iOS 8 Downloads Cause Spike in Web Traffic as Adoption Rate Climbs Slowly
Posted: 18 Sep 2014 08:00 AM PDT
Apple yesterday released iOS 8 to the public, opening the doors for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners to download and install Apple's latest version of iOS on their devices. According to The Guardian , this release caused internet traffic to surge in the UK by as much as 60 percent compared to the same time the previous day as millions of iOS users rushed to update their devices. 
Data from LONAP shows that web traffic surged just as iOS 8 was released at 6:00 PM UK time. Traffic remained strong for several hours, with a peak at 8:00 PM in the UK as more than 70 gigabits per second were being transferred through LONAP's exchange. 
iOS 8 adoption from Mixpanel iOS 8 may have caused web traffic to briefly increase, but the first-day adoption rate of the mobile operating system is relatively low when compared to previous iOS rollouts. According to analytics firm Mixpanel, only 14 percent of the iOS devices that it tracks are currently running iOS 8. Data from mobile marketing company Fiksushows a similar slow uptake in iOS 8 with the adoption of Apple's latest iOS version trailing the last that of the last several iOS launches. 
Fiksu iOS 8 Tracker The slower update rate may be due to a record numberof iPhone owners purchasing new devices. Apple sold more than four million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units in the first 24 hours that pre-orders were available last week. Customers who are receiving a new phone in the coming weeks may delay upgrading their current device, opting instead to prepare the handset for sale. Another factor may be the large storage size requiredfor the over-the-air updates. Though the iOS 8 update was just over 1 GB in size, it required 4.6 GB of free storage space on an iPhone and almost 7 GB of free storage on an iPad for installation. That's almost half the free space available on a 16 GB device, forcing many owners to decide whether to delete content from their devices or install the update. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Apple Receives One Out of Two Licenses Needed to Begin iPhone 6 Sales in China
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• First iPhone 6 Unboxing Video Surfaces
 
 
LONAP web traffic data from iOS launch timeframe (blue) vs. previous day (red)
Apple Working with U2 on New Music Format to Boost Digital Music Sales
Posted: 18 Sep 2014 05:10 AM PDT
Apple and U2 have a long history of working together, producing a special edition U2 iPod in 2008 and more recently releasing the band's latest album, "Songs of Innocence," for free. According to Time , Apple and U2 reportedly now are collaborating on a new music format that will boost digital music sales. 
Details on the music format or the secret project surrounding it were not revealed, but U2's Bono says it will help musicians sell more of their music.
Bono tells TIME he hopes that a new digital music format in the works will prove so irresistibly exciting to music fans that it will tempt them again into buying music—whole albums as well as individual tracks. The point isn't just to help U2 but less well known artists and others in the industry who can't make money, as U2 does, from live performance. "Songwriters aren't touring people," says Bono. "Cole Porter wouldn't have sold T-shirts. Cole Porter wasn't coming to a stadium near you."
Digital music sales are declining as consumer interest in online streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora grows. According to Nielsen SoundScan data from the first half of 2014, digital album sales fell 15 percent year over year, while digital track sales fell 13 percent. At the same time, streaming music increased 42 percent. In the U.S., iTunes currently is the market leader for digital music downloads, but Apple is not blind to the steady decline in these digital music sales. The company launched the Pandora-like iTunes Radio along with iOS 7 and recently purchased Beats Music for $3 billion. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Apple Receives One Out of Two Licenses Needed to Begin iPhone 6 Sales in China
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• iPhone 4s Users May Want to Avoid iOS 8 Due to Performance and Screen Size Issues
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• 1Password for iOS Available for Free Ahead of iOS 8 Launch [Updated]
• First iPhone 6 Unboxing Video Surfaces
 
 
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Long Lines Forming for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Launch in Australia
Posted: 18 Sep 2014 02:10 AM PDT
With Apple's new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus going on sale in the first group of launch countries beginning on Friday, September 19, long lines have already started to form across the world as many anticipate the release of both devices. Apple retail customers in Australia will have the first opportunity to purchase the new handsets at 8 AM on Friday, as some have already begun lining up outside of the company's various retail locations. Currently, it is 7:10 PM on Thursday, September 18 throughout many parts of Australia. 
