Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Access Apple's Find My Friends app on iCloud.com

Find My Friends app

Apple’s Find My Friends App to Trace Friends/Family Members


Apple has recently added Find My Friends, its iOS utilised to trace friends and family members. Find My Friends service of Apple can now be accessed from any mobile device inclusive of Windows PC due to its debut on the iCloud.com portico. Initially spotted by 9to5Mac, this addition brings the feature to the computers for the first time.

Though for years, the Find My iPhone service was available from iCloud.com, Find My Friends tends to be limited to an iOS app. Find My Friends, also came to the Mac through a widget built in to OS X 10.11 El Captain, last month. However, users preferring to acess the Find My Friends service without the iPhone, iPad or a Mac will be unable to do so till the update.

Activating this service needs an iPhone or iPad that enables the service to track user’s current locations. The opt-in social networking feature permits friends to share their precise location on a map. Earlier in the year, Find my Friends and Find My iPhone became a more predominant part of Apple ecosystem when had become inborn, pre-installed apps on iOS 9. Formerly, to download the software, user had to access the iOS App Store.

Missing Potential to Set Alert/Edit Friends


Apple has included the find My Friends app in the operating system with the release of iOS 9, instead of making it an optional install as done in the past. With the addition of Find My Friends to iCloud.com, there is a possibility of gathering more information about friends’ locations from Mac as well as Windows. In order to view the location of your friends, users could visit Apple’s iCloud website and sign in with an Apple ID and when logged in, could locate and click on familiar Find My Friends app icon. List of friends tend to be displayed towards the left of the page with a map on the right. You could click on a friend in order to view their exact location. General functions are somewhat limited in comparison with the iOS app, but particularly missing the potential to set alert or edit friends.

Pre-Installed on Every iOS Device


Find My Friends links Find My iPhone together with many other iCloud apps which include Calendar, Contact,Mail, Photos, Notes, Reminders, iCloud Drive as well as the iWork suite of apps. The addition of Find My Friends to iCloud.com comes following its promotion to a default app in iOS 9 meaning that it comes pre-installed on every iOS device which cannot be removed. However, the app can be hidden though not totally removed from the device. The iOS 9 also comprise of a Find My Friends widget to equal the OS X Notification Centre widget but there is no dedicated, standalone Find My Friends app for OS X.

Consumers may tend to have different views regarding `Find my Friends’ app where some may consider it helpful and practical while others may find it disturbing. In any case, users will not be included to the app without their consent. Once you choose it, you will be included on the Apple map. A positive aspect of the app is for parents with the ability of tracking their children’s locations without the need of texting them.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Apple Clarifies How Wi-Fi Assist Works in Wake of Claims it Eats through Your Data

iPhone

Apple’s Latest Mobile Operating System – W-Fi Assist


A new page has been created by Apple’s website clarifying that iOS 9’s Wi-Fi Assist should not show a substantial drain on data allowances. Presented by Apple, in the latest mobile operating system in mid-September, Wi-Fi Assist is one of the efforts to keep Internet connection alive when Wi-Fi coverage seems to be poor.

By default, the feature tends to switch to a cellar connection when it senses weak Wi-Fi signal. The company has explained the ins and outs of the feature wherein it claims that it should affect the data usage by a minimum percentage.

The new feature had been introduced in iPhone software update iOS 9 and is developed to switch the handset connection from Wi-Fi to cellular data automatically, when in a range of poor connection.

Some users had complained that they were being tricked into using more of the data allowance than they had expected when the feature was automatically turned on and the new software had been downloaded. In some of the phone contracts since the data allowances can be low as 500MB or 1GB, having activated the feature technically, would result in higher bills for the users.

Wi-Fi Assist A Source of Debate


The new support page read - `with Wi-Fi Assist, you can stay connected to the Internet even if you have a poor Wi-Fi connection. For example, if you’re using Safari with a poor Wi-Fi connect and a webpage doesn’t load, Wi-Fi Assist will activate and automatically switch to cellular so that the webpage continues to load.

You can use Wi-Fi Assist with most apps like Safari, Apple Music, Mail, Maps and more’. Wi-Fi Assist has become a source of debate after some users expressed concern with the feature which utilises mobile data – cellular data with their knowledge. This was a matter of concern for the users whose mobile plan permits only a small amount of data like 1GB per month while others have admired the feature stating that the feature’s mobile data usage tends to be small and comes handy in area where the Wi-Fi signal tends to be poor.

Apple has explained when and how the features tend to work in About Wi-Fi Assist page recently updated stating that-
  • The feature would not switch to cellular if your data roaming and so you won’t have to pay additional charges if you are out of the normal coverage area
  • Wi-Fi Assist only works with apps running in the foreground and won’t download content from aps in the background
  • The feature does not go into effect with certain third party apps which stream audio or video and will not download large file attachments.

Cellular Data Icon in Status Bar – iOS Device


One will get to know when Wi-Fi Assist has been activated since one will observe the cellular data icon in the status bar on the iOS device.

Apple has informed on its webpage that since one stays connected to the Internet over cellular when they have poor Wi-Fi connection, they could use more cellular data and for most users, this should only be a small percentage higher than the earlier usage.

