BBC iPlayer App Comes to Apple TV

Apple has unveiled a new version for its popular Apple TV which shows a better design, user friendly interface and inexpensive price. Apple has made some interesting changes and additional of new features which makes this new version better than earlier ones.

Apple TV offers a ‘top layer’ over the big screen filled with exciting features, a well crafted and designed remote, voice control service, universal search which makes searching everything simpler and the much needed on-demand portal. However at the time of its launch few key video services were missing which seriously limited the joy of using Apple TV to the full extent. Apple has risen from its slumber and it has launched the iPlayer on new Apple TV via its built-in App Store.

iPlayer debuts on new Apple TV

The earlier generations of Apple TV were lacking the iPlayer, which was not much sorely missed but the absence of its new TV’S App Store was simply a gross mistake by the Apple. Similar kind of TV devices running of Android Os offers this service which makes the television much more enjoyable. Though there was another smart way to watch the iPlayer shows using Airplay in Apple TV but it was a cumbersome operation. On last Monday Apple took heed of this situation and resolved the problem by bringing the iPlayer on new Apple TV.

iPlayer will set new record in adoption rate

It has been estimated that more than 10,000 devices which includes even the Android smartphone tablet and computers will be able to run the iPlayer. In 2014 more than 3.5 billion TV and radio programmes were requested by the users on iPlayer and iPlayer is expected to break its own record in 2015.

New Apple TV much easier to operate

The new Apple TV is extremely easy to install and comes with just one power cable and HDMI port without much confusing parts. Users having the previous generation of Apple TV can simply unplug the old device and replace the new one in its place without even opening and using the new HDMI cable or power cord. Apple TV software as always is simple and straight forward which makes setting up streamlined. A new Siri remote is offered by Apple which automatically gets synced via Bluetooth. Apple TV can easily be connected to the phone just an authentication of the Apple ID is required. Users can purchase various apps from its App Store which works seamlessly and efficiently on the television and it will also help in improving the functionality of the television.

iPlayer fills one of the missing apps in new Apple TV

Currently Apple TV features more than 2,600 apps which comprise of some exciting games and productivity apps but users are still missing a number of core content providers such Sky TV and Amazon’s video service. However a recent software update provided by the Apple has brought some exciting features TV device which includes voice search for music and various bug fixes.

Recording All Kinds of Streaming Video on Mac with the Movavi Screen Capture Studio for Mac Review

With streaming video becoming increasingly popular nowadays, there are tons of different platforms on which you can view great content. From regular streaming video services such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion to the TV shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, and so on – you’re quite literally going to be spoilt for choice.


Unfortunately with all of these platforms the one thing that you aren’t going to be able to do is save the videos on your Mac and watch them later. Needless to say this can be a bit of a drawback, particularly if your internet connection is fairly unstable or there are certain periods where you aren’t able to access the internet. The good news is that you can work around that problem with the help of the Movavi Screen Capture Studio for Mac.


All that you need to do is set the Movavi Screen Capture Studio for Mac to record the streaming video and then save it in a format of your choosing. Doing this will just take a few steps:

1.  Adjust the capture frame so that it encompasses the area of the streaming video that you’d like to record. 
2.  Check the audio source is set to ‘System Audio’. 
3.  Start the recording by pressing ‘REC’ and play the video simultaneously. 
4.  Stop the recording once it’s done and save it on your Mac.

See how straightforward it is? The other features of the Movavi Screen Capture Studio for Mac are just as easy to use, and you’ll be able to enhance the quality of your videos, cut and combine video segments, insert customizable text, add audio tracks, use stylish transitions, and much more too.


Essentially the Movavi Screen Capture Studio for Mac will give you all the tools that you need to not only record streaming videos and save them onto your Mac, but also to improve them and edit them so that they look exactly the way that you want them to.


Due to the fact that the software is so intuitive, it shouldn’t take you long to start to record streaming video on Mac. Once you do that, you’ll find that all its other features fall into place just as easily too and in no time you’ll be able to create professional-looking videos of your very own.

Apple Releases First Arabic Version of Siri

Apple Siri assistant is quite popular among the Apple consumer due to its simplicity and productivity. Over the years, Apple has increased the support languages in Siri for various markets in order to make the device much more personal. Siri came with the English speaking capabilities, which were later enhanced by bringing more languages. Now Apple has finally released the Arabic version for Siri for its Arabic users residing in the parts of Middle East. Apple is targeting the rich user base of 30 million people residing in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with its release of Arabic language support.

This move on the part of Apple latest update in the capabilities of Siri will allow the users in these countries to use Siri especially in their native tongue with ease and grace. This will open the way to use and interact with plethora of Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Apple Watch very much simpler and easier in the Arabic language. Apple isn’t the first to bring such functionalities and support for Arabic language as it was Google which brought the voice search functionality on Android devices with the use of Arabic language support.

Apple set to conquer Middle East market

Apple has commendable and strong brand awareness in the Middles East and most particularly among the affluent consumers. The Smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa have seen a surge of 66% in the first quarter of 2015. Recently Apple has opened two retail stores in UAE amid huge fan fare and media frenzy.

The recent growth in the Smartphone has shown a like for the phones costing less than $200 in which majority of the Android phones are dominant. On the other hand, Apple’s iPhone is priced quite and still manages to get 17% of market share in Middle East, which is quite commendable.

Apple sales to rise with Arabic language support

Consumer will be receptive to the Apple software as well as it products with the availability of Siri in Arabic. Siri in Arabic will play a detrimental role in the reception as well as adoption of the Apple products on a wider scale in this region. It should be noted that such devices are becoming more and more personal and consumers want to feel that the device is designed for them.

