12/05, 9:30pm
Three months in, almost all users on iOS 7 or iOS 6
A new report posted by Apple itself on its iOS developer portal says that, less than three months after its debut, iOS 7 is now on 74 percent of all the company's mobile devices -- an astonishing adoption rate unrivalled in the industry. Users still on iOS 6 make up about 22 percent of the base, meaning 96 percent of iOS users are running OS versions no more than a year old. By comparison, only around half of Android users are on a 4.x version (first released in mid-2012), with only 1.1 percent on the latest iteration.
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12/04, 9:14pm
Users can add credit cards simply by taking a picture of it
Google has updated its Google Wallet application for iOS, allowing users to add credit or debit cards simply by taking a picture of it using the built-in camera on a user's iPhone. The update also adds instant sign-in if users are already logged into any other Google service or site that supports single sign-on, and users can utilize the physical Google Wallet card at most MasterCard locations as well as withdraw cash from any ATM. The app also stores various loyalty and reward cards and can be disabled online if the users' phone is stolen.
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12/04, 2:01am
App gets iOS 7 makeover, in-app 'Pro' upgrade, more
Video software maker FireCore has debuted a major upgrade to its Infuse multi-format video player for iOS, now at version 2.0. The update introduces an iOS 7-compliant UI redesign, network streaming from almost any drive or device without syncing, additional supported media formats, integrated Dolby Digital Plus mobile surround sound, and better 1080p and AirPlay support. The app is free but many of the new features are only available with a new "Pro" upgrade that costs $5.
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12/03, 12:02pm
Ember offers image file organization, sync via iCloud
RealMac Software has launched its latest app for iOS, imaging organizer Ember (formerly known as LittleSnapper). Allowing users to collect images and organize them into projects, the compiled library can be synced via iCloud for accessing on a Mac, iPhone or iPad.
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12/01, 1:28pm
Side Tree Software's programs on Mac App Store $1 throughout December
Side Tree Software has announced that all of its programs available at the App Store will be $1 each through the month of December. Starting today, apps such as Abuzzle, Equal, Mymyry, SlidePuzzle and Tribbi are available for the $1 sale price.
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11/29, 9:24pm
Real-world usage again shows iOS far ahead of Android, other rivals
Yet another real-world usage statistic has surfaced showing that users with iOS devices are far more engaged with them than those of any other platform. Among Black Friday buyers who used mobile devices to shop online, 82 percent were on the iOS platform doing so, with the remaining 18 percent using Android. Using mobile devices to shop on Black Friday was up 9.8 percent overall from last year, with mobile devices accounting for 38 percent of all Black Friday shopping traffic and 21 percent of online sales.
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11/28, 11:05am
Virgin TV Anywhere boasts 67 channels through mobile app
British cable service Virgin Media has updated its Virgin TV Anywhere service, by introducing an Android app to compliment its existing iOS offering. At the same time, the company is adding nine more live channels to the service for both platforms, as it continues to compete against dominant broadcaster Sky and its similar Sky Go service.
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11/28, 12:20am
Plaintiffs could not prove any data breach, actual harm
US District Court Judge Lucy Koh -- who just concluded a damages retrial between Apple and Samsung and will preside over the next round in the two companies' ongoing patent battles -- dismissed a consumer protection lawsuit on Wednesday that charged that iOS' "geotracking" data -- discovered in iOS 4 in 2011 to be an unprotected file that could theoretically have been accessed by third parties was deliberately designed to collect personal data without consent.
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11/27, 9:23pm
Real-world use makes Apple the more valuable mobile platform
Various studies from a variety of analytics firms which measure real-world interaction with devices (rather than the nebulous "shipments" number) have once again determined that Apple's iOS platform far outweighs Android in two key areas: rewarding developers and user interaction. A study by Adfonic found that ad impressions on iOS outpaced Android (which supposedly has about a 6x larger base) by two to one. A Business Insider report found that developers for iOS make five times what they do on Android.
