Google Hangouts for iOS Gains iPad Optimization, iOS 7 Redesign [iOS Blog]

Google’s messaging app Hangouts was today updated to version 2.0, adding an iOS 7 redesign and several new features including animated stickers, 10 second video messages, and iPad optimization. This is the app’s first major update since it received voice calling and Google Voice integration back in October of 2013.

Following the update, the app supports a two-column conversation view on the iPad. Like many other social networking apps, Hangouts now supports animated stickers that can be included in messages, and maps of current locations can also be sent in a message.

Along with a new look and feel, Hangouts has also gained new option to send a video message that’s up to 10 seconds in length to offline users, which can be viewed later.

– Stickers: express your mood with fun animated stickers. Think of them as emoji, but even more awesome.

– Video Messages: record and send short videos to everyone in the conversation. Now you can really say what you need to say.

– Location sharing: send a map of your current location with a few simple taps. Great for coordinating the whole gang when you’re ready to hangout IRL.

– Optimized for the iPad: enjoy big, beautiful video calls, and a two-pane conversation view. Perfect for the iPad’s larger screen.

Google’s Hangouts app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Flappy Bird Clones Make Up One-Third of Newly Released iOS Games

Though it has been three weeks since Dong Nguyen pulled his hit game Flappy Bird from the App Store, Flappy clones are continuing to flood the App Store.

Over a 24-hour period beginning yesterday, approximately 293 new iOS games have been released into the App Store. 95 of those games are either Flappy Bird clones or heavily inspired by the original Flappy Bird title, according to data gathered by The Guardian.

Various games inspired by Flappy Bird
The Flappy Bird clones run the gamut of themes and main characters, and while a large number feature birds, there are also unicorns, floppy disks, cats, sponges, bricks, worms, pigs, and more. Flappy Beard Hipster Quest lets gamers guide a bearded hipster through cans of beer, while Buffalo Wings, from well-known developer Tapity, asks players to navigate a flying buffalo through brick pillars.

Buffalo Wings from Tapity
Flappy Bird clones have been appearing in the App Store since shortly after the original game ceased to be available. Mere hours after Flappy Bird‘s removal, Flappy Bee, a clone game that utilized stolen artwork, shot up the App Store charts, reaching the top five most popular free apps.

Apple began rejecting some Flappy Bird clones in mid-February, and even cracked down on Flappy Bee, insisting on a name change, but it appears the company has given up trying to filter out the slew of games attempting to capitalize on Flappy Bird‘s success. Many of the games released today even include Flappy in the title, a term that Apple was previously attempting to filter out.

At the height of its popularity, Flappy Bird was reportedly earning $50,000 per day, leading the developer to remove it from the App Store because it was an “addictive product,” leaving a void that other developers have been attempting to fill, sometimes successfully.

According to the unscrupulous developer behind Flappy Bee, Apple’s aforementioned forced name change caused the app to fall 300 places in the App Store charts, depriving him of 99 percent of the downloads and income he received by copying the Flappy Bird concept. In an interview, the developer hinted Flappy Bee may have been earning somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000 dollars a day. The developer behind Flappy Bee has since restored the app to its original name and removed the stolen artwork, but the app has failed to make its way back up the charts.

Given Flappy Bird‘s incredible popularity and its lucrativeness during the time it was on the App Store, Flappy Bird clones and games inspired by the concept are unlikely to disappear from the App Store anytime soon. As for the original game, developer Dong Nguyen has no plans to return it to the App Store, though he will continue to release new titles.

ABC to Stream Oscars Live to ‘Watch ABC’ iOS App for Select Customers [iOS Blog]

ABC has plans to stream this weekend’s Oscars live though its Watch ABC app for the iPhone and the iPad to a select number of customers, reports Variety. As with standard programming, watching the Oscars live via the app will require customers to authenticate through their cable providers.

Subscribers of Comcast, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications, Verizon Fios, Google Fiber, and AT&T U-Verse will be able to watch the Oscars in eight markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham, and Fresno.

Customers who use other cable companies or who are located outside of those eight areas will not be able to watch the Oscars live through the Watch ABC app, but they will have access to clips from the red carpet and backstage.

The Oscars Backstage content, produced by the Academy and Disney/ABC Television Group’s Digital Media team, is sponsored against by the Samsung Galaxy mobile device brand. That will feature three channels pulled from 15 live cameras strategically placed on the red carpet and throughout the backstage areas of the Dolby Theatre, including the “thank-you cam,” winners’ walk and the press room. Users will also be able to access the official Oscar Buzz social feed and photo galleries from within the app.

Along with providing access through its Watch ABC app, ABC will also let authenticated users in the aforementioned areas access the full Oscars show through its website.

Watch ABC can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Some Early Mac Pro Orders Won’t See Promised February Delivery

Just hours after Apple began taking orders for the new Mac Pro back in December, shipping estimates slipped to “February”. However, Apple will not meet that deadline for a number of customers.

