Pebble Debuts New ‘Pebble Health’ Fitness Tracking Feature

Pebble today announced new software updates for its line of Pebble smart watches, bringing the timeline feature to Pebble Classic and Steel and introducing a new Pebble Health feature for the Pebble Time lineup.

According to Pebble, Pebble Health was created through a collaboration with researchers at Stanford University. Pebble Health is able to track daily activity and automatically detect sleep phases, displaying stats and insights right on the wrist. Pebble Health brings the Pebble Time in line with the Apple Watch and other activity trackers with a first-party solution that eliminates the need for third-party fitness tracking apps on the device.

Since you are your best motivator, Pebble Health focuses on personal success. Instead of striving for an arbitrary step count, your daily progress is measured against your own personal average. At night, Pebble Health tracks how long and well you sleep, helping you make better sleep decisions. Weekly graphs of both step and sleep stats make it easy to see trends over time.

Pebble Health is compatible with Apple HealthKit and in the future, Pebble plans to launch a Pebble Health API that will allow developers to build apps and watchfaces around the new feature.

Pebble Time, Time Steel, and Time Round owners will get access to Pebble Health after updating the Pebble smartphone app and the watch to the latest version of the software. Pebble Health is not available on earlier Pebble watches.

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You can start using Apple Music with your Sonos speakers

Just as Sonos promised last month, Apple Music is now available on its platform. Subscribers of Apple’s streaming service can, finally, pair their account with Sonos’ speaker lineup — including the brand new, top-of-the-line Play:5. Sonos says the feature will be labeled as a beta for the time being, but it aims to have it fully fledged and bug-free by “early” next year.

“Because it’s a preview, we know there are areas we’ll need to improve, and we’ll continue to do so throughout the beta.” the audio company said in a blog post announcing the Apple Music integration. Regardless, don’t let that keep you from using the Sonos app like any other day, though keep in mind you might run into some issues from time to time.

Sonos, as you may recall, already offers integration with Spotify, Google Play Music, Rhapsody and Tidal, so this only makes its audio products much more enticing.

Source: Sonos

MacRumors Gift Guide by Husain: ‘Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection’, HBO Now and More

For the past week MacRumors editors and writers have been sharing gift guides featuring hand-picked items for the holidays. Thus far, we’ve seen gift guides from Juli, Joe, Mitchel, Marianne, Eric, Matt and one featuring your holiday suggestions. Today, I end our series of gift guides with my own.

This gift guide was written by me, Husain Sumra, and it’s filled with items that I either really love and use frequently or items that I’m lusting for in the hope that they make my day easier.

Anker PowerCore+ mini – $9.99

While there are a lot of small external batteries, there are none that I enjoy using more than the Anker PowerCore+ mini. Not only does it come in a small, lipstick-sized package, but it has enough power to give my iPhone 6 two full charges.

It’s small enough to slip into your pocket or purse, but it also has a premium metal finish that’s oddly fun to hold. It feels sturdy and solid rather than a cheap toy, which makes it a nice companion to the iPhone if you care about the feel of your products.

The best feature of the PowerCore+ mini though is its price, which gives it a huge advantage over similar external batteries on the market.

Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection – $89.99

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening on December 18, there’s no better time to revisit the complete Star Wars collection. Yes, even the prequels.

While The Digital Movie Collection doesn’t include the unedited original trilogy, it is the most convenient way to watch these movies. Not only can you watch them on your Apple TV or Mac, but you can watch them on your iPad Pro or iPhone, too. Furthermore, you can use Disney Movies Anywhere to watch five of the six movies on non-Apple devices. The only exception to this is A New Hope due to rights issues with 20th Century Fox. They also come with brand new behind-the-scenes bonus features giving even the biggest Star Wars fan new insight into the creation of some of the most loved movies of all time.

If you, or someone you know, likes to watch their media on multiple devices there’s no better way to watch the incredible highs and lows of the complete Star Wars saga.

