Apple Begins Testing Related Search Suggestions Feature on App Store

As first spotted by TIME Planner developer Olga Osadcha on Twitter (via MacStories), Apple has begun testing a related search suggestions feature for some users in the App Store.

The new menu appears to overlay itself on top of an existing search query, giving users search suggestions in similar categories – for instance, searching for “calendar” gives related suggestions for “calendar planner” and “daily planner”, while a search for “sports games” displays suggestions to “action games” and “RPG games”.

The suggestions box also appears to extend to some searches for specific terms, as searching for “twitter” will result in suggestions for “news apps” and the like. Suggested searches can also lead to more sub-suggested keywords, which can be made up of general phrases and specific company and product names.

The results appear in a similar fashion to queries in Chomp, which was an app search startup acquired by Apple in 2012. It is therefore likely that Apple could be using some of the suggestion technology utilized in Chomp, as Apple’s reported reason for acquiring the search engine was to improve the App Store search and app discovery. Apple added the single-tile styled result to the App Store in 2012, which was also based off of Chomp’s layout.

Currently, Apple’s new App Store search suggestions are not appearing for all users, however that is likely to change as the feature undergoes more testing. It is also possible that the new search suggestions will not require a full update for iOS, as Apple is expected to roll out the new feature on top of the App Store’s existing interface.

Video Depicting Demolition Progress at Apple Campus 2 Site Surfaces [Mac Blog]

A supposed internal Apple video depicting the demolition of Hewlett Packard’s former offices in preparation for Apple’s Campus 2 project has surfaced on YouTube (via 9to5Mac).

The video itself, which appears to be consistent with Apple’s production quality, shows excavators tearing through multiple buildings set to Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces”. The footage was likely shot from late last year through earlier this year, as demolition on the site began in November after Apple received unanimous approval for the project from the Cupertino City Council.

Substantial progress of the demolition was also depicted through an aerial photograph that surfaced late last month, with most of the existing buildings demolished and parking lot pavement removed. During the demolition, several sidewalks were closed, while bulldozers and other heavy equipment started clearing debris from the 176-acre parcel.

With the demolition likely complete, Apple will begin the first phase of the Apple Campus 2 construction, which will involve a 2.8 million square foot ring-shaped main building with an underground parking facility capable of holding approximately 2,400 cars. Apple will also build a 100,000 square foot fitness center and a 120,000 square foot auditorium, with some of the barren landscape being occupied by over 4,500 trees.

Apple’s App Store Usage Numbers Suggest 85% Adoption Rate for iOS 7 [iOS Blog]

iOS 7 is now on 85% of devices connected to the App Store, according to new numbers posted on Apple’s App Store developer support page. The numbers come five months after the operating system’s original release, and just two weeks after the release iOS 7.1, which was the first major update to iOS 7 with added visual tweaks, CarPlay support, and Touch ID enhancements.

The increasing adoption rate of iOS 7 has also led to a drop in iOS 6 usage, with the older operating system now installed on just 12 percent of devices. Three percent of devices also continue to use even older versions of iOS. In early December, iOS 7 usage was at 74 percent, jumping to 78 percent later in December and then to 80 percent in late January.

Apple’s data, which comes directly from the App Store, represents the most definite iOS 7 adoption information for developers.

Apple Hires Privacy Counsel to Oversee Protection of Customer Data [Mac Blog]

Apple has filled a position of privacy counsel with a lawyer experienced in customer privacy, data protection, electronic surveillance, information security and more. Sabrina Ross, a former associate at both Ropes & Gray and Sidley Austin, joined Apple this month according to her LinkedIn page (via AppleInsider).

Ross is a certified privacy professional, professing expertise in Internet and information law matters including privacy and data protection. As it moves more and more into online services including iCloud, Apple is increasingly concerned with privacy matters, including national surveillance by the NSA. Apple CEO Tim Cook told ABC News that Apple executives would need to be carted out “in a box” for the company to allow governments unfettered access to its servers.

A certified privacy professional, CIPP/US, I have experience with a wide-range of Internet and information law matters involving privacy and data protection, online brand protection, electronic surveillance, defamation, information security, cloud computing, social media, locational privacy, e-commerce, and national security. I am passionate about addressing these issues with both business acumen and an eye towards litigation strategy.

My practice includes developing privacy compliance systems, creating privacy/data security training and policies, conducting risk analysis in the merger/acquisition context, and providing compliance counseling regarding the state/federal/international privacy law landscape.

Ross’ CIPP/US certification is the first professional certification to be offered in the field of information privacy, covering the U.S. legal system including federal laws for protection of personal data, privacy marketing practices, state laws covering data breach notification and other privacy implications, as well as privacy in the workplace.

Apple Hires Former Senate Staffer as New Lobbyist in Washington

Apple has hired veteran Washington insider Amber Cottle as its new top lobbyist according to a report from Politico.

Cottle was previously the Democratic Staff Director for the Senate Finance Committee, where she also had experience as the committee’s Chief International Trade Counsel, important experience for Apple’s needs on Capitol Hill.

In her job on the Finance Committee, Cottle advised members and staff on trade and international economic issues, and was previously Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment.

Apple has been increasingly active in Washington DC in recent years, with Apple executives meeting with President Obama over NSA surveillance and appearing in front of a Senate committee to discuss Apple’s tax strategies. The company has repeatedly asked Congress for a discount on taxes for repatriating cash earned overseas to the United States.