One photo taken by Guardian Australia writer Bethanie Blanchard shows many customers lining up outside the Apple Store Doncaster, as the line is said to have started at 6 AM and stretches around the entire length of the shopping center. 
Meanwhile, a photo shared by Twitter user @rodgerodger shows the line surrounding an Apple Store in Brisbane. The image shows numerous customers setting up chairs and laying down supplies in preparation to stay the night ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the morning. In addition to Australia, Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the US, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK starting Friday, with Apple Retail Stores beginning sales at 8 AM. The company is also implementing a reservation pass system at its retail stores for those who line up, which will keep track of the line position of each customer and ensure that those waiting receive a device. The first batch of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders will also be delivered starting this Friday, as some devices have already begun shipping to customers. Shipping estimates for new iPhone 6 pre-orders remain at 7 to 10 days, while estimates for iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders are at 3 to 4 weeks. Apple announced this past Monday that it processed more than four million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders during the first day of its pre-launch sales on September 12. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Apple Updates iMovie and Numbers for iOS 8 [Update: iMovie Pulled]
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• 1Password for iOS Available for Free Ahead of iOS 8 Launch [Updated]
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• Official iPhone 6 Plus Reviews Report 1 GB RAM
 
 
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Apple Aims for Greater Transparency With Comprehensive New Privacy Site
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 06:47 PM PDT
Apple today launched a new privacy site that outlines all of the privacy features of Apple's products and services, offers tips on managing privacy, details government information requests, and explicitly states Apple's Privacy Policy. 
The site comes alongside a letter on privacy from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who says that the company respects user privacy and protects it with "strong encryption." Privacy and security are of the utmost importance to Apple, according to Cook, and the company designs all of its hardware, software, and services with privacy in mind.
In the letter, Tim Cook says that Apple is aiming to be more transparent about what happens with personal information, detailing how and why it is used by the company. Cook also states plainly that Apple aims to sell great products, not collect user information.
We're publishing this website to explain how we handle your personal information, what we do and don't collect, and why. We're going to make sure you get updates here about privacy at Apple at least once a year and whenever there are significant changes to our policies.
A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product. But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn't come at the expense of your privacy.
Our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products. We don't build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don't "monetize" the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don't read your email or your messages to get information to market to you. Our software and services are designed to make our devices better. Plain and simple.
The first section of Apple's new privacy site details the privacy built into "the things you use every day." The site gives information on the ways apps and services are protected and the data that Apple can collect. Services detailed include iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud, Safari, Maps, Siri, Mail, Apps and the App Store, Apple Pay, Health, HomeKit, Spotlight Suggestions, and Randomized Wi-Fi addresses. For example, Apple states that it cannot access content in the Messages app due to the encryption, and it explains how iCloud data is encrypted. A second Privacy section is clearly the result of a recent hacking incident that saw several celebrity iCloud accounts compromised. In the section, Apple suggests ways users can improve the security of their devices, pointing towards passcodes, Touch ID, and Find My iPhone. Apple also instructs users how to create a strong password, how to create proper security questions, and it directs them to turn on two-step verification. In addition, it details phishing scams, suggests users change their passwords on a regular basis, and tells them to keep an eye out for emails sent after Apple ID login attempts. 
The final two sections of Apple's privacy site explicitly outline all government data requests that the company has received and offer details on Apple's privacy policy. The site lists examples of the personal information that Apple collects and exactly how that personal information is used. According to Cook, the new site is the result of a "commitment to protecting your privacy." "We know that your trust doesn't come easy," writes the CEO, "That's why we have and always will work as hard as we can to earn and keep it."
Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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• Official iPhone 6 Plus Reviews Report 1 GB RAM
 
 
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Apple Releases OS X 10.9.5 With Reliability Improvements, Safari 7.0.6
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT
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List of iOS 8 Apps That Offer Touch ID Integration
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 04:36 PM PDT
iOS 8, released to the public earlier today, included a slew of new APIs for developers. One of those APIs opened up Touch ID to third-party apps, letting developers use the fingerprint scanner for authentication purposes within apps. Quite a few apps have been updated to take advantage of Touch ID integration, replacing passwords and PIN codes. We've gathered up a comprehensive list of the most popular apps that have integrated Touch ID support below. 
