New QuickType-like feature found in OS X Yosemite

It’s no secret that Apple is merging many iOS and OS X features into one seamless experience across devices, and one of these instances – QuickType, the predictive typing feature found in iOS 8 – has recently surfaced in OS X Yosemite.
By pressing the ESC key, Yosemite users can invoke a drop-down menu containing several suggested words that OS X thinks should be typed next. Pressing SPACE BAR will insert the highlighted word along with a space, so users can continue typing or press ESC again for the next suggestion. Note that this is different from a similar feature that has been present in OS X for a few years.

 

While the ESC action has been in versions of Apple’s desktop operating system for a while now, its functionality has been limited only to a form of autocorrect/autocomplete, similar to that found in iOS. Previously, pressing ESC while in the midst of typing a word would only present the user with autofill suggestions matching the first few letters of that word. For instance, typing “iDow” and pressing ESC might suggest “iDownloadBlog,” since it learns from the user’s typing habits.
With Yosemite, this feature extends to suggest untyped words and can even be used to type full sentences, although repeatedly choosing the first suggested word does tend to loop phrases eventually. Despite being somewhat rough around the edges and lacking support for most applications, I can see this becoming a useful feature in future updates.
For now, this feature only works in certain applications, such as TextEdit. It also has very limited functionality in Messages, where it only suggests the names of recipients in a group chat. It currently doesn’t work at all in Safari and many other apps, but will likely gain compatibility with other programs over time.
Once it comes to Messages and Mail, perhaps the noted iOS 8 feature of automatically suggesting one-tap replies based off the contents of incoming messages will work in Yosemite as well, which would help validate “QuickType for OS X” as a useful feature.

Categories: Mac

NYT: iPhone 6 has one-handed mode, iWatch has NFC, wireless charging and flexible sapphire screen

Joining today’s conversation about a flurry of announcements due September 9, journalist Brian Chen filed a report today with The New York Times claiming that Apple’s iPhone 6 will feature a so-called “one-handed mode” in an effort to address usability issues anticipated for a phablet-class device.
The lengthy story also takes a closer look at the rumored Apple wearable device which, according to Chen’s sources, will have NFC technology and feature a flexible display protected by a sapphire-made cover.
The article corroborates the consensus out there that the iPhone 6 will come in 4.7 and 5.5-inch flavors, both featuring an on-board Near-Field Communications (NFC) chip to facilitate mobile payments.
According to unnamed “people knowledgeable about the product,” the iPhone 6′s one-handed mode is a software-based feature meant to make the handset’s larger display easier to use with just one hand.
The write-up stops short of giving us specifics as to how this might work beyond stating that it’ll let users “type or use apps with just one hand.” Also, the mode can be switched on and off, two employees familiar with the matter told the paper.
Chen has also learned that the new iPhone and iWatch will achieve high levels of vertical integration by supporting the new Handoff feature letting you send current tasks from one device to another easily.
Apple first showed off the Handoff mode in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite at WWDC 2014 back in June. That the iWatch would support Handoff is another indication that the device runs a customized version of iOS.

The Apple wearable is also said to feature wireless charging.
“Apple had at one point tested solar charging for the watch, but that experiment failed,” reads the report.
Speaking of smartwatches, NYT goes on to quote two employees who call the project one of Apple’s “most ambitious projects to date,” corroborating earlier reports that the device will include sensors to track movements and vital signs such as heart rates.
These sensors will track a user’s stats “much more accurately than existing fitness devices” because Apple has “put an enormous amount of time and money” to make it work, as per the story.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in today’s note to clients that even though Apple will start taking pre-orders for the iWatch shortly after the announcement, the device won’t ship before 2015 due to the complexities involved in the design of its hardware and software.
The analyst is calling for an NFC chip, two iWatch screen sizes to appeal to both gender’s preferences, multiple materials — including aluminum and gold — in addition to eight gigabytes of storage and a processor with 512MB of RAM.
Corroborating Kuo’s report, The Wall Street Journal added that the Apple wearable features a curved OLED screen and taps NFC to connect with the iPhone 6. The financial paper remarked that the iWatch’s NFC feature will also play “a role in mobile payments,” a service Apple is widely expected to announce next Tuesday as well.
Apple will live-stream the event through its website here.

