The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Rapoo E6700 Bluetooth Touch Keyboard: Not really for Mac users Posted: 04 Dec 2014 03:00 PM PST We get a lot of Bluetooth keyboards to test here at the TUAW Labs, but very few of those come with a built-in trackpad. Today I'm looking at the Rapoo E6700 Bluetooth Touch Keyboard (available on Amazon for about US$65), a very compact all-in-one key...

Daily Deals for December 4, 2014 Posted: 04 Dec 2014 02:30 PM PST It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own handpicked iOS and OS X selections. All prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly....

This is what a 12-story fall will do to your iPhone 6 Posted: 04 Dec 2014 02:00 PM PST Aside from the first week torture test videos that always accompany the release of a new iPhone, it's rare that we get to see one of Apple's smartphones undergo the type of real-world durability trial that a fall from a tall building can offer. That'...

Instapaper for iOS adds device handoff support and unread count Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST One of the major frustrations of using a service like Instapaper to read long articles is sometimes you've got to switch devices. Maybe your phone battery is dying or you simply don't want to read tiny text on your phone anymore, but switching back t...

Pennsylvania school district using $291K donation from Tim Cook to buy iPads for kids Posted: 04 Dec 2014 12:30 PM PST Apple CEO Time Cook recently made a $291,791 donation to Pennsylvania's Steel Valley School District in honor of former Apple board member Bill Campbell. who stepped down from the board this past July after 17 years of service. The Steel Valley Schoo...

Tomb Raider II is now on iOS, but seriously don't play it without this accessory Posted: 04 Dec 2014 12:00 PM PST Last year, Square Enix brought its absolutely ancient original Tomb Raider title to iOS. It's an absolute classic -- and looks like an absolute dinosaur on a Retina display -- so it was great to see it appear on the App Store. Today, the sequel makes...

Steve's 2014 holiday gift ideas Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:00 AM PST It's that time of year when even the most imaginative of us come up short with ideas for gifts to buy our family and friends. So the TUAW team is going to be providing you with some of our personal favorite gift ideas. Now, just because I've listed i...

Alabama's anti-discrimination bill will bear Tim Cook's name after all Posted: 04 Dec 2014 10:00 AM PST Alabama state Representative Patricia Todd, the state's first openly gay lawmaker, is pushing for a new anti-discrimination bill and will be getting some help from Apple's own Tim Cook. Reuters reports that after some initial back-and-forth on whethe...

Lawyer: Apple secretly deleted rival's music files from consumer iPods Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST Arguing for consumers in a class action iPod lawsuit against Apple, Attorney Patrick Coughlin accused the Cupertino company of deliberately deleting music files dowloaded from competing music services. These files were removed from customer's iPods w...

Wozniak: Apple's famed garage start is only a myth Posted: 04 Dec 2014 08:00 AM PST If you cherish the idea of Apple being created in a meager garage in suburbia California, then this is not the post for you. Speaking with Bloomberg's Brandon Lisy, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak put a pin in that story when he told Lisy that the gar...

Connecting dots can be futile with Dots Connector Free Posted: 04 Dec 2014 07:30 AM PST I usually enjoy games which require strategy, problem-solving, and mental exercise. I hate the vapid passivity which our technologically-glutted culture appears to aid and abet. I also deeply appreciate app creators' attempts to be thoughtful, carefu...

Rumor Roundup: Crescentgate-gate Posted: 04 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST UBS survey finds 10% of consumers want a smartwatch, expects 24M Apple Watch sales in fiscal 2015 (AppleInsider) Source: Some analyst Chance it's true: 30 percent Yet another analyst throws his hat into the "this is how many of (unreleased Apple p...

Starbucks beta trials new order-ahead feature in Portland, Oregon Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:00 AM PST Starbucks is shaking up the retail world with a new order-ahead feature that allows customers to order their favorite latte using their iPhone before they arrive at their local Starbucks. According to Wired, the new ordering tab will be available to ...

Some users of Mumu Chat Room want more than just chatting Posted: 04 Dec 2014 05:30 AM PST Mumu Chat Room brings a familiar concept from the '90s and early '00s to your modern-day iPhone and iPad. That concept is chat rooms - being able to join an online room full of strangers and chat away, typically about a specific topic designated to t...

Today in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates Posted: 03 Dec 2014 06:00 PM PST Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can. Apps Now Free MAPS.ME – Offline Map w...

Jimmy Iovine named one of GQ's Men of the Year, talks Apple Beats deal Posted: 03 Dec 2014 05:00 PM PST Jimmy Iovine joined Apple during the $3 billion acquisition of Beats earlier this year, the largest purchase in Apple's history. Needless to say, it's been a good year for Iovine. Now the mogul has been named one of GQ's Men of the Year and in his in...

BOLLS: Roll with this simple obstacle challenge Posted: 03 Dec 2014 04:30 PM PST Players navigate a ball through an ever-changing course of obstacles based on their environment such as wood or glass in BOLLS. The longer players can keep the ball from hitting an obstacle, the harder the game gets which in turn means a higher score...

Lightweight Loplin Hood designed to shade your MacBook screen Posted: 03 Dec 2014 04:00 PM PST Whether you're tired of having those other people in the Starbucks sneaking a peek at your MacBook screen or just don't like the glare and reflections that you get sometimes, a team from Germany has a possible solution for you on Kickstarter. Called ...

Tell everyone what you want for Christmas with Instalist Posted: 03 Dec 2014 03:30 PM PST Without wishlists, your holidays will be full of gifts that you don't like but are forced to say that you love so that you don't offend your loved ones. Instalist, free in the App Store, attempts to avoid holiday gift-giving debacles. You pick the it...