Monday, October 19, 2015

How to Switch From Android to iOS (and Vice Versa)


iPhone
It is very hard to subdue to urge to buy the new iPhone 6s or the new range of Nexus Smartphones. Both of them come loaded with some exciting specs and happen to offer a premium end experience to the end users. Both Android and iOS platform now offer high quality handsets with impressive features; build quality and great experience to the users. Here are some smart ways to make your transition either to the iOS or Android platform without losing your data.

Switch From Android To iOS


Apple has made it easier to migrate the data from the Android device to the iOS platform by launching the ‘Move to iOS’ android app. This app makes it extremely easier and simpler to facilitate the move to the iOS without much difficulty.

Step 1: Download the app


Download the Move To iOS app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store. Now take your iPhone out of the box and initiate the iPhone setup process. It should be noted that this app will work with IPhones which had not be set up earlier. IN case you had already setup your iPhone then perform a factory reset and use this app to migrate data from your android phone.

Step 2: Follow the instructions


Once the IPhone setup is initiated, you will find a “Hello screeen” and a number of prompts will follow it. Follow these instructions carefully to perform a glitch free and safe migration of data to the iPhone. You will soon be greeted with Apps and Data screen where you will find ‘Move Data from Android’ at the bottom of the list of options, select it.

Now on your Android phone fire up ‘Move to iOS app’. Agree to its terms and conditions then you will see ‘Find Your Code’ screen. This ten-digit code will be generated from the iPhone device after you select the ‘Move Data from Android’ option. Enter the code in your Android phone and begin the transfer process.

Step 3: Transfer the data


Transfer of data from Android to iPhone will require a sound W-Fo connectivity and depending on the amount of data, the time span will be determined. A huge amount of photos and entertainment files like audios and videos will mean more time while fewer data will transfer in just few seconds.

Switch from iOS to Android


There is no app available to make the transition from the iOS to Android phone but using the Google account you can make a simple and more efficient transition to Android. Android makes use of the Google account for keeping contact and calendars, sync your iPhone with a Google account by going to the Setting, Mail, Conatacts, Calendars and finally Add Account. Now just enter your Google ID and it will simply sync all your calendar and contacts data within few seconds.

Messages: Use service of iSMS2droid for transferring text messages to the Android phone.

Photos: Download Google Photos app and sign in with your Google account, turn on ‘Back up and sync’ and it will take a while to sync all the photos. Once done you can view photos from Google account on to your Android device.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Apple Patent Case: Wisconsin University Wins Huge Damages

Apple

Apple to Pay - Damages for Patent Infringement


Apple has been ordered by a US jury to pay more than $234m as damages for patent infringement. The patent licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation had stated that the verdict was considered to be important to protect its inventions from being misused.

A decision had been taken earlier by the jury that Apple merged patented microchip technology in some iPhones and iPads without permission and Apple had stated that it would appeal for the same. It could be a bad moment for Apple to go through the court proceedings for using the microchip in their gadget without taking permission for the same from the manufacturer.

Further comments were declined by the company. The amount was said to be less than the foundation had claimed and had initially sought as much as $862m. The amount was reduced in part since the judge had ruled out that Apple had not deliberately infringed the patent. Professor Curindar Sohi of the University of Wisconsin-Madison computer sciences one of the inventors of the microchip technology that had been created to enhance the performance of computer processor had been in the federal court for the decision, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Apple Refrained from Agreeing to Licencing Conditions


The university had mentioned in court that it had made efforts in dealing with Apple, however was swiped away when the company had refrained from agreeing with any licensing conditions. It would probably come to regret for doing so.

There were other reports though unconfirmed that the damages were set at $862bn and figures indicate that Apple had earned $4,540 a second and giving it a couple of minutes, there could be some way there.The annual revenue of Apple for the year 2014 was $182bn.

The managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Carl Gulbrandsen had stated that this seems to be a case where the hard work of the university researchers and the integrity of patenting as well as licensing discoveries had prevailed and the jury had recognized the seminal computer processing work which had taken place on the campus.

 The situation was connected to the usage of the technology in iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus and an added lawsuit which made the same claim against Apple’s latest models, the 6S and 6S Plus was also filed.

Severe Battles – Patents – Fought in Courts Worldwide


Intel was sued by the University of Wisconsin for the same patent in 2008 and the case had been settled out of court for an unknown sum.

Inspite of the latest revealed truces between some of the big tech firms, severe battles with regards to patents still tend to be fought in courts worldwide.

Recently a judge had tossed claims by graphic card specialist Nvidia that Samsung together with the others had infringed three of its patents.

University of Wisconsin had successfully demanded that Apple had utilised its microchip technology without any permission in some of its iPhones and iPads. It is said that the patent filed in 1998 is to improve the power efficiency of microchips. The case is related to the use of the technology in the iPhone 5s. 6 and 6 Plus

YouTube Gives its iOS App a New look and in-App Editing Tools


Youtube_iOS
YouTube has brought in an extensive update for its iOS app, which makes it much more similar to the Android version. This update has been introduced in the Material design style of the app, which is very much noticeable and quite divisive in nature. Google is simply trying to provide a consistent look for its products across the platform and devices by using the Android friendly material design. YouTube also gets in-app editing tools, which allow users to edit videos as per their choice before uploading it.