Categories: IOS

Camera lens of iPhone 6 stick out 0.67 millimeters

After several alleged production images and rear shell photos published recently have indicated strongly that one or maybe both new iPhone models could feature an iPod touch-style protruding camera ring on the back, a purported three-dimensional render of a device that resembles the iPhone 6 has surfaced today, showing a camera lens that sticks out between 0.67 and 0.77 millimeters…

The image top of post was republished from a Chinese source Wednesday by Apple.club.tw [Google Translate] and relayed by GforGames.

It’s apparently a three-dimensional rendering of a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 that was probably created as part of the production schematic. The Moiré pattern seen on the image points to the conclusion that a source photographed the render on a computer display.

The website claims that the photo depicts a 4.7-inch device which is ostensibly just 7 millimeters thick.

The accompanying comments suggest that the first prototype had a camera ring on the back protruding 0.77 millimeters. A device named “Proto2” is mentioned as having the camera ring which sticks out some 0.67 millimeters.

The “N56” label seen on the photo is an internal code-name for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. The 5.5-incher has been given a codename of “N61”. French blog NowhereElse.fr was first to report these code-names nearly a month ago.

 Pictured above: the protruding iPhone 6 camera ring that Russian luxury modified iPhone vendor Feld & Volk posted on its Instagram.

As for the claimed schematic, the “Proto 1” and “Proto 2” labels might point to the conclusion that both handsets — the 4.7-inch version and its 5.5-inch counterpart — feature a camera lens extending outward from the rear cover.

Alternatively, the image could mean that just one of the two new iPhones has a protruding lens, meaning “Proto 1” and “Proto 2” denote prototypes of a single model.

Another possibility: the alleged schematic could be for a sixth-generation iPod touch.

What do you say?

Categories: IOS

Photo show rear shell for 4.7 and 5.5 inch iPhone 6

New photos have surfaced this afternoon, of what is said to be the rear shell of the 5.5-inch version of the upcoming iPhone 6 (referred to as the iPhone 6L by some). The part is positioned next to the shell of its 4.7-inch counterpart, giving us an idea of scale.

While component leaks for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 have been plentiful, leaks for the larger 5.5-inch model have been fairly scarce So, if they’re legit, these photos could be placed in just a small stack of evidence we’ve seen thus far that a 5.5-inch iPhone exists…

The two images were posted by website Evasi0nJailbreak.com, who says they can be sourced from deep within Apple’s supply chain. The site adds that the part is in very limited supply, suggesting that reports about the 5.5-inch model being delayed are true.

Like my coverage on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 variation, this latest leak originated from my source deep within Apple’s supply chain in China. However, before jumping to the conclusion that today’s leak is indicative of a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release alongside the all-but-confirmed 4.7-inch model next month, my sources have informed me that a very limited, and undisclosed, number of said 5.5-inch back housing components exist in the factory in question.

It’s obviously impossible to confirm whether the shell is real or not, particularly with so many clones floating around, but the part does look very similar to earlier leaked 4.7-inch iPhone 6 shells. Notice the thick antenna breaks, cutout Apple logo, and rounded flash.

Categories: IOS

Apple Stores Discount 10 percent for Beats by Dr. Dre headphones until Saturday

Apple’s short-term strategy regarding the $3 billion buy of Beats Electronics and Beats Music is starting to take shape with each passing day.
Not only is it actively advertising and selling Beats products through its brick-and-mortar locations and online retail stores, but now the California firm has shaved a cool 10 percent off all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and assorted accessories.
This is virtually an unheard-of move — the company rarely discounts its own products by more than a meager few percents.
I’d say that it’s kinda interesting seeing the maker of overpriced gadgets — as haters usually diss Apple — actually bring the overpriced Beats by Dr. Dre headphones to more bearable levels…
As an example, the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Over-Ear headphones that normally sell for $299.95 now retail for a more reasonable $269.95 over at the US Apple Store.
Likewise, the $599.95 Studio x Snarkitecture headphones dropped to $539.95 while the $449.95 Beats Pro Over-Ear ones are now $404.95.
The popular in-ear headphones have seen price drops, too. Case in point: the $199.95 Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones can now be had for $179.95.
For those wondering, other Beats products like speakers and audio accessories are now 10 percent cheaper as well. Mark Gurman has learned through a source that the price cuts are temporary as the promotion will reportedly last through this coming Saturday, August 23.
Interestingly, the $49.95 Beats Pill Dude speaker covers haven’t been discounted.

