Review: MoWeather - Forecast and Temperature Planner

Review: MoWeather - Forecast and Temperature Planner - I finally found a weather app that isn't just more of the same. MoWeather (free) for iOS is a graphically compelling weather app with all the usual stuff you want to see, along with a 15-day forecast. The weather background is nicely animated, like the Apple weather app, and it does my favorite Yahoo Weather app one better -- rather than finding a canned photo that reflects my location and weather, MoWeather provides a page of user-submitted photos that show the current weather at your location.

You can snap pictures and submit them all within the app. MoWeather also has a very nice idea built in -- with a click, you can email or text a map of your location and the current conditions to a friend.

The app also supports gestures. You can swipe vertically to update the current conditions, or swipe left to see your locations list.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Great iOS apps for planning Thanksgiving dinner

Great iOS apps for planning Thanksgiving dinner - Whether you're running the kitchen on the big day or just bringing a side dish or wine, I've got the perfect apps to make your holiday dinner better.

(Via CNET News.com.)

First Apple-Sanctioned Wearable Tech Could Be Hearing Aids, Not the 'iWatch'

First Apple-Sanctioned Wearable Tech Could Be Hearing Aids, Not the 'iWatch' -

So far, almost of all the discussion of wearable tech associated with Apple has centered on the so-called "iWatch," Apple's take on the current interest in smart watches that recently failed to ignite with the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Gear. But according to a new report from Reuters, that's not the first form of wearable tech partly designed by Apple that we'll see. What is? Believe it or not, a hearing aid.

This could be big. The hearing aid industry is worth around $15 billion, which, as Cult of Mac notes, is around one-third of the money wrapped up in the global tablet market. Apple is working with Denmark's GN Store Nord, the world's fourth largest maker of hearing aids, to develop a device called the ReSound LiNX with technology similar to Bluetooth that will stream voice and music from iPhones without the need for another device.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Google BBS Terminal

Google BBS Terminal -

Speaking of links gleaned via Coudal (this one from Michele Seiler), here’s what Google would have looked like in the ’80s.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Trimming Apple Mail to prevent iCloud storage from getting full

Trimming Apple Mail to prevent iCloud storage from getting full - So, as a paid user of MobileMe, Apple provided you with 20 GB of iCloud storage. Suddenly, in October ’13, Apple removed 15 GB of that, and you’re getting messages from Apple that your iCloud storage is getting full, or even the dreaded message, “Your iCloud storage is full You can no longer send or receive messages with your iCloud email address ” Apple is strongly encouraging you to buy more storage. Do you have any other options?

As Apple suggests, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Manage > Mail. At that point, Apple recommends, “To free up storage used by Mail, erase messages in the Junk and Trash folders.”

That’s a good start, but that’s not nearly enough. If that shows that Mail really is the culprit in hogging your iCloud storage, try deleting the attachments from your received and sent mail! That can reduce your iCloud storage tremendously. (That alone cut mine down from about 4.8 GB to 1.2 GB).

To find your mail with attachments, in Apple Mail, you ca ...

(Via MacOSXHints.com.)

Apple updates iWork iCloud beta with new collaboration tools

Apple updates iWork iCloud beta with new collaboration tools -

The ongoing beta of Apple's iWork for iCloud received an update today that delivers new features aimed at improving collaboration. New features for Keynote, Numbers and Pages in iCloud are fully explained when you first activate the apps on iCloud.com, but we've got a list of what you can expect. Most of the feature additions are largely the same across the whole suite.

Each app now has the following new features:

• Collaborator list: View the list of collaborators currently in a document.
• Collaborator cursor: See cursors and selections for everyone in a document.
• Jump to collaborator: Instantly jump to a collaborator's cursor by clicking their name in the collaborator list.
• Collaboration animation: Watch as images and shapes animate as others move them around.
• Print: Print your documents and presentations directly from the Tools menu.
• Folders: The ability to organize documents into folders.

In addition, the beta for Numbers is now able to reorder sheets in a spreadsheet from the browser and add hyperlinks. Keynote beta users are also getting an extra feature; the ability to right-click any slide in the navigator to skip it during playback.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Eight amazing quotes from experts who were sure the iPhone would flop

Eight amazing quotes from experts who were sure the iPhone would flop -

The iPhone is a success -- there is no argument to be made that it's not -- but prior to its debut, various upgrades, redesigns and record-breaking sales figures, there were plenty of folks who thought it would flop.