Changes brought about by this update

YouTube now has three tabs on the top of the main page, which includes Home, Subscription and Account. Home is usually filled with number of videos and channels available on the YouTube, Subscriptions showcases all the recent updates from the subscribed accounts and Account gives a summary of user’s account. YouTube app happens to be more vibrant in color, offers enlarged space and requires a lot of navigation for moving around the app, which might not be liked by some users.

A new in-app editing tool has been integrated in the app, which allows users to polish the videos before uploading on the network. A refreshed version of the Creator Studio App is also given to the users which offer enhanced Analytics section.

YouTube iOS update gets one star reviews

Google had introduced these dramatic and wholesome changes in the YouTube iOS app with the aim of making it more interactive than before. However, the early adopters of this app with its comprehensive redesign have stated that this new layout is simply garnish and happens to wastes space. The navigational changes brought about by this update require users to perform more swiping and tapping to get content. In simple words, this redesign of layout is not at user friendly and makes it difficult to move across the app.

A large number of reviewers of this update have complained of removing the left sidebar for better. The left sidebar has made it difficult for the users to access simple but essential things like history, subscriptions and playlists. One of the iTunes reviewers was quite upset with the need of pressing back button each time one has to move to different channel. To be true the iOS users feels that latest update has simply done away with the easier functionality and navigation support with YouTube app had earlier and it has been replaced with bigger pictures and vibrant pictures.

YouTube misses on bringing integration with iOS 9 features

Users with iOS 9 were quite let down by this new update, as it didn’t provide any support for the new iOS features. YouTube has missed on the great opportunity to integrate the support some new rich features of iOS 9 like plus SlideOver, Picture-in-Picture and Split View. Video editing tools and features included in the app are fairly basic at this point of time. But it still offers a way to perform few of the essential video editing tasks within a quick time directly from the app.

CAF – Delivering Technological Inventions


CAF
Chelsea App Factory – CAF, was established in 2010 when the release of iPad came up and is positioned to offer solutions enabling consumers to succeed in the mobile world. Established in London, CAF has created a niche for themselves as a leading UK mobile app expansion company and is the largest specialist mobile consultancy in the nation for consumers as well as enterprise apps.

This is due to their creation of cutting edge environments delivering tangible and impressive returns.Chelsea Apps Factory one of the fastest growing tech firm has been ranked 16th of the topmost 100 quickest growing private tech companies and is linked with well-known group of UK firms which tends to deliver technological inventions.

Companies tend to be ranked based on their compound annual growth rate – CAFR with regards to sales over a period of three years. Since its establishment in 2010, this seemed to the first opportunity that the business mobility experts Chelsea Apps Factory were entitled to enter along with the Tech Track 100 needing four years of account, to be considered to be included. Their Innovation Labs are `always on’ powerhouses which efficiently tends to drive business resolutions together with productivity and profit.

Delivering Industry Leading Mobile Solutions/Services 

CAF’s widespread and recognized armoury of Strategy, Consultancy as well as delivery besides the Innovation Lab makes sure that the businesses stay on. Created to manage planned urgencies of CEO’s worldwide in 2015 inventions, their labs have been offering perceptible ROI by aiming on customer involvement and achievement.

Since its launch, the company has been making great progress year after year, developing reputation in delivering industry leading mobile solutions together with services to Ladbrokes, KPMG and Waitrose and last year the company had gained profits which has doubled its turnover with the employment of additional 80 staff at its London and Edinburg App Factories and a third Factory opened at Belfast in 2015.

They have embarked on transformational programmes of work with a share of great confidence in supporting enterprises at various stages all through their mobile journey with them. They have built up relationships with renowned consumers across retail, professional services, pharmaceutical, telecoms and legal sectors.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

IBM's Carbon Nanotube Breakthrough Takes Processors beyond Silicon

Nanotube

IBM Research – Created New System of Creating Contacts for Carbon Nanotube


IBM Research has created a new system of creating contacts for carbon nanotube which seems to open a `pathway to smaller, faster and a much powerful computer chips beyond the skills of traditional semiconductors’. It involves rolling nanoscale tubes from sheets of graphene that measures about one atom thick and gives new life to Moore’s Law.

The results were published in the journal Science which describes a new system of creating contacts for carbon nanotubes which are different to the prevailing system for carbon as well as silicon transistors and does not suffer from the issue of increased electrical resistance.

This is due to the contact which seems to be reduced in size. The increase in electrical resistance in a transistor would lead to performance reductions which till now resulted in smaller contacts of slow processors. In order to overcome this issue, IBM created a completely new metallurgical procedure which chemically binds metal atoms to the carbon atoms towards the end of the nanotubes.

IBM had stated that the `end-bonded contact scheme’ enabled the contacts to be contracted to below 10 nanometres devoid of deteriorating performance of the carbon nanotube devices. This would mean that we could be seeing carbon nanotube processors within the period.

