Official Plex App Now Available for New Apple TV
The much-anticipated Plex app for the Apple TV is available for download on the new set-top box as of today, allowing users to stream content from their computers to the Apple TV using the Plex Media Server software. First announced in September, the official Plex app was still in review when the new Apple TV launched last Friday, but it’s now been approved.
For those unfamiliar with Plex, it’s a media server and personal library for content like TV shows, movies, and music. It’s designed to organize personal media collections, allowing videos and music to be streamed to TVs and other devices, locally and remotely.
Plex on the new Apple TV has a gorgeous interface that makes it easy to see all of your media content at a glance. Plex adds artwork for movies, TV shows, and music, plus it includes information like cast members, plot summaries, and Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Plex has long been available on set-top devices like the Chromcast and the Fire TV, and it’s popular with jailbreakers, but it has not previously been available on older versions of the Apple TV in an official capacity.
The Plex app for the Apple TV can be downloaded from tvOS App Store. While the app is free to download, it costs $4.99 in-app to enable streaming playback. Apple TV and iOS App Store apps are universal, so if you’ve already downloaded the app for iOS, it can be found in the Purchases section of the tvOS App Store. [Direct Link]
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Browser-Based iOS 9.1/9.2 Jailbreak Wins $1M Bounty, Will Be Sold for Corporate and Government Use
Earlier this month, exploit acquisition platform Zerodium debuted an iOS 9 bug bounty that would pay out up to three million dollars to hackers who managed to develop a browser-based untethered jailbreak for iOS 9, which it could then sell to clients interested in shelling out a lot of money to gain illicit access to iOS devices.
The contest expired at the end of October, and Zerodium today announced one hacking team had successfully created a browser-based jailbreak for iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2, the latest versions of iOS 9, earning $1 million.
Zerodium foundar Chaouki Bekrar told Wired that the exploit developed by the hackers will be given to its customers, which include major technology, finance, and defense corporations, along with government agencies. The contest rules required the exploit to be achievable remotely without requiring user interaction beyond reading a text message or visiting a website via Chrome or Safari on an iOS device.
Bekrar confirmed that Zerodium plans to reveal the technical details of the technique to its customers, whom the company has described as “major corporations in defense, technology, and finance” seeking zero-day attack protection as well as “government organizations in need of specific and tailored cybersecurity capabilities.”
Because it’s selling the jailbreak (“likely” to U.S. customers only), Zerodium does not plan to report the vulnerabilities in the operating system to Apple, though Bekrar says the company may share the details at a later date. The jailbreak also won’t be provided to the general public, but Bekrar says Zerodium announced the results of the contest to remind people that while iOS security is “very hardened,” it’s not unbreakable.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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How to Use 3D Touch on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus has been selling strongly since its launch last month, thanks in part to a number of new features including 3D Touch. With it, users can access Quick Actions from the home screen and Peek and Pop from within a variety of stock and third-party apps.
If you’re wondering about what all of the hubbub is about, or want to know how to make it work better for you, we’ve put together this handy guide for 3D Touch.
If you are still trying to decide whether to upgrade to the iPhone 6s model, why not stop into an Apple Retail store and test out 3D Touch (along with the device’s other great features) for yourself on one of the many demo units.
Quick Actions
You can only use Quick Actions on an app’s icon, and it works as shortcut to specific features within the app. For example, the Pinterest app includes direct access to trending pins, the search function, and board creation. Instagram’s Quick Action lets you create a new post, view your activity, search, or send a direct message.
To trigger Quick Actions, give a firm press on an app’s icon. When the menu appears, drag your finger to the shortcut you would like to use. The app will open directly to that feature. If you don’t press hard enough to pop up the shortcuts and feel a bit of haptic feedback, your phone will instead register a long press that allows you to enter the familiar mode where you can rearrange and delete apps on the home screen.
Apple Offering $50 Off Apple Watch With Any iPhone Purchase in Select Apple Stores
Apple has started a new limited time in-store promotion that offers customers $50 off an Apple Watch Sport or Apple Watch with the purchase of any new iPhone, including the latest iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the company confirmed to MacRumors. Apple Watch Edition and Apple Watch Hermès models are ineligible for the discount.
The promotion is available at participating Apple Store locations in California and Massachusetts, including Burlingame, Chestnut Street, Corte Madera, Hillsdale, San Francisco and Stonestown in the Bay Area, and Boylston Street, Burlington, CambridgeSide and Chestnut Hill in the Boston metro area.
