Jim Dalrymple has put together a special edition of The Loop Magazine focused completely on the Apple Watch.

Both Peter Cohen and I have pieces in it, as do many others. If you’re interested in the Apple Watch, and if you’re reading this, you likely are, you owe it to yourself to check out the issue. From The Loop

The latest issue of The Loop Magazine is available on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. I took a different approach with this issue, focusing entirely on Apple’s forthcoming Apple Watch. You can download the app free and preview each of the articles at no cost. You can purchase a monthly subscription, and get access to all issues for just $1.99 a month. You can also purchase a single issue for $1.99.

For more information, check out the table of contents or, better yet, just download the app and start reading.

• Free + subscription – Download now

Tim Cook isn’t just Apple’s CEO, he’s increasingly the company’s and the industry’s voice for inclusivity and equality.

As such, it should come as no surprise that Tim Cook has taken to Twitter to speak out on the potentially discriminatory new legislation being proposed and passed in Arkansa and Indiana.

Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana’s new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015

He also spoke about Apple’s commitment to treating customers equally, whoever they are.

Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015

Apple was one of the many companies that spoke out about similar legislation in Arizona in early 2014. That bill was eventually vetoed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Apple has also supported civil rights legislation on equal opportunity.

In response to repeated questions on how he decides what to do, both for Apple and himself, Cook and those that know him have stated simply that he tries to do what’s right.

Note: In an effort to reduce low-value comments, we’ve moved discussion for this article to the iMore forums.

Snapchat has partnered with Square to make sending secure cash payments to your friends just as easy as sending a photo.

To get started with Snapcash you’ll need to be 18 or older and have a US issued debit card. Once you link your debit card information to your Snapchat account, you’re ready to start sending and receiving Snapcash! Follow along and we’ll walk you through the entire process of how to link your information and how to make sure it stays secure.

How to sign up for Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

Before you can send Snapcash, you’ll have to link your debit card to your Snapchat account. You’ll only need to complete this process once:

1. Launch the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the ghost icon at the top of the screen.
3. Tap on the Settings icon.
4. Tap on Snapcash.
5. Tap on I Agree to continue.
6. Tap on Add Card and enter your card details.
7. We recommend turning ON the option for security code so all Snapcash transactions will require the 3-digit code off the back of your debit card before going through.
8. You’re ready to start sending and receiving Snapcash!

How to send Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

1. Swipe right from the main Snapchat screen to access your private Snapchat list.
2. Swipe right on the person’s name you want to send Snapcash to. If you don’t have a thread already started with them, just tap on the message icon in the upper left and search for them.
3. Type the amount of Snapcash you’d like to send in the message field. For example, type in “$5″.
4. The send button instantly turns into a Snapcash button. Tap on it and the Snapcash will embed into your message.
5. Type anything additional you’d like to tell the person and then tap Send at the bottom of your keyboard to send the message.
6. A popup window will appear asking you to confirm you really want to send Snapcash to that person.
7. Enter the CVV code from the back of your card. It’s the 3-digit number we talked about in the first section.
8. You’re done! The other person will get a message that Snapcash is waiting for them.

How to receive Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

1. Launch the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the messages icon in the lower left of the screen, or just swipe right.
3. Swipe right on the message containing your Snapcash, it’s indicated by a green dollar sign icon.
4. Tap where it tells you to in order to receive your money.
5. If you haven’t already linked a debit card like shown in the above section, you’ll be prompted to do so.
6. Once you’ve linked your debit card, your Snapcash will go into your account within a few days.

Do the same things over and over again on your Mac? Apple’s Automator can help.

If you’ve ever taken stock of the factory-installed apps included on your Mac, you’ve probably seen Automator but you may have never used it. What exactly is Automator and what can it do?

That’s the subject of a new How To at Macworld UK from Kenny Hemphill.

Automator’s name is pretty self-explanatory. It helps Mac users create workflows to automate tasks. If there’s something you do over and over again that you’d like to just have happen, Automator can really help.

Workflows are often described as ‘recipes’ and with good reason. Like recipes for food, they take a defined list of inputs (the ingredients), perform a series of actions on them (the preparation and cooking) and then distribute the results.

The best part of Automator is that you don’t have to be a programmer or even a scripting expert to make it work: It uses a graphical interface and drag-and-drop actions to create workflows.

Automator works with a variety of applications — not just Apple-made stuff but also Adobe Photoshop and other popular third-party apps.

Kenny has much more on Automator workflows, including a guide to creating really useful ones.

BlackBerry Blend is without a doubt one of my favorite additions that came with BlackBerry 10.3 and up but to be honest I’ve been bit miffed at the fact it hasn’t gotten any real love since release. The last update to the desktop apps was back in December I believe and since then they’ve remained untouched despite some pretty obvious and annoying bugs.

Don’t get me wrong, I still use BlackBerry Blend EVERY SINGLE DAY and I think it’s the best thing since sliced bread plus, the device apps have been updated more frequently, but it needs some love in a bad way. Thankfully, someone at BlackBerry spotted that fact as well and now, there’s a new beta available with invites being sent out as you’re reading this.

The changelog and known issues list isn’t huge but at this point any update to the desktop versions of BlackBerry Blend is appreciated.

Read More »

Amazon currently has a pretty good deal going on the recently-released CarPlay-sporting Pioneer AVH-4100NEX — dropping the price of the unit to just $569.95.

While the unit carries an MSRP of $700, Amazon’s deal marks it down from its previous list price of $849.99. While it’s still a tad expensive, the discount makes it a bit easier to get some CarPlay into your vehicle.

In case you’re unfamiliar with CarPlay, all you need to do is connect an iPhone 5 or later to the head unit and CarPlay will take over, allowing you to control everything from navigation to music and phone calls right from the screen in your dash.

The AVH-4100NEX unit that Amazon is offering up at a discount is the cheapest model of the bunch, but it still represents a pretty good deal, with the only major difference between it and the top-end AVIC-8100NEX model being that the former sports a resistive display compared the the latter’s capacitive.

In any event, if you’d like to hop on this deal, you can snag a unit for yourself from the source link below.

Source: Amazon

An already busy day has just got a little bit busier. BlackBerry OS 10.3.1.2708 has now started rolling out for multiple devices on several Canadian carriers such Rogers, TELUS and Koodo. If that’s not enough, the links for the OS have also gone live as well and are now available in the CrackBerry Forums, allowing anyone who is familiar with autoloaders and Sachesi to update their device to OS 10.3.1.2708 as well.

Read More »

This BlackBerry Classic hybrid case provides serious protection against drops and scratches while sporting a built-in kickstand that can be used for watching movies, slideshows and more. The inner-most layer is made of a shock absorbing silicone that sits underneath a thick plastic exterior.

Made from multiple thermoacrylics, this Galaxy S5 skin case is highly elastic and resistant to oils. Say goodbye to annoying fingerprints! The back features a matte finish with a glossy edging that enhances the grip around your device. Colors include black, white and clear

Epic Wars is a Windows Phone game that has you seeking planetary domination one gaming level at a time. The game will test your skills at strategy and reaction as you send your troops to invade and occupy neighboring planets.

Graphics are very minimal, game play has a bit of a zippy pace and Epic Wars comes across as an entertaining Windows Phone gaming title. Epic Wars is available for low-memory Windows Phones and may only be held back by the number of levels the current version holds.