One customer told MacRumors that an Apple representative told him earlier today that his 6-core unit, originally ordered on January 7, “will not ship in February as originally stated” and instead “will be shipping in 5-7 business days and will be reflected in the on-line shipping status early next week.” Some Mac Pro buyers on the MacRumors forums have been notified of similar delays. The delay puts deliveries in the first or second week of March.

The reader told us that he received two emails at the beginning and middle of the month promising delivery by the end of February, however, both those emails turned out to be incorrect. Here’s the text of one from February 17:

We’d like to give you another update on the status of your Mac Pro order.

Your Mac Pro is still scheduled to ship in February. We’ll send you an email notification with the delivery date and tracking information once its on its way.

For the most up-to-date delivery information, visit Order Status on the Apple Online store. If you have an iOS device, you can check your order status using the Apple Store app for iPad or iPhone.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting the new Mac Pro to you as soon as possible.

Current U.S. Apple Online Store orders for the Mac Pro have an expected ship date of April.

Apple Adds Kendrick Lamar, Supporting Acts to iTunes Festival SXSW Lineup [Mac Blog]

Following yesterday’s addition of Soundgarden to its SXSW concert lineup, Apple has now announced that Kendrick Lamar will also perform during the iTunes Festival [iTunes Store Link], headlining on March 12. Joining Kendrick Lamar will be ScHoolboy Q and Isaiah Rashad.

With the addition of Soundgarden and Kendrick Lamar, Apple’s SXSW iTunes Festival lineup is complete with the following acts scheduled (times listed in CST):

March 11
10:00 p.m. – Coldplay
8:30 p.m. – Imagine Dragons
7:30 p.m. – London Grammar

March 12
10:00 p.m. – Kendrick Lamar
8:45 p.m. – ScHoolboy Q
8:00 p.m. – Isaiah Rashad

March 13
10:00 p.m. – Soundgarden
8:45 p.m. – Band of Skulls
8:00 p.m. – Capital Cities

March 14
10:00 p.m. – Pitbull
8:45 p.m. – ZEDD
8:00 p.m. – G.R.L

March 15
10:00 p.m. – Keith Urban
8:45 p.m. – Willie Nelson
8:00 p.m. – Mickey Guyton

Apple first announced the SXSW concert series last week, as an expansion of its long-running iTunes Festival in the UK. The festival will offer five nights of music, beginning on March 11 at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas.

While the SXSW concerts are presented for free, tickets are given to attendees on a lottery basis. Live and on-demand streams of the shows will be available through the iTunes Store on iOS devices and computers, the iTunes Festival app on iOS devices, and Apple TV.

Bitcoin-Stealing OS X Trojan Now Masquerading as ‘Angry Birds’ and Other Popular Mac Apps

A Bitcoin-stealing trojan has been detected in downloads claiming to be cracked versions of popular Mac applications, reports security firm ESET through its We Live Security blog. The OSX/CoinThief.A malware was discovered in popular Bitcoin software earlier this month by SecureMac, but is now being used to target users of more mainstream apps.

The trojan initially surfaced on open source software hosting site GitHub, and it was quickly bundled into several Bitcoin apps available through multiple download sites. Further investigation by ESET has now uncovered the trojan masquerading as cracked versions of popular Mac apps such as BBEdit, Pixelmator, Angry Birds, and Delicious Library.

OSX/CoinThief.A involves a malicious browser add-on used to intercept logins for Bitcoin wallet sites and related exchanges such as MtGox, BTC-e, and blockchain.info. Stolen login credentials are then forwarded to the malware’s developer.

There is clearly strong evidence that the trojan was specifically designed to profit from the current Bitcoin craze and fluctuating exchange rates.

According to detection statistics gathered by the ESET LiveGrid, the threat is mostly active amongst Mac users based in the United States.

The websites where these files are being distributed from have not been revealed, but Mac owners can prevent infection by avoiding pirated software and downloading titles directly from the developer’s website or the Mac App Store. Users can find instructions on how to check for and remove the malware on SecureMac’s blog post.

Moov Personal Training Device Tracks and Evaluates Motion to Improve Workout Efficiency [iOS Blog]

The Moov fitness tracker is a new wearable fitness device that is designed to sense both motion and 3D form in order to analyze the wearer’s movement, giving tips to improve physical activities and workouts. It uses 9-axis sensors, including accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer to evaluate form.

Acting as a digital personal trainer, Moov can analyze activities like running, weight lifting, boxing, swimming, biking, and more, providing real-time audio advice and feedback. When running, for example, Moov can monitor cadence and analyze landing impact to prevent injury, and when boxing, it can analyze power and form, matching moves with certified trainers.

Moov provides a two-fold benefit: firstly, to enable users to maximize their workouts, and secondly, to prevent injuries by providing real-time coaching based on a complex analysis of your body’s position while you are exercising.

