iOS 9 Adds In-App Screen Recording of Gameplay and App Videos

After all the hype and build up for the WWDC 2015, we are finally getting our heads around everything that was announced. A lot of developers are also getting to grips with all the new APIs that were announced as part of iOS 9. This new firmware version is set to release later this year and it is going to bring a host of new capabilities to iPhones and iPads, with on API set to make it a lot easier for developers to add screen recording features to their apps.

Appropriately names ReplayKit, this particular API is going to make it possible for gamers to record the action as it happens and then play it back at a later date. This recorded video could then be uploaded to video sites such as YouTube ushering in a new wave of games that make sharing of gaming clips one of their headline features. If on the other hand, you are a big minecraft fan and you love watching the Stampy videos, you will now be able to create your very own with ease on your iPad and Minecraft for the iPad with just a couple of clicks.

At the moment, developers have to use third-party services and users have to use jailbreak tweaks to achieve this, but with the arrival of a real API from Apple itself, apps can now have screen recording features with very little work indeed. In fact, just a couple of lines of code is all that is going to be required to make this new feature a reality.

There really are so many uses for this feature. Gamers can already record their exploits and then share them on home consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One, both of which have popular. If Apple does intend to help iOS keep up with a gaming industry that seems to be edging towards sharing game experience then an API such as ReplayKit makes perfect sense.

In iOS 8 and Yosemite, Apple introduced a way to record the iPhone or iPad’s screen but you had to connect your iOS device to a Mac to make it all work. With iOS 9 this will all become so easy and gamers will be able to share their latest and greatest gaming feats with their peers almost instantly.

Apple revealed iOS 9 to developers during WWDC 2015 and the first beta was released on Monday. A public beta version is set to go live next month with the final iOS product due to be ready when the next iPhones come to market around September. ReplayKit isn’t the only new feature that users are developers can look forward to, iOS 9 comes with increased iPad multitasking and a whole lot of new additions that we can’t wait to try out.

What Happened At WWDC 2015 – A Complete Roundup

Apple has held their Worldwide Developers Conference which really did pack a mighty punch. There is so much to take in following one of their most prolific mornings yet. Having previously used WWDC to announce new versions of iOS and OS X, this is the first WWDC that also included the Apple Watch. As a result, new features, improvements to existing ones and whole new revisions of mobile operating systems were being released. In this post we want to share with you a rundown of what was announced this year.

OS X 10.11 El Capitan

The latest version of Apple’s OS X software, El Capitan was announced. This takes over from Yosemite and includes Split View, improved spotlight functionality, under the hood technology for gaming and more. All together these great new features and improvements should see El Capitan receiving a warm welcome when the public beta begins next month.

iOS 9

Last year it was iOS 8 and this year we have iOS 9 with improved Siri support, Proactive Assistant, actual split-screen multitasking on the iPad Air 2 and a new side panel on older versions of the iPad that allow users to interact with two apps simultaneously. Apple also needed iOS 9 to pave the way for Watch OS 2 which we will cover further down in this post.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is finally breaking into Europe, with the payment service reaching the UK next month. Those in the US also now have support for reward cards and more financial institutions. A new Square accessory for use with Apple Pay was also announced.

WatchOS 2

This is perhaps the biggest news to come from the WWDC opening keynote besides the iOS 9 iPad multitasking feature. WatchOS 2 brings with it native apps and a lot of improvements. It includes a Nightstand mode that allows the Apple Watch to act as an alarm clock when needed. You can bet your life we are going to be seeing a lot more from the Apple Watch this year and next.

Apple Music

Apple Music will make its debut at the end of the month. This is going to bring with it a streaming service that will offer a free three month trial. Apple Music is more than just a streaming service and it hopes to bring exclusive content and added value to the music industry. We will have to wait and see how this plays out.

You can find out more information about all the items that were announced at WWDC 2015 and we will be covering things in more details in upcoming posts too.

Showtime Announces Standalone Streaming Service For iOS and Apple TV

Apple TV is great for streaming video. In fact, it is one of the things that this little black box does really well. If you enjoy shows that belong under the Showtime banner you will soon be able to watch them on iOS and Apple TV without the need for a cable subscription. This is fantastic news and this new streaming service will be available from the 12th of July.

We are still unsure as to whether Apple are going to unveil a new Apple TV or any media streaming deals at next week’s WWDC developer event as the reports that are coming in are mixed, but that hasn’t stopped any of their media partners from cranking out new apps for Apple existing devices. Showtime, the people behind Ray Donovan and other high profile shows, has announced a subscription service that will allow anyone across the United States to watch its content without the need for a cable subscription.