- 1Password (Free) [Direct Link] - Password management app 1Password allows Touch ID to replace a Master Password, providing access to the app.
- LastPass (Free) [Direct Link] - Like 1Password, LastPass uses Touch ID to protect a user's LastPass vault. It replaces the Master Password. - Amazon App (Free) [Direct Link] - The newly updated Amazon app for iOS 8 allows users to sign into their Amazon accounts using Touch ID instead of a password. - Discover Mobile (Free) [Direct Link] - Banking app Discover Mobile lets users log into their accounts using Touch ID instead of a password. - Evernote (Free) [Direct Link] - Evernote allows Evernote premium users who have protected their accounts with a passcode to log in with Touch ID instead of a number. - Mint (Free) [Direct Link] - Money management app Mint allows users to substitute Touch ID for a passcode when logging into their Mint accounts. - Scanner Pro ($6.99) [Direct Link] - Scanner Pro's newly updated iOS 8 app lets users protect their scanned information with Touch ID. - Simple (Free) [Direct Link] - Banking app Simple lets users log into their bank accounts with Touch ID. - Lowe's (Free) [Direct Link] - The mobile app for home improvement store Lowe's allows users to log into their MyLowe's personal accounts. - Day One ($4.99) [Direct Link] - Day One allows users to unlock their journals with Touch ID, replacing a passcode. Other apps with Touch ID integration: Yplan , Memoir , eHarmony These are just a sampling of the apps that have integrated Touch ID so far. Additional app developers will likely be rolling the feature into their apps in the near future, now that iOS 8 is widely available. Want more iOS 8 info? Make sure to check out our iOS 8 roundup, our iOS 8 Hidden Features roundup, our list of apps with widgets in Notification Center, and our list of third-party keyboards. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Comprehensive List of iOS 8 Apps with Notification Center Widgets
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 03:12 PM PDT
iOS 8 was released today, which means hundreds of app developers are releasing newly updated apps that take advantage of all the APIs introduced with the operating system upgrade. Those include third-party keyboards, which we covered earlier today, and app extensions, a set of APIs that allows apps to interact in new and innovative ways. One of the neatest app extension features lets developers create widgets that show up in the Today view of the Notification Center. These widgets let users interact with apps and get information at a glance. Several apps have been updated to take advantage of Notification Center widgets, and we've rounded up a comprehensive list below. Many of these app updates are already available, but some will be coming later today and tomorrow. Dropbox (Free) [Direct Link] - Dropbox's new Notification Center widget displays all of the files that have been recently uploaded. Tapping on one of the files opens the file in the Dropbox app. 
Duolingo (Free) [Direct Link] - Duolingo displays how close a user is to reaching their daily language learning goals. Tapping on the widget in the Notification Center opens the Duolingo app and lets users continue with their current language lesson.
Evernote (Free) [Direct Link] - Evernote's Notification Center widget is especially useful, including five different icons that let users create a document, reminder, or list, as well as snap a photo or access photos stored in the app. Tapping one of the icons opens the Evernote app and begins the task immediately.
Clear ($2.99) [Direct Link] - Clear's Notification Center widget includes a handy list of upcoming reminders. Tapping on one of the reminders will open the Clear app for direct access.
iTranslate (Free) [Direct Link] - iTranslate's Notification Center widget is a nifty tool that will let users one-tap translate whatever happens to be copied to the clipboard to the selected language. 
Other apps with Notification Center widgets:
- 24me (Free) [Direct Link] - Adds notes, tasks, and upcoming Calendar events to the Notification Center. - Agenda+ ($1.99) [Direct Link] - This new task management app includes a list of calendar events and reminders, with options to check off events directly in Notification Center. - Asana (Free) [Direct Link] - Adds a list of tasks to the Notification Center. - Audiobooks from Audible (Free) [Direct Link] - Audiobook app that lets users track total book listening time. - BuzzFeed (Free) [Direct Link] - BuzzFeed's Notification Center widget displays a list of trending posts and lets users scroll through stories. 