Apple confirmed that the promotion runs from October 30 through November 15, 2015, and is not available online. The deal does not require purchasing AppleCare+ or other accessories and add-ons. The offer is only valid when the qualifying iPhone and Apple Watch are purchased together on one transaction.
(Thanks, Robert!)
Tags: Apple Store, San Francisco, Boston
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Buy Now), Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Stops Signing iOS 9.0.2, Downgrading From iOS 9.1 No Longer Possible
As of today, Apple has stopped signing iOS 9.0.2 for compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, meaning users can no longer upgrade or downgrade to that version of iOS using iTunes. Apple is now signing iOS 9.1 and later only.
With Apple no longer signing iOS 9.0.2, those who wish to downgrade to jailbreak their devices are not able to do so. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users with jailbroken devices will need to refrain from updating beyond iOS 9.0.2 as the iOS 9.1 update fixes the exploits used for the jailbreak.
The untethered iOS 9 jailbreak was released for iOS devices just two weeks ago on October 14 by Pangu. It works for iOS 9, iOS 9.0.1, and iOS 9.0.2.
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Apple TV Games from Pangea Software Support 3DTVs
Pangea Software today announced that all of its tvOS apps designed for the new fourth-generation Apple TV include support for 3DTVs, allowing users to play the company’s games in 3D.
All of our tvOS games will support 3DTV 
https://t.co/n7vhShqMdG
— Pangea Software, Inc (@PangeaSoftware) October 29, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Developer Steven Troughton-Smith shared an image of Pangea Software game Bugdom 2 in 3D on the Apple TV earlier today, after which the company confirmed in a press release that its entire lineup of apps will offer 3DTV support. The 3DTV support is implemented using side-by-side 3D, which is a standard 3D implementation technique compatible with all 3DTVs.
Image via Steven Troughton-Smith
All of Pangea’s games have the capability of playing in stereo-3D on any HDTV which is 3DTV capable. This not only adds an extra visual element to the games, but in many cases it gives the player an advantage since 3D makes it easier to aim weapons and calculate jumps. Additionally, all of the games are Game Controller compatible, so they can be played with either the Siri Remote or with any tvOS compatible Gamepad.
Pangea Software offers a wide range of games in the iOS App Store that are available on tvOS as of today, including Air Wings, Nanosaur 2, Nucleus, Otto Matic, and Bugdom 2. In the future, additional games from the company will be available for the Apple TV, including Cro-Mag Rally and Air Wings Intergalactic.
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Skype’s filters bring some life to your video messages
The Skype team doesn’t have it easy these days — it not only has to compete with legions of live chat apps, but also the back-and-forth video messaging of Snapchat. What’s it going to do? Fight on Snapchat’s home turf, apparently. Microsoft has released Skype updates for Android and iOS that let you add “fun” filters to your video messages, such as a creepy inverted color scheme or goofy face stretching. Yes, it comes across as trying to stay hip with what the kids are doing, but it could be helpful if your birthday greeting just isn’t festive enough. And don’t worry if you like plain vanilla videos, since there’s something new for you as well. Skype now supports 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, so you can quickly start a call or peek at a conversation.
Source: Skype
AT&T gives you extra data in return for taking surveys
Do you find yourself perpetually running just over your phone carrier’s data cap, and wish you could get a little more breathing room without paying a lot more? AT&T might have the answer. It just launched a Data Perks app for Android and iOS that adds precious megabytes to your plan for a given month in return for taking surveys and completing shopping offers. Think of it like Google’s Opinion Rewards, only you’re earning internet access instead of store credit.
Via: TalkAndroid
Source: AT&T, App Store, Google Play
AT&T gives you extra data in return for taking surveys
Do you find yourself perpetually running just over your phone carrier’s data cap, and wish you could get a little more breathing room without paying a lot more? AT&T might have the answer. It just launched a Data Perks app for Android and iOS that adds precious megabytes to your plan for a given month in return for taking surveys and completing shopping offers. Think of it like Google’s Opinion Rewards, only you’re earning internet access instead of store credit.
Via: TalkAndroid
Source: AT&T, App Store, Google Play
Facebook’s mobile notifications say more about the world around you
Facebook’s mobile app practically revolves around the notifications tab, but it can be a pretty insular place. It won’t show much about what’s happening in your friends’ lives, let alone the outside world. The social network wants to change that, though. It’s rolling out an expanded notifications tab that will show you friends’ life milestones, events you’ve joined and a few details based on pages you’ve liked, such as sports scores and upcoming TV shows. You can also see local goings-on if you like, including movies, restaurants and weather. This isn’t exactly Facebook’s take on Google Now, but it’ll certainly seem familiar.
Source: Facebook Newsroom
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