The company began looking for a new VP of Worldwide Government Affairs when Catherine Ann Novelli, who held the position since 2007, left for a job at the U.S. State Department.

According to Politico, Apple spent $3.3 million on lobbying in 2013, roughly double the previous year.

Apple Sends Email to iTunes Users Offering Refunds for Unauthorized In-App Purchases

As a part of its consent decree with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over in-app purchases in the App Store, Apple today sent out a mass email to some iTunes users, offering them a chance to obtain a refund by filling out a form through a special link.

Specifically, the email appears to be targeted toward users who have made recent in-app purchases, with Apple stating that unauthorized purchases “made by a minor” are eligible for a refund, with all requests required to be submitted by April 15.

Dear iTunes account owner,

Apple is committed to providing parents and kids with a great experience on the App Store. We review all app content before allowing it on our store, provide a wide range of age-appropriate content, and include parental controls in iOS to make it easy for parents to restrict or disable access to content.

We’ve heard from some customers that it was too easy for their kids to make in-app purchases. As a result, we’ve improved controls for parents so they can better manage their children’s purchases, or restrict them entirely. Additionally, we are offering refunds in certain cases.

Please follow the steps to submit a refund request:

Find your in-app purchase records. Check your email for iTunes receipts or use a computer to sign in to your iTunes account and view your Purchase History.

Use this link to submit your refund quest to Apple.

Provide the requested information and enter “Refund for in-App Purchases made by a minor” in the Details section.

Apple will review your request and contact you via email about your refund status. All refund requests must be submitted no later than April 15, 2015.

According to its agreement signed with the FTC in January, Apple will be required to provide full refunds to parents whose children purchased unauthorized in-app items, totaling $32 million in refunds. Apple also added a pop-up warning message in iOS 7.1 detailing a 15-minute window which allows users to make in-app purchases for 15 minutes without reentering a password.

Google Now Officially Comes to Chrome for Desktop [Mac Blog]

Back in January, Google began testing integration of its Google Now personal assistant service with its Chrome browser for the desktop. The feature, which allows users to receive notifications for such topics as weather, traffic, and events and can tap into device location, first appeared in the experimental Chrome Canary builds and gradually worked its way through Chrome’s testing phases, and Google today has announced that it is beginning to officially go live for all users.

Starting today and rolling out over the next few weeks, Google Now notifications will be available to Chrome users on their desktop or laptop computers. To enable this feature, simply sign in to Chrome with the same Google Account you’re using for Google Now on Android or iOS.

Additional information on setting up Google Now for Chrome is available in Google’s help pages.

Only One of Two Larger iPhone 6 Models Likely, According to Analyst

Apple may only launch one of two larger size iPhones this fall, according to UBS analyst Steve Milunovich. Barron’s relays the research note, which is based on Milunovich’s “checks” of the supply chain.

iPhone 6 rumors have repeatedly suggested that Apple is working on two new sizes for the iPhone. Predictions most commonly include 4.7″ and 5.5″ sizes, up from the current 4″ screen of the iPhone 5S. Milunovich’s report agrees that Apple is working on those same two models, but isn’t sure both will launch:

… an “iPhone 6” is most likely to come in August or September, rather than June, in two different models, one with a 4.7-inch screen, one with a 5.5-inch screen. He thinks the former, the smaller of the two, “seems certain,” but that the 5.5-inch model “may or may not launch at the same time and could be of the same resolution (lower pip), which would help app developers.

The analyst pegs the launch date for the next iPhone to be in August or September, but the release of the 5.5″ model is less certain.

One additional detail he provides is that the 5.5″ model may carry the same resolution as the 4.7″ model. Not much has been said of the display resolution of these rumored large form factor iPhones. We haven’t previously seen many reports from UBS analyst Steve Milunovich, so don’t have much of a sense for his track record. iPhone 6 leaks will continue to accelerate as Apple gets closer to production.

‘Apple TV Air’ Concept Imagines a Simple HDMI Dongle [iOS Blog]

With rumors of a revamped Apple TV circulating over the past few months, German magazine Curved has been exploring some concepts to help get discussion rolling, beginning earlier this month with a new box similar to the current one but with styling similar to Apple’s latest iOS devices and with a versatile iPod touch-like remote.

In its latest concept, Curved follows the trend of Google’s Chromecast, Roku’s Streaming Stick, and Amazon’s rumored device to picture the next Apple TV as a simple dongle that plugs into an HDMI port on the back of the user’s television set.

“Apple TV Air” concept (bottom) size comparison with current Apple TV and remote (top)
The concept envisions the “Apple TV Air” package containing two similarly sized devices: the dongle with a cap for the HDMI connector and a separate remote offering the same button configuration as on the current Apple TV remote. Both devices would be made of plastic to allow for a Bluetooth wireless connection to control the dongle hidden away behind the television set.

“Apple TV Air” dongle plugged into HDMI port
Apple has been rumored to be exploring a number of enhancements to the Apple TV, including enhanced game support that could see the launch of an App Store for the device. Apple has also been rumored to be looking at integrating AirPort base station functionality for the next Apple TV. Depending on how aggressive Apple wants to be with the new device’s capabilities, it may be a stretch for the company to fit all of the necessary components into a dongle, but Curved‘s concept serves as a good focal point for discussion about directions Apple could take.