Tweetbot for Mac Updated With Support for macOS Sierra and Extended Tweets
Following the release of macOS Sierra moments ago, Tweetbot for Mac has been updated with support for the latest operating system. The update also includes support for extended tweets, uploading videos up to 140 seconds long to Twitter, and better media previews for search results.
In terms of extended tweets, Twitter no longer counts photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and quote tweets towards its 140-character limit. Previously, media content took up approximately 24 of the 140 available characters, and older versions of Tweetbot still enforce the 140 character limit accordingly.
Tweetbot for Mac version 2.4.2 is available now as a free update [Direct Link] for existing users on the Mac App Store. The app initially costs $9.99.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Tags: Tweetbot, Tweetbot for Mac
Discuss this article in our forums
macOS Sierra: How to Use Apple Pay on the Web
macOS Sierra and iOS 10 both include a new Continuity feature that allows Apple Pay to be used to make purchases on the web using Safari, giving Apple users an alternative to other web-based payment services like PayPal.
On Macs, Apple Pay for the web requires an iPhone with Touch ID and Apple Pay support or an Apple Watch, as payments are authenticated through the phone or watch. Apple Pay on the web requires merchants to adopt Apple Pay, so it isn’t yet available everywhere, but support has started rolling out.
Sites like Time Inc., Wayfair, and Apple’s own online Apple Store have started accepting Apple Pay, and payment processors like Stripe, Big Commerce, Shopify, and Squarespace all offer support, so it may be almost everywhere in just a couple of months.
Here’s how it works:
Visit a website that supports Apple Pay on the web, like Apple.com. I’ll be using Apple’s online store as an example.
Choose a product you want to purchase and click “Add to Bag.”
On Apple’s site, you’re automatically taken to the cart, where “Check out with Apple Pay” is an option. Choose it.
At the next checkout screen, choose delivery options and then click on the Apple Pay button.
If you’re wearing an authenticated Apple Watch, you’ll be asked to verify the payment with the watch. Double tap on the side button (watchOS 3) to confirm and make the purchase.
With no Apple Watch, a confirmation screen will pop up on a connected iPhone, locked or unlocked. It requires a fingerprint to be placed on the Touch ID home button to confirm the payment.
Once the payment is confirmed on the Apple Watch or the iPhone, that’s it. The purchase is made and on its way.When checking out on the web, all payment and shipping information is entered automatically, so you don’t need to do anything but tap the confirm button to pay. It’s quick, simple, fast, and safe. There is, however, a popup that will let you select the card you want to use, choose the shipping address, and more, if you need to make alterations.
Apple Pay on the web is a Continuity feature so it requires a Mac with Bluetooth 4.0 support. It is compatible with the following machines running macOS Sierra:
– MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
– MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
– MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
– Mac mini (2012 or newer)
– iMac (2012 or newer)
– Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Apple Pay also requires an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 10 or an Apple Watch with watchOS 3, and it only works with the Safari browser. Apple Pay on the web is also available on iOS devices and will be available as long as one card has been added to the Wallet app on the iPhone.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Discuss this article in our forums
iWork Apps for macOS Sierra Updated With Real-Time Collaboration
With the release of macOS Sierra today, Apple also updated its line of iWork apps, including Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. The new update for each app introduces the same real-time collaboration feature, in beta form, brought to the iOS versions of each app last week.
Using real-time collaboration, users are able to edit one document in any iWork app simultaneously, no matter if they’re using a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com. Within Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, live updates of each user’s cursor and a list of document editors keep everyone up-to-date on the progress of any document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
What’s New in Version 6.0
– Real-time collaboration (feature in beta)
– Edit a document with others at the same time in Pages on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iCloud.com
– Share your document publicly or with specific people
– See who else is in a document
– See participants’ cursors as they’re editing– Open and edit Pages ’05 documents
– Use tabs to work with multiple documents in one window
– Wide color gamut image support
In Keynote, there’s a new “Keynote Live” feature that lets users present a slideshow that anyone can follow from a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com. Pages and Keynote also both feature support for opening and editing Pages and Keynote ’05 documents.
Apple’s line of iWork apps are free to users who have recently purchased a new Mac or iOS device. Otherwise, each iWork app for Mac is available for $19.99 while each iWork app for iOS is available for $9.99.
Pages for macOS [Direct Link]
Keynote for macOS [Direct Link]
Numbers for macOS [Direct Link]
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Tag: iWork
Discuss this article in our forums
MacOS Sierra is finally out: Here’s how to download it now
Apple on Tuesday released MacOS Sierra to the public.
