It's time to secure your Amazon account with two-factor authentication

It's time to secure your Amazon account with two-factor authentication - Relying solely on passwords to secure important accounts may be outdated, but until they're gone for good your best alternative is locking things down with two-factor authentication: Amazon. Considering you probably already have a credit card or ot...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Facebook Implements Fix for iOS App Battery Draining Issues

Facebook Implements Fix for iOS App Battery Draining Issues - Facebook's newest iOS update, out today, fixes a major battery draining bug that some Facebook users have been experiencing in recent weeks. Affected users were seeing large amounts of battery drain on their iPhones due to Facebook running in the background, something that happened even when background app refresh was toggled off in the Settings app.

While the latest Facebook app release notes don't include a reference to the issue, Facebook engineering manager Ari Grant wrote a post (via TechCrunch) explaining the issues behind the battery drain and what Facebook has done to fix it. According to Grant, there were several factors that contributed to the problem, including a "CPU spin" in the network code and silent background audio sessions that kept the app awake even when it wasn't open.

Western Digital to buy SanDisk in $19 billion takeover connected to flash memory

Western Digital to buy SanDisk in $19 billion takeover connected to flash memory - Hard drive maker Western Digital on Wednesday announced a $19 billion deal to acquire SanDisk, reflecting a shift in the storage industry away from magnetic hard disks towards solid-state drives and other forms of flash memory.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Enjoy 45 minutes of slow-motion Apollo rocket launches

Enjoy 45 minutes of slow-motion Apollo rocket launches - Step back into the '60s with a video full of gorgeous slo-mo footage of massive Saturn V rockets carrying Apollo missions into space.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Hands On: Apple TV 2015 with tvOS apps, Remote featuring touch, motion & Siri

Hands On: Apple TV 2015 with tvOS apps, Remote featuring touch, motion & Siri - Apple has been selling its Apple TV as long as iPhone, but the set top box has neither sold in similar quantities nor earned even a significant fraction as much money for the company. While neither of those facts are likely to change, the new 2015 Apple TV is poised to radically change the TV and game console industries.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple pictures the future with new cameras in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus

Apple pictures the future with new cameras in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus -

The iPhone has long been the most popular camera on the planet, and Apple has worked to make the lives of point-and-shoot manufacturers even worse --?and the lives of selfie hounds even better --?with the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. AppleInsider took a look at the glass and silicon inside Apple's latest shooters.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Google Chrome 45 improvements reduce memory usage by tabs

Google Chrome 45 improvements reduce memory usage by tabs - The latest release of the Chrome web browser has introduced a number of measures to make it faster and less resource-hungry earlier than anticipated. Version 45 of the browser for desktops now incorporates a number of features that can minimize the amount of memory the software uses for tabs and other functions, with one other feature coming out in the coming weeks which could help notebook users extend their battery life ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Apple and the TV Market

Apple and the TV Market -

Well-researched, insightful piece by Pavan Rajam:

There is clearly a viable market for streaming media players like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. However, the bigger opportunity is breaking into the market for Pay TV set top boxes, which today are less compelling products but retain access to the content consumers want. The only way any tech company will be able to pull that off is by having a TV Service to accompany their hardware. Of the companies with streaming media products on the market, only one is rumored to be working on such a service.

Unlike its competitors, Apple is playing the long game in the TV market. Apple TV’s long term goal is not about beating Amazon, Google, or Roku in the streaming media player market, it’s about redefining the TV market by building a true smart TV platform.

 ★ 

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Amazon said to be readying $50 6-inch tablet for holidays

Amazon said to be readying $50 6-inch tablet for holidays - New tablet would cost about half the Internet retailer's current cheapest slate, according to the Wall Street Journal.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II adds five-axis image stabilization system

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II adds five-axis image stabilization system - Olympus has updated the OM-D E-M10 mirrorless camera it released last year by adding five-axis stabilization, among other new features. The new OM-D E-M10 Mark II has the same vintage styling as the original, but this time the 16.1-megapixel Micro Four Thirds shooter has a similar VCM image stabilization system to the E-M5 Mark II, allowing it to compensate for camera roll, vertical and horizontal shift by up to four steps ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Best Buy expanding Apple Watch locations early to meet demand

Best Buy expanding Apple Watch locations early to meet demand - Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly has announced that the retailer will change course on the Apple Watch, and rush to put the wearable in all 1,050 of its retail locations in the US "by the end of September," instead of the 300 outlets it was previously planning for. In addition, the iPhone maker's "Store Within a Store" branded Apple sections within Best Buy stores in some 740 locations are undergoing renovations in time for the holiday season ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

NASA’s Failed Orion Parachute Test Was a Success

NASA’s Failed Orion Parachute Test Was a Success -

NASA didn't deploy two of the parachutes---on purpose.