Apple two weeks ago gave Beats by Dr. Dre products their own section on its webstore.
Similarly, the Beats Music earned its spot in the ‘Apps Made by Apple’ section on the App Store. Moreover, the firm was recently seen pushing the subscription-based music streaming service to new iOS device owners via App Store prompts while attempting to bring new customers by making annual subscriptions more affordable.

Categories: IOS

Official Samsung unveils new Galaxy Alpha

Samsung today took the wraps off a new smartphone for its Galaxy line called the ‘Galaxy Alpha.’ The company says the handset encapsulates its new design approach, featuring a “carefully constructed” compact body with a metal frame and a solid finish.

In terms of specs, there isn’t anything too crazy under the hood. The Alpha sports a 4.7” HD Super AMOLED display, an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 12MP rear camera. There’s also a fingerprint scanner on board, and a host of other sensors…

Here’s a rundown of the hardware: 4.7” HD Super AMOLED (1280 x 720), Octa Core (Quad 1.8GHz + Quad 1.3GHz) processor, 12MP (rear) and 2.1MP (front) cameras, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory (no SD card slot), and an 1,860 mAh battery.

The really story here is the Alpha’s all-new metal design, which some folks are saying teeters dangerously close to that of Apple’s iPhone 5/5s. The two firms have gone to court over design infringement before, although they did recently call a semi-truce.

Here’s what Samsung has to say about the new look:

Concentrating on elegant aesthetics and compact construction, Samsung has taken a fresh approach to design with the Galaxy Alpha. Created to help consumers express their unique style without sacrificing functionality, the refined Galaxy Alpha features a sophisticated design with a metal frame, elegantly curved corners and a tactile soft back cover. In addition, it is visually balanced, with the perfect contrast of both a calming, soft matte finish and an eye-catching reflection from the metal frame. At less than 7 mm thick, the Galaxy Alpha is also one of the slimmest Galaxy devices ever, and its uniquely compact construction and light weight provides consumers with maximum in-hand grip and control.

And here’s the official introduction video ‘Just Alpha’

The timing of this device is also interesting. Samsung says that the Alpha will go on sale in early September, which is right around the time Apple is expected to announce its iPhone 6, and around the same time that Samsung is believed to unveil its Note 4.

Unfortunately, there’s not much information at this time in terms of availability. Samsung hasn’t named any carrier partners for the Alpha yet, and there’s no word on pricing. We do, however, know it will come in black, white, gold, silver and blue colorways.

Thoughts?

Categories: Andriod

News Leaks Phtotos iPhone 6 front panel, power button and more

As production for the iPhone 6 begins to ramp up ahead of next month’s unveiling, we’re starting to see more and more part leaks for the highly anticipated handset. We’ve seen several over the last few days, and this afternoon, new photos of alleged components surfaced.

This latest batch gives us a close-up look at what is said to be the front panel and display assembly for the 4.7-inch model of the iPhone 6, with its very clearly tapered edges. The photos also show the new Power button, which is expected to be relocated, and its Mute Switch…

We’ll start off by talking about the front panel, which you can see in the image above. This is obviously the inside of the component, and it looks like some pieces have been pulled apart to show off the digitizer, LCD flex cable, light sensors and the cubby for the Face Time camera.

These two photos give us a nice side view of the panel, where you can see that its edges are far more tapered than those on current models. Now imagine these edges sitting nearly flush with those from the rear shell leaks we’ve seen, and the design should be nearly seamless.

Finally, we have photos of the iPhone 6′s Power button and Mute switch, which are both covered in a nice metal finish. The consensus is that Apple has moved the Power button to the side of the handset for easier operation, and this new Mute toggle looks a bit different as well.

