Apple Updates Official WWDC App With New Look, Apple TV Compatibility
Ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference, set to kick off on June 13, Apple has updated its official WWDC app with a new look and a new version that works on the fourth-generation Apple TV. The update also adds support for live streaming on iOS and tvOS and adds multitasking support on compatible iPads.
A tvOS version of this app is now available, so you can stream and download videos from WWDC 2016 and previous conferences on Apple TV. This update supports live streaming on iOS and tvOS. It also supports multitasking on iOS 9 on iPad.
The WWDC app is designed to be used by both conference attendees and developers who were not able to obtain tickets for the event. In addition to providing on-site tools for viewing start times for labs, sessions, and events, the app also offers the ability to watch live streaming sessions with Apple engineers.
With the new tvOS version of the WWDC app, developers who are not attending the San Francisco conference will be able to virtually attend sessions through their television screens.
Apple has also released a schedule of sessions that will take place during the conference, many with humorous names to conceal information that won’t be available until iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 are unveiled at the keynote event.
The Worldwide Developers Conference starts on June 13 with a keynote that will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Apple will likely live stream the keynote on both its website and on the Apple TV, and MacRumors will also provide live coverage on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Apple’s WWDC app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
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Nest Co-Founder Tony Fadell Leaving the Company
Tony Fadell, widely known as the “father” of the iPod and the creator of the Nest Learning Thermostat, today announced he is leaving Nest and Nest parent company Alphabet.
Fadell, Nest’s founder, has been with Google since it acquired Nest for $3.2 billion in 2014 and has worked on projects like Google Glass in addition to continuing to run Nest Labs.
In a blog post, Fadell says he has decided the time is right to “leave the Nest,” a decision that was originally made late last year. Fadell will not be present for day to day activities at Nest, but he plans to remain involved with the company as an advisor to Alphabet and Larry Page.
While there is never a perfect time to transition, we’ve grown Nest to much more than a thermostat company. We’ve created a hardware + software + services ecosystem, which is still in the early growth stage and will continue to evolve to move further into the mainstream over the coming years. The future of Nest is equally as bright given the strong and experienced leadership team in place, as well as the two-year product roadmap we’ve developed together to ensure the right future direction. […]
I will miss this company and my Nest family (although I’ll be around to provide advice and guidance and help the team with the transition), but I am excited about what’s coming next, both for Nest and for me.
Fadell says his new role as advisor will provide him with “time and flexibility” to pursue new opportunities and “create and disrupt other industries.” He’s leaving Nest with a two-year roadmap in place and Marwan Fawaz, a former Motorola executive, will be joining Nest as CEO.
According to Bloomberg, Fadell’s departure follows some recent issues at Nest, including a long length of time between product releases and software issues with the Nest Protect smoke detector that led to a recall.
In recent months, Nest employees complained publicly about Fadell’s management, while claiming the business had missed sales targets, botched upgrades and delayed future products
Tony Fadell, in addition to being known for his work at Nest Labs, is credited as one of the original creators of the iPod, heading up the project as senior vice president of the iPod division from 2006 to 2008. Fadell started at Apple in 2001 and helped to produce early versions of Apple’s iconic music player.
Tags: Nest, Google, Tony Fadell
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7 settings new iPad owners should change right now – CNET
Meet the Settings menu. It’s your new best friend.
New iPad? It’s a pretty easy device to use, but certain aspects can be confusing. For example, if you also have an iPhone, don’t be surprised if your new tablet suddenly starts ringing the next time you get a phone call.
That’s a feature, not a flaw, but you may prefer to keep your calls away from your iPad. So consider changing that setting, along with these X others:
1. Disable phone calls
Sure, it might prove handy to answer a phone call on your iPad, especially if your iPhone is charging in the other room. On the other hand, who wants that kind of interruption when you’re watching a video, playing a game or whatever?
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
Fortunately, it’s very easy to disable this feature: Go to Settings > FaceTime and tap the toggle switch to turn off Calls from iPhone.
2. Enable Find My iPad
iPads don’t tend to go missing as often as iPhones, but loss and theft can happen. That’s why it’s essential to make sure the Find My iPad option is enabled. By default it should be, but check anyway — and then make sure you know the finer points of using the feature.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
For starters, go to Settings > iCloud, then scroll down to Find My iPad. If it’s not already set to On, tap the setting and then switch the toggle. At the same time, consider enabling Send Last Location, which will automatically transmit (to iCloud) the iPad’s current location when its battery is critically low.
So, how do you actually locate your missing iPad? If you have an iPhone, you can use the Find My iPhone app. Alternately, if you have access to a PC, sign into your iCloud.com account, then access Find My iPhone from there. Both methods have one limitation: Your iPad must be online in order to share its location, play a sound, enter Lost Mode or get remotely erased. So try your best to lose your tablet while the battery’s still charged.
3. Add more fingers to Touch ID
All newer iPads incorporate Touch ID, the fingerprint sensor that makes for fast and easy lock-screen security. And when you first set up your tablet, you probably trained Touch ID to recognize one of your fingers.
Just one problem: Sometimes you want to use other fingers. Like, say, the thumb on your other hand, or an index finger when the tablet is laying on a table.
Fortunately, iOS can accommodate up to five fingers. All you have to do is train it to recognize more. To do so, tap Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, then enter your numeric passcode. Now tap Add a Fingerprint and follow the prompts. Repeat the process for any additional fingers you want to add.
4. Use the numeric battery gauge
Want to know exactly how much battery life is left? By default, your iPad shows you only a small gauge — not super informative.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Here’s the fix: Tap Settings > Battery, then turn on Battery Percentage. Presto! Now you’ve got a numeric reading alongside your battery icon.
5. Tweak the size of text
iPads have big screens, so why not make text easier to read? You can do that by adjusting the size of the system font.
Here’s how: Tap Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size. Then drag the slider a few ticks to the right until you’re happy with the size. Needless to say, you can also decrease the font size by dragging in the other direction. Whatever works best for your eyeballs!
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
As noted on that settings page, this change will affect only those apps that support Dynamic Type (meaning stock iOS apps and a smattering of others). You can also improve readability by tapping Settings > General > Accessibility and enabling the Bold Text option.
6. Add more apps to the dock
If you’re an iPhone user, you know that you can “pin” up to four apps to the bottom of the screen — the dock — where they remain visible as you swipe through your app pages. Out of the box, the iPad works in a similar way, with four omnipresent apps down there.
What’s this? Six apps on the iPad dock? Yep, it can be done.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
But guess what? The iPad dock actually has room for six apps. Just tap and hold an icon until all the icons start to dance, then drag that icon down to the dock and release. If you want, drag another app to the dock. Press the Home button when you’re done.
7. Customize the Today display
When you swipe down from the top of the screen (starting just above the top), you gain immediate access to the iOS Notification Center, where you can read, review and dismiss notifications you’ve received.
You can also tap Today for quick access to information from a wide assortment of apps. Here’s how to choose what information you’ll see — and the order it’ll appear in:
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Swipe down, tap Today, scroll down to the bottom and tap Edit. The items at the top are already selected for the Today screen. All the items below that are available to add. Just tap the green plus sign next to the ones you want.
To change the order in which they appear, tap and drag one of the “handles” (represented by three horizontal lines) and drop it in the desired spot. Then tap Done. Now you’ll see the Today screen with all the items you enabled and in the order you put them. Tap Edit again if you want to make further changes.
And that’s it! Now it’s your turn: hit the comments and list any iPad setting changes you consider essential.
9 genius ways to open a beer bottle – CNET
Taylor Martin/CNET
So you’ve gone camping and planned to drink a few beers with your friends over the weekend. Or maybe you grabbed a bottle of cold brew coffee on your way to work. Either way, what do you do when you’re ready to drink and you realize you don’t have a bottle opener?
Not having a bottle opener may be a party foul, but it isn’t the end of the world. There are plenty of things around you right now that you can use to open a bottle.
Here’s how to get that stubborn cap off when you don’t have an opener on hand.
Removing a cap without a bottle opener
For starters, there is no standard shape or size to a bottle opener. The bottle openers you see in bars often come with large handles for quick opening, but you also see tiny openers built into keychains for convenience. Just remember, when trying to open a bottle, your best friend is leverage.
So long as you have something nearby that is sturdy (most likely metal), you can easily grip and has an edge to it, you can probably use it to remove the cap from your bottle. Just place the edge of the object under the lip of the crown cap and pry away slowly. It’s almost always going to take more time and effort than a device that was designed specifically to open bottles, but it’s not rocket science. Work your way around the cap as you pry, and the cap will eventually release.
Household items that work
Around the house, you can find several objects that will work for opening a glass bottle. Here are some tried and true methods that work really well:
- A house key will certainly work. It’s typically thin enough to place under the lip of the crown cap, but it works best if you leave it on your key chain, as the other items attached to your keys will give you more to grip. You will have to work at it for a minute, but the cap will come lose.
- Scissors are usually made of steel and come with handles, which provides grip and leverage. But they’re also sharpened, so be careful not to cut or slice your finger as you pry the cap off the bottle.
- If you’re at someone’s house, chances are there is at least one spoon around. It may take some practicing to get the grip just right. Try gripping the neck of the bottle (as close to the cap as you can get) with your non-dominant hand. Position the spoon under the lip of the cap and, using the base of your thumb as leverage, pry the cap loose.
- A fork also works pretty well. It’s usually easier to get it inside the grooves of the cap, and you can pry it loose with less force by using an individual prong of the fork.
- The very tip of a butter knife can be used to bend just a small section of the cap away from the bottle. Then position the tip of the knife under the lip, so that it’s between the cap and the glass rim. In a careful and swift motion, tap the handle of the knife on the counter to pop off the cap.
- A flathead screwdriver works just as well with the same general instructions. Position the screwdriver head underneath the lip of the cap and use the leverage to pry it loose. You can also tap the handle of the screwdriver on a countertop to pop the lid off.
- Smartphone and tablet chargers have been used to open bottles, as well. Position one of the two prongs from the wall plug end under the cap and pry upwards. This method will take more work than others, but who doesn’t always have a charger on them?
- A MacBook or iPad charger can be used very much like an actual bottle opener. The circular crown that holds the two-prong adapter or extension cord in place is shaped in a way that it can be used to remove a cap. Just be careful, as the plastic has been known to crack, and it’s usually cheaper to just buy a bottle opener than to replace a charger. It’s probably a better idea to explore other options before resorting to this one.
- A claw hammer can also be used. Flip it upside down and position the claw end (now facing upwards) under the lip. Use the extra leverage to peel away the cap.
- Have a lighter? By gripping the bottle neck with your non-dominant hand and positioning it over your index finger knuckle and under the rim of the cap, you can use the leverage to easily remove the bottle cap. With some practice, you can send the cap flying using nothing but a lighter.
Poncho: Let this cute cat be your weatherman [Review]
Overview
In the world of weather apps, there are many to choose from. Many present you with every measurement that you could want and then some. There are also many that give you a minimum information for a quick reference. Poncho leans more towards the minimal side of the spectrum, but it’s how the information is presented that makes this app different.
Developer: Poncho Inc
Cost: Free
Review
Poncho was first developed as text and email-based weather service, but quickly realized they needed to develop an app since people were using it as an alarm of sorts. It first launched on iOS and became available as a beta application for Android during Google I/O. So what makes this one cool app? Let’s find out.
Poncho
First, Poncho is a cat weatherman. Yes, a cute little cat that will deliver your weather updates when you want them. He (not sure of the cat’s gender) allows you to set up what time you want the weather delivered to you in the morning, afternoon and once a day on the weekends. I have encountered one hiccup, though I haven’t received an afternoon one yet, not sure why.
There are a few different settings for your weather report. They include pollen count, barometer, and wind speed. There are some more neat little features like “Hair”, which lets you know if the weather will mess up your hair. Alternate side parking (which is only available in New York City currently) shows you where available parking is, and information on your public transit (if you’re in one of the supported cities). All these settings can be turned off if you wish.