The post NASA’s Failed Orion Parachute Test Was a Success appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Pointers: iPad Keyboard Tips

Pointers: iPad Keyboard Tips - It is true that having an external keyboard for iPad is a good idea when you're going to be typing a lot, but it is far from true that you really need one. We've typed thousands upon thousands of words directly onto the glass of our iPad screen, and along the way we have learned some things. One is that invariably, you're slower typing on the screen -- but the other things we've learned are ways to speed up and to cut down how much you need to do ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

HBO Now arrives on Amazon's Fire TV and Fire TV Stick

HBO Now arrives on Amazon's Fire TV and Fire TV Stick - We knew it was coming, and now it's here. HBO Now, the network's standalone streaming service, is available on Amazon's Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices after making its way to Android gadgets and the Chromecast earlier this summer. A $15 monthly ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

ISS astronauts mimic nature to turn urine into drinking water

ISS astronauts mimic nature to turn urine into drinking water - Recycling water is key for astronauts on the International Space Station since sending water to the crew is heavy and expensive. The current systems work well and the tech is being used here on Earth in places where clean drinking water is in short...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Seagate Backup Plus 8TB Review

Seagate Backup Plus 8TB Review -

This is the first 8TB hard disk drive we’ve reviewed at Mac|Life and the biggest external (single-drive) hard disk currently on the market. It uses a new technology called SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) which allows the cramming of more bits on a given surface by using a similar technique to how roofers lay tiles. Drives that use SMR have one flaw — they do not perform well when it comes to sustained, random writes. They do, however, excel when it comes to sustained read speeds and burst write speeds, so they’re ideal for backup.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Pointers: Six tools for writing books

Pointers: Six tools for writing books - When you've done something once, you can fly through it the second time. Unless that second time is ages later, in which case you spend all your waking hours re-learning something you'd already sweated through. So entirely for you and not at all, not in the teeniest way for us the next time we write a book, here's what you need. It's what we recommend after a summer of working on this, followed up by one or two cases where your mileage may vary and anyway the alternatives are fun. Plus a few quick notes of lessons we learned, mistakes, and evidence -- actual evidence -- that all this works ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Wait, How Do I Find Cortana?

Wait, How Do I Find Cortana? -

Cortana is one of the shiniest new features in Windows 10, and here's how to find her.

The post Wait, How Do I Find Cortana? appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Amazon's Fling is its version of AirPlay and Google Cast

Amazon's Fling is its version of AirPlay and Google Cast - If you've been hoping for an AirPlay or Cast-like tool to beam content to your Amazon streaming gadgets, you'll soon be in luck. The company revealed its Fling feature this week, a tool that will allow developers to include a way to control media fro...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Kindle Paperwhite review (2015): our favorite e-reader gets even better

Kindle Paperwhite review (2015): our favorite e-reader gets even better - When Amazon's Kindle Voyage launched last year, I more or less fell in love with it right out of the gate. Sure, a handful of competitors came out with similar displays before Amazon did, but man -- with that high-resolution screen and its sleek new ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Call Them Hippies, But the Grateful Dead Were Tech Pioneers

Call Them Hippies, But the Grateful Dead Were Tech Pioneers -

Long stereotyped as hippies stuck in the Summer of Love, the Dead stood at the vanguard of the digital revolution for 50 years.

The post Call Them Hippies, But the Grateful Dead Were Tech Pioneers appeared first on WIRED.

One Way Google Could Really Take on Amazon: Buy PayPal

One Way Google Could Really Take on Amazon: Buy PayPal -

As PayPal steps out on its own, Google could vie with Amazon in online retail by making it way easier for searchers to buy.