The photos come from luxury modified iPhone vendor Feld & Volk, courtesy of MacRumors, who has been responsible for several part leaks over the past few weeks. The firm claims it has a relationship with Apple suppliers, which enables it to get a head start on modifications.

Most of what we’ve seen thus far, in terms of leaks and reports, matches up fairly nicely. The iPhone 6 is expected to come in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch versions with A8 processors, new sensors and more. Apple has reportedly scheduled its iPhone event for Tuesday, September 9th.

Categories: IOS

iOS 7.1 to 7.1.X now available to jailbreak

The Pangu.io jailbreak seemingly came out of nowhere, but we can confirm that it 100% works. We tested the jailbreak on our device running iOS 7.1.1 and it worked just as advertised, burning two exploits in the process.
Pangu will eventually come in two flavors—a Windows version and a Mac version—however, the Mac version is still in development. Inside, we’ll show you how to jailbreak iOS 7.1.x on your device using Pangu for Windows. 
The Pangu jailbreak should work with the following devices: iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th gen, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina Display.

Video Tutorial

How to jailbreak iOS 7.1.x with Pangu for Windows

Step 1: Download the latest version of Pangu from our downloads page
Step 2: Plug your iOS 7.1.x device in to your computer’s USB port
Step 3: Run Pangu_v1.0.exe on your Windows machine. If you see weird characters, it may be due to Windows not displaying the Chinese character-set correctly. Simply follow along in our video above to see what we mean.
Step 4: Make sure the checkbox is unchecked, and click the Start Jailbreak button.
Step 5: Pangu will ask you to go to Settings > General > Date & Time and disable the Set Automatically toggle. You will then need to set the date to June 2, 2014.
Step 6: The jailbreak process will start. Eventually you will see the Pangu app icon on the Home screen. Tap the Pangu icon to launch the Pangu app.
Step 7: Wait patiently, and the jailbreak will process. The video tutorial is sped up, the whole process takes about 10-15 minutes, so be patient.
Step 8: Once the jailbreak is completed, you should see a “enjoy your new jailbreak message”. Unlock your device, and you should see Cydia on the Home screen.
Congratulations. You now have an untethered jailbreak on iOS 7.1.x. Pangu should automatically set your date setting in Settings > General > Date & Time back to Set Automatically.
A Mac version should be out soon, and as soon as it is, we’ll post a Mac tutorial as well.
Have you tried to jailbreak your iOS 7.1.x device yet? How did you fare? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Download Direct

 

Categories: IOS, Jailbreak, Mac, Window Phone

Apple Release:iOS 8 Beta 2, Yosemite Developer Preview 2, new Xcode and Apple TV software

Two weeks after releasing the first beta of iOS 8, Apple today seeded it developers with the second beta of both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.

The Yosemite Developer Preview 2 (Build 14A261i) for Macs and a pre-release version of iOS 8 Beta 2 (build 12A4297e) for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices are available for download through Apple’s Dev Center.

The betas are available standalone o

r as over-the-air downloads via the Software Update mechanism…

As speculated, iOS 8 Beta 2 can now be downloaded through the Software Update section of the stock Settings app. The second beta of OS X 10.10 Yosemite is available to download from Dev Center, weighing in at 1.16 gigabytes, or as a Mac App Store update.

 

Likewise, the Apple TV set-top box has received a new beta firmware that brings iCloud Family Sharing to the big screen and allows developers to test new AirPlay features with their apps.