Method - Carbon Nanotubes to Self-Assemble & Bind to Dedicated Molecules


In a Q&A which had been posted on the IBM Research blog, Nanoscale device as well as technology manager Shu-Jen Han had clarified what is needed to be done to utilise carbon nanotube transistors in a practical processor stating that they had developed a method for carbon nanotubes to self-assemble and bind to dedicated molecules on a wafer.

Then it is pushed to the density of the placed nanotubes, to around 10 nm apart and the reproducibility through the complete wafer’. The issue with the prevailing silicon based transistors is the tiny switches which tend to carry information on present computer chips and the material properties of silicone limits the degree to which transistors could be condensed in size.

BM tends to have built functional silicon germanium transistors at 7 nanometres. However it states that this pushed the limits of what could be done with the material. Intel on the other hand stated that it would not be utilising silicon beyond the 10 nm scale. The present CPUs of Intel are at 14nm while the next generation would be 10nm.

Assets of Carbon Nanotubes – Appropriate for Computing


The assets of carbon nanotubes tend to make them appropriate for use in computing, wherein they conduct electricity much faster than silicon, utilise less power and evaluating just one nanometre thick, seems to be much thinner than the prevailing silicon that makes them less liable to unsolicited electrostatic discharge. IBM had been investing profoundly in carbon nanotube study which has shown that carbon nanotube transistors could be utilised as outstanding switches at channel dimensions less than 10nm.

The company has clarified that it is equivalent to 10,000 times thinner than a strand of hair and less than half the size of present leading silicon technology’. Vice president of science and technology, Dario Gil, had written on IBM’s `A Smarter Planet blog, mentioning that the new technology could extend the life of Moore’s Law.

Created in the 1960s, Gordon Moore’s fundamental saying of modern technological development assumed that the number of transistors which could be put onto a computer chip would double every two years and with silicon reaching it limits, physically, the achievement of carbon nanotube research would be essential if the development seems to continue.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Apple Pay is coming to Starbucks

Bailey

Apple’s Mobile Payment Service Coming to Starbucks


Vice President of Apple Pay, Jennifer Bailey, during the Code Mobile conference, had revealed that Apple Pay, Apple’s mobile payment service would be coming to Starbucks next year. Starbucks would be starting to pilot the service in some of the stores towards the end of 2015 and would be rolling it out to Starbucks company owned stores, around 7,500 by next year.

Bailey has informed that working on Apple Pay, she has seen great changes in momentum around acceptance at the merchant level, adding that about 80% of Apple Watch owners very actively tend to use Apple Pay. She said that Apple Pay would be hitting KFC restaurants in spring and Chili’s restaurants in 2016 as a pay at the table model.

The potential of turning smartphones into digital wallets with the ability of paying at the register had been advertised for years. Apple had kick-started consumer interest in the technology when it had launched its first project into contactless mobile payment last year. Less than 72 hours after the debut of Apple Pay, around 1 million credit cards had been utilised on the service.

Pay Through Near Field Communication - NFC


People can pay for products on the go at supported retailer through near field communication - NFC, technology with a new iPhone or Apple Watch. Besides this, other Touch ID enabled devices like the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 can also be used to pay for in-app transactions.

The iOS 9 update since last month enables users consolidated loyalty as well as rewards cards. The service tends to utilise a tokenization method which sends an encrypted digital token to stores rather than a credit or debit card number whenever a transaction has been made, which means merchants as well as retailers never get to view customer data.

 Mobile payments service of Samsung also works in the same manner. With around 500 financial institution partners together with 220,000 US merchant locations which tend to make mobile payment through NFC’s short range, secure wireless capabilities, Apple Pay had gone live in 2014. Towards mid-2015,over 2,500 banks had signed on to render support to Apple Pay with more than 1 million locations accepting Apple Pay.

Apple Pay – Two Thirds Contactless Payment – Radio Frequency


Apple Pay seems to be on track to be accepted at over 1.5 million US locations towards the end of this year. Apple had said that in January, Apple Pay made more than two-thirds of all contactless payments comprising of any device or smart card which makes payments utilising a radio frequency.

However, Apple has faced a lot of competition from Google which has been bulking up its Android Pay offering, together with Samsung which had introduced its Samsung Pay service in the US last month. The services of Samsung enables consumers to pay for products with their Galaxy phone and the impending Gear S2 smart-watch, tends to work at older retail depots that do not accept Apple Pay but thanks to the achievement of LoopPay in February.

Bailey had commented recently that she had been treated well as one of the few female executive at Apple. Bailey had been one of the two female executive highlighted on the stage in June at the time of Apple’s developer conference

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Apple Patents Smart Ring With Microphone

apple_patent

Apple’s Patel for Smart Ring – Touchscreen


Apple has recently attained a patent for smart ring with a touch screen which can control other devices wirelessly. Apple’s patent application which had been published recently describes an interactive ring which tends to work in combination with other devices like the phone.

The patent application which was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is titled `Devices and Methods for a Ring Computing Device’. Apple has informed that it features a touchpad or touchscreen and can be worn on the index finger which can be controlled by the thumb.

The company has informed that it would include a microphone in order to dictate commands and a built-in vibration that would make the wearer aware that something has occurred. The filing has recommended that the ring would be capable of determining what is written by following the motion of the hand.