Shure MOTIV MV88 Digital Stereo Microphone – $149.00

I use my iPhone for recording interviews and quick podcasts a lot, but my iPhone 6’s microphone is fairly basic and tends to produce a more hollow sound. So I’ve been lusting for a small, easy-to-use mic that I can use on the go and the one I’ve centered on is the Shure MOTIV MV88.

It’s the one mic I’ve found that seems to fall into the perfect mixture of size, audio quality and price. It also comes with a simple app that allows you to adjust your mic’s settings, letting you see exactly how it’ll affect the sound. Those settings transfer over to any recordings you do with GarageBand or other third-party audio and video-recording apps.

HBO Now – $14.99/Month

There is no content provider I turn to more often than HBO. Whether it be hit shows like Game of Thrones, smaller dramas like The Leftovers, documentary series like The Jinx or weekly shows like Last Week Tonight, there is no one I trust more to provide me with great content.

With HBO Now, you don’t have to subscribe to an expensive cable or satellite subscription either. You can get all of their content on your own terms for $14.99, making cutting the cord easier than ever if you don’t care about live sports.

iPad Air Smart Cover – $39.00

Whenever I purchase a new device, whether it be an iPhone, iPad or Macbook, I usually opt to not purchase any kind of case or protection. I find the vast majority of cases aesthetically unpleasant compared to the device’s natural look, and most cases hamper the feel of the product in my hand.

However, I make an exception for the Smart Cover line by Apple. Not only does it allow my iPad Air’s aesthetic and feel to shine, but it’s actually got some versatility outside of protecting the display when it’s not in use. It can fold itself up, allowing the iPad to stand. Additionally, the soft material on the inside of the cover is a good way to quickly wipe off any dust or fingerprints on the display.

AirPort Extreme – $199.00

The AirPort Extreme isn’t the most fully featured or complex router available on the market, but it is the one I’d recommend to the vast majority of people.

I’ve owned Apple’s previous AirPort Extreme in addition to the newest one, and I’ve never had a problem with either. In fact, the last time I even looked at my AirPort Extreme is when I went through the very simple setup process. The AirPort Extreme has provided a reliable and strong Wi-Fi signal in my home with absolutely no problems, and there’s no better option for people who want a no-hassle solution for their networking needs.

The new version of the AirPort Extreme provides 3 times the speed of the previous model and transmits at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies at the same time, allowing your device to connect to the fastest connection it can at most times. It can also transmit further than the previous model, as I found I’ve been able to still hold a viable connection from around 30 yards away from my home.

MoviePass – From $30/Month

As a huge movie buff, I tend to visit movie theaters a lot to check out the latest new releases. However, watching at least one movie in theaters a week quickly becomes a very expensive hobby, so I was very pleased to subscribe to MoviePass, a subscription service for watching movies in theaters.

The subscription starts at $30 a month, though it can rise to $49 a month depending on your area (you can check how much a subscription costs in your area at MoviePass’ website). You’re allowed to see a new release, non-3D movie in theaters every 24 hours. Since I see at least a film a week, and sometimes two or three a week during the summer and fall, I’ve found that MoviePass actually saves me money and has been a good value overall.

To use the service, you must download the MoviePass app and check-in to a movie at the theater of your choice. Once you’ve checked in, you take your MoviePass card to the box office and request the movie you’ve checked into. The cashier then slides the card and you receive your movie ticket.

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Enjoy Now Offering Same-Day Delivery and Setup of Apple TV, iPads, and AirPort in NYC and Bay Area

Enjoy today announced the introduction of the Apple TV, iPad, and AirPort to its free delivery and installation product lineup. The online marketplace and delivery service sends an Enjoy Expert to each customer’s house to deliver their ordered product in under four hours and even provide easy setup.

Founded by former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson, the company seeks to make the purchasing of new technology easy and hassle-free for those maybe not as familiar with certain functionalities of products like the new Apple TV.

In terms of Apple merchandise, the company now sells the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, AirPort, and fourth-generation Apple TV. Enjoy noted that the setup process of the Apple TV includes:

Hand delivery and unboxing: We’ll will plug it in and connect to your wifi. We’ll even bring an extra HDMI cable (just in case).