The latest, major version of Apple’s desktop operating system follows eight public betas and the golden master version that launched earlier this month for testers. It includes not only new features but also a new name that brings it in line with Apple’s other operating systems: iOS, WatchOS, and tvOS. Here’s everything you need to know about the update, including how to get it now.
- Apple will release MacOS Sierra update for Macs on 20 September
MacOS Sierra: How do you download it?
You can download MacOS Sierra directly from the Mac App Store by following this link. Alternatively, Apple should begin offering it through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store starting 20 September.
MacOS Sierra: Which Macs are compatible?
You can download MacOS Sierra on any of the following machines:
- MacBook from 2009 or later
- iMac from 2009 or later
- MacBook Air from 2010 or later
- MacBook Pro from 2010 or later
- Mac Mini from 2010 or later
- Mac Pro from 2010 or later
Note: You need to be running at least OS X 10.7.5 (Lion) on your Mac. You must also have at least 8.8GB of free drive space.
MacOS Sierra: How much does it cost?
Like OS X Yosemite (10.10), OS X El Capitan (10.11), and other major releases before it, MacOS Sierra is being offered as a free update.
MacOS Sierra: Should you upgrade?
MacOS Sierra has technically been available since the public beta opened in early July, so there is a wealth of information available about the features it brings, including better integration with the iPhone and Apple Watch, an improved user experience, Siri to the Mac, new Continuity features, a “Universal Clipboard” option, more iCloud integration, deep learning algorithms in Photos, and more.
You can learn all about MacOS Sierra from here:
- Apple MacOS Sierra: New features and everything else you need to know
MacOS Sierra: Do you need to backup your Mac?
Yes. Operating system upgrades aren’t trivial, and sometimes things can go wrong, meaning you could lose all your precious data, photos, and files. On a Mac, you can back up to Time Machine, a cloud backup service like Carbonite or Crashplan, or an external drive. Apple has a help center with more details including step-by-step guides on how to backup your Mac using either option.
Want to know more?
More information on MacOS Sierra can be found in our MacOS Sierra hub.
Sainsbury’s to close its digital entertainment business
First it was Tesco, now it’s Sainsbury’s. The British supermarket will soon be closing its streaming and digital storefront services, called Entertainment on Demand collectively. These covered eBooks, music, movies and TV shows, and digital magazines. In a note to customers, the company said it was a “difficult decision,” made “following a detailed review of our service.” In short, the numbers just didn’t add up. Or, looking forward, it wasn’t worth the investment to compete with more popular and aggressive services, such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix.
The movies and TV component has already been shuttered. It’s no longer possible to buy, rent or watch anything through the platform — an abrupt end, and one that could come as a shock to customers who were still clinging on. Sainsbury’s says it will refund purchased movies and TV shows, as well as active rentals. Whether that’s the full amount, or some kind of cut-price rate is unclear, however. The supermarket says it’ll contact customers who are eligible for refunds before October 15th.
The eBook store will be closing on October 1st, however access will be supported through the Sainsbury’s apps until November 30th. Both the site and the reading apps will close for good on December 1st. Bookworms will be able to transfer their library to Kobo, the Rakuten-owned company that sells both ebooks and ebook readers. It’s a familiar turn of events — Kobo has accommodated Tesco and Sony’s users in the past, building out its own customer base in the process. In truth, it’s one of the last companies that can truly compete with Amazon over the ebook market in the UK.
Sainsbury’s will be shutting its magazine and music services in a similar manner. Purchases will be blocked from October 1st, and app access will end on November 30th. On December 1st, everything will be shuttered for good. Brits can download their music libraries and then export them to whatever platform they wish, such as iTunes or Google Play Music. Magazines will be disappearing altogether, however — Sainsbury’s is promising some kind of refund, which again will be made clear to eligible customers by email.
Source: Sainsbury’s
MakerBot’s Replicator+ promises bigger, faster 3D prints
MakerBot has had its fair share of woes lately, but the company isn’t slowing down. It’s launching a whole bunch of products, including a printer, revamped software and new materials. The Replicator+ is available beginning today, for $1,999, which is cheaper than the company’s fifth-generation devices.
The Replicator+ can handle 25 percent larger build volume at a 30 percent faster print speed than prior models. It’s also 27 percent quieter than its predecessor. But those aren’t the only improvements.
The Replicator+ also has a new carrier that allows for more precise movements and finer prints. It will also have better print adhesion and breakaway supports to prevent you from destroying your product by tearing it off the print platform. The printer sports a flexible build plate as well. All Replicator+ units will ship with the company’s Smart Extruder+, a more reliable printing head.
