Quantcast
Channel: Screen – Apfelportal
Viewing all 79 articles
Browse latest View live

Google Maps for iOS Gains Directions Widget for Turn-By-Turn Navigation on Lock Screen

0
0

Google Maps for iOS was today updated to version 4.30.0, introducing a new Directions Widget that allows Google Maps users to access turn-by-turn navigation directly on the lock screen of the iPhone.

The widget can be enabled by going to the Today View of the Notification Center, scrolling down to the „Edit“ button, and then enabling Google Directions. Once turned on, turn-by-turn navigation directions will be available through the widget in the Notification Center, which can be accessed by swiping right on the lock screen.


Today’s update also introduces a new Google Maps iMessage app that’s designed to let users send their current location to friends and family members without the need to leave the Messages app.

The new Google Maps Messages app can be enabled through the Messages App Store. When installed, it establishes the user’s location and then allows that information to be shared right in Messages.

Along with the new widget and Messages app, the new version of Google Maps also includes unspecified bug fixes.

Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories


Apple VP Phil Schiller Suggests Voice-Activated Smart Speakers Could Benefit From a Screen

0
0

Gadgets 360 published an interview with Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller this week that could shed some light on Apple’s plans for a dedicated Siri-based voice-assistant for the home. Rumors have swirled in recent weeks about Apple’s plans to unveil an Amazon Echo-like smart connected speaker, possibly as early as WWDC in June, so Schiller’s thoughts on the topic could potentially relate to the way Apple is approaching the design of its Echo rival.

During the interview, Schiller demurred when asked what he thought about Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, but his comments clearly imply that the two speakers leave a lot to be desired: „My mother used to have a saying that if you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all.“ More revealingly perhaps, Schiller took pains to distinguish between different usage scenarios for voice assistants: handsfree, such as while driving, when simple voice-activation is convenient – but limited – and most other occasions when the availability of a screen is preferred.


„We think it’s important that there are times when it’s convenient to simply use your voice when you are not able to use the screen,“ said Schiller. „For example, if you’re driving [and] you want Siri to work for you without having to look at the screen, that’s the best thing. Or maybe you’re across the room, and you want to ask Siri to change the song you’re listening to.“

So there’s many moments where a voice assistant is really beneficial, but that doesn’t mean you’d never want a screen. So the idea of not having a screen, I don’t think suits many situations. For example if I’m looking for directions and I’m using Maps, Siri can tell me those directions by voice and that’s really convenient but it’s even better if I can see that map, and I can see what turns are coming up, and I can see where there is congestion, I understand better my route, and what I’m going to do.

Schiller continued his argument for voice assistants with screens using the example of photography and photo sharing. „With all the social networking apps that are now embracing photos more and more, well, it doesn’t work really so great in voice-only assistants,“ said Schiller. The same goes for games, he said, calling them the „biggest category of all“.

I have yet to see any voice-only games that, for me, are nearly as fun as the one that I play on my screen. And so I think voice assistants are incredibly powerful, their intelligence is going to grow, they’re gonna do more for us, but the role of the screen is gonna remain very important to all of this.

Schiller ended his comments on the topic by calling the dual role of voice-assistants „an interesting discussion“, especially with respect to „when each is appropriate, and what they can do in our lives“.

It’s unclear how Schiller’s comments fit in with the recent uptick in rumors that Apple is working on a Siri-based smart speaker for the home. Often-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has said the product will double up as an AirPlay speaker and feature a custom W1 Bluetooth chip for easy pairing, while Sonny Dickson has suggested the device will run a variation of iOS and have a Mac Pro-like concave top with built-in controls. However, none have claimed Apple is working to integrate a screen into the device.

By contrast, recent alleged leaks have suggested Amazon’s next-generation Echo could have a built-in touchscreen and camera with the potential to support phone and video calls.

In the Gadgets 360 interview quoted from above, Schiller also spoke about other topics, including Apple’s Swift programming language, and the company’s app subscription model as it relates to developers and users of the App Store. You can read the full interview here.

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Siri Bug Allows Cellular Data to be Disabled From Lock Screen Without a Passcode

0
0

A reddit user has discovered what appears to be a Siri-related bug that allows access to a locked iPhone’s Cellular Data options without a passcode.