The post One Way Google Could Really Take on Amazon: Buy PayPal appeared first on WIRED.

Taylor Swift revolts, Apple changes tune on royalties

Taylor Swift revolts, Apple changes tune on royalties - Apple doesn't want any bad blood between it and Taylor Swift. Her complaints prompt the company to pay artists royalties during Apple Music's free trial period. Also: Amazon changes its ratings system.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Fitbit makes stock market debut, share price jumps by more than 50%

Fitbit makes stock market debut, share price jumps by more than 50% - Wearable fitness tracker firm Fitbit, which competes with the Apple Watch with its own hardware, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, and investors promptly drove the company's share price up by more than 50 percent in the opening hours.

(Via AppleInsider.)

EFF again awards Apple perfect score on digital privacy

EFF again awards Apple perfect score on digital privacy - For the second year running, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has given Apple and a handful of other tech firms a perfect "five out of five" star rating for efforts related to securing consumer data against both theft and government intrusion. The high score reflects a top initiative of Apple CEO Tim Cook, and the company generally, in believing that the business model that requires collecting and monetizing customer data is fundamentally flawed ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

First-gen iPad mini vanishes from Apple's store, leaving only Retina models

First-gen iPad mini vanishes from Apple's store, leaving only Retina models - Apple on Friday unceremoniously removed the first-generation iPad mini from its website, including product pages and the online store, leaving only the iPad mini 2 and 3, both of which feature high-resolution Retina displays.

(Via AppleInsider.)

DMV does a reverse, releases reports of accidents involving self-driving cars

DMV does a reverse, releases reports of accidents involving self-driving cars - The California Department of Motor Vehicles at first denied the Associated Press' request for the information, but has now changed course.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How an astronaut shook hands with someone on Earth from space

How an astronaut shook hands with someone on Earth from space - NASA astronaut Terry Virts is part of the current ISS crew, while ESA telerobotics specialist André Schiele is in the Netherlands. Thanks to two special joysticks with force feedback in both locations, though, they were able to "shake hands" during a ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

How to Create eBooks on a Mac using Pages

How to Create eBooks on a Mac using Pages -

Pages is a fantastic program used to create visually appealing documents, but you might not realize how versatile it is. It can also be used to create digital books for the iBooks app, and sold on the iBooks Store.

This conversion from Pages to iBooks is done via the ePub file format, which is used for digital books on Apple’s iBooks app on both OS X and iOS. With Pages for OS X you can export a text document straight into ePub, and import it directly into iBooks for OS X.

Pages has featured some form of ePub export since 2010, but until recently it was cumbersome. Each new edition has improved the exporting process and with Pages 5.2 it’s now as easy to create a digital book as it is to print a document. In this way, you convert something you’ve written to an ebook format, or grab a royalty-free book from the internet in a text format and turn it into a more rich, pleasant to read format.

For those looking to self-publish, in Pages you can add Retina display-quality images, chapters, headings, custom artwork, even video clips. Pages turns it into an ePub you can share, or even sell on Apple’s iBooks Store. Pages doesn’t offer the extra interactions of iBooks Author, but is ideal for many books.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Audio Hijack 3 Review

Audio Hijack 3 Review -

As journalists, we love Audio Hijack for long being one of the best and safest ways to record interviews conducted over Skype, but it’s useful to anyone — maybe you need to record a group meeting happening over an obscure web service, or need to get a sound from a file. If it goes through your Mac, this can record it.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Review: Mrice E300 Earphones

Review: Mrice E300 Earphones -A company from China you've never heard of has made a pair of $15 earbuds that outperform some big-name models costing ten times as much.

The post Review: Mrice E300 Earphones appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Keith Olbermann: A David Letterman Appreciation

Keith Olbermann: A David Letterman Appreciation -

Keith Olbermann:

So I’m a fan on all levels, and on the human one, I’d like to be as decent a man as Dave, if-or-when I grow up. Which leaves me with only one complaint: that after May 20th he’s not doing the show any more. It really is like watching Babe Ruth quit.

 ★ 

(Via Daring Fireball.)

