By Conner Carey
Apple released iOS 9.2 this afternoon with a lot of minor changes to built-in apps like Apple Music, News, and iBooks. The update fixes multiple bugs including the issue where some users’ alarms were prevented from going off. It also adds Siri support for the Arabic language.
By Conner Carey
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is focused on the research, application, and knowledge transfer it takes to change the lives of people with cerebral palsy. The foundation's Just Say Hi campaign has been gaining momentum with multiple celebrity endorsements encouraging people to simply start a conversation with the disabled. In an effort to remove the stigma and increase inclusion, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple has joined the efforts with Siri helping as well.
By Todd Bernhard
The old Apple TV went for years without a significant update, but the latest Apple TV rumor suggests the newly released app-enabled model could see a refresh as soon as early 2016. The next model could have drastically improved hardware performance and even new functions. Given the current model's lack of support for 4K resolution, that would probably be one of the first enhancements on most users' wish lists. Additionally, now that Apple TV apps are available on the new device, it may be an indication that a faster CPU could be necessary.
By Conner Carey
iTunes Match is Apple’s song matching service that syncs your local music to the iCloud Music Library for cross-device streaming anytime. Before the release of iOS 9, Eddy Cue promised users Apple was working to extend the matching limit from 25,000 songs to 100,000 by end of year. Now, Apple is beginning to roll out the upgraded feature to iTunes Match accounts. This is particularly useful for users with 16 GB iPhones who want access to their music without taking up too much space on their devices.
By Todd Bernhard
By Conner Carey
The next Apple Watch could feel seriously futuristic with woven fabric displays on the wrist band. The rumor got started when Apple filed a patent today, outlining plans for a flexible display woven with various other fibers to create extra view space without changing the main hardware. According to the patent, “the embodiments include light pipe fibers woven into the fabric as light guides to visually display indications or messages to a user.”
By Nate Adcock
IK Multimedia, maker of many things for the mobile musician, has released a new audio gadget, called the iRig Pro DUO. The normal iRig Pro model, which is plenty cool by the way, does have one minor limitation. You can connect a mic or a guitar, but not both. The iRig Pro DUO ($199 MSRP) addresses this with dual input/output channels that allow you to jam out, record, and mix music from vocals and instrument on your iPad, and it has a few other worthy tricks thrown in for good measure.
By Sarah Kingsbury
In the 14th episode, the iPhone Life team discusses their top tech gifts for the holiday season. Other topics include, paying friends with Venmo, teaching your iPhone not to Autocorrect, and whether it's possible to live without a headphone jack.
By Todd Bernhard
I've written about Martian Watches several times, and they have some key advantages over battery-hungry smartwatches. Now, for "CyberWeek" Staples has the Martian Notifier for just $39.99. That is a ridiculously low price for a very powerful watch. It doesn't try to be a full-screen smartwatch, but rather it integrates a traditional analog display with a scrolling display at the bottom. Text messages, notifications, and caller names are shown, and the best part is you can always see what time it is because that part is never obstructed.
By Conner Carey
Apple continues its onslaught of new commercials with two new ads uploaded via Youtube last night. Previous ads have been particularly short, showing off single features. While each of the new commercials does the same, Apple has added some time to show off how many different functions each feature has. Titled “Ridiculously Powerful” and “Hey Siri," both Apple ads exemplify the seamless integration of technology into life while showing off the sleek design of the iPhone 6s. Also, don't miss Stevie Wonder and Andra Day serenading the holiday season with "Someday at Christmas."
By Todd Bernhard
Apple has made iOS upgrades easier than ever, thanks to over-the-air updates and the ability to schedule updates overnight with iOS 9. It appears to be working, as Apple reports that 70 percent of the iOS devices out there have upgraded (or were sold with iOS 9 installed) despite iOS 9 only being out for less than a full quarter. The story is even more compelling considering 22 percent of users are on iOS 8, leaving just 8 percent running anything older. Keep in mind that some devices, like the original iPad, will never be able to run iOS 8, so this means a significant percentage of recent hardware is pretty current.
By Conner Carey
Rumor of Apple doing away with the headphone jack in favor of a thinner iPhone 7 has caught the Internet on fire. Apple devices have had some wild, unfounded rumors in the past, but this one seems likely as our smartphones continue to flatten like pancakes. Plus, as mentioned in our previous iPhone 7 rumors post, Apple filed a patent for a D-shaped headphone jack. But the rumors have spun out of control and I hear talk of a single lightning connector for dual purpose, charging and headphones. So what is Apple really up to?
By Conner Carey
Would you walk more if an app paid you to do it? That’s exactly the idea behind the new app Bitwalking (free) which uses a new digital currency called Bitwalking dollars. For every 10,000 verified steps a user takes, they will earn about one Bitwalking dollar (bw$). Bitwalking dollars can then be spent in an online store or traded in for cash. With 10,000 steps equating roughly a mile, the extra monthly income would be minimal in America and seen as an incentive towards fitness tracking. Yet in other parts of the world, the app is life changing.
By Todd Bernhard
If you purchased an iPhone when it first came out, you may be one of the lucky few to have an AT&T unlimited data plan. AT&T has been trying hard, for years, to move such customers (myself included) to a metered plan. I don't use a ton of data, but I use enough that I don't want to have to measure my megabytes. I've upgraded iPhones on a regular basis, always making sure I kept my unlimited data plan. To AT&T's credit, it has "grandfathered" users like me, but begrudgingly.
By Todd Bernhard
The iPad Pro may be driving some even bigger profits for Apple as it is predicted that when consumers are deciding whether to get the Microsoft Surface or iPad Pro, they will choose the iPad Pro. Investment bank RBC Capital Markets is predicting some heady numbers, specifically: