Twitter App Gets World Cup ‘Timelines’ in New Update [iOS Blog]
Twitter has updated its iOS app with a feature called “World Cup Timelines”, which allows users to see relevant tweets about all the games during the month-long 2014 FIFA World Cup.
New for World Cup:
The World Cup Timeline is where all the action happens. In addition to Tweets from your network, you will see relevant Tweets from teams, players, coaches, press, venues, and celebs.
Are you watching the match? Follow it on Twitter and take a peek behind the scenes. See Tweets about the match from teams, players, coaches, press, venues, and celebs from inside and outside the stadium.
The new features mirror changes Twitter has made to its web interface, which allow users to follow Twitter timelines for specific games featuring tweets by relevant fans, journalists, analysts and more. A couple days ago, Twitter also re-introduced “Hashflags”, which automatically insert flags from the countries participating in the World Cup when certain hashtags, like “#BRA” for Brazil, are used.
Twitter is also planning to roll out Timelines for individual teams, including lists of each countries’ players and match scorecards that update scores live.
Twitter is a free universal app that’s available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Facebook Updates Messaging App with 15-Second Videos, ‘Big Likes’ [iOS Blog]
Facebook has updated its popular Facebook Messenger app with 15-second videos and “big likes”, adding more ways for users to interact with their friends.
What’s New
Instant Video Sending: Shoot and play 15-second video messages from the camera right in the appBig Likes: Press and hold to send an even bigger thumbs up when you really, really like something.
Easy video sharing has been a popular new feature for messaging apps, with Snapchat getting updated with live video in May and Facebook-owned WhatsApp planning to add video calling. At WWDC, Apple announced that its Messages app would be receiving in-line video messages in iOS 8. However, Facebook Messenger’s Instant Video feature is more similar to Apple’s implementation of video rather than Snapchat or WhatsApp.
Facebook Messenger is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Apple Introduces New ‘Browse by Category’ Collection in App Store [iOS Blog]
Apple has introduced a new “Browse by Category” section in the featured section of both the desktop and iOS App Store, allowing users to easily browse the store via categories in a more visually appealing way than before. Previously, users had to click on “Categories” in the upper-left corner of the App Store and choose from a drop-down list.
The new collection is yet another move by Apple to increase the discoverability of apps in the App Store. For instance, searches in the App Store were altered to compensate for misspellings, making it easier for users to find what they could be looking for. At WWDC, the company also announced that the App Store would be getting a new “Explore” tab, trending searches and related searches in iOS 8.
Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab S With Super AMOLED Display, Multi-User Fingerprint Sensor
Samsung today introduced a new version of its Galaxy Tab, the Galaxy Tab S, at an event in New York entitled “Tab Into Color.” Available in both 8.4 and 10.5-inch sizes, the Galaxy Tab S includes a high-resolution (2560 x 1600) Super AMOLED display. According to Samsung, the Tab S’s display has a more accurate color range, better contrast, and higher outdoor visibility than an LCD display.
Billed as the company’s new flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S is Samsung’s “best tablet yet,” according to the company, and also its thinnest and lightest at 6.6mm. “Tab S is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go, and to give it a more premium look, we trimmed it in gold to give it an aura of luxury,” said Michael Abary, senior VP of marketing for Samsung Electronics America.
Along with a built-in fingerprint sensor, the Galaxy Tab S includes a “Sidesync” feature that mirrors one of the Handoff features that Apple announced with iOS 8. Sidesync allows the Galaxy Tab S to answer phone calls routed through a Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone if both devices are on the same WiFi network. The Tab S is also able to remotely access a PC and multiple Tab S tablets in the same room can connect with one another.
Samsung’s fingerprint sensor allows multiple users to share a tablet, accommodating up to eight different users. A fingerprint scan loads different users based on fingerprint, and also integrates with a new Kids Mode, allowing children unable to enter a password to unlock the Galaxy Tab S using a finger.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S will run Android 4.4 (KitKat) and with its efficient display, it offers 11 hours of battery life. It will come pre-loaded with a slew of apps like Papergarden, an interactive magazine viewer, and the Galaxy Gifts widget, which will provide various offers like 90 days of free Google Music. Accessories for the Tab S include a Book Cover with multiple viewing angles and a bluetooth keyboard.
Available in brown and white, the WiFi versions of the tablets will be available in the U.S. in July, with LTE versions following shortly thereafter. The 10.5-inch version will retail for $499, while the 8.4-inch version will retail for $399, pricing on par with Apple’s iPad lineup.
Apple is said to be working new versions of the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini, but those are not expected to launch until the fall. The tablets are expected to include an A8 processor, an upgraded camera, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
App Store and iTunes Store Currently Down for Some Users
Apple’s iTunes Store and App Store appear to be down for many users on both iOS devices and desktops, with attempts to access the stores resulting in one of several error messages such as “Cannot Connect to App Store” and “The item you’ve requested is not currently available in the U.S. store.”
Issues seem to have begun this morning, as several users noted an inability to download the Skype app following its release. Some users attempting to download the app received a message indicating the app was no longer available for download.
The iTunes Store does not appear to be loading content for affected users, with the Music, Movies, TV Shows Books, App Store, and Podcasts section of iTunes all giving error messages. Search remains functional on the desktop, however.
For the App Store, some users are having trouble loading multiple sections, including Featured, Top Charts, and Near Me, while other users are able to access certain sections like Top Charts. The Purchased and Update tabs appear functional, with the Purchased tab able to download apps. Search is down on the App Store on iOS devices.
The Apple TV also appears to be experiencing issues, with the Movies and TV sections missing and inaccessible.
Apple’s System Status page is not currently reporting any outages.
iPod Father Tony Fadell ‘Would Have Loved’ to Show Nest to Steve Jobs
Nest creator Tony Fadell, who formerly worked at Apple before starting Nest Labs and launching both a connected thermostat and smoke detector, has shared some details on both his experience at Apple and his encounters with Steve Jobs in a lengthy profile and interview with Fortune.
Dubbed one of the “fathers of the iPod,” Fadell started at Apple in 2001, moving on to become SVP of the company’s iPod division from 2006 to 2008, where he helped produce early versions of the music player. Fadell clashed with Jobs and other executives at times, and says he had to “repeatedly quit” to get his way at the company.
One time, after key members of his iPod team had been raided for another Apple project, Fadell informed Jobs he was done, and the CEO asked him to stay, telling Fadell he was overreacting. “I said, ‘I’m not overreacting.’ I told him I was out. If you didn’t stand up for yourself, no one else would.” (Fadell says he recanted at least two resignations, having gotten his way each time.)
Jobs and Fadell reportedly had a relationship that “alternated between the father/son and school principal/naughty student archetypes.” Fadell often argued with Jobs, who thought Fadell “asked too many questions,” which would frustrate him. Fadell left Apple after marrying Danielle Lambert, a human resources executive who worked as a “super-key” recruiter.
Fadell, who launched a stealth startup in home automation in 2010 that eventually lead to the ultra popular Nest, says that he wishes he had been able to tell Jobs about Nest. While they spoke about Fadell’s startup, Jobs was very ill when the Nest was ready to launch.
By the time Fadell was ready to share more in the summer of 2011, however, Jobs had grown gravely ill, and he died several weeks later. “I would have loved to have been able to show it to him, but the timing didn’t work,” he says. Jobs presumably would have been proud of Fadell. And he almost certainly would have asked a lot of questions.
Nest went on to be acquired by Google in January of 2014, in a deal that netted the company $3.2 billion. Though now a Google employee, Fadell continues to operate Nest independently, budgeting one day a week to visit Google and learn how it can help Nest in the long run.
The full profile of Tony Fadell, which includes more information on his history, the development of Nest, and his time at Apple, can be read over at Fortune.
iPhone-Connected Vessyl Smart Cup Tracks Drinking Habits [iOS Blog]
Vessyl, a smart cup designed by Yves Behar, is designed to measure and track any drink poured into it in real-time. Using sensors, Vessyl is able to detect drinks that are poured in to it, from water and soda to homemade smoothies, alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and more.
When a drink is poured into Vessyl, an accompanying iPhone app displays all of the relevant nutritional information about the drink. Vessyl is able to track many pre-bottled drinks, but it is also able to determine the nutritional content of handmade beverages, such as smoothies or mixed drinks. The Verge was able to test Vessyl and has a detailed piece on the cup, including notes on its accuracy.
Let’s cut to the chase: while I only had an hour with a Vessyl prototype, I tried nearly a dozen beverages in it — and it successfully identified all of them. Within 10 seconds, the device, which currently resembles more of a Thermos than a finished product, recognized Crush orange soda, Vitamin Water XXX, Tropicana orange juice, Gatorade Cool Blue, plain-old water, and a few other beverages, all by name. Yes, this cup knows the difference between Gatorade Cool Blue and Glacier Freeze.
Vessyl can tell the difference between strong and weak coffee, Lee says, noting caffeine disparities. It can even measure the sugar, protein, calories, fat, and caffeine inside any beverage you pour into it, mass-produced or homemade.
Along with displaying nutritional information, Vessyl also keeps track of what a user drinks during the day, tallying statistics like calories consumed, caffeine levels, hydration, and more. Users can set goals within the app, tracking all of these metrics and more. Vessyl also tracks and estimates a person’s real-time hydration needs based on how much they drink, which is measured through the liquid level in the cup.
Vessyl, which holds 13 ounces of liquid, has a built-in display, a spill-proof lid, and a non-stick interior. It connects to an iPhone using Bluetooth 4.0 to upload nutrient data to its accompanying iPhone app, which also integrates with popular activity trackers. The cup lasts for five to seven days on a single charge and uses wireless charging.
Vessyl can be pre-ordered for $99, but will later retail for $199. It is available in three different colors (Shadow, Snow, and Steam) along with several accent lid colors.
Redesigned Skype 5.0 for iPhone Launching Today
Microsoft announced earlier this week that it was close to releasing a new version of its Skype for iOS app with a streamlined design and improved performance. Arriving as projected, the new Skype 5.0 for iPhone is rolling out now in the iOS App Store. Some users are reporting seeing the update in their App Store “Update” pane but are unable to download, so users should be patient as it propagates.
Skype 5.0 focuses on making conversations easier with a refined group chat feature that can be launched from the main hub and a revised notification system that works across Skype platforms including the iPhone, PC and Xbox.
We’re excited for you to see how the new app has been redesigned to put your conversations first, providing you with a smoother, leaner and more integrated experience. Skype for iPhone is up to five times faster and it is also more stable and more reliable. Navigating through the new UI is easier and more fluid. Whether it’s creating a group chat, sending a photo or starting a video call, the new Skype for iPhone has been rethought to be simple and intuitive.
What’s New in Version 5.0
– Overall performance improvements – faster start up and fluid animations.
– A new modern hub centric design putting recent conversations first – just swipe to see your favourite people or contacts.
– Richer and more reliable messaging: create groups, share photos (even to offline contacts) and video messages.
– In-app notifications for quick conversation switching, and in-app controls to manage notifications.
– A new simplified, modern voice and video calling experience.
Skype for iPhone is available for free from the iOS App Store. [Direct Link: iPhone]. An updated 5.0 version of Skype for the iPad is still under development.
Powerbeats2 are Beats by Dre’s first wireless earbuds
There may have been some big changes at Beats recently, but it’s still all about the headphones. The newest addition to the (ever growing) family is the Powerbeats². As the name suggests, they are a revision of the original sport-friendly buds from Beats, but this time they’re wireless — Beats’ first in-ears to cut the cord. The Powerbeats² keep the (albeit modified) hook-over-the-ear design, but liberate heads from handsets via Bluetooth 4.0. Beats says you’ll get six hours of playback from a full charge, but should they be low on juice when you fish them out of your kit bag, the company claims a 15 minute pre-gym charge will see you good for a one-hour workout. If keeping up with LeBron (who “inspired” the Powerbeats²) makes you work up a bit of a sweat, then their IPX4 water resistance should keep them in good condition.
The Powerbeats² come with one vital feature that anyone who’s used Bluetooth headphones for any amount of time will know is essential. They have an LED that tells you when power is low. There’s nothing more disheartening than having the music fade on you barely minutes in to your workout. In fact, the Powerbeats² tells you when it thinks there’s less than an hour of playtime to go, and ramps this warning up when battery life could be below 15 minutes.
We had a pair of the Powerbeats² land in the Engadget office this morning, so had a real quick chance to check them out. An accusation often levelled at Beats headphones is that they are too heavy on the bass. The first thing I noticed about the Powerbeats² is actually how prominent they are on the mid-highs, perhaps a little too prominent — if you have the volume jacked right up like I did. Set at a more reasonable level though, while listening to electronic music, I noticed synth stabs and vocals in particular seemed to cut through a lot more than the low end frequencies, and this is music with a lot of low end. This was a trend we found with the new Solo² on-ears, too. So one thing’s for sure, Beats is clearly working to move on from the bass-is-best approach of earlier models.
If you’ve never used earbuds with fastening hooks before, you might be concerned that you don’t get the fit that you may be used to with regular in-ears. It’s a legitimate worry that the hooks might prevent the buds from sitting tight in your ear, and thus not giving the full “lock” that they need to provide the best audio experience. The Powerbeats² thankfully has adjustable, bendable sections within the part that goes over your ear. This means you can set them up just right for your particular lug-holes, and get the sound piped in without that dreaded “loose” feeling.
Despite being “wireless,” there is a cable running between the two buds. This sits comfortably on the back of the neck and even has a widget to let you adjust the amount of slack. It also keep the Powerbeats² from ever parting company with each other of course. The lack of long cable does mean that the remote/control buttons sit quite high up by your left ear, but that’s something you will probably get used to with regular use. It’s certainly a small trade-off if you’re not a fan of wingtips like Beats’ Tour model, or Jaybird’s BlueBuds. You might also be wondering if there’s support for aptX, we were told there isn’t, which is a real shame given the asking price (below).
The Powerbeats² launch in Beats’ signature colors — red, white and black — but cost $199, (whichever hue you go for) when they launch later this month.
Starbucks to Roll Out 100,000 Wireless Smartphone Chargers at 7,500 U.S. Stores [iOS Blog]
Starbucks, in collaboration with Duracell, has announced that it will begin rolling out more than 100,000 Duracell Powermat wireless smartphone table chargers throughout 7,500 of its stores in the United States over the next three years. The announcement comes after the program was initially tested in Starbucks stores across Boston, Massachusetts and San Jose, California.
Notably, while Apple’s current iPhone line isn’t compatible with wireless charging out of the box, Duracell currently offers an AccessCase accessory for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4 that is compatible with Duracell’s Powermat and Starbucks’ wireless table chargers.
While phone manufacturers like Motorola and LG have added wireless charging capabilities to their phone over the past few years, Apple has yet to add the feature to the iPhone. However, Apple has shown past interest in the technology, with a report in 2011 noting that the company was experimenting with WiTricity wireless charging and another report in 2013 stating that Apple was looking at Qi inductive charging for the iPhone 5s.
Apple is also said to be including wireless charging functionality in its highly-rumored iWatch smartwatch, which is expected to launch this October.
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