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.)