The rings is described as `a wearable ring device including an annular member defining an opening which is sized for receipt of a first finger of the user, a computer processor housed in the annular member, a touchscreen electrically connected to the computer processor and disposed partially at an outer peripheral surface of the annular member, where the touchscreen is organized to receive inputs form a second finger of the wearer.

Wireless Transceiver Electrically Linked to Computer Processor


Besides this, it would have a wireless transceiver electrically linked to the computer processor and arranged to communicate with at least one external electronic device’.

Apple has informed that `the present generation touchscreen devices could be burdensome, inefficient or inconvenient for some applications and tasks’. It is said that the ring could also be used as a personal safety tool.

The patent filing states that `the light emitted by a touchscreen could be inappropriate in some social environment or dangerous if it tends to give away the position of a threatened user.

It is therefore essential for a more discreet, safer, efficient or more ergonomic way of interacting with touch pads or touch screens. Several of apple’s patents, like most of the companies, never make to the production line. However, it is interesting to know that Apple is keen in exploring in those quarters.

Haptic Feedback like Apple Watch


The smart ring would also be having haptic feedback that would be working like the Apple Watch, notifying the user each time they tend to receive a call, email or message. It has not yet confirmed if Apple would really be manufacturing the wearable, however some patents do not really get materialized into functional consumer products.

 The hands of the user could be preoccupied with some other task, or the arms could be tired after holding the device in a viewing position for a long period of time. For some versions of the ring that is shown in the patent, Apple recommends a built-in microphone for Siri voice commands and a two force feedback motors for the purpose of conveying several notifications and direction information like GPS.

The ring can also be utilised in controlling external devices like a computer’s mouse cursor, an entertainment and climate control system as well as a camera’s shutter.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

A Look at Apple’s New Spaceship Building

Apple_Spaceship_building

Apple’s Spaceship Campus


It is reported that the new Sunnyvale campus known as Central & Wolfe for the streets bordering it, seems to be the latest in Apple’s big land grab and building trend. The campus is located five miles from Apple’s new main campus in Cupertino where it is being developed.

 The new Apple campus has been referred by many as the `Spaceship Campus’ due to its flying saucer type design. It is being constructed by the British firm Foster + Partners who have been appointed as the architects for this massivebuilding.

Earlier project comprise of Wembley Stadium, Canary Wharf Underground Station, Stansted Airport, London’s Millenium Bridge, the Maclaren Technology Centre, HSBC HQ at Canary Wharf and the Hearst Tower in New York.

Based on the plan, Apple is transforming nine buildings from an old `70s era office park to a single curving building which seeks like a three-loaf cover. The six storeys, 770,000 square foot building will have none of the straight line in sight except for the outline of the main courtyard which one could look out from Apple store esque curved glass windows.

Placed Between New Spaceship Campus & Present Infinite Loop Campus


The sections of the clover leaf tends to open onto individual courtyards with a hope to bring some 4,000 computer obsessed employee who would be working in this building nearer to nature. Overall, the plan calls for 90,000 square feet of green space which would be accessible.

The new campus of Apple will be set in a 2.8 million square foot area, a 176-acre site plot and would housing more than 13,000 Apple employees in a single building.

The building seems to be more than a mile around. Besides this, there will be about 300,000 square feet of research facilities with underground parking. Apple had leased 290,000 square feet of new office space in Sunnyvale known as Sunnyvale Crossing, in May 2014 and it is presumed that this extra space includes seven buildings, which would be providing room for around 1,450 workers.

It is placed near the new `Spaceship’ campus and the present Infinite Loop campus. The 4 storey circular structure would be having enormous walls of glass which would enable the employees to view from both sides of the ring.

Important Segment – Restaurant – Giving Way to Landscape


According to an architect Peter Arbour, for Seele, the company which makes the glass staircases for Apple Stores across the world, informed Bloomberg that it is something like six kilometres of glass’. Forster +Partners founder and chairman, Norman Foster, in an interview with Architectural Record, explained that he was motivated by the idea of a London square where houses tend to surround a park and this ultimately gave rise to the present design – a circular structure surrounding a large outdoor park.

Forster also revealed in the video which was developed to promote the Campus 2 project to the City of Cupertino’s plan of commission that in the original plans, no circular `spaceship’ structure was included. He informed that `it did not start as a circular building but grew into that and the idea of one building with a great park was borne out of very intensive process’.

Due to the large size of the building, the sections have been divided into cafés, entrances and lobbies. The most important segment of the building is the restaurant which gives way to the landscape and the car park is below the landscape and there are no rows of parked car to interfere with the view.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

iPhone Tips & Tricks You Probably didn’t Know About

iPhone

Nowadays no one goes through life without his or her phone. Actually, your whole life is in it. There are lots of awesome things about iPhones. You can always contact someone if you need to and you have access to all necessary information. But, there are even more features on your phone you probably didn’t know about. We have summed up a few tricks and tips. You can easily learn these tricks and may even find yourself using them a lot to enhance your overall iPhone experience.

