New Report Reveals Apple Watch OS 1.1 and TVKit

Reports are always coming out but the one we want to talk about today surprised us because it states that Apple is already working on Apple Watch hardware and software updates. This comes just a month into the release of this wearable gadget. Supposedly, these upgrades include better security, health and fitness features, and a bunch of connectivity enhancements including support for more Apple products. The report also suggests that Apple is also working on a new SDK – TVKit - for the Apple TV.

Even before the Apple watch with its Watch OS 1.0 went on sale to the public, it was evident that Apple’s first ever wearable would receive some major software and hardware updates within a year, pretty much like the iPhone. According to sources that have been cited by 9to5Mac, the details are beginning to come to light about what Apple fans can expect from the next version of the Watch OS which could be 1.1 or 2.0.

It looks like top of the list for the Apple Watch updates will be the much needed “Find my Watch” app which will still rely on the iPhone to help a user locate it. The reports that we have seen suggest that the watch will “use its wireless signal to establish a location relative to the iPhone, and will optionally be able to notify a user if the iPhone is accidently left behind. There is also talk about Apple improving the Watch so that it will support the next-generation of Apple TV, where the Apple Watch is intended to be used as a primary input device for the set-top box.

Work is also underway for allowing developer to build native apps for the iWatch, while Apple will also be working on allowing support for third-party watch face Complication as, which includes “small widgets indicating activity levels, battery life, alarm clocks, upcoming calendar events, and the current temperature on many of Apple included Apple Watch clock faces. So yes, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve this wearable device in the coming months.

The next generation Apple TV is also expected to get an announcement this June and according to reports, this next generation model could support Siri and have added support for third-party apps. The rumoured “TVKit” will be targeted at developers to support them in building apps for the platform. The sources have added that the new device will also integrate with “Live TV”, which is Apple’s upcoming cable-replacement service. The final release of the new Apple TV is expected to come in a slimmer box compared to the existing one.

As you can see, there is a lot to look forward to from Apple over the next while and personally we can’t wait to see the Apple Watch and Apple TV evolve.

Bleep For iOS – The Private Way To Chat

BitTorrent has officially updated and launched Bleep. This is their first secure messaging service and it is a P2P Messaging App with end-to-end encryption. It is available for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows platforms and we are so excited to share it with you. All the messages are encrypted and operated through a direct peer-to-peer connection. This means that no conversations are stored in the cloud.

Bleep was first seen back in July last year when BitTorrent released the messaging app as an invite only pre-alpha, before going public with experimental builds for Android and Mac in September of last year. What has kept fans interested is that fact that this app isn’t interested in your personal information. You don’t need it to set up an account and all you have to do is pick a nickname. You can also find users using specific Bleep keys.

The end-to-end encryption and no cloud storage make Bleep one of the very rare secure messaging apps that are out there. You don’t have to worry about leaks or snoops. On the features front, Bleep offers Whispers, which is similar to snapchat, in that your text or pictures that you have sent to a user will disappear after they have been read/seen. You do get the choice of whether to use standard messaging or Whispers so if you want to store the messages or pictures on your device you can. With that being said, there is no way to avoid the screen grab for now but Whispers is going to resist it somewhat by blurring nicknames and texts.

Bleep also offers the ability to make calls over the internet which will also be encrypted. There are only some services that offer end-to-end encryption including iMessage and Blackberry messenger. With these however, your conversations are still stored in the cloud so if you want something completely private, Bleep could be the thing for you.

At the moment you can only have Bleep on one device per user but multi-device support is said to be coming in the next update and you will be able to sync your messages across all connected devices. Bleep is free to use and is available right now in the App store. You can also check out the video below for more information.

Apple’s iMessage Is More Secure Than Google’s Hangouts

Online security and data encryption technology has never been more important. It is something that most people are now aware of and it is often on their mind whenever they use the internet. We all send so much information every single day and we often forget that it might not be as secure as we would like it to be. This is a very modern problem and one that won’t be going away.

Apple have always said that their iMessage features end-to-end encryption that should theoretically stop third-parties from listening in on your conversations. Google on the other hand has been very tightlipped about what encryption they use for their messaging service, Hangouts. Until now that is.