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11/26, 12:59am
Chair makes original Infinity Blade free for limited time
The three-year-old but still highly-regarded game Infinity Blade for iOS has been made free for a limited time in celebration of Black Friday -- only the second time the game has gone free since its debut. The game, the first in the series, is compatible with iPhones from the 3GS on up and all iPad models, as well as the third-generation or later iPod touch. The game -- in which players take on the role of a knight and his descendants battling the God King and his minions in a single-player campaign marked by lush, cinematic graphics -- normally sells for $6.
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11/22, 2:15am
Apple now offering telephone support for iBooks Author to publishers
Apple is now offering telephone support to publishers in a dozen major countries to support its iBooks Author program, that allows the easy creation of e-textbooks and e-books for all types. The move is designed to make iBooks Author more welcome among book publishers and large publishing enterprises that require high-level technical support for core applications and navigating a project from its initial stages through to publishing on the iBookstore.
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11/21, 9:00pm
Embedded video a first; app previewed at iPhone 5 launch
Fourteen months after its debut during the iPhone 5 launch in 2012, the anticipated game Clumsy Ninja (free) has finally arrived in the iOS App Store - but in some countries, the game's preview page includes a one-minute video trailer, the first of its kind to appear in on an app page. The video preview is not yet available in the US store but is able to be seen in the UK and Canadian stores (among others) where the game appears as an "Editor's Choice" pick.
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11/19, 6:30pm
Search results now show all relevant tweets, adds trending timeline
Twitter has pushed out an update to its iOS and Android apps, offering a revamped search function, related trending tweets, improved login verification and more. Users can now search tweets by media type (photos or videos) in a grid or list layout, and the search function can also separate "news" tweets from those from a users' friends. In addition, the search now offers a "everything" view, and the ability to see all tweets rather than "top tweets."
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11/19, 9:10am
Will allow more precision in compatible games
Accessory maker MOGA has formally revealed the Ace Power, a game controller for the iPhone and iPod touch. The device is the first to take advantage of iOS 7's GameController API, standardizing controller support. It includes two sticks, a direction pad, four main buttons, and shoulder triggers. It clamps around the top and bottom of an iPhone or iPod, also plugging into the Lightning port. This lets the accessory supply extra battery life.
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11/18, 2:00pm
Release notes only hint at bugfixes, performance boosts
Apple has begun seeding the first beta of iOS 7.1 to registered developers. Release notes suggest that the update will mainly focus on bugfixes and performance improvements. There are some minor cosmetic differences, such as new text after clearing entries in the Notification Center, and the inclusion of an updated Yahoo logo that first appeared in iOS 7.0.4's Settings app.
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11/18, 6:17am
Leaked images claim Android, iOS platform support on the way
Nokia Music could be heading to the iPhone in the future, according to an allegedly leaked graphic. The app, which currently provides streaming music to Nokia Lumia and Asha smartphones as well as through Windows 8, 8.1, and RT devices, may end up on both iOS and Android devices as Nokia expands the reach of the service.
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11/17, 3:46am
Google Play Music app launch marred by streaming glitches
Although it has arrived six months after the launch of the Android version, the Google Play music app for iOS has launched with a bug that stops users from being able to download music for offline listening. A number of user reviews on the iTunes App Store are reporting the issue, while MacNN has confirmed that Google is aware of the problem and is working on a fix. Google Play Music, allows subscribers to download entire albums for offline listening, or stream ad supported music for free, and is a direct competitor to Apple's own iTunes Radio streaming music service.
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11/15, 5:32am
Minor bug fixes included within updated BlackBerry Messenger app
Just as promised by the company yesterday, BlackBerry has updated BBM for iOS, allowing it to be run on iPads and iPods. At the same time, BlackBerry Messenger receives a number of bug fixes relating to the Android version, with both versions also gaining more options for sharing and connecting with other users on the service.
