News

iOS 10 preview: keep yourself well-rested with Bedtime and Wake alarm

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 10, 2023

In addition to a gorgeous new dark interface, the Clock app on iOS 10 packs i a little-known but useful new feature— Bedtime and Wake alarm. With it, you can set up a regular sleep schedule to receive reminders when it's time to hit the bed and wake up.

By making it easier than ever to create a regular sleep schedule and receive timely bedtime alerts, this feature could help the insomniac types get a good night's sleep. With that in mind, watch our video hands-on and read a detailed preview of the new Bedtime and Wake alarm feature in iOS 10's Clock app.

Apple’s fitness guru talks Breathe app and bringing meditation to your wrist

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

Jay Blahnik, Apple's Director of Fitness and Health technologies who was a Nike contract athlete and consultant for over eighteen years, sat down with BuzzFeed News reporter Stephanie Lee three days ago to discuss an interesting addition to the Apple Watch's arsenal of health-focused software technologies: the new Breathe app in watchOS 3.

Check out rainbow Apple Watch strap Apple gave to employees

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

Showing support for gay rights, Apple employees who over the weekend participated in San Francisco’s LGBT Pride festival were treated to a custom rainbow strap for the Apple Watch. Reddit user 'Sakusuhon' kindly posted an image of the limited-edition rainbow-colored strap Apple included along with a greeting card to show its appreciation for those who attended the San Francisco event.

Twitter introduces searchable #Stickers for your tweet images

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

Twitter on Monday announced a new feature that will start rolling out soon, searchable #Stickers to adorn your tweet images with. With this feature, users can put multiple stickers on a photo, resize and rotate them and place them anywhere on the image before it's tweeted out.

These rotating sticker sets are categorized and include hundreds of accessories, emoji and props to make your photos more interesting and fun.

“Use them to share what you’re doing or how you’re feeling, to show support for a cause, or to just add some flair,” said Twitter.

Report reiterates that Apple is working on Bragi Dash-like fully wireless EarPods

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

There's been a lot of debate lately among Apple watchers as to whether or not the next iPhone, which the rumor-mill thinks will ditch the 3.5mm audio jack and rely on Bluetooth and Lightning headsets, will ship with a wireless version of the EarPods headphones or one of Beats' wireless headphones.

9to5Mac is now reiterating prior reports, saying Apple is indeed working on its own fully wireless EarPods that should resemble the Bragi Dash.

Rumor: Apple Watch 2 has GPS, is more waterproof and tracks swimming

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

A second generation Apple Watch is rumored to embed not only cellular connection for network connectivity without its paired iPhone, but also a dedicated GPS for accurate workout logging without the need to carry the handset. That's assuming you believe a sketchy report published this morning by 9to5Mac and credited to an anonymous source with unproven track record.

The same source also said that the Workout app on the Apple Watch 2 would gain the ability to track swimming.

Next-gen MacBook Pro to integrate Touch ID into the Power button?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 22, 2017

Apple is believed to be working on the next MacBook Pro upgrade that should include, among a faster Intel processor and graphics and other hardware-related enhancements, an OLED bar replacing the row of function keys on the keyboard with programmable touch-sensitive shortcuts that could automatically change from one app to another.

In a new report Monday, 9to5Mac has learned from a sketchy source that the rumored OLED touch bar might be accompanied by a Touch ID sensor for fingerprint login.

iPhone 7 rumor: Home button with haptic feedback, Apple Watch-like Space Black variant

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

Remember the iPhone 5's Darth Vader-like black appearance? It's still my favorite iPhone colorway even though Apple has since moved to a more subdued Space Gray finish for subsequent models. Mac Otakara, the Japanese publication which claimed the iPhone 7 would come in a new Deep Blue variant, has now backtracked on the report, saying the device would include a Space Black colorway akin to the Apple Watch.

Google-made smartphone designed to take on the iPhone allegedly due this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

Although Google's Android software is on four in five phones sold worldwide, the iPhone remains the king of the hill when it comes to the lucrative premium segment of the handset market. The Telegraph is now reporting that Google will step up smartphone wars with release of its own handset later this year, a move that'd see it compete directly with the iPhone.

A closer look at Differential Privacy in iOS 10 and macOS Sierra

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2016

Making Apple services even smarter and more personalized entails processing troves of information because intelligence is driven by big data. The fact that iOS 9's proactive features don't tap into the cloud has served Apple well thus far. But since Google Assistant came to light, people have been wondering if Apple can compete without resorting to raw data collection Google is infamous for.

iOS 10 and macOS Sierra represent Apple's refined approach to privacy, which revolves around new techniques collectively known as Differential Privacy. An en vogue statistical method, Differential Privacy helps Apple deliver smarter services without compromising privacy of their users.

It's a relatively unproven technique with lots of potential which hasn’t been used to boost Apple's services before iOS 10 and macOS Sierra. Here's a closer look at Differential Privacy, how it powers intelligence and proactiveness and why it should serve Apple better than Google's bulk data collection and analysis.

Apple confirms its new Differential Privacy feature will be opt-in only

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 28, 2017

iOS 10 and macOS Sierra tap into an interesting technology, called Differential Privacy, which makes possible data collection from a large number of users without compromising individual user's security and privacy. Re/code has now learned from Apple that Differential Privacy will be opt-in only, meaning privacy-minded folks won't be required to use the feature unless they specifically want to.

Bottom line: Apple won’t collect your data to make its services a lot smarter unless you specifically let it.

Next-gen Apple display with integrated graphics card reportedly remains in the works

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2016

Since yesterday's official news that the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display is dead, pundits have been wondering if the move signals Apple's exited the external display business altogether. Not so fast. According to John Paczkowski, Managing Editor with BuzzFeed News, Apple isn't done with the Thunderbolt Display and is continuing work on a brand new display with a rumored integrated graphics card.