1. Save battery life

When your battery is running low, there a many ways to let it last longer. In the settings, you can turn of a few things. You can turn off the following functions: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location services, 3G and auto-brightness. Don’t worry. With these switched off, you can still receive calls, SMS and even go online with EDGE communication.

2. Extra options of your headphone

There are some options on your headphone (from iPhone), you probably didn’t know about. First of all, you can go to the next or previous track while listening to music or podcasts. How does it work? Press once to play/pause, press twice to go to the next track and press three times to go to the previous track. In addition to that, you can take a photo with the volume + button. If you want to do this, you have to put your Camera mode on.
timer

3. Time your music

If you like to play music before you fall asleep, you can set a timer. With this timer you don’t have to wake up and turn off your music, because it will stop. How do you do that? Go to Timer and set the time. Then select ‘When Timer Ends’ and choose the option ‘Stop Playing’.

4. Charge your phone faster

When your battery is low and you don’t have much time to charge it, then use the Airplane mode on your iPhone. If you use this mode, your battery will charge faster.

5. Delete last digit in calculator app

Who doesn’t recognize it? You’re typing an number in the Calculator and during a long calculation you type one digit wrong. Instead of tapping the ‘C’ button, you can just swipe your finger to the left or right of the numbers and clear the last digit. Each swipe will delete a number.
iPhone_tips

6. Shake the undo

If you’ve just typed a long sentence and you’ve accidentally deleted it, you can shake your iPhone to bring up the redo/undo button. Though a little awkward at times, this feature can also be a lifesaver.

7. Recognize music

Have you ever heard a song and wished you knew the title? Instead of using Shazam, you can ask Siri. Ask her which song it is and she will give you the answer. Siri uses the built-in Shazam to identify the title and artist. Would you like to enhance your iPhone experience even more with EasilyDo, Evernote or another app? Visit iTunescard.com and purchase an iTunes Gift Card to easily top up your credit.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

How to Use Nightstand Mode on Apple Watch

nightstand

Nightstand Mode – A Feature to Replace Bedside Alarm Clock


Some of Apple Watch UI elements seem to be in place like the Home Screen with a network of unlabelled circular icons, while there are other parts of watchOS which have been changed for improvement. For instance, the watchOS 2 has a Nightstand mode which enables the Apple Watch to stay in service as a timepiece while charging.

Nightstand mode is a feature which could replace the bedside alarm clock providing that one prefers turning the Apple Watch into landscape mode to utilise it. Nightstand mode presently has zero configurability and it could either be on or off, where a single switch is adjustable in iOS 9 of Apple Watch setting on a watchOS 2 equipped Apple Watch. To turn on Nightstand mode, you could
  • Place the Apple Watch on its side
  • Connect the Apple Watch to its charger
  • When it starts charging, your Apple Watch will automatically be in Nightstand mode

Chime through Watch’s Integrated Speaker


When the Apple Watch is in Nightstand mode and not in use, the display tends to go off. To view the display again, one could tap it and press the Digital Crown or the side button or lightly push the Apple Watch. Tapping or pushing the table could also work.

When it is on, a battery indicator towards the upper right area is displayed along with a large digital clock having a pulsing colon with the day of week together with the day of month. If the alarm is set, one will see an alarm icon in the upper left area and an additional line of text towards the bottom of the screen indicating that an alarm has been set for a certain time. The screen tends to change when the alarm goes off and a chime is heard through the Watch’s integrated speaker.

Alarm on Apple Watch Different from iPhone


If the `Snooze’ button is pressed, the user tends to return to the Nightstand clock face where the alarm line of text reads `Snoozing’ with a countdown timer of 9 minutes. Presently force touching the screen in Nightstand mode doesnot enable the user to change its appearance or functions, it tends to bounce back to recognize the Force Touch without the need of doing anything. The alarm on Apple Watch seems different from the alarm on the iPhone and one needs to set or adjust the alarm for Nightstand mode from Apple Watch. This can be done by:

  • Opening the Alarms app on the Apple Watch
  • Pressing firmly the display and tap Add Alarm
  • Tap the screen or rotate the Digital Crown to regulate the alarm
Users could take the help of Siri in setting an alarm which can be done by holding the Digital Crown till Siri appears and say `Set an alarm for 6 am’ or `Wake me up at 4 am’. Prior to the start of the alarm in Nightstand mode, the display turns brighter while the text turns yellow.

When the alarm begins, the apple Watch makes a sound and to turn off the alarm, the side button could be pressed. WatchOS 2 is in its development stage with 6 or 7 consequent betas to go prior to becoming final in the fall and there seems to be adequate time left for improvement of Nightstand before its release.

Over a billion Android Devices Vulnerable to Latest Stagefright Bug

Stagefright_Bug

Billion plus Android Devices at Risk – Stagefright


According to security experts, over one billion Android devices are considered to be at risk from new vulnerability known as Stagefright 2.0.This vulnerability had been discovered by a team of researcher at Zimperium, which is a mobile security firm and is considered to affect almost all Android devices from the first version in 2008.