The best accessories to upgrade your action camera

The best accessories to upgrade your action camera - "Have action cam, will travel." That's probably what was going through your mind as you pecked your credit card details in when buying your first GoPro, Drift, Sony or what have you. We promise, it won't be long before you're looking to kit it out ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

The 6 Best Apps for Gardening

The 6 Best Apps for Gardening -

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Apple updates Apple Watch Human Interface Guidelines website with new design, more resources

Apple updates Apple Watch Human Interface Guidelines website with new design, more resources - Apple on Monday updated the Human Interface Guidelines website dedicated to Apple Watch development, bringing a refreshed look and new software resources to developers.

(Via AppleInsider.)

YouTube app vanishes from older Apple TV models, latest version unaffected

YouTube app vanishes from older Apple TV models, latest version unaffected - The YouTube app has disappeared from many second-generation Apple TV units, users noted on Monday, with both the home screen icon and references to the app in Settings vanishing overnight.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Remote for Next-Generation Apple TV to Include 'Touch Pad' for Scrolling

Remote for Next-Generation Apple TV to Include 'Touch Pad' for Scrolling - Apple's next-generation Apple TV will include a new touch-based remote with a revamped design, reports The New York Times, citing sources with knowledge of Apple's plans. Described as being "slightly thicker" than the current version, the new Apple TV remote will gain a "touch pad" that will be used for scrolling, along with two physical buttons.

The touch pad will likely replace the circular click-wheel style control that's on the existing remote, giving users an easier way to scroll through content on the Apple TV. Currently, navigating through content on a channel like Netflix with the Apple TV remote requires users to click multiple times on the click wheel.

A touch-based control area on the remote would likely function similarly to the Apple Remote apps on the iPhone and the Apple Watch, allowing for swipe-based controls for scrolling through content available on the Apple TV. Using the Apple Watch or the iPhone to browse channels and make selections on the existing Apple TV is both quicker and easier than using the current physical remote.

Size wise, The New York Times' source says the new remote will be similar in design to the remote control for the Amazon Echo speaker system, which is approximately 0.6 inches thick. The current Apple TV remote is 0.2 inches thick and has not seen a redesign since the Apple TV initially debuted in 2007.

Rumors have suggested that Apple's redesigned Apple TV could make an appearance in June, at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Along with today's rumor pointing towards a new design for the remote, previous rumors have indicated the device will include an A8 processor, Siri integration, a dedicated App Store, and expanded internal storage.

Apple is also rumored to be working on an accompanying Internet-based television service, which may see it providing between 20 and 30 channels at a price of $30 to $40 per month.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

Shoot to Thrill With These Superb iPhone Lens Attachments

Shoot to Thrill With These Superb iPhone Lens Attachments -

Amp up your Instagram game and augment your iPhone’s unblinking eye with one of these kits.

The post Shoot to Thrill With These Superb iPhone Lens Attachments appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

What Satellite Data Tells Us About Nepal’s Brutal Quake

What Satellite Data Tells Us About Nepal’s Brutal Quake -

GPS and satellite data of this week's 7.8 earthquake in Nepal show just how much Earth got moved.

The post What Satellite Data Tells Us About Nepal’s Brutal Quake appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Apple Watch: An Overnight Multi-Billion Dollar Business

Apple Watch: An Overnight Multi-Billion Dollar Business -

Intriguing piece by analyst Carl Howe on Apple Watch:

I think I’ll save that analysis for another posting, but my belief is that the Apple Watch product line will become Apple’s most profitable product line ever, with gross margins exceeding 60 percent. Why? Because the core electronics modules in the expensive models are the same ones used in the Sport models, and they just don’t cost that much. And while adding Gold cases and designer bands add cost to the bill of materials, the costs are small compared to the price premiums paid for these products. Unlike in the consumer electronics business, I see no pressure for prices to fall and if anything manufacturing costs will, resulting in a very profitable business.

I think he’s made some smart guesses as to the product mix between Sport/Watch/Edition, but if I had to adjust his numbers at all, I’d move the number of Edition models Apple will sell slightly up. In Howe’s estimate, Sport is outselling Edition by about 45-to-1. But if it’s more like 30-to-1, the Edition line would account for as much or more total revenue, and certainly more profit. I’m guessing at an average selling price of around $400 for Sport (more 42 mm than 38 mm, plus lots of extra bands). But let’s say it’s as high as $425. At that ASP, 30 unit sales equals $12,750 in revenue. Given the prices of the Edition line (42 mm with Sport band costs $12,000; the ones with leather straps are $15-17,000), I’d imagine the ASP for Edition will be at least $12,750.