Connect all your devices: We’ll get all of your accounts and Apple devices talking to each other. You can now think of the TV as the hub for all of your family entertainment.

Meet the new Siri remote: We’ll introduce you to the new Touch Surface remote and walk you through all of the gestures and voice commands. We know that you and Siri will get along just fine.

Explore the App Store: Apps are the future of TV. We’ll set you up with the ones you love, and introduce you to some great new ones.

Once a user orders something off of Enjoy’s online store, they can receive the delivery in “as fast as four hours,” with up to an hour of personalized installation and instruction on how the product works courtesy of an Enjoy Expert. Shipping and home support are all free, but the Enjoy service is currently only available in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Enjoy also allows customers to purchase a hand-delivered iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus to their home in a partnership with AT&T. Other than the newly-introduced Apple products, the company offers at-home delivery and tutorials on products like the DJI Phantom 3 drone, Xbox One, and even fitness devices like the Specialized Turbo bicycle.

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Twelve South Launches Rose Gold HiRise Deluxe to Match Rose Gold iPhone 6s

Twelve South today expanded its HiRise lineup, launching a new stand designed to match the rose gold iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. Twelve South’s HiRise Deluxe stands for iPhone and iPad are some of its most popular products, and with the addition of the rose gold color, there’s a finish to match every iOS device.

“There is something special about the new Rose Gold iPhone. It has captured the imagination of millions of people who want anything but basic black or standard silver when it comes to the iPhone they use everyday.” said Andrew Green of Twelve South. “HiRise Deluxe is already the most functional and flexible stand available, but with a version that now perfectly matches the hue of our customers’ Rose Gold iPhones, their experience will be complete.”

For those unfamiliar with the HiRise Deluxe, it’s an angled aluminum pedestal that’s designed to function as a stand for FaceTime sessions, video watching, and more, all while keeping an iPhone charged with a Lightning cable. The HiRise Deluxe ships with Lightning and micro-USB cables, and it’s adjustable, so it’s able to accommodate most iPhone cases.

According to Twelve South, when not in use charging an iPhone, the HiRise can also be used to charge the Siri Remote for the Apple TV, the Apple Pencil, the Magic Mouse, the SteelSeries Nimbus controller, and other Apple accessories that charge via Lightning.

The new HiRise Deluxe in Rose Gold is available from the Twelve South website for $59.99 starting today. It’s also available in Silver, Black, and Gold.

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Apple Music on Sonos Now Available in Beta, Final Version Launches Early 2016

A public beta of Apple Music on Sonos is now available, allowing those who own Sonos wireless speakers to use them with Apple’s streaming music service for the first time since it launched in June.

The companion Sonos Controller app for iPhone and iPad was updated today with beta support for Apple Music, providing you with access to your streaming music library and playlists for playback in multiple rooms.

Sonos has posted step-by-step instructions on how to join the Apple Music beta program on its website:

How to join the beta program:

1. Open the Sonos app

2. Tap “Settings” then “Advanced Settings”

3. Tap “Beta Program”

4. Tap “Join the Beta Program”

5. Update your Sonos system*

6. Add Apple Music from the “Add Music Services” menu

*“Update Now” prompt may take up to 15 minutes to appear. Tap “Online Updates” in the Settings menu to update immediately.

Sonos users can stream songs from For You, New, Radio and My Music through Sonos apps on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and Windows PC. The beta will be limited in some areas compared to the final version slated for release in early 2016.

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Philips Hue Ends Support for Some Third-Party Bulbs Amid ‘Interoperability Issues’

A new update to the Philips Hue operating software within the popular iOS app has brought about a few changes to the way the lighting system functions with third-party accessories. Specifically, the app will no longer support third-party bulbs that function with the ZigBee wireless protocol, including the GE Link LED and Cree Connected LED bulbs (via CNET).

Introduced on both the first generation and HomeKit-enabled second generation of Hue bridges, the 1.11 software update was enacted by the company due to an overwhelming number of “interoperability issues” with some third-party products. Philips points to numerous customer complaints of confusion and frustration when setting up these bulbs, in turn tarnishing the Philips Hue brand, as the major deciding factor for ending their support.