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11/14, 1:14pm
New build of iOS sees release across iPads, iPods, iPhones
Apple has released version 7.0.4 of its iOS operating system for iPads, iPhones, and iPods. The update is available through the Settings app, under General --> Software Updates. Apple says the update addresses "bug fixes and improvements, including a fix for an issue that causes FaceTime calls to fail for some users." Apple has also pushed out an update for its Apple TV set-top box.
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11/14, 6:11am
Moves updated to version 2, now supports M7 motion coprocessor
Protogeo has updated its popular Moves app for iOS to version 2.0. The update brings with it more contemporary, flatter design look, while functionally it adds support for the M7 motion coprocessor found in Apple's 64-bit A7 chips. While the M7 chip is designed to use substantially less power to run fitness apps in the background, ProtoGeo says that iOS devices running iOS 7 can also enjoy general power savings of up to 40 percent when running the version 2.0 of the app.
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11/13, 7:18am
PlayStation 4 development team working to add music playback after launch
Sony will be adding MP3 and CD audio playback to the PlayStation 4 in the future, following an online outcry. The change in plans by the console producer comes at the same time as it releases updated companion apps for the PlayStation 4 on both iOS and Android, ahead of its launch in the United States on November 15th.
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11/08, 12:48pm
App marketplace may not be as crowded as suspected
Overcrowding in the Android and iOS app marketplaces may not be as big a problem as some have postulated, as new figures from app analytics company Flurry has found a growing "middle class" of apps that are not as dominant as the big names in mobile, but that have user bases strong enough to support a business. The findings run counter to claims that names like Facebook and others take too much of users' mobile activity time for smaller apps to survive. Instead, Flurry finds that the number of mid-level apps is steadily increasing, with independently-owned app developers seeing considerable growth in the process.
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11/08, 11:36am
Elop would shift Office tactics as MS CEO
Former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, if named as the next Microsoft CEO, would reportedly consider spinning off the company's Xbox and Bing divisions. A report from Bloomberg cites sources familiar with Elop's thinking in claiming that he would strike out in a direction quite different from that of outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer. Under Elop, the report holds, Microsoft would refocus on its popular Office suite, but with the aim of pushing Office onto as many platforms as possible.
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11/03, 4:47pm
Head iOS engineer leaves Apple
Henri Lamiraux, Apple's Vice President of Engineering for iOS, has departed the company, it was revealed this weekend. Lamiraux's departure was confirmed on Sunday by 9to5Mac, which reported that the Apple exec had decided "a little while ago" that iOS 7 would be his final release. Lamiraux was reportedly the "head of iOS," having had a significant role in guiding the mobile operating system.
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10/31, 11:52pm
New version may get an iOS 7 'makeover,' add new features
An "iOS 7" style icon and banner ad for the venerable iTunes controller app "Remote" has been spotted on Apple's Columbian iTunes Store, suggesting the app may receive a redesign in the near future. The free app allows users to control a desktop version of iTunes using an iOS device as the remote control, provided both are on the same Wi-Fi network. The app has remained basically unchanged for years, so a redesign for iOS 7 might also include new features.
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10/31, 6:43pm
Windows Phone climbs to four percent as Android dominates
Google's Android platform continues to dominate the worldwide smartphone market, according to new figures from Strategy Analytics that put Android at 81.3 percent of the global smartphone market. Android and Apple's iOS platform together account for nearly 95 percent of smartphones shipped worldwide, though Apple's share has declined year over year. One beneficiary of Apple's slippage may have been Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, which has seen a year-over-year increase.
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10/30, 8:39pm
Version 11 brings 120 features, migration to OS X Cocoa frameworks
Cross-platform small business client and project management tool Studiometry has received what developer Oranged Software calls "probably our biggest change to the app since its initial release." Version 11 of the Windows, iOS, and OS X application ships today with a brand new user interface, adding over 120 features and improvements and finally transitioning to Cocoa on Mac.