 ★ 

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Google to discontinue YouTube support on older iOS devices, Apple TVs

Google to discontinue YouTube support on older iOS devices, Apple TVs - The YouTube app will no longer function on many older iOS devices and Apple TVs after today, a consequence of the YouTube Data API being updated to support newer features, according to an official Google document.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple starts charging Apple Watch orders, preparing units for shipping

Apple starts charging Apple Watch orders, preparing units for shipping - Ahead of an official launch later this week, Apple on Monday began charging full Apple Watch order amounts to customer credit and debit cards, while updating the official status of certain orders from processing to preparing for shipment.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Astronaut snaps epic 'Star Trek' selfie in space

Astronaut snaps epic 'Star Trek' selfie in space - Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti pays tribute to a "Star Trek" icon with a cosplay photo in zero gravity.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Coffee in space: A complete history (pictures)

Coffee in space: A complete history (pictures) - An espresso machine tailored specially for the International Space Station caps a long love affair between astronauts and caffeine.

(Via CNET News.com.)

GoPro Footage From the Edge of Space

GoPro Footage From the Edge of Space -

GoPro footage is the most recent tool for communication from the brink of exploration.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Pointers: Safe downloading on Macs

Pointers: Safe downloading on Macs - Look, we're not on Windows PCs here. Yet, even though we don't have the same overwhelming problems with viruses, that doesn't mean we should invite trouble. You can download apps that don't do what they claim, and instead do all sorts of things they shouldn't. Consequently, it is a very good thing that Apple has safeguards in place – yet those same safeguards are a problem for some of the very finest Mac software around ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Living With: Blue Snowball USB microphones

Living With: Blue Snowball USB microphones - We've been writing a lot lately about some of the aspects involved in podcasting -- see this Pointers column as an example -- as well as moving our own site example of the form, The MacNN Podcast, to Soundcloud and now (finally) iTunes for better distribution. For some of our staff that contribute to the broadcast, its meant getting a decent microphone for the first time. As a veteran podcaster, currently a regular on no less than three very different podcasts, I generally recommend the Blue Snowball USB ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Vinyl is back, and now it has its own UK top 40

Vinyl is back, and now it has its own UK top 40 - Vinyl is making a comeback. Album sales in the UK climbed to 1.29 million last year -- the first time the 1 million mark has been surpassed since 1996. The format is still just a fraction of the total UK albums market (1.5 percent, to be precise) but...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Fitbit's Surge fitness watch will soon track your bike rides

Fitbit's Surge fitness watch will soon track your bike rides - The Fitbit Surge is now useful for tracking more than just your running when you're outside. An April update to the GPS fitness watch will let it track outdoor bike runs, so you'll know if you beat your previous best time or got your heart thumping o...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Here's how a lithium-ion battery degrades over time

Here's how a lithium-ion battery degrades over time - Use a gadget with a lithium-ion battery inside and you'll eventually learn that these power packs decay once you've cycled them enough times. But have you ever wanted to see direct evidence of why they have a limited lifespan? The Department of Energ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Apple removes Nike FuelBand, Jawbone UP from stores ahead of Apple Watch debut

Apple removes Nike FuelBand, Jawbone UP from stores ahead of Apple Watch debut - Apple has phased out fitness bands like Nike's FuelBand and Jawbone's UP from its retail store offerings as the company prepares to enter the wearables market with Apple Watch.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Details on USB-C

Details on USB-C -

Good piece by Seth Weintraub running down the details on USB-C. As for this question:

By next year, I would expect all new Macs to have USB Type C. I would expect Apple displays (if they keep doing displays) to be USB-Type C based. I would expect Lightning cables and most of the industry to move that direction too. The question in my mind is: Will Apple keep Lightning or are you looking at the next iPhone connector as well?

I think the answer is probably “No, Apple is not going to switch the iPhone and iPad to USB-C”. I think Lightning is a more elegant design, including being slightly thinner. And I think Apple likes having a proprietary port on iOS devices.