 The new bug had been discovered in Google’s mobile operating system that enables attackers to insert malicious code in deviceto retrieve information when a use accesses a particularly crafted MP3 or MP4.The attack is on the vulnerability in MP3 and MP4 video files which once opened tend to remotely execute code. This could comprise of installing malware, get hold of data for identity fraud or to access photos as well as messages.

 Due to the nature of the vulnerability, it would be difficult to tell if a device has been affected. First Stagefright bug is said to leave device susceptible to exploitation with the video sent through MMS that are utilised as an avenue of attack. Since several messaging apps tend to process the videos automatically, there are possibilities of being targeted without being aware of it.

Stagefright 2.0 - Dangerous


Speculations are on that Stagefright 2.0 could also be quitedangerous. Stagefright 2.0 tends to utilise similar avenues in exploiting the weakness, by using MP3 audio of MP4 video files which when opened, the malicious files tends to activate a remote code execution – RCE, providing scope for hackers with the capabilities of remotely executing activities on the device.

This could comprise of media player or messengers besides mining data for identity fraud, installing malware and much more. There are various ways by which a user could be attacked. At first a hacker would try convincing a user to visit a malicious webpage and view music or a video file which would provide the hacker with an opportunity of hacking a user.

 Moreover they could also intercept unencrypted traffic from the device and another server which is known as a man-in-middle attack for the purpose of inserting the malicious code in the file which is to get transferred.

Susceptibility is in Processing of Metadata in Files


According to Zimperium in a blog post recently has mentioned that `the susceptibility is in the processing of metadata in the files and hence only viewing a song or a video would help to activate the issue’. Zimperium had also notified the Android Security Team of the problem. Google had mentioned in Nexus Security Bulletin that `vulnerability in media-server would enable an attacker during media file and data processing of a specially crafted file to cause memory corruption and probably remote code execution as the media server process.

The issue is considered as Critical severity due to the possibility of remote code execution as the privileged media-server service. The media-server service has access to audio and video streams together with access to privileges which are normally not accessible to third party apps. Attackers at this point of time are still assumed and users are not yet subjected to the bug.

Google has informed that the vulnerability handled in its monthly security and a fix is likely to be issued in its monthly security update for Android in October with patches for other phones in the pipeline. Besides this Google has also made provision for patches to LG, HTC, Huawei, Samsung and Sony wherein the companies would probably roll out over the next month.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Apple Pulls iFixit's App After it Tears Down the New Apple TV

Apple_TV

Apple Banned iFixit Developer Account


After the announcement of Apple TV recently, Apple had provided developers with Apple TV Developers Kits for use in the creation of tvOS apps for the device. Teardown site iFixit had taken apart one of Apple TV units which was meant for the developers and had faced some consequence in doing so. The team at iFixit is learning a lesson on the importance of abiding developers’ agreements.

Apple it is said had banned iFixit developer account the repair-it-yourself outfit in violating a re-release Apple TV sent out to the developers and its terms and conditions.According to a post on the iFixit blog, the teardown that had unveiled the internal components of the new Apple TV had violated the terms and conditions of Apple resulting in iFixit’s developers account being banned resulting in the removal of the iFixit app from the App Store.

With the new Apple TV, iFixit revealed a few interesting changes, like the USB-C port towards the back, an Apple A8 processor and 2GB of Hynix RAM and 32GB on integrated storage. The power supply was changed from 1.75A at 3.4V to .917A at 12V. However the amazing part is that iFixit is of the belief that the current drawn is transmitted to the logic board through its screw terminals, eliminating a small tangle of wire.

iFixit Ignored Fine Print


Moreover, they also engaged in the 4th generation Apple TV’s new remote. The iFixit’s Apple TV unit had been sent from Apple directly with similar restrictions that were applicable to Apple TV units sent to the other developers.

However, iFixit choose to ignore the fine print. The blog post read, `we weighed the risks, blithely tossed those risks over our shoulder and tore down the Apple TV anyway. Some days later we had received an email from Apple informing that we had violated their terms and conditions and the offending developers account was said to be banned.

 However, the app of iFixit was linked to the same account and hence Apple pulled the app also. Their reasoning was that we had taken action which could have stalled the performance or intended use of the App Store, B2B Program or the Program’.

iFixit app being removed from the Apple Store is instead planning to restore its mobile website with no plans to rewrite the app. The decision to aim on the iFixit mobile site came up prior to the app being pulled by Apple and hence not a big loss to iFixit. iFixit’s Chad Wien does not seem to be upset about the app being pulled.

He stated that it was out-dated and the company would be more focused on developing their mobile website. However he seemed to be upset or confused with Apple’s reason of sending a new Apple TV to iFixit if they had no intention of tearing it down.

They presumed it to be a part of some plan marked in Cupertino or someone needed Wiens and his crew to tear down the device to get it banned. The site has informed that the app seemed to be out-dated and damaged with bugs due to iOS 9.

After the release of Apple TV Developers Kits, several other developers shared featured titbits, photos etc. regarding the device. It is not known if Apple had got in touch with the developers regarding the non-disclosure violations.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Apple Imagines Animated 3D Maps with Rippling Water, Realtime Reflections

Apple_patent

Apple’s Patent – 3D Animated Maps


If Apple intends to opt in integrating newly patented animation technology, which could add interactive animation to water, foliage as well as other dynamic objects based on touch, motion and sound, Apple Maps would seem to be more convincing.