We are seeing an increasing number of interoperability issues with these untested third party products, which are causing increasing confusion for our installed base. They are also hampering our ongoing development and damaging the consistency of experience for the Philips Hue ecosystem.

The current plan moving forward is the “Friends of Hue” program that the company also began around the time of the 1.11 update last week. With the new initiative, Philips will send third-party bulbs through rigorous testing and certification before giving it the official Philips Hue bridge-compatible stamp of approval.

The company also noted that those affected by the removal of these select third-party bulbs represent a “minimal fraction” of the total lights working with the Hue bridge out there today. Affected lights already linked to a bridge will continue to work, but “new untested” will not be able to be added to existing Hue networks. Philips also pointed out that the blocked bulbs already working with a Hue bridge won’t be able to properly receive updates after the 1.11 software update, so they could run into bug issues with no possible fix in the future.

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Apple Pay Now Supports BJ’s Wholesale Club Credit Cards and 66 New U.S. Issuers

Apple updated its Apple Pay participating issuers list today with support for BJ’s Wholesale Club store cards, including the BJ’s Perks Plus and Elite MasterCards, and 66 additional banks, credit unions and financial institutions in the United States.

Apple Pay is now accepted at over 850 participating issuers nationwide, and several more plan to support the NFC-based mobile payment service in the future. The newly added Apple Pay participating issuers are reflected below, but some issuers may have rolled out support earlier than today and only being reflected on Apple’s website now.

The full list of new Apple Pay participating issuers:

• American Community Bank of Indiana

• American United Federal Credit Union

• Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union

• Aspire Federal Credit Union

• Bank of Colorado

• Bank of Montgomery

• Catholic Federal Credit Union

• Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust

• CFCU Community Credit Union

• ChoiceOne Bank

• Community Bank of Mississippi

• Community Bank, Coast

• Community Bank, Ellisville

• Community Bank, North MS

• Credit One Bank

• D.L. Evans Bank

• Dane County Credit Union

• Diamond Credit Union

• East Wisconsin Savings Bank

• Educational Community Credit Union

• Farmers Bank

• First Alliance Credit Union

• First Bank & Trust Company

• First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls

• First National Bank & Trust Company of Weatherford

• First State Bank of Middlebury

• Fox Valley Savings Bank

• Greater Kinston Credit Union

• Hanscom Federal Credit Union

• Home City Federal Savings Bank

• Hondo National Bank

• Indiana Members Credit Union

• INTRUST Bank

• Kemba Financial Credit Union

• Land of Lincoln Credit Union

• Laramie Plains Federal Credit Union

• LCNB National Bank

• Liberty Savings Bank, FSB

• Local Government Federal Credit Union

• Mississippi Federal Credit Union

• Montgomery Country Employees Federal Credit Union

• MVB Bank Inc

• Neighbors Credit Union

• New Horizon Federal Credit Union

• NorState Federal Credit Union

• North State Bank

• NW Preferred Federal Credit Union

• OMNI Community Credit Union

• Pinnacle Bank Sioux City

• Pinnacle Bank Texas

• Pinnacle Bank Wyoming

• Quad City Bank and Trust

• Republic Bank & Trust Company

• San Antonio Federal Credit Union

• SCE Federal Credit Union

• Sharon Credit Union

• South Shore Bank

• State Employees Credit Union

• Sun East Federal Credit Union

• Sunrise Banks

• Texas Capital Bank

• The Bank of Missouri

• TruWest Credit Union

• Vantage West Credit Union

• Wayne Bank

• Wilson Bank & Trust

Apple is committed to an international expansion of Apple Pay, having launched the mobile payments service in Australia and Canada last month in partnership with American Express. Apple Pay is also coming to Hong Kong, Singapore and Spain in 2016, and is rumored to launch in China by February 2016.

On the merchant side, Cinnabon, Chili’s, Domino’s, KFC and Starbucks will support Apple Pay in the U.S. starting in 2016.

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