But, if they did move iOS devices to USB-C, then you could charge your iOS devices and MacBook with the same cable. And within a few years, all phones and tablets from all companies would charge using the same standard.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Review: Carbon Copy Cloner 4

Review: Carbon Copy Cloner 4 -

We’ve mentioned this app before when discussing backups and minimizing downtime. It’s invaluable for maintaining a bootable backup of your startup disk, and as a complement to Time Machine. This version is necessary if you’re running Yosemite, and there are good reasons to upgrade on older systems, too.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Preview 27 different Apple Watch apps in your browser

Preview 27 different Apple Watch apps in your browser - Apps that run on Apple Watch will likely be a major focus of Apple’s upcoming event on March 9, but if you can’t wait that long, check out App Advice’s new website, WatchAware, which is collecting Apple Watch mockups and putting them on a single page.

How to block calls and texts on your iPhone

How to block calls and texts on your iPhone - Sometimes you might get a call from a person you'd prefer not to hear from, like a telemarketer or someone who's bothering you at odd hours of the day. Fortunately, iOS 8 can block calls as well as iMessages from annoying contacts and non-contacts. Read on and we'll show you how it works ...

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Hands On: Weather Clock Pro (iOS)

Hands On: Weather Clock Pro (iOS) - Bedside alarm apps are hardly new by any stretch of the imagination, and we'd be willing to bet that most iPhone users have tried one at some point. Often times these apps tend to be fairly simple, providing the user with little more than a clock and an alarm, both features that the iPhone comes with by default. But what if you desire more from your bedside setup? Weather Clock Pro, by iHandy, brings quite a bit more to the table ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Hands On: CoconutBattery 3.2 (OS X, iOS)

Hands On: CoconutBattery 3.2 (OS X, iOS) - The curiously-named CoconutBattery 3.2 is a free app that examines the batteries in your MacBooks and your iOS devices. One click and you know everything: it gives you the skinny on every possible scintilla of information about the state your battery is in ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Logitech Keys to Go Review: The ultimate portable bluetooth keyboard

Logitech Keys to Go Review: The ultimate portable bluetooth keyboard - For those wanting an ultra-portable keyboard to use with your iPhone or iPad, but don't want the bulk and weight of a keyboard case should consider the Logitech Keys to Go.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple Helping Developers Finalize Apple Watch Apps at Cupertino Headquarters

Apple Helping Developers Finalize Apple Watch Apps at Cupertino Headquarters - Apple has invited third-party developers to its headquarters in Cupertino, California to allow them to test and finalize apps for the Apple Watch, according to 9to5Mac. The report claims that developers have been arriving at One Infinite Loop this month to work with Apple engineers on finishing WatchKit-based apps in categories such as sports, productivity and finance.

"The developers invited by Apple to Cupertino range from those behind titles for sports applications and productivity software. Apple has also been meeting with banks to work on WatchKit applications that assist with the Apple Watch’s Apple Pay functionality. Besides U.S.-based banks, Apple has been working on WatchKit apps with developers from Germany-based banks, which indicates Apple is likely in talks with more foreign banks to expand Apple Pay to more countries across the world."

MacRumors reported a few weeks ago that some developers have been asked to have Apple Watch apps readied by this month, although this report claims that Apple seems to be operating on a more urgent timeline, possibly in order to ensure that some apps are finalized for an upcoming marketing initiative or media event. In the meantime, Apple has reportedly been holding workshops to train retail employees about the Apple Watch in Los Angeles, Cupertino, Austin and Atlanta.

Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed the Apple Watch will launch in April.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

Kaspersky uncovers hacker group that infects hard drive firmware

Kaspersky uncovers hacker group that infects hard drive firmware - A secretive hacking collective that has been active for almost two decades has allegedly been uncovered by Kaspersky Lab. Dubbed the "Equation Group," because of their use of encryption algorithms and obfuscation methods, the hackers are apparently unique in that they created highly-professional tools and used "classic spying techniques" to retrieve data and affect systems used by high-value targets, such as governments, major national organizations, and other political targets ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Microsoft Office can now save files to Apple’s iCloud Drive

Microsoft Office can now save files to Apple’s iCloud Drive - Microsoft is really serious about enabling its services to run on all devices and work with other companies’ products. The latest example: The Office app for iPhones and iPads can now save files to Apple’s relatively new cloud storage service, iCloud Drive, along with other cloud ...