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10/30, 12:50pm
Political divisions continue to impact app
Taiwan's foreign ministry has issued a complaint to Apple about the way the country is characterized in Maps, reports say. In both iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks, Maps lists Taiwan as a province of China. "The maps don't acknowledge Taiwan as its own nation. We voiced our disapproval and hope Apple will make the change," a ministry official states. While many Taiwanese consider themselves independent, the Chinese government considers the country a possession, which in the past has led to political conflict and threats of war. Apple has yet to respond on the matter.
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10/28, 1:15pm
Doesn't impact alarms, actual calendar events
A daylight savings-related bug is creating problems in the iOS 7 Calendar app, users say. This weekend's time shift has reportedly displaced the red "current time" line by an hour. It doesn't affect the scheduling of calendar events however, and general iOS alarms and system times should work properly.
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10/28, 7:57am
Apple extends your creative potential with GarageBand for iOS, Mac
GarageBand for iOS and Mac OS X both received comprehensive updates at Apple’s “A lot to cover” event last week. GarageBand for iOS used to cost a few dollars, but like all of Apple’s third party apps for both iOS and Mac, it is now free. GarageBand for iOS looks quite similar to GarageBand on the Mac, but the iOS version has of course been optimized for multi-touch UI. As far as music creation goes on mobile devices or on desktops, none are simpler to use. Yet at the same time, you can create highly polished pieces of music on either device with the iPhone 5s highlighting the processing processing power of Apple's 64-bit A7 chip, being able to handle up to 32 simultaneous tracks. It’s hard to believe, but every iPhone 5s owner has more recording power in their pocket than The Beatles ever had access to.
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10/25, 12:04pm
Updated version of Cyberduck adds support for multipart uploads, bucket lifecycle config
Cyberduck has announced the availability of its latest version of its FTP/SFTP/WebDAV file server client software, Cyberduck 4.4. Featuring a complete refactoring for improved performance and testability, Cyberduck has accommodated developments in cloud storage by adding support for multipart uploads. Bucket lifestyle configuration has also been added in Amazon S3 to archive objects in Amazon Glacier and multi-region support for OpenStack Swift. Other improvements include bug fixes and improved file transfer reliability for higher throughput. Its version for Mac now does not require Java Runtime for installation. Available for Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, and Mac OS X 10.6 or later, Cyberduck can be downloaded from Cyberduck, and is soon to be updated in the App Store.
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10/25, 1:00am
Promotional offer meant to encourage use of app-building 'bots'
Apple is offering free copies of OS X Server for 10.9 Mavericks to iOS developers in the hopes of encouraging the use of Xcode bots, which take advantage of the new "continuous integration" in the latest version of Xcode to automate some of the app-building process, specifically testing apps on a remote machine. The use of bots allows developers to see the test reports on their development machines running Xcode rather than split their time between testing and correcting issues.
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10/24, 4:09pm
Remote monitoring system now live in Apple Online Store
Dropcam Pro, the cloud-enabled Wi-Fi video monitoring camera is now available in Apple's Retail and Online Stores for the first time. Launched on October 10, the Dropcam Pro camera is Dropcam's latest product, with improved internals allowing for better video and audio quality. Prior to the Pro's launch on Apple outlets, Dropcam products had only been available through Amazon.
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10/22, 3:17pm
Fixes bugs in iMessage, Spotlight, other areas
Apple has quietly issued a minor update to iOS, v7.0.3. The firmware adds two new features, primarily iCloud Keychain, which can be used to sync logins, passwords, and credit card numbers between devices. Also new however is Password Generator, which lets Safari suggest complex password for user accounts.
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10/22, 2:41pm
All now 64-bit, free for iOS 7 and Mavericks upgraders
Apple has launched updated versions of the apps formerly known as the "iLife" and "iWork" suites for OS X and iOS 7. On the Mac, iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband get makeovers, with major changes seen in Garageband to bring it much more in line with Apple's existing "Pro" audio app, Logic Pro. For iOS, the three programs have been updated for the iOS 7 look, with iPhoto for iOS gaining the ability to make photo books. The iWork apps have received new templates and design overhauls, but are otherwise only lightly changed.