Now that we've seen the release of eight different iPhones, let's take a look back at some of the most ridiculous things that eight "experts" have said about Apple's original foray into the smartphone market.

• "This is not a great phone. It's an interesting design." -- Rob Enderle, analyst with the Enderle Group
• "That virtual keyboard will be about as useful for tapping out emails and text messages as a rotary phone. Don't be surprised if a sizable contingent of iPhone buyers express some remorse at ditching their BlackBerry when they spend an extra hour each day pumping out emails on the road." -- Seth Porges, CrunchGear
• "Apple will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won't make a long-term mark on the industry." -- Matthew Lynn, columnist at Bloomberg
• "I'm more convinced than ever that, after an initial frenzy of publicity and sales to early adopters, iPhone sales will be unspectacular." -- David Haskin, Computerworld
• "Implementing a cellphone is absolutely more difficult than anything Apple's done to date. Go out and buy an iPod and hold it at waist level and drop it. That's the end of the iPod. I don't think Apple's going to be a big player in this at all." -- Edward Snyder, analyst with Charter Equity Research
• "There is no reason to have an 8GB iPod on the phone. Give us a 2GB capacity so we can put our favorite stuff on it and listen when we want, cut the price to $299 and you may have something." -- Todd Sullivan, Seeking Alpha
• "[The iPhone] will have very little impact on the business community." -- Avi Greengart, analyst with Current Analysis
• "Sales for the phone will skyrocket initially. However, things will calm down, and the Apple phone will take its place on the shelves with the random video cameras, cellphones, wireless routers and other would-be hits." -- Michael Kanellos, editor at CNET

Yes, hindsight is 20-20. That said, you are now encouraged to point at these quotes and laugh maniacally.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

iFixit opens up iPad mini with Retina display

iFixit opens up iPad mini with Retina display -

The diminutive powerhouse known as the iPad mini with Retina display has just been pulled apart by the evil geniuses at iFixit. In one of its patented teardowns of new Apple technology, the team took Apple's latest iPad mini and subjected it to a mock autopsy, looking at each and every component and determining how the device is put together -- ostensibly for the purpose of learning how repair shops will (or will not) be able to fix the mini.

Some of the highlights of the surgery include finding out that the new mini is 0.3 mm thicker than the original model, that the Retina display is made by LG and that a lot of the components are identical to those used in the iPad Air.

Of course, the iFixit teardowns all come down to one thing: the repairability score. The new iPad mini gets a dismal score of 2 out of 10 for repairability -- it should be noted that the quite similar (in size and capability) Kindle Fire HDX received a 7 out of 10 score. As usual, iFixit offers a lot of comments, fascinating insights and links to humorous YouTube videos, so be sure to get yourself to its website for a quick look.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Google's Android Eclipses Apple to Become the MS-DOS of Our Time

Google's Android Eclipses Apple to Become the MS-DOS of Our Time - Apple may have shipped a record number of iOS devices during the most recent quarter. But it's Android that's looking like another famous operating system from an earlier era.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

iPad mini with retina display tipped for November 21 release date

iPad mini with retina display tipped for November 21 release date -

When Apple announced the iPad mini with retina display, it didn’t set a firm release date, stating only that the tablet would become available at some point in November. Now, on the eve of the iPad Air’s release, MacRumors has noted that a product listing on Target’s website shows a release date for the new iPad mini of November 21.

It’s possible that November 21 is just an educated estimate on Target’s part. But it also makes sense for Apple to release the tablet a week before Thanksgiving and the big Black Friday holiday shopping rush. The only thing I question is that November 21 is a Thursday, and Apple typically releases its new products on Friday. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the tablet appear on either November 21 or the day after.

Apple has reportedly held back the release date for the new iPad mini due to manufacturing issues, and when it is release, supplies are believed to be “ridiculously tight.” So no matter when Apple releases the new tablet, it might be difficult to find if you’re planning to buy one in time for the holiday season.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)