Poncho then takes all your settings and creates a report for you which is delivered at the times you wish. You may also pull this report at any time by simply going in the app. He always has some silly Gif or picture with something clever. It also has the current temp, hourly forecast, five-day forecast, and anything else that you have turned on in your settings.
It also is packing a couple extra features. It comes with a built-in alarm clock that you can
Yes, that’s my referral code. Feel free to use it, wink wink.
set up for as many days of the week as you wish. They also have a free stuff section. That’s right, free. They offer sunglasses, water bottle, and a backpack. All you have to do is refer people. Five people get you the sunglasses, ten gets you the water bottle and fifteen lands you the backpack.
Conclusion
This app isn’t super loaded with tons of weather information, but it does give you a good overview of the day, in a cute way. One thing I think they are missing out on is a widget. This cat is too cute not to be able to have him on your screen giving you weather, so I think they do add that.
I also need to mention that it’s in open beta for now so you will need to opt in to get the app. I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention you can also use Poncho in Facebook Messenger just by giving him your town name or zip code. It’s fun, it’s free, and you get the chance to get free stuff so you have nothing to lose.
Join the Beta for Ponch
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Vimtag P1 Smart Cloud IP Camera: Step up your security and have peace of mind (Review)
Everyone is looking for more and more security in today’s world and home security is a big one. Lucky for us, we can get security cameras for our homes much cheaper than they once were, and they are much easier to install. Vimtag has quite a few options when it comes to IP Cloud cameras that can suit your needs. Today, we have Vimtag’s $130 P1 Smart Cloud IP Camera.
There are so many different areas this camera can be used for besides the obvious security. For example, baby monitoring. I can tell you from recent experience, shopping for a regular baby monitor can be expensive and the quality of the feed isn’t always great. But with the P1 Camera, you can get a quality feed plus once your baby doesn’t need a monitor it can be used for other things.
Set Up
Getting the Vimtag P1 setup is a simple process that it can’t really even be classified as a process. Plug in your new shiny camera and let it do its calibration. Note: If you are using Ethernet, there is an adapter that you need to plug in that comes in the box. You can set up the camera through either the app or the website; I chose the app. Once you’ve opened the app, you must create a username and password then log in.
After you’ve logged in, you are taken to what I call the hub. This is where all your Vimtag devices live. You click the add device button and a QR Code Scanner pops up. Scan the code on the bottom of your camera. Once that is complete, you will be given a QR Code on your phone to scan with the camera, and then wham bam thank you, ma’am, your camera is ready to rock and roll.
Review
I have played with lots of different kinds of tech devices over the years, and I can honestly say that this is one of the simplest products I have seen. Set up is a breeze and just basic monitoring is easy; of course, there are many setting for advanced monitoring. I have to make one tiny comment about the operation of the camera. While it is true that operation is simple, it’s not obvious how to make the camera move around. I went to the monitoring website to look for extra settings, and I scrolled over the feed while it was playing. I noticed arrows at each edge. That’s how I discovered how to maneuver the camera up, down, and a complete 360 degrees, which is awesome. I believe they should include that in the pamphlet that comes with it since some may not discover it on their own.
Let’s start off by discussing the camera feed. We all have seen convenience store videos where the video is choppy and grainy. It’s hard to make anything out. What’s even crazier is you know they spent a ton of money for the equipment and installation. The P1’s video is clear and has the ability to zoom in 4 times. The audio is equally clear, and it has the added feature to talk from the app or website through the camera to whoever is in the room.
There are a ton of settings that you can use to configure each camera. In fact, there are so 
many that I won’t be able to cover them all, but I will hit a few highlights. One big feature I like is being able to schedule recording. You can set up to four schedules for as long as you want and whatever days you want, or you can simply choose to record 24/7. For that, you will need extra storage which is discussed later.