MakerBot also launched a new software app called MakerBot Print, which will be available on desktop and mobile devices. Print is designed to improve workflows by getting rid of the need to convert CAD formats to the company’s native version, as well as removing the print prep step. It’ll also let you print from a single computer to multiple printers and queue jobs.
The new software supports more than 20 CAD formats so you can go from authoring to prepping and printing without having to keep converting. Print will also help you lay out parts on the build plate, optimize slicing for better output quality and also lets you watch your printer’s progress from your computer.
MakerBot also introduced a new material it’s calling Tough PLA, which is a stronger version of the existing PLA filament. With that, the company’s library of materials makes it possible for you to produce stronger, more realistic prints.
Hasselblad’s V1D camera concept is a modular dream
With Project Ara, Google learned how to build a modular smartphone, and then discovered that nobody actually wants one. Cameras are different, though — photographers love to accessorize with battery grips, handles, DSLR rigs and more. Hasselblad takes that a step farther with its customizable V1D medium-format concept. You start with a “black box” camera (with the form of a classic Hasselblad V) then add an electronic viewfinder, handles and controls wherever they suit you. The idea is just a dream for now, but Hasselblad is soliciting feedback here at Photokina and might actually build it one day.
Aaron Souppouris contributed to this report.
We’re live all week from Cologne, Germany, for Photokina 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
WhatsApp adds user mentions so you can’t ignore group chats
Anyone who has been included in a group chat knows how annoying they can be. You end up muting the thread to keep the notifications from driving you crazy. Sometimes you do need to see a message and WhatsApp is adding a new tool that will make it a little more difficult to ignore group chats. The app now has user mentions so you can make sure whoever you need to see a message gets a notification about it.
Like Twitter, Instagram and other social apps, using the “@” symbol to tag someone will alert them. And yes, it will do so even if they’ve muted a conversation. While the change will make it more difficult to ignore the group chats you want no part of, it does seem useful. When you take into account that WhatsApp allows 256 users in a group, it can be difficult to keep up or making sure the right person sees your note. You can tag multiple users at once, too.
The new feature is available in Android and iOS versions of the app, but you won’t be able to use it on the web. WhatsApp has been keen on regularly adding new features for group chats. Back in June, a new tool debuted that allows users to quote the exact message they’re responding to in a group thread.
Via: Wired UK
Source: iTunes, Google Play
Vodafone now blocks unwanted calls before they reach you
Nuisance callers are having a tough time of it already this year, with Ofcom banning them from withholding numbers and helping to create a simple, text registration option for the UK’s leave-me-alone database. But Vodafone’s decided to go even further, today announcing that it has begun blocking unwanted calls at the network level, so they don’t even reach your phone in the first place.
Vodafone already had a system in place to save customers from the missed call scam, stopping them from returning a dropped call from a premium rate number that would charge silly amounts of money. This new barring technology can block these outright, as well as other types of fraudulent and nuisance calls like the dreaded PPI claim offer.
Said to be the first network-wide system of its kind in the UK, Vodafone admits the technology isn’t 100 percent effective. During testing, though, the carrier boasts it was able to block over 425,000 unwanted calls in just one day, apparently seeing a drop in the number of attempts over the course of a week as cold callers began to cotton on.
As to how the technology works exactly, Vodafone is keeping tight-lipped. According to the carrier, human curators of the system use a mixture of personal expertise and computer analysis to identify the calls that need blocking. Vodafone didn’t want to say any more than that, though, fearing that revealing the ins and outs could give those holding the phones enough info to develop workarounds.
Source: Vodafone
MakerBot’s Replicator Mini+ is designed for classrooms
More and more classrooms today are getting into 3D printing, and MakerBot wants to be there for them. It’s taken its Replicator Mini printer, which was a surprising hit in schools, and made it faster and quieter than before. The new Replicator Mini+ is available for $999 starting today, and promises to be 10 percent faster and a whopping 58 percent quieter than before.
MakerBot’s own reps acknowledged during its media event that the prior Mini was pretty loud, so the noise reduction should be welcome by teachers who no longer have to scream over whirring printers to be heard.
The company added a new Education vertical to its free Thingiverse ecosystem, which now lets teachers find lesson plans and models to work on in class. You’ll also be able to use the MakerBot Print software and mobile app. The latter has also been revamped, and now offers an easier guide to setting up your first run out of the box.
The Mini+’s current $999 price is only for an introductory period that ends Oct. 31, 2016, so you should probably pick one up soon if you’re already considering it. If you need more information before deciding, though, stay tuned for our hands on impressions.