- Calendars 5 ($6.99) [Direct Link] - This popular calendar app from Readdle lets users enter new calendar events directly from the Notification Center.
- Day One ($4.99) [Direct Link] - Day One's Notification Center widget displays flashbacks of past entries, graphs of recent entry counts, and past photos. - Finish (Free) [Direct Link] - Task management app Finish has a Notification Center widget that displays three upcoming tasks and reminders. Users are also able to complete tasks and add new tasks. - Lose It (Free) [Direct Link] - Calorie tracking app LoseIt will display the total amount of daily calories for a user, including what's left after meals have been entered. - NYT Now (Free) [Direct Link] - This app from The New York Times offers images and news headlines directly in the Notification Center. - OmniFocus 2 ($19.99) [Direct Link] - Like other task management apps with widgets, OmniFocus displays a list of actions due in the Today section of Forecast. - OpenTable (Free) [Direct Link] - Reservation-making app OpenTable will let users see their upcoming reservations in the Notification Center. - Parcel (Free) [Direct Link] - Package tracking app Parcel's Notification Center widget displays upcoming deliveries. - PCalc ($9.99) [Direct Link] - Pcalc's widget lets users perform quick calculations directly in the Notification Center. - Runtime ($2.99) [Direct Link] - Fitness tracking app Runtime displays the current number of steps taken in the Notification Center, and allows users to time a run with a quick access button. - Sky Guide ($1.99) [Direct Link] - Star viewing app Sky Guide lets users view information like sunrise and sunset times, upcoming meteor showers, and upcoming lunar eclipses. 
- Wunderlist (Free) [Direct Link] - List making app Wunderlist displays a list of to-dos in the Notification Center.
- Yahoo Weather (Free) [Direct Link] - Yahoo Weather is able to display current weather in the Notification Center, along with a picture depicting the weather conditions.
- NASCAR (Free) [Direct Link] - NASCAR displays live leaderboards directly in Notification Center.
- WeatherPro ($2.99) [Direct Link] - WeatherPro's widget includes data like current temperature, wind speeds, and more. - forScore ($6.99) [Direct Link] - Sheet music app forScore includes an iOS 8 widget called "Pitch Pipe," which displays starting pitch. - Countdowns (Free) [Direct Link] - Countdowns lets users create countdowns for important events, with the option to display countdowns in Notification Center. - Breaking News (Free) [Direct Link] - Breaking News has a widget that's designed to display top stories in the Notification Center. 
- The Guardian (Free) [Direct Link] - The Guardian's Notification Center widget includes a list of top stories, which can be personalized. - Slice (Free) [Direct Link] - Shopping assistant app Slice lists package delivery status and pinned orders in the Notification Center. - TwoDots (Free) [Direct Link] - Puzzle game TwoDots has an iOS 8 widget that lists medals, lives, and game progress. - Ancestry (Free) [Direct Link] - Genealogy app Ancestry has an interesting Notification Center widget that displays birthdays, marriages, and deaths from a user's family tree. - Hotel Tonight (Free) [Direct Link] - Hotel Tonight lists reservation info and rates from recent searches in the Notification Center. - Discover Mobile (Free) [Direct Link] - The Discover Mobile app includes a user's current balance and minimum payment due in the Notification Center, along with a balance of Cashback Bonuses. 
- LinkedIn Pulse (Free) [Direct Link] - LinkedIn Pulse displays top stories in the Notification Center.
- Cheatsheet (Free) [Direct Link] - Quick reference app Cheatsheet lists a user's last 10 notes in the Notification Center. Tapping a note will open the Cheatsheet app. - Luminos (Free) [Direct Link] - Astronomy app Luminos has two widgets for the Notification Center. One displays the current positions of Jupiter's moons and the other lists daily moon and sun conditions. - ETA ($0.99) [Direct Link] - Driving assistant app ETA allows users to place three favorite locations in the Notification Center, displaying estimated driving times to each location. - Raincast ($1.99) [Direct Link] - Weather app Raincast offers a Notification Center widget that displays the upcoming rain and snow forecast. The update isn't available just yet but should be shortly. 