Motion detection is one of my favorite features this device has. You have quite a few options when it comes to using this one. A quick snapshot can be taken and stored, or you can record what is happening when the camera detects motion. Alerts can also be set up so that you get a notification on your computer or phone when something trips the sensor. This is great to have when away from your house on vacation or just at the store. Make sure you use the notifications only when you’re away because if your camera is in a high traffic area, your phone will be going off every few seconds when people move.
The last thing is mounting your camera. It comes with a kit that allows you to mount it if you choose to do so. You can mount it with two simple screws which will give you free range of motion to record with. If you choose to mount your camera upside down, you go into the settings under Others and toggle the flip switch, or your feed will be upside down.
Other Features
- Multi User Support
- Night Vision
- 360 degree audio pickup
- SD Card support
S1 Cloud Box
I said we would discuss storage later and here it is…the bonus review. If you have one camera that you are only using for minimal recording or perhaps only doing snapshots of motion, then you probably don’t need extra storage as it will just save to your phone or an SD card in the camera itself. But if you are using the camera for a business or are really hardcore about your security, then you may want extra storage. That’s where the S1 Cloud Box comes into play. The S1 comes with 1TB of storage for $150 so you can record 24/7.
The S1 can handle four feeds at one time which means you can store for up to 60 days. You can retrieve the data from the box via the internet whenever you want. So make sure this item is tucked away out of site so any thieves can’t find it.
Setting this device up is just as simple as the camera, if not more simple. After you plug in the device and connect it to your router, you go into the Settings menu in the app and navigate to storage. Click the QR Code button and scan it with your phone, and just like that, it’s ready to go.
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Conclusion
The need for security is definitely much higher than it use to be. We don’t live in a Leave it to Beaver society where you can leave your doors unlocked and be fine. You need something to monitor your house while you’re gone. But if you’re not really worried about that, there are still other uses such as monitoring elderly loved ones or even keeping up with your dog while you’re away. No matter your reason, the Vimtag P1 Smart Cloud IP Camera and S1 Cloud Box are fantastic options for you.
*As of June 2 the P1 Smart Cloud IP Camera is on sale for $109.95*
- Vimtag Website
- Buy Vimtag P1 Smart Cloud IP Camera
- Buy S1 Cloud Box
- Download the app in the Play Store
[Review] Charge six devices at once with Choetech
Yeah that’s right, a sextuplet of devices. The Choetech multi-port USB charger has quickly become one of my most useful gadgets. It’s annoying to keep track of each devices’ individual cable and charger. While I haven’t been able to cut down on the amount of cables I have, I can now use the Choetech charger for most of my power needs.
Features
- Input: AC100-240V
- Total Maximum Output: 5V/10A
- Charging Port Output: 5V/10A (max)
- Dimension: 88.4 x 29 x 71.5mm / 3.4 x 1 x 2.8 inches
- Weight: 158g
Only two of the USB ports are USB 3.0; the rest are USB 2.0. Similar to the VoltIQ car charger I previously reviewed, the Choetech has an “auto detect” technology, which means that it automatically identifies the device you plug in and delivers the fastest possible charge for it. There’s also a circuit protection system, which is really neat. It shuts down in the case of overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating or short circuits. The charger comes with a 12-month warranty.
Oh, and did I mention that the two USB 3.0 ports are certified as Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0? I’ve used it for a while now and I haven’t come across any problems yet. I don’t have any phones that have quick charge technology, so I couldn’t test how fast it was.
The charger itself has a slim profile, and it’s smooth to the touch with a matte black plastic that almost feels like velvet rubber. With the amount of portable battery packs I’ve been sent to review, I tried to set up a “daisy chain” where I plugged Battery A into the charger, Battery B into Battery A, and both Battery C and my phone into the charger.
I didn’t test how long they were all able to charge because I was afraid of all that electrical power collapsing into a black hole, but suffice it to say that I think it would work. Also, while charging devices the Choetech does get slightly warm, but not so warm that you would start to worry.
Conclusion
I definitely recommend the Choetech charger for any person with a bunch of USB-powered gadgets. It works as great (and sometimes better) than the individual chargers that are sent with each device. You can buy the Choetech 6-port charger for about $20 on Amazon.
AIVAnet 