embedded Touch ID, so this would be a cheaper, more efficient option. Or this could just be a Galaxy S8 clone that's been rebranded for higher pricing.

Apple's WWDC keynote is next week, where it is expected to preview the next major version of iOS. It's also believed we could see a new iPad model with slimmer bezels, which may give us some insight on the next iPhone's design.

What do you think of this iPhone 8 dummy?

Source: Twitter

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JailbreakersUnite: a new conference that aims to bring jailbreak community members together

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Unfortunately, WWJC won’t be happening in 2017, and there’s no word about whether it will ever happen again, but a new event startup aims to bring jailbreakers together in a similar way.

Dubbed JailbreakersUnite, it’s essentially a conference and meetup in which avid jailbreakers and prominent members of the community can get together and discuss the topic together.

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Apple begins decorating McEnery Convention Center ahead of WWDC 2017

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 1, 2017

Various images are currently popping up on social media as Apple begins decorating the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California for next week’s WWDC 2017 event.

Among the decorations are a large banner at the front and sides of the building and various smaller banners on nearby light posts and street signs signifying exactly what’s taking place starting Monday, June 5th at 10 A.M. local time (1 P.M. Eastern time).

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Twelve South’s BookArc stand for Apple notebooks now available in Space Gray

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 1, 2017

Twelve South just launched a new Space Gray color option for its popular BookArc stand for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro on Thursday.

It's intended to look great with the OEM Space Gray color Apple offers for its MacBook with Retina display and 2016 MacBook Pro (with or without the Touch Bar), and it joins the classic silver finish, made to match the standard aluminum finish of the previous generation MacBook Pro, along with other notebooks in Apple's lineup.

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Apple: App Store developers earned over $70 billion in revenue since debut

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 1, 2017

Apple announced Thursday morning that developers all over the world for its platform have generated over $70 billion in total revenue, a new record since the launch of the App Store almost nine years ago in 2008.

The number 70 appears to be Apple’s lucky number this year, as app downloads have also soared 70% in the last 12 months, illustrating interest in numerous new app titles that took the App Store by storm.

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Apple’s begun manufacturing its Siri speaker ahead of WWDC

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2017

Apple has started manufacturing its Siri speaker ahead of the WWDC keynote next week.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has learned from people familiar with the matter that the new smart home appliance won't be ready to ship until later in the year. However, Apple could debut the gadget during next Monday's keynote presentation at WWDC.

People who have seen it told Bloomberg that the product won't have a touchscreen, unlike what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculated.

Taipei-based AirPods manufacturer Inventec has been tapped as the sole manufacturer of the Siri speaker. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple employees have been secretly testing the device in their homes for several months.

The forthcoming Siri gadget reached an advanced prototype stage late last year.

Apple is reportedly seeking to differentiate the Siri speaker from Amazon Echo and Google Home by offering virtual surround sound technology, Apple Music and other integrations.

The Siri speaker would also act as a HomeKit hub to let users remotely control smart home appliances such as lights, door locks and window blinds, a feature that currently requires either a fourth-generation Apple TV or an iPad.

Here's an excerpt form the article:

Along with generating virtual surround sound, the speakers being tested are louder and reproduce sound more crisply than rival offerings, sources in the know said.

Apple has also considered including sensors that measure a room’s acoustics and automatically adjust audio levels during use, one of the people said.

“This will be a platform for developing Apple’s services,” says Gene Munster of Loup Ventures.

Gurman speculated the Siri device could be tucked into Apple’s $11 billion “Other Products” category along with other devices like Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods and Beats accessories.

Apple declined to comment.

Siri speaker mockup via iFunnyVlogger on Twitter.

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Apple is giving away popular platformer Chameleon Run via Apple Store app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Chameleon Run, the popular auto runner by developer Noodlecake Studios, is now available at no charge for the next two weeks but only through the official Apple Store app.

On App Store, the game currently sells for $0.99.

If you haven't had a chance to grab Chameleon Run back in February when Apple featured it on App Store as part of its weekly Free App of the Week promotion, download the official Apple Store app now to claim your free copy of this awesome platformer with a colorful twist.

This promotion will expire on June 15, 2017.

Featuring smooth execution, this fast-paced auto runner requires you to switch your character's color to match the ground as you run and jump from platform to platform.

The game's expertly crafted levels “will have you running back for more”.

Chameleon Run features pixel-perfect physics, simple two-button controls, fun jumping mechanics with special moves (i.e. “double jump”, “head jump” and so forth), non-linear levels with three special objectives in each one and other perks.

It plays especially well on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrIAedC-wJY

To claim your free copy of Chameleon Run, first download the official Apple Store app.

Next, launch the Apple Store app and tap the Discover tab at the bottom. Scroll halfway down until you spot the Chameleon Run offer, then tap “Download now for free”.

You should see an overlay offering basic information about the game.

Tap the blue Download Now For Free button at the bottom to continue.

You'll be asked if you'd like to finish redeeming your gift in App Store. Hit Continue to bring up the game's App Store page, then hit Redeem to claim your free copy of Chameleon Run. Once you've successfully redeemed the promo code, hit Done.

The game should begin downloading to your device. Chameleon Run supports iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV. As always, you can use the App Store's Purchased section to re-download the game to your Apple TV and other iOS devices using the same Apple ID.

Keep in mind that you must use the Apple Store app in order to grab this freebie. On App Store, Chameleon Run is currently 99 cents after a fifty percent discount, valid for one week only.

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