Interestingly, the 2010 Apple TV hardware is not supported. Finally, Xcode 6 Beta 2 (build 6A216f) with the included iOS 8 SDK Beta 2 and OS X 10.10 SDK can be found in Dev Center as well.

iOS 8 Beta 2 highlights:

• App Store: you can now leave reviews and show Family Purchases. Also, Purchased items now sorted by purchase date rather than alphabetically.
• Camera/Photos: Camera puts photo thumbnails to correct photos. Photos puts up a splash page offering to enable iCloud Photos, replacing your existing Photo Stream settings. There’re also related new Last Synced and Pause options under Settings > iCloud > Photos.
• Messages: Camera and Voice buttons in Messages are no longer blue, the ability to mark all messages as read, new Raise to Listen option in Settings > Messages to let you “quickly listen and reply to incoming audio messages by raising the phone to your ear”.
• Notifications: a new per-app Allow Notifications switch inside Settings > Notifications allows you to disable all notifications for a given app with one switch instead of multiple toggles.
• Privacy: a new Home Data section in Settings > Privacy for apps that have requested access to home data via Apple’s new HomeKit platform.
• QuickType keyboard: Apple’s new soft-keyboard with predictive suggestions is now available on iPad, though not on the iPad 2. Note that you must have Auto-Correct turned on to use QuickType.
• Safari: a new feature called Quick Website Search, now blocks ads from automatically redirecting to the App Store without user content, pinch to tab view on the iPad.
• Settings: Brightness control under Wallpaper and Brightness now works as expected, the Settings app remembers previous position when swiping back, Battery Usage by App in General > Usage > Battery Usage has a new No Cell Coverage label denoting how much juice your iPhone used when no coverage was available.
• Various tidbits: Clock app remembers your last used tab; Handoff works between iOS 8 and Yosemite and is more functional though still not fully baked; AirDrop between iOS and Yosemite no longer requires having a Finder window open to receive a file; Apple’s Podcasts app comes preinstalled and can’t be deleted.
   
  The new iCloud Photos splash page and related options in iCloud settings.
  
  
  
   
  Left: mute all notifications for a given app with a single switch. Right: gray Camera/Voice buttons in Messages (blue previously).
  Yosemite Developer Preview 2 highlights:
• Photo Booth: the app has returned with a Yosemite-style new icon.
• Screen Sharing: now at version 6.0, Screen Sharing allows you to block others from sharing their screen with you.
• Time Machine: say good-bye to the stars background because Apple has revamped Time Machine’s interface for translucent appearance.
• Various tidbits:Handoff works between iOS 8 and Yosemite and is more functional though still not fully baked; AirDrop between iOS and Yosemite no longer requires having a Finder window open to receive a file; a new prompt to enable FileVault storage encryption appears on reboot.
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The new Screen Sharing (left) and Photo Booth (right) icons in Yosemite.
  We continue to investigate the new betas and will update this article with any additional findings in terms of new features, enhancements and under-the-hood changes.
  Note that even though Apple cautions that devices updated to iOS 8 Beta 2 can’t be restored to earlier versions of iOS, our own Joe Rossignol showed you how to downgrade from iOS 8 Beta 1 to iOS 7.1.1.
  
  

Categories: IOS, Mac

How to remove credit card info from iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain is a useful feature for storing and autocompleting private information, such as passwords, credit card numbers and contact info. For that, our own Lory Gil shared how to add credit card information to iCloud Keychain in the past. But perhaps you no longer want to use the feature, or want to keep your private information as secure as possible. If so, read ahead for step-by-step instructions on how to remove credit card info from iCloud Keychain…

How to remove credit card info on iOS 7

Step 1: Tap on the Settings icon from the Home screen.

Step 2: Tap on Safari.

Step 3: Tap on Passwords & AutoFill.

Step 4: Tap on Saved Credit Cards.

Step 5: Tap on Edit in the top-right corner.

Step 6: Tap on the credit card you wish to remove.

 

Step 7: Tap on Delete in the top-left corner and confirm. You may be prompted to enter your passcode if you have one set.

How to remove credit card info on OS X

Step 1: Open Safari.

Step 2: Click on Preferences… under the Safari menu.

Step 3: Navigate to the AutoFill tab.

 Step 4: Click on the Edit button next to credit cards.

Step 5: Click on a credit card and click the Remove button.

iCloud Keychain and AutoFill are meant to be secure features of iOS and OS X, but following these instructions should allow you to remove your credit card information. This how to is part of a series of quick tips at iDownloadBlog, with guides that intend to help both our intermediate and novice users. If you already knew how to do this, consider sharing the article with someone who might find it useful.

Categories: IOS, Mac