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10/19, 9:30am
RingMeMaybe app's disposable phone numbers ideal for dating, Craigslist
Mobile developers yourVirtualSIM has announced the release of its app RingMeMaybe, a program able to generate disposable US phone numbers for iOS devices. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, users can access unlimited numbers for anonymous communication, removing the need to publicly reveal primary phone numbers. Utilizing VoIP technology, anyone requiring temporary numbers -- such as those who may be casually dating, or buying and selling on Craigslist -- can do so for a flat rate of 99 cents per virtual number (the equivalent of '10 credits'). Each number can be generated within seconds, and remains attached to your primary number for one week, but can be extended with the addition of more credits. RingMeMaybe's VoIP feature also provides unlimited calling service for no additional fee. Users receive 20 free credits with their download, equating to two virtual phone numbers. RingMeMaybe is available from the App Store as a free download.
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10/18, 4:46pm
Case pursued through small claims court
A California man, Mark Menacher, has filed a small-claims lawsuit against Apple CEO Tim Cook over an automatic update to iOS 7. The case is being handled through the San Diego County branch of California's Superior Court, and asks for a method to remove update files plus $50 in compensation. Automatic over-the-air downloads of iOS updates became an option with iOS 6; although people must give permission for an update to install, the associated file can't be removed if a person chooses to back out, consuming 1GB or more of free space.
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10/18, 1:42pm
Radical changes in iOS 7 could be scaring away some users
According to one study, iOS 7 experienced slower adoption within its first seven days than iOS 6 did -- though other studies disagree with the claim. Using tracking data over the first week of release, mobile ad network and analyst Millennial Media's ad impressions from iOS 7 devices grew 185 percent per day on average, eventually accounting for 16 percent of all iOS traffic. According to the firm, however, iOS 6 grew an average of 264 percent per day, reaching 35 percent of iOS impressions.
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10/17, 6:56pm
95 percent of enterprise apps, 90 percent of tablets, 72 percent overall
A new report by Good Technology notes that in addition to dominating the competition in corporate adoption, Apple's iOS platform is also gaining share as it sees a new wave of enterprise device adoption and activation. Overall business mobile device activations are up 60 percent, while iOS percentage of the market has grown to 72 percent, up from 69 percent in Q2. Apple's platform is also responsible for an astonishing 95 percent of all enterprise app use, and holds 90 percent of the tablet share.
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10/13, 8:10am
Apple applies minimalism to great effect in its built-in apps
In Part 1 of our deep dive into Apple iOS 7, its 64-bit next-generation mobile operating system, we looked at the way Apple has reimagined the iOS user interface through the use of color, layers, and translucency. In this, Part 2 of our analysis of iOS 7, we take a closer look at the some of the redesigned built-in apps including Mail, Safari, the Camera and Photos apps, and Siri. As we have previously explained, although the new visual style of iOS 7 has gained a lot of attention, Apple has taken the opportunity to comprehensively re-architect the entire OS, but also rethink the way each built-in app looks and functions.
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10/11, 11:38pm
'Blue Screen of Death' affecting some with iWork apps on iPhone 5s
Almost simultaneously with an email announcement from Apple that it will be crediting recent buyers of the company's iOS "iLife" (iPhoto, iMovie) and "iWork" apps (Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iOS) for part of their purchase price in light of making the suite free, the company's support boards report mysterious "Blue Screen of Death" type issues when using the apps on the iPhone 5s, most often when accessing the upgrade's new multitasking system. Users eligible for the refund will receive an email from Apple.
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10/10, 9:56pm
Hope for mobile version of FF VII port as well, no set plans
Final Fantasy VI, originally released in North America as Final Fantasy III back in 1994, will become an iOS and Android game sometime this winter, Square Enix has announced. The port will feature enhanced graphics while remaining 2D and 16-bit in nature, and will likely be based on the GameBoy Advanced or PlayStation port of the original game. A specific release date beyond "this winter" was not announced, and will follow the forthcoming mobile release of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.