- Wattpad (Free) [Direct Link] - This eBook reader app and publishing platform has two new widgets for the Notification Center. The first lets users return to the story they were most recently reading, while the other shows quick updates on published stories. Widgets can be installed in the "Today" view of Notification Center by opening up Notification Center and swiping to the bottom of the menu. Tapping the "edit" button will let users choose which Notification Center app widgets they want to see on their devices. Widgets require iOS 8, which was released to the public today. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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'Epic Zen Garden' Metal Demo Shown Off at WWDC Now Available for Download
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 01:41 PM PDT
At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple unveiled Metal, an API designed to improve game performance on iOS. Epic Games took the stage during the event to show off Epic Zen Garden, a game built using the Unreal 4 Engine and the Metal API. The game, which was designed to show off the impressive graphic enhancement features possible with Metal, demonstrated an expansive world with a fully interactive environment. Users could touch a tree to send a cascade of leaves and cherry blossoms swirling to the ground or interact with a group of koi fish. 
As of today, Epic Zen Garden is available for download, letting users see some of the things that will be possible in iOS games in the near future. The game supports a resolution of 1440 x 1080 at 30fps, and can display 3,500 butterflies at once. One of the major features of Metal is that it allows for more draw calls, letting a huge number of objects be displayed on the screen.
Epic Zen Garden is a beautiful graphical environment showcasing the power of iOS 8, developed by Epic Games with Unreal Engine 4. Tap to navigate this interactive oasis brimming unmatched detail on mobile. Swipe the Sakura tree to make thousands of cherry blossoms swirl in the air, graze the koi pond to summon leagues of fish, and rake the sand with your finger to create subtle designs. Touch the well to bring throngs of butterflies out of hiding.
More information on how Metal works, Epic Zen Garden and the Unreal Engine 4 can be seen in the video below. Epic Zen Garden can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [ Direct Link] (Thanks, Eli!) Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Confirms HealthKit Bug, Promises Fix by End of September
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 01:17 PM PDT
 Just before the public launch of iOS 8 earlier today, we noted that Apple had begun pulling HealthKit-related apps from the App Store, apparently due to a last-minute issue that cropped up in the new operating system. The issue has put a significant dent in the usefulness of the Health app that was to be a key feature of iOS 8, while also subjecting a number of third-party developers to uncertainty about the fate of their apps. While details on the issue are still unknown, Apple has confirmed to Tim Bradshaw of Financial Times that it has discovered a "bug" in HealthKit that will require a software update to fix. Unfortunately, Apple is not necessarily promising an immediate turnaround on the fix, saying only that the company is aiming to "have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month". iOS 8 is available now to owners of recent-generation iOS devices, and will be included on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus when they officially launch on Friday. Aside from Health, iOS 8 includes a number of other features such as a new QuickType keyboard with word suggestions, support for systemwide third-party keyboards and Touch ID integration, Photos and Messages improvements, and Continuity features to make iOS device and Macs work more smoothly with each other. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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List of Third-Party Keyboards Now Available for iOS 8 Users
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 12:32 PM PDT
iOS 8, released to the public today, includes an API that allows developers to create system-wide third-party keyboards for the first time, which will let users select from a range of different keyboards with unique functions. We've rounded up a list of the best third-party keyboards currently available to you find the keyboard best suited to you. Some of these keyboards are in the App Store now, while others will begin rolling out today following the launch of iOS 8. SwiftKey (Free) [Direct Link] - SwiftKey is a gesture-based keyboard that allows users to type by dragging their fingers from key to key. Along with offering predictive suggestions, SwiftKey integrates with SwiftKey Cloud to let a user's preferences be backed up and synced across all devices. Swype ($0.99) [ Direct Link]- Like SwiftKey, Swype is a gesture-based keyboard that allows users to drag their fingers from key to key in order to create words. Swype's built-in predictive text engine determines what was being typed, and it offers predictive punctuation to speed up typing. Swype also includes several different themes for custom looks. SwiftKey and Swype are fairly similar, and Re/code has done a review comparing and contrasting them.