Apple Maps may then extent to a new level of immersion. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently granted Apple U.S. Patent No. 9,146,286, details techniques in enhancing three dimensional photorealist maps, like Apple Maps’ Flyover features, by allocating animation assets to specific map element.

Apple has patented a new option wherein it could use 3D touch in the near future to bring about animated maps to life. The patent explains how the Maps service would display moving water, shorelines, foliage and much more.

The patent titled `Non-static 3D map views’, describes various ways wherein a variety of elements of 3D mapping imagery can be animated. Apple describes how it could animate bodies of water, reflection on building etc. in some embodiments.

Map Element React to Sound Captured by Microphone


Apple also explains how the animations can present differently depending on different kinds of device inputs like touch, gestures, motion and audio. For example, one could be viewing a map with water which seems still but on tapping the side of the device could cause it to ripple.

 Moreover blowing into the microphone could result in rolling waves. A blow or a motion could cause the wind to move foliage and trees. To improve the illusion, water with other map assets could be animated based on motion, with waves forming whenever a user tends to shift the position, orientation or tilt the iPhone. Apple has defined a system wherein map element tend to react to sound captured by an on-board microphone.

Moreover, on treating bodies of water as light source, the building as well as the surrounding static surfaces could come alive with real time reflections. Apple has also offered foliage as a second element rime for animation together with swaying trees and leaves which are activated by gestures, motion or any other input by the user.

Functional Add-Ons – Latest Transit Navigation in iOS 9


The manuscript provides details on technical consideration and the potential rollout scenarios utilising the prevailing hardware system. Apple’s plans in implementing a comprehensive Flyover animation engine, is not clear, a process which had been partly started with moving landmarks such as London’s Big Ben clock tower together with the nearby London Eye Ferris Wheel.

Presently it seems that the Maps development team seem to be focusing on functional add-ons, which is the latest transit navigation in iOS 9.Apple had patented a new system wherein it could use 3D Touch in the future and though it has not mentioned 3D Touch specifically, it is clear how the latest technology would enable this without doing away with the traditional single tap that would prevail in being used for other things.

Apple’s animated 3D maps patents were originally filed in March 2013 and credits Patrick S. Piemonte, Erik Anders Mikaeol Adlers and Christopher Blumenberg as its inventors. Just as the other patents, it should not be considered as a guarantee of things to come. But it seems like this would be an excessive enhancement to 3D Flyover and would be great with 3D Touch.

The Apple Car cometh

Apple_Car

Apple’s Project Titan’


Apple has been the topic of many rumours that have been circulating for most of 2015 which has been ranging from advanced high tech interior systems to Apple Car. Now six months from the several rumours with regards to Apple upcoming `Project Titan’, it looks like it is surfacing though majority of these rumours tend to be unconfirmed.

 It is said that Apple’s Titan team has numbered around 600 individuals which is sizable by most standards and if the recent rumours are to be believed, is set to triple very soon. This would be putting a lot of stress on Silicon Valley automotive engineer employment pool.

 Those availing the facilities within a short drive from Apple’s Cupertino headquarters are Ford and many others.The manufacturing plant of Tesla Motors is around 30 minutes from the Highway 880 and has been the most exposed hiring source for Apple with the founder and CEO Elon Musk.

It is said that Apple would be offering $250,000 signing bonuses to entice employees, but it’s Mercedes-Benz that offers the highest profile new hire – Johann Jungwirth. Jungwirth had earlier been the boss at Mercedes Benz Research & Development in North America researching on how to make the car find out where one intends to go, without being told.

Apple – Out-dated Human Piloted Machines


Steve Zadesky of Apple, former Ford engineer who had joined Apple in1999 is the leader of the entire Titan strength and had a big role in the launch of the original iPod and till recently had supervised the iPhone design also. Earlier rumours and reports have fixed the Apple Car as being an autonomous thing but different from Google’s self-driving machines.

With reports regarding Apple meeting with California DMV related to securing autonomous registration for a vehicle, clearly indicates the autonomous competences for the vehicle. But the recent report show that Apple would be coming up with a more out-dated human piloted machines.

The same reports fixed 2019 as the probable date for a presumed Apple Car which will be four years from now and presuming that Apple has been working on it for about a year it would fall in-line with the usual five year vehicle cycle of production.

Volvo Partially Selling autonomous Cars - 2017


It is the cycle period which is usually perceived when a developer tends to release a new version of the prevailing vehicle. For instances the new version of Porsche 911 which had been unveiled recently in Frankfurt was in development for around five years and in the grand scheme of things, it was a comparatively trivial update with new engines, new suspension tunings in addition to Apple’s CarPlay.

But the things tend to change and the Ford CTs design cycle took around 14 months, from ideation to Detroit debut. It would then be another two years thereafter before the car would be made available in the market if Apple intends to unveil the car in 2019 which is said to be greatly optimistic for a fully autonomous machine to hit the streets of America. This would aim on the need of a driver for the Apple Car though not 100% of the time. Volvo would be partially selling autonomous cars by 2017.