Existing fitness trackers in the market today are brilliant in that they help people to become more aware of their activity levels, and with Moov, we want to help you turn your data into actionable insights. Our goal is to give users the same experience with Moov as they would with an actual personal trainer. Well, a close-enough experience. How so? Moov operates like a virtual coach – it “sees” your motion and systematically “tells” you how to correct your form.

After launch, Moov will gain features allowing users to improve yoga workouts through posture tracking and enhance golf games with swing analysis. All data gathered is also stored within an accompanying app, for at-a-glance statistics on workouts and performance.

Moov, designed in collaboration with a former Apple software engineer, is able to be worn in several different locations on the body, including the wrist and ankle, for specialized motion tracking for a range of activities. The device is waterproof and will come in several different color arrangements at launch. Two or more Moov devices can be used in conjunction for improved activity monitoring for actions like boxing.

Moov can be pre-ordered from the Moov website for $59.99, a 50 percent discount off of the standard price. Moov is expected to ship in the summer of 2014.

EU Meeting With Apple and Google to Discuss Concerns Over In-App Purchases [iOS Blog]

Apple and Google are meeting with the European Commission to discuss concerns over in-app purchases. The two technology leaders will be asked to provide solutions that protect customers, particularly children, from errant and costly in-app purchases.

Commissioner Neven Mimica, responsible for Consumer Policy said: “Consumers and in particular children need better protection against unexpected costs from in-app purchases. National enforcement authorities and the European Commission are discussing with industry how to address this issue which not only causes financial harm to consumers but can also put at stake the credibility of this very promising market. Coming up with concrete solutions as soon as possible will be a win-win for all.”

The EU commission and other European enforcement authorities will focus on four main issues involving the false advertising of freemium games as “free”, the targeting of children by in-app purchases, the need for explicit consent when processing orders for in-app items and the provision of an email for consumers to contact companies about inadvertent charges.

Apple recently settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and agreed to provide full refunds to parents whose children purchased unauthorized in-app items. Apple also settled a 2011 class-action lawsuit filed by parents whose children racked up hundreds of dollars in in-app charges while playing games like Tap Fish.

Apple introduced in-app purchases in iOS 3.0 and started requiring passwords for these transactions in iOS 4.3 after concerns about over-spending on unauthorized purchases surfaced. iOS owners can disable in-app purchasing completely using the Restrictions feature of iOS.

Apple to Construct New Retail Store in Dayton, Ohio [Mac Blog]

Apple is preparing to open a new retail store in Dayton, Ohio by the end of the year, according to the Dayton Business Journal and ifoAppleStore. The company is expected to occupy a space formerly held by women’s clothing retailer Lane Bryant at The Greene outdoor shopping center, as a black construction barricade was recently spotted at the location. Apple also posted 12 job listings for the area ranging from Store Leader to Specialist on Tuesday.

A site tracking future Apple Store locations reports it has confirmed by unofficial sources that The Greene is the next location and will open later this year, and sources have told the Dayton Business Journal that The Greene is expected to get the Apple Store.

A large space, formerly occupied by Lane Bryant at 4422 Cedar Park Drive, is currently under construction behind large black barriers. Greene County records list building permits for tenant work at the site, but don’t name the tenant.

Crews from Miller-Valentine Group were seen inside the construction site Wednesday morning, and said they didn’t know what retailer was going to use the space.

An Apple Store in Dayton would be the company’s seventh retail location in the state of Ohio, which also includes stores in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Westlake, and Woodmere.

As part of its annual 10-K filing [PDF] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple revealed that it plans to open 30 new retail stores in 2014, with approximately two-thirds of those to be located outside of the United States. A report last week stated the company is also planning to open a new retail store in Lansing, Michigan by the end of the year.

Apple Tops Fortune’s ‘Most Admired Companies’ List for Seventh Consecutive Year

Apple again topped Fortune’s annual list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies”, claiming the title for the seventh year in a row. Apple’s ranking on the list was followed by Amazon, Google, Berkshire Hathaway, and Starbucks.

The ranking was based on a survey taken by corporate peers including executives, directors, and industry analysts who graded each company based on key attributes such as innovation, people management, social responsibility and more. Apple earned an overall score of 7.94, beating out Amazon which scored a 7.09.

The iconic tech company known for the iPhone and other stylish and user-friendly products is back in the top spot on this year’s list, for the seventh year in a row. Apple, the most valuable brand on the planet according to Interbrand, brought in $171 billion in revenues in FY2013 and is flush with cash, but fan boys and girls (not to mention the market) are getting antsy to see its next big product. Bets are on a smartwatch or AppleTV, but the company is also reportedly turning its attention to cars and medical devices. — Erika Fry

Apple was also ranked number one in seven of the nine key attributes of reputation listed in the poll. It ranked number five in social responsibility and number two in global competitiveness, following rival Google in the latter category.