Minuum ($1.99) [ Direct Link] - Minuum is a resizable keyboard that can be shrunken down (via swipe gestures) to allow more of the screen to be seen. Minuum also takes advantage of a robust autocorrect feature that automatically corrects spelling as words are typed and offers word suggestions. Fleksy ($1.99) [ Direct Link] - Fleksy is known as the fastest keyboard in the world. It incorporates advanced autocorrection features to interpret what's typed (which improves over time) and it uses swipe gestures to make it easy for users to delete, add punctuation, spaces, and select alternate autocorrect suggestions. It also includes support for emoji and offers a resizable keyboard. TouchPal (Free) [ Direct Link] - TouchPal is another keyboard that lets users drag a finger over letters in quick succession to spell words, suggesting different choices based on input. TouchPal also offers a design that's similar to the standard keyboard, but it incorporates quick access buttons to allow for easy insertion of punctuation and special characters. TextExpander ($4.99) [ Direct Link] - Built into an update of the existing TextExpander app, the TextExpander keyboard allows users to type in short abbreviations, which are then spelled out fully. For example, tyvm might become thank you very much. KuaiBoard ($1.99) [ Direct Link] - Formerly known as QuickBoard, KuaiBoard is not a traditional keyboard. It's designed to let users insert chunks of frequently typed text like signatures, address information, billing information, and more. As outlined in our full hands-on post, KuaiBoard lets users create blocks of text that can then be inserted anywhere. It also has a feature that automatically detects a user's location, allowing it to be typed into a text message or email. 
Keymoji (Free) [Direct Link] - Keymoji is an emoji keyboard that converts text into emojis as it is typed. Users can use Keymoji to insert an emoji into a sentence quickly or replace text entirely with emoji symbols. For example, if a phrase like "cookie monster" is typed, Keymoji will give users the option to replace the text with a cookie emoji next to a monster emoji. "Toilet paper" becomes a toilet emoji next to a paper emoji, while "goatee" becomes a goat emoji next to a tea emoji. Third-party keyboards require users to install a separate app for each keyboard. Once downloaded, a keyboard can be turned on in the Settings app. In Settings, go to General --> Keyboards --> Add New Keyboard and tap whichever keyboard needs to be installed. From there, it is easy to switch between available keyboards by holding down on the Globe or Emoji icon in any app that supports keyboards. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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iOS 8 Hidden Features Video: Battery Usage By App, Hidden Photos, Siri Hands-Free, and More
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 11:31 AM PDT
Apple released iOS 8 to the public today, giving millions of users their first look at the new operating system. Along with all of the major features, like Continuity, Notification improvements, Messages upgrades, and the introduction of third-party keyboard/Touch ID access, there are also dozens of other minor tweaks and changes that have been introduced in iOS 8, both ahead of the OS's initial launch to developers and across the beta testing period. Outlined in the video below are some of the most interesting and handy tweaks in iOS 8, including automatic credit card scanning, expanded weather options, quick access to contacts, a hands-free mode for Siri, hidden photos, and more. We've been collecting and cataloguing minor feature changes to iOS 8 since the first beta was released, documenting the development of new features and providing a one-stop location for all the changes that have largely gone under the radar. A complete list of all of the hidden features in iOS 8 can be found in our dedicated Hidden Features Roundup , which also serves as a way to see the progress iOS 8 made over the course of the beta testing period. For example, in beta 4, Apple introduced a Tips app that offers iOS 8 users information about all of the new features in the operating system. Beta 5, meanwhile, added location information to photo collections in the Photos app, and beta 4 saw a Control Center redesign. We've also compiled a walkthrough of all of the major features introduced with iOS 8, which can be found in our iOS 8 Roundup . iOS 8 can be downloaded immediately for free. It can be installed on the iPhone 4s and later, 5th-generation iPod touch, iPad 2 and later, and the iPad mini. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Ive on Apple Watch: One of the Most Difficult Projects I've Ever Worked On
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 10:58 AM PDT
In a wide ranging interview with Bloomberg covering culture changes at Apple, Tim Cook's personality, the company's move into Apple Pay, and the development of the Apple Watch, Tim Cook, Jony Ive, and Jeff Williams share some fascinating details on the work that went into creating Apple's new wearable device. According to Jony Ive, Apple first began developing the Apple Watch three years ago, before wearables caught on in Silicon Valley. The Apple Watch, he says, is "probably one of the most difficult projects I have ever worked on." A huge amount of research was conducted for the watch, which was touched on at Apple's introductory keynote event. 