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10/08, 11:00pm
Even older iPhone 4 outpaces competitors in touch speed tests
A pair of new studies that tests touchscreen responsiveness among flagship tablets and top-selling smartphones has found that Apple's iPad and iPhone lead the field by a significant margin in both categories. The TouchMarks tests -- done by mobile ad firm Agawi -- pitted the iPad against leading brands of Android, Kindle and Windows RT offerings in tablets, and the iPhone against leading Android and Windows 8 phones. The current iPads and iPhone 5 (and even the iPhone 4) won against all competitors.
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10/04, 3:52pm
Apple increases lead from Samsung, iOS still behind Android
Apple continues to have the highest market share of smartphones, according to the latest comScore MobiLens report. While Android manages to top the list of smartphone platforms for the period, Apple managed to increase its lead on Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and LG from the start of the period by 1.5 percent, reaching a new market share total of 40.7 percent.
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10/04, 3:15pm
how to use HDMI with a Mac mini from 2009
Today in the MacNN forums, Grizzled Veteran “PeterParker” was looking for a way to connect a display to a Mac Mini from 2009 via HDMI and he turned to the forums for some assistance. Also today, Mac Elite “asxless” was trying to determine where the photos are stored in iOS, because he ultimately wants to find an iPad app that will allow him to store and show photos and movie clips without being included in the Camera Roll in iCloud.
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10/04, 9:59am
Apple using voice samples recorded in 2005
The original US voice for Apple's Siri has been identified as an Atlanta woman, Susan Bennett, according to CNN. Bennett says that she only discovered her voice was being used by Apple when a friend emailed her and asked if it was her voice in an iPhone commercial; not owning the latest iPhone at the time, she had to visit the Apple website to confirm the fact. She explains that the samples used were actually recorded in July 2005, over six years before Apple would announce its first incarnation of Siri, for the iPhone 4S. A different version of Siri existed earlier as an independent app, before Apple bought out its developer.
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10/03, 4:15pm
May hint at plans for Siri
The developers of Cue -- a personal assistant app -- have shut down the app's service, according to an official announcement. In a manner similar to Google Now, the app was able to scan a person's email, contacts, and files and pull out important details for a daily agenda. Cue is promising refunds for Premium subscribers, and says it has already deleted any personal data stored on its servers.
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10/03, 12:06pm
Launch expected later this month
Google is reportedly preparing to launch a native iOS app for its Google Music service, unnamed sources have told Engadget. iPhone and iPad users are currently forced to listen via a web-based app, however a native player would presumable enable offline playback and other features.
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10/03, 11:44am
Apple promises fix later in October
Upgrading iPads to iOS 7 has inadvertently wiped out supervision profiles, a number of schools are complaining. The profiles are meant to restrict what students can access online, and give IT administrators remote management privileges. Without them in effect, students can access anything while away from a schools's Wi-Fi network, including content schools and parents might deem offensive or inappropriate.
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10/03, 9:01am
Apple reimagines iOS 7 with a comprehensive overhaul
Apple iOS 7 is the biggest single upgrade to Apple’s storied iOS franchise since it shipped on the original iPhone back in 2007. Rightly, much of the attention has focused on the vibrant new look of the iOS 7 interface, which has been driven by Apple design guru Sir Jony Ive whose design team worked closely with Apple software chief Craig Federighi and his engineers to transform the iPhone experience in the space of less than 12 months. However, there is a lot more to iOS 7 than meets the eye, with ground breaking 64-bit architecture underpinning the entire operating system including a native 64-bit kernel, libraries and drivers. In Part 1 of this short series of deeper looks at iOS 7, we are focusing on the revitalized iOS 7 UI, the Notification and Control Centers as well as Multitasking. In the first instance, we take a look at iOS 7 running on the iPhone 5s and 5c, Apple’s latest premium smartphones.
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