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Apple Watch to be 'most successful smartwatch ever' -- research firm

Apple Watch to be 'most successful smartwatch ever' -- research firm - Apple could sell 20M smartwatches this year, nabbing a quarter of the wearables market, market researcher says. But a flop would hurt everyone.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple makes iWork for iCloud beta free on Windows, Linux, Chrome OS

Apple makes iWork for iCloud beta free on Windows, Linux, Chrome OS - Add another option to the freely available online productivity software suites: Anyone can sign up for and use Apple’s iWork for iCloud, even if they don’t have a Mac or iOS device. The open access is actually in beta, so to use it, you’ll have to head ...

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Alan Turing's handwritten notebook reveals his genius (pictures)

Alan Turing's handwritten notebook reveals his genius (pictures) - Rare manuscript gives a glimpse inside the mind of the man called "the father of modern computing."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Netflix launches streaming service in Cuba, keeps price at $8

Netflix launches streaming service in Cuba, keeps price at $8 - Netflix is continuing its current strategy of fast expansion into new countries, by unexpectedly launching in Cuba. The video streaming service is being made available to residents of the country for the first time, following the recent easing of trade restrictions that have been imposed on Cuba by the United States since 1961, though potential users still have some obstacles in the way between them and watching House of Cards ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Forgotten Apollo moon artifacts found in Neil Armstrong's closet

Forgotten Apollo moon artifacts found in Neil Armstrong's closet - A hidden treasure trove of gear flown on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon sees the light of day after Neil Armstrong's widow shares the find with the Smithsonian.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Anthem's stolen customer data not encrypted

Anthem's stolen customer data not encrypted - But under federal law, health insurance companies don't have to encrypt user data.

(Via CNET News.com.)

The 5 Best Ways to Backup Digital Photos

The 5 Best Ways to Backup Digital Photos -

Digital photography — particularly on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad —  has many advantages over traditional film, but unfortunately, security isn’t really one of them. Unlike prints or negatives, digital images can be lost forever in a catastrophic hard drive failure, or even accidentally deleted with a few clicks of the mouse. Here are a few ways for Apple users to make sure those digital memories don’t vanish before their eyes.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Super Bowl Ads For Mobile Games (Probably) Paid Off Big

Super Bowl Ads For Mobile Games (Probably) Paid Off Big -

Could it possibly be worth spending $4.5 million for 30 seconds of airtime to get people to take notice of your free-to-play phone game?

The post Super Bowl Ads For Mobile Games (Probably) Paid Off Big appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Though Apple's iPad sales shrank, Amazon's Kindle Fire took 70% nosedive last quarter

Though Apple's iPad sales shrank, Amazon's Kindle Fire took 70% nosedive last quarter - The worldwide tablet market saw its first-ever year-over-year decline in the holiday quarter, but the biggest losses were seen by Amazon, which saw shipments of its budget-priced Kindle Fire series plummet 70 percent.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Pebble sells 1M smartwatches, CEO hints at new hardware, software

Pebble sells 1M smartwatches, CEO hints at new hardware, software - Pebble has managed to sell over 1 million smartwatches to customers since its Kickstarter launch in 2012, the head of the company has confirmed. More than doubling the 400,000-unit milestone revealed in March, possibly due to a price cut in September, CEO Eric Migicovsky has revealed in an interview that the smartwatch producer is not sitting still, with more releases expected to take place this year ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

How to move your Mac's iTunes Library onto an external drive

How to move your Mac's iTunes Library onto an external drive - When trying to free up drive space on your Mac, one of the first things you can do is move the iTunes Library to a portable hard drive. Here's a detailed guide on how to back up your music, movies and more to reclaim your hard drive.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Amazon Is in Talks to Buy RadioShack Stores, Report Says

Amazon Is in Talks to Buy RadioShack Stores, Report Says -

A deal between Amazon and RadioShack seems unlikely, but it does reveal a bit about the way Amazon is evolving.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Hands On: 1Password 5.2 (iOS)