Speaking at a recent Reddit AMA – Ask Me Anything, Google security executives Richard Salgado and David Lieber fielded questions from the public, and The American Civil Liberties Union’s top technologist Christopher Soghoian couldn’t help but take advantage of this opportunity. His question to them was, “Why has Google refused to be transparent about its ability to provide wiretaps for Hangouts?” He went on to say that, “Given Google’s rather impressive track record regarding surveillance transparency, the total secrecy regarding the company’s surveillance capabilities for this product is quite unusual.”

The answer that was given from Salgado was simply that, “Hangouts are encrypted in transit.” What this means is that, theoretically at least, Google has complete access to what goes out via Hangouts because it is only encrypted on its way to Google’s servers. Once it gets there, it’s an open season as pointed out by Reddit user reddit_poly.

For those reading this that are not technically minded, this means that Hangouts are only encrypted on their way between your computer and Google’s servers. Once they arrive at Google’s end, Google has full access. In short, this is confirmation Google CAN wiretrap Hangouts.

Google has since confirmed the statement that Hangouts does not use the more secure end-to-end encryption which may set a number of red flags flying for those who are concerned about their privacy. If this concerns you, we suggest not using Hangouts or, at the very least, being particularly careful about what information you send using this service.

Apple Launches New ‘Everything Changes With iPad’ Microsite

Apple has just launched a brand new microsite. This new offering is called “Everything Changes with iPad”. It offers a host of sections that provide key information on what the company’s iPad is capable of. We have all the information you need in the post below.

The new microsite section that has been unveiled by Apple seeks to make it easier for consumers and enterprise users to discover the advantages of owning an iPad. Back in 2010, there was a lot of debate and questioning over the necessity of the original iPad when we already had the iPhone. Now however, there is no debating that the larger display can offer users so much more than a mere handset.

The “Everything Changes with iPad” microsite is divided up into a number of different sections. These include, Cooking with iPad, Learning with iPad, Small business with iPad, Traveling with iPad, Redecorating with iPad, and Why iPad. This means that no matter what your aim or goals may be, there is something that the iPad can do for you to improve your experience. Each of the different sections also includes details of apps that you can use to help you. The sections are also well organized providing lots of information that is in addition to Apple’s main website.

Despite Apple’s efforts to conquer the education and business sectors, there is still the feeling that the iPad is a bit of a luxury product and that its primary purpose is consumption. The downloading of games, watching movies and browsing the web seem to be among the most popular pastimes for the average iPad user, so the purpose of the new microsite is to make sure that everyone knows exactly what they can do with the iPad.

The iPad line-up consists of the 9.7 inch iPad Air and the iPad mini, but according to reports, these will be joined by a larger model in the very near future. There are rumors of an iPad Pro that will have a 12 inch display. This will compete with the likes of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3. For now though, the iPad Air and the iPad Mini cover the needs of most users and if you would like to find out a little bit more about what the iPad is capable of, just visit the new iPad microsite and have a look for yourself.

Here’s How Kids React To The Apple Watch

Everywhere you look this week, there is something about the Apple Watch. Apps are being updated and popular sites are talking about this new wearable device from Apple. What we wanted to bring you today was a video that shows how kids react to the new Apple Watch and how they feel this product will do in today’s market.

Kids today have a knack for using technology and where the iPhone is typically a household name, what do kids really think about the new Apple Watch. The video that we have in this post, is from YouTube and shows the reaction of a group of kids when they are given an Apple Watch to test for the first time. These videos are really popular and where they have usually been showing the kids technology that is pretty old, the producers decided to shake things up this time and give the kids something new.

As you will see from the video, kids are given the Apple Watch and most of them have no idea that this wearable is Apple branded. Their reactions are great and it is enjoyable to see them talk about the watch’s purpose and what they thought of it. The reactions are great and very positive until the kids are told that the Apple Watch requires an iPhone for the majority of its functions. They are all very disappointed by this and one kids even says that it’s just dumb whilst another of the kids says that “it’s kind of disappointing that you have to have a thing with you to make it work.”

Some of the children thought that getting calls and texts on the watch was pointless because you have your phone with you and you can’t type a reply to the texts either because you don’t have a keyboard. They felt that it would be just as easy to take your iPhone out of your pocket because you need it with you to get the watch to work anyway. One of the children referred to the Apple Watch as an “accessory” to the iPhone and most didn’t feel that it would be a big hit. You can watch the video for yourself to see their reaction and how the youth of today really felt about the latest Apple Device. Be sure to leave your comments and tell us what you think of the Apple Watch. Will you be getting one and what will you use it for?