Apple invited several watch historians to speak at Cupertino, with one, French author and antique expert Dominique Fléchon saying that discussion centered around "the philosophy of instruments for measuring time." Ive himself delved into horological history, studying clocks and watches throughout time.
Clocks first popped up on top of towers in the center of towns and over time were gradually miniaturized, appearing on belt buckles, as neck pendants, and inside trouser pockets. They eventually migrated to the wrist, first as a way for ship captains to tell time while keeping their hands firmly locked on the wheel. "What was interesting is that it took centuries to find the wrist and then it didn't go anywhere else," Ive says. "I would argue the wrist is the right place for the technology."
Ive and his team experimented with a variety of interface interactions for the Apple Watch, including pinch-to-zoom, which the company joked about during the keynote as an unsuitable way to use the device because fingers cover the small screen. The team settled on the "digital crown" a physical button that can be used for a variety of tasks, including scrolling through options and accessing the home button. Ive went on to develop high-quality wristbands and unique packaging that "doubles as a charging stand." A staggering number of employees with various specialties worked on the Apple Watch, under the direction of Apple's VP of operations, Jeff Williams. Hundreds of designers and engineers came together to design the S1 processor in the device, the heart rate sensor, and the special alloys used in casings and bands. According to Williams, while Apple could have launched a watch in time for the holiday season, it wouldn't have been "at the fit and finish and quality and integration of these products." Apple wanted to make "the best product in the world" and is "willing to wait." Apple's first wearable device is expected to be available to consumers in early 2015. Pricing details remain largely unknown, with the company stating that pricing will start at $349. Cook and Ive's complete interview with Bloomberg, which also has several details on how Apple runs under Cook, Cook's personality and values, Jobs' ongoing influence, recent hirings and acquisitions, and Apple's partnership with IBM, is well worth reading to get a glimpse inside the walls of Apple's Cupertino headquarters. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Releases iOS 8 With Continuity, Third Party Access to Keyboards/Touch ID, Family Sharing, and 'Health' App
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 09:55 AM PDT
Apple today released iOS 8 to the public, making the download available to all users who have an iPhone 4s or later, iPad 2 or later, 5th-generation iPod touch, or iPad mini. The update can be downloaded via iTunes or through an over-the-air update accessible by going to the Settings app and tapping General ---> Software Update. While iOS 8 is currently available for download, it may take a few minutes for the update to propagate to all users due to demand. In past years, Apple's servers have been overwhelmed with traffic. iOS 8 includes the same general design elements introduced with iOS 7, but introduces several under-the-hood improvements. Improved integration between Apple devices, both mobile and desktop, is a major focal point of iOS 8, with Apple introducing several new "Continuity" features designed to connect the iPhone, iPad, and Mac "like never before." This video walks through the major new features: The operating system also includes interactive notifications, app widgets in the Notification Center, and Messages improvements that let users manage group conversations for the first time. Third-party access to both the keyboard and Touch ID has been enabled, and Apple has implemented its own keyboard improvements, in the form of its QuickType predictive keyboard. A new Health app is included with iOS 8, aggregating health and fitness data from a variety of apps and devices, and a new Family Sharing feature lets families of up to six people share apps, music, books, and more. Our iOS 8 roundup has a complete rundown of all of the major new features introduced in iOS 8, and our separate features roundup showcases all of the smaller changes and additions made to the operating system throughout the beta testing period. In addition to being released to the public today, iOS 8 will also come pre-installed on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, which will be available beginning on Friday, September 19. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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