Hands On: 1Password 5.2 (iOS) - Admit it: if you've already got 1Password, then you use it for creating superbly strong passwords for any site you use -- but the password you use to unlock the app itself is rubbish. That's partly because you've used this password since the dawn of time, and it's ingrained in you, but it's also because changing it across your Mac, iPhone and iPad is a pain. Not anymore. The new update is to the iOS version, but now if you change you password on your Mac, it will automatically change on your iOS devices ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

A New Satellite Will Watch the Western Drought from Space

A New Satellite Will Watch the Western Drought from Space -

The launch of a small satellite won’t fix the the drought in the American West—now entering its fourth year—and it won’t change the fact that January was the driest month in recorded California history. But the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission might at least tell scientists and farmers something new about that drought, and maybe ...

The post A New Satellite Will Watch the Western Drought from Space appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Hands On: Audio Hijack 3 (OS X)

Hands On: Audio Hijack 3 (OS X) - When Audio Hijack 3 was announced, one of us actually squealed in delight. It wouldn't be right of us to mock him, but you can. In fairness, many people who had heard of the software -- and certainly every one who had used it -- was pleased too. For this is one of those applications that isn't just a regular part of your toolbox, it's one that reminds you every time why it is just so much handier working on a Mac than a PC ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Pointers: Five quick and dirty iPhone battery tips

Pointers: Five quick and dirty iPhone battery tips - You've got to hand it to Apple. We were in an Apple Store, trying to decide between an iPhone 6 and a 6 Plus, as you do, and naturally a salesman came over. We mentioned that one thing that's really drawing us to the Plus is the battery life -- and you know what would have then happened in any other store selling any other phone. Of course the salesman would have immediately evangelized that feature. He'd somehow make it sound magical, how long you can go without charging the phone and yet, simultaneously, sold us some extra battery pack. Except this was Apple, and the guy didn't do ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

iPhone usage rates correlate to education and population density, study finds

iPhone usage rates correlate to education and population density, study finds - According to a new study published on Thursday, usage rates of Apple's iPhone in the U.S. are positively correlated to users' level of education and population density, with northeastern states seeing a relatively higher concentration of iPhone owners.

(Via AppleInsider.)

iPod Shuffle Shipping Times Worsen as Retail Stores Run Out of Stock

iPod Shuffle Shipping Times Worsen as Retail Stores Run Out of Stock - Supplies of Apple's lowest priced iPod, the $49 iPod shuffle, are temporarily dwindling as shipping times on Apple's website drop to 7 - 10 days and Apple Retail Stores run out of stock around the country, reports 9to5Mac.

According to multiple sources, supplies of the iPod Shuffle are dwindling across Apple’s physical retail and online channels. In fact, Apple has warned its retail employees that Shuffle supplies will be short for an unspecified period of time and that customers seeking to buy a Shuffle via a retail store should be directed to Apple’s online store.The other two iPod lines, the nano and touch, aren't seeing the same dwindling of supplies as they both display 24 hour shipping times and are available now in most of Apple's retail stores. It's unclear why the shuffle is seeing supply problems, but one possibility is that Apple is seeing a temporary shortage of iPod shuffle components, impacting the company's ability to make new iPod shuffles.

New York City appears to be the city mostly suffering from the iPod shuffle shortage, while the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago seem to have a sporadic number of stores without any stock.

Apple hasn't updated the iPod shuffle since September 2013. In early 2014, CEO Tim Cook said that the iPod was a "declining business". In September 2014, Apple discontinued the iPod Classic due to the difficulty in purchasing parts to manufacture it and a shrinking audience for the device.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

Mark you calendars: FCC to hold Net neutrality vote on Feb. 26

Mark you calendars: FCC to hold Net neutrality vote on Feb. 26 - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announces the date to a CES crowd, indicating that the proposal on the table will include reclassifying broadband as a utility.

(Via CNET News.com.)

The multi-room speakers of CES 2015

The multi-room speakers of CES 2015 - A long dormant category, multi-room speakers have exploded in popularity and can offer consumers better sound quality than typical Bluetooth. Here are the best products on show at CES 2015.

(Via CNET News.com.)