News

Camera+ updated with RAW saving improvements, 3D Touch Peek and Pop & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Camera+, my favorite iPhone photography app, was updated this morning on App Store with new features putting more RAW power at your fingertips while adding support for Peek and Pop gestures in the app on 3D Touch-enabled devices like the iPhone 6s/7 series. Building on the previous update which enabled RAW shooting and editing, the new Camera+ version 9.1 includes new RAW options for saving and exporting images at the best possible quality.

Starbucks will soon let you gift coffee via iMessage

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

During a shareholder meeting held this morning, Starbucks revealed its mobile app will soon gain the ability to send gifts in Apple's Messages app with Apple Pay. According to the official press release, a forthcoming update will also bring an Outlook add-in integration that will permit users who'd like to gift beverages through Microsoft Outlook to do just that. Additionally, the coffeehouse chain recently started rolling out its AI-powered digital barista.

djay Pro for Mac gains deep Pioneer DJ integration, Touch Bar improvements & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Algoriddim's Apple Design Award-winning djay Pro for macOS was updated on Mac App Store today with Pioneer DJ integration and other improvements. The app is now officially certified by Pioneer DJ to be used with their high end gear, including CDJ-2000NXS2/Tour setups via plug and play. “To our knowledge, djay Pro is the first third-party app to support Pioneer DJ’s Pro DJ Link technology, which means users connect up to four CDJs with their Pioneer mixer and control djay Pro through a single USB cable (mixer to Mac),” Algoriddim's Michael Simmons told me in an email message.

WhatsApp brings back text-only status, adds new features in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

A few weeks ago, WhatsApp rolled out auto-vanishing slideshows with photos, videos, emoji characters, drawings and more. Called Status, it supplanted WhatsApp's text-only feature that's been part of the app since its inception. Turns out many users are hating the change, turning to social media to express their disdain with WhatsApp's relentless cloning of Snapchat. WhatsApp developers responded by promising to bring back text-only statuses.

Today, WhatsApp for iPhone was updated with the addition of text-only statuses, called About, whilst gaining a few new features.

Hackers tying to extort Apple over dubious claims, threatening to remotely wipe iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

As reported Tuesday by Motherboard, hackers that go under the code-name “Turkish Crime Family” have allegedly obtained, through unknown means, access to hundreds of millions of Apple email accounts, including iCloud inboxes with email addresses on @icloud and @me domains.

They're threatening to remotely wipe iOS devices unless Apple pays a laughable ransom. It's notable that iCloud has never been hacked into directly and other reasons make this story hard to swallow.

Google Maps gains real time location and trip sharing features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

Google today announced that you can now let your friends and family know where you are and when you'll get there, right from Google Maps for iOS and Android. The answer to “where are you?” is only a tap away—with this useful new feature, people you share with can track your real-time location on iPhone, iPad, mobile web and desktop. Additionally, you can share your trip progress from navigation with others.

iPhone 7 Plus (RED) gets unboxing treatment

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2017

YouTuber Marques Brownlee has managed to get his hands on one of Apple's new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 devices announced yesterday and has now posted an unboxing video on his YouTube channel. Mimicking the handset's white front face and its vibrant red aluminum casing, product packaging features a white box with red text and red iPhone graphics. The manual that's shipping in the box sports red branding as well.

Home Depot 32-bit jailbreak update released

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ March 21, 2017

Today saw the release of an updated version of jk9357’s 32-bit jailbreak tool for iOS 9. The jailbreak, which is named Home Depot, was first released several weeks ago with support for a smattering of devices on various firmwares, and we wrote a piece about its launch at the time.

The updated version is labelled Release Candidate 1, indicating its increasing compatibility and proximity to a final iteration.

Update: RC 1 had an issue that would cause Cydia to fail to install. All users please download RC 2 instead.

Google previews Android O, check out the top new features ahead of iOS 11’s June beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

If you think Apple's innovation in the smartphone OS space has stalled, wait until you see the next major revision to Google's Android operating system.

Today, the search giant released a developer-only preview of Android O (it's the working title). While it won't release for public consumption before the fall, developers can download Android O and begin testing it right away. Android O adds many of the same features Apple customers have enjoyed for more than six months with iOS 10, or even longer.

These include things such as richer notifications, picture-in-picture modes, wide color gamuts in apps, limits on what apps can do in the background to improve battery life and more. Here's our preview of Android O's enhancements and new capabilities available to customers and developers.

Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED contributions have topped $130 million

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Tucked away as a side-note in today's press release with which Apple unveiled (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition iPhone 7 is an interesting update: the Cupertino firm's raised more than $130 million for the RED organization thus far. Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to (RED).

For those not in the know, (RED), spearheaded by U2 frontman Bono, aims to fight preventable and treatable diseases like AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (RED) also funds programs that help prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their unborn babies.

Apple phases out iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Apple today bid farewell to both the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 model and its smaller, older brother—the 7.9-inch iPad mini 2.

As of today, neither iPad Air 2 nor iPad mini 2 are available to purchase from Apple. Earlier this morning, the Cupertino firm announced a new 9.7-inch tablet model, called simply iPad.

Simultaneously, the company phased-out the 32-gigabyte edition of iPad mini 4 while giving the iPad mini 4 lineup twice the storage without increasing prices.

Apple’s silicone and leather iPhone 7 cases are now available in six new colors

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

Aside from refreshing Apple Watch bands with half a dozen new Spring-themed designs, Apple also announced this morning that its family of silicon and leather cases for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus family now comes in six new Apple-designed colors that conveniently match the new Apple Watch bands.

Like with the new Apple Watch bands, Apple's silicone and leather cases can now be had in Azure, Camellia, Pebble, Taupe, Sapphire or Berry finishes.