The new subscription is going to be called “Showtime” and will include live TV as well as a back catalog of content. This means that users will be able to watch content on their iPhones, iPads and Apple TV. Subscription costs are really great too at just $10.99 per month and will be available to purchase via Apple’s App Store payment systems.

In a statement on the new partnership with Showtime, Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services said that “iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple TV customers will now be able to subscribe to Showtime directly and instantly start viewing their favorite programming with the same simplicity as buying an app.” Showtime has also confirmed that users will be able to take advantage of a free trial for 30 days if they sign up before the end of July.

Showtime will be making their way to other platforms at a future date but their timed exclusive to Apple really does show the strength of the Cupertino giant, its customer base and its app ecosystem. If the likes of HBO and Showtime are happy to launch apps and streaming services in this manner though, why can’t Apple put something a little more comprehensive together in order to truly take on the cable companies?

Have a look at the video below for the new Showtime offering and see what you think. National Geographic made its debut on Apple TV yesterday and we are certain that the list is going to continue growing with time.

How To Live Stream the Apple WWDC 2015 Keynote

If you own an Apple TV device, you may have noticed that the Apple Events app has just been updated. It now includes a new entry detailing the date and time as well as the streaming information for the upcoming WWDC 2015 Keynote. Apple’s keynote is scheduled to take place on Monday, 8th June at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern time. In this post we want to tell you how you can steam it live if you want to watch the event live and know exactly what to expect from Apple for the rest of the year.

Apple’s official website doesn’t yet have any information on how to live stream the even but we imagine the website will be updated shortly to reveal this information for all the iOS and OS X users that will be running Safari. We do advise that you keep an eye on the official website so that you can take note of the live steaming links for iOS and Mac once they become available. In this post we are going to reveal how you can stream the keynote live on your Apple TV.

The first thing you will need to do is make sure that you Apple TV is up to date. If it isn’t, you will need to go to settings > General > Software Updates, and then press on Update Software. Once your Apple TV has been updated, you just have to wait while the brand new Apple Events app with the WWDC 2015 logo is installed on your main screen. A new “Play” button will automatically appear in this app at the correct time on the day of the event so all you will have to do is hit the play button and sit back and enjoy the WWDC 2015 Keynote.

In order to live steam the keynote using your Apple TV, you will need to have a second or third generation model that is using firmware version 6.2 or over.

Apple is expected to unveil iOS 9, OS X 10.11, Watch OS 2.0, a new subscription based music streaming service and Apple TV 4. We can’t wait to see what hidden gems will also be revealed and of course report back and let you all know about the announcements that Tim Cook and company make on stage. With less than a week to go now, the excitement is building and we really can’t wait to find out what Apple have in store for us this year.

New iOS 9 Leak Reveals New Proactive Feature Similar to Google Now

There really hasn’t been that much to report about the upcoming iOS 9 which has led quite a lot of people to assume that it is going to be bland and not that spectacular. In fact, I don’t think we have mentioned anything about iOS 9 here on the blog before now. Well anyway, a new report has suggested that it might not be as bland as we thought. Apple is looking at introducing a new feature called “Proactive” which is similar to Google Now on Android devices.

According to 9to5Mac this new Proactive feature is an evolution of the old Spotlight feature that was recently updated so that it can now grab search results from Wikipedia as well as its other sources. It seems though that this was just a little step in the revamp process and Spotlight has now been transformed into the powerful Proactive feature that will also integrate with third-party apps.

Proactive is going to replace Spotlight and we may see it move back to the left of the home screen the way it used to be in iOS 6. There are however hints that Apple will also allow for calling up the feature by swiping down on the home screen as is right now. It’s said that the design of Proactive will be fairly similar to Spotlight and will retain the search bar at the top so existing users will find things familiar. Of course, users will be able to make standardized search here just like in Spotlight, but Proactive will include a greater emphasis on displaying news stories as search results and will more reliably display news results when you search for information including news on current topics and famous people.

We have also heard that Apple will be looking to give Proactive a much deeper integration into third-party apps while also giving Siri some leverage. Apple has a full Siri API which will allow the service access to third-party apps as well. There is also talk about a limited Siri API for developers being released codenamed Breadcrumbs and that will be interesting if it surfaces.

It is also being suggested that Maps will be integrated into Proactive which will mean that users will now be offered automated updates and data depending on their schedule and how they travel as was seen with Google Now. Meanwhile a bolder, augmented reality feature will show you points of interest through your camera, and a simpler “browse around me” feature will also be available for displaying local points of interest too.

This all sounds really interesting and we do hope that is not just a rumor and that we will see the Proactive feature when iOS 9 is released. As always, we will bring you any further information as we get it and if any more interesting iOS 9 reports fall on our desk, we will be sure to let you know abou them.