Apple has gradually strengthened its digital assistant Siri by carefully increasing its support for languages, which now stand at 18 languages, which are spoken in 31 countries. Apple Siri’s Arabic support is especially designed in the dialect of the UAE and Saudi Arabia but even the other Arabic speaker will be able to make use of it but in a much comprehensive manner.

Arabic language is quite challenging for the tech companies as it varies strongly from one region to another. Apple has a huge task ahead of it for making Siri available in various Arabic variations in order to provide a wholesome experience to all the Arabic consumers.

iOS 9.2 Update Targets Apple Music Improvements, Bug Fixes

Apple has released a new software update for all its devices ranging from iPhone, iPad to iPod touch. This software update brings some great features and removal of a number of bugs, which has undermined the ultimate use of the Apple devices. This iOS 9.2 update majorly concentrates on bringing some incredible improvement to Apple Music and Apple News as well as other minor changes and improvements in variety of OS features. Apple users can easily download this update by going to their Setting followed by clicking on General and giving a click on Software Update.

Improvements made to Apple Music

A number of users had complained about the inability to create new playlists and other small glitches in the Apple Music in the past. Now Apple has brought some considerable improvements to its Apple Music with this software update. Users can now create new playlist when adding a song to the playlist. Recently changes playlist will now list at the top when adding new songs to the playlists. Download indicator will be placed to next to each song in the My Music and Playlist to show which songs have been downloaded recently. Users can download albums and playlist from their iCloud Music Library just by tapping on the iCloud download button.

New features brought in this update

A new Top Stories is integrated in the News section to keep the users up to date with all important news. Mail Drop features is brought in Mail, which will help in sending large attachments with ease. iBooks get the support for 3D touch and listening to an audiobook while browsing or reading other books. iPhone gets support for the USB Camera adapter which will allow users to import photos and videos with ease and simplicity.

Improvement in Accessibility

VoiceOver issues when using Camera face detection, issues related with Guided Access when trying to end phone calls and speech rate of Speak Screen were fixed in this update. Apple has improved the functionality for the Switch Control users while using the 3D Touch feature. Apple has brought the Siri support for Arabic language for the users residing in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Other smaller software updates released for Apple device ecosystem

Apple has also released some smaller but commendable updates for its Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac OS X operating system. The Apple Watch will be updated to latest watchOS 2.0, which brings new improved language support along with a number of bug fixes. Apple TV users can find the software update in the Setting channel. The tvOS 9.1 updates bring the support for the Apple’s Remote app, which will transform any iPhone or iPad as a remote for controlling Apple TV.

The OS X10.11.2 update focuses on bringing better stability, compatibility as well as security for the Mac and Macbook devices. This update brings minor bug fixes along with the improvement in the Wi-Fi, Handoff and Airdrop reliability of the Mac devices.

Tiny Robots Inspired by Pine Cones

Future of Bio-inspired Robotics Lesson Learned from Plants

According to a group of Seoul National University researchers, the future of bio-inspired engineering or robotics would be greatly beneficial from lesson learned from plants. At the time of the 68th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, of American Physical Society held on Nov 22-24, 2015, in Boston, they shared details regarding how studying plants enabled them to develop tiny robots powered solely through changes in humidity.

The simplicity of the method by which the pine cones as well as seeds tend to respond to changes in an environmental humidity with motion, is the focus of work of the group. Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University, Ho-Young Kim has explained that some seeds comprise of a head which contains all its genetic information together with a long appendage known as `awn’ which is responsible for locomotion like an animals’ sperm.

Awns are composed of two layers of tissue, one that swells with humidity – active, and the other that is insensitive to humidity changes – inactive. If the humidity in the environment tends to increase, the bilayer bends from changes in length-wise swelling. The bilayer tends to bend and unbend repeatedly due to periodic humidity changes which mean that changes in environmental humidity could be converted to mechanical work. Kim states that we imitate the bilayer structure in making an actuator which can generate motion on utilising environmental humidity changes.

Legs Attached to Actuator Known as `Ratchets’

Plants tend to move slowly, one cycle of bending and unbending could take a whole day. In order to increase the response speed of bilayer, it was essential to develop a new way of fabricating the active layer. The response speed tends to increase with the surface-area-to-volume ration of the layer since humidity is absorbed quickly and so active nanoscale fibres are deposited onto an inactive layer.

While the main step in the development of a robot, repeated bending as well as unbending does not produce net locomotion, Kim states that `this motion of cycle needs to be converted into directional motion in order to create a robot which moves.

Hence legs were attached to the actuator which enables only one-directional locomotion and the legs are called `ratchets’, and are combined with an actuator to build the bio-inspired robot’. The work of the group seems to be significant since it tends to open the door for tiny robots with the potential of locomotion based mainly on changes in environmental humidity, where no electrical power supplies seems to be involved.


One can imagine a robot operating in the field where no electricity is available, since they operate on changes in humidity levels just the way seeds do. Kim states that making a bilayer for the robots is not difficult but making a fast one needs technical expertise.

The group had also created a mathematical model to discover the optimum design for the robot in achieving the fastest speed for any given robot size. The reason for envisaging a bright future for humidity change-powered micro robots by the groups was because humidity changes seem to be all around us. Kim pointed out that for the group’s future plans, human skin seems to be more humid than the atmosphere and this is the main humidity gradient which was essential to tap into.

The team would be exploring the option of placing a tiny robot on human skin directly, one which bends due to its humid near skin. He commented that the concept is that on bending, some part of the robot would move away from the skin to meet with the dry atmospheric air. When it dries, the robot would return to an upright position near the skin and the cycle begins again with the robot continuing to move based on the skin’s humidity changes.