As shown in the screenshot below, when Siri is asked to bring up Cellular Data settings (or if Cellular Data is on), an option to toggle the feature off appears on the lock screen, with no passcode required. When Siri is specifically asked to turn off Cellular Data, the personal assistant asks for a passcode first.


Given that a passcode is required when asking Siri to disable Cellular Data, it seems that this is meant to be the default behavior and that it’s not a setting meant to be controlled from a locked iPhone.

It’s questionable if this bug has any real impact, though, as there are other ways to disable cellular service on an iPhone that’s been stolen, including turning on Airplane Mode from Control Center or simply turning the iPhone off.

MacRumors tested the Siri command and found that it worked on iOS 9 and all versions of iOS 10, including the most recent iOS 10.3.3 beta.

For iPhone owners worried about unauthorized access to their iPhones, both Siri and the Control Center can be disabled on the lock screen.

Tag: Siri

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

iOS 11 Introduces Two New Screen Effects Within Messages Called ‚Echo‘ and ‚Spotlight‘

0
0

Messages users sending texts in iOS 11 this fall will be able to share iMessages with two all-new Screen Effects in Apple’s texting app.

Specifically, a new „Echo“ option sends any selected piece of text to friends by multiplying the message all over the screen. The second, „Spotlight,“ puts an emphasis on your message by placing a large spotlight on the text as it’s sent over to your friend’s iOS device.

No new Bubble Effects have been added to iOS 11, at least not in the first developer beta of the software.


Screen Effects and Bubble Effects made their debut in iOS 10 last year, where Messages as a whole received a major overhaul thanks to the addition of the Messages App Store. On the new platform, apps have become available to download as miniature versions within Messages, including apps for payments, games, dinner reservations, and stickers.

Messages will be getting another overhaul in iOS 11, although one that’s not as big as last year’s update. This fall, the app’s main new addition will be a redesigned App Drawer for your Messages apps, which are placed as a scrollable toolbar below the texting field. Apps should be easier to access in comparison to iOS 10’s user interface, which requires one tap to get into the App Drawer, and another to go to Recents to find the app you want.

Check out the full MacRumors iOS 11 roundup for more features coming to Messages, including peer-to-peer payments using Apple Pay and full chat archive synchronization in iCloud, so transferring over to a new iPhone retains all of your old conversations.

(Thanks, Koohyun Y!)

Related Roundup: iOS 11
Tag: iMessage

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

10.5-Inch iPad Pro Reviews: Impressive Screen and Hardware Update That Will Improve With iOS 11

0
0

One week after Apple introduced the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro at the WWDC keynote in San Jose, California, reviews for the device have begun circulating online. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro has replaced the 9.7-inch device, offering a larger display with 40 percent smaller bezels, ProMotion display technology with refresh rates of up to 120Hz, a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, and more.

In its review, TechCrunch points out that the overall impressiveness of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is largely dependent upon the device running iOS 11 — which includes an array of iPad-specific updates. Of course, the new software won’t launch until the fall, well after the 10.5-inch iPad Pro arrives to first adopters this week, but TechCrunch called it an „amazing“ iPad when it does run iOS 11, saying that, „It pays off years of setup in ways that come home when you see how well iOS 11 works.“

Image via Engadget

Even without iOS 11 the site did enjoy the new screen size, noting that it hit the sweet spot in terms of tablet form factor, and going so far as to say that Apple may decide to drop the 12.9-inch iPad Pro at some point: „I’d expect to see all iPads at 10.5 inches at some point. It’s just the right size.“ TechCrunch ultimately concluded that, with the debut of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, „the iPad is a full-fledged computer.“

Science fiction movies and books have for decades displayed tablets as the future of mid-range computing. And it makes sense. In a world of artificial intelligence, greater mobility and voice-first systems, a keyboard feels stupid and archaic.

With the iPad Pro, especially when it’s armed with iOS 11, it’s beginning to feel possible to see Apple in this world. The combination of custom silicon, a still robust and specifically attuned software ecosystem and a focus on security, Apple has everything it needs to make a strong showing here.

Whether it leads to future growth of the category I don’t yet know – but this particular recipe is coming to maturity. The iPad is a full-fledged computer, and you can argue against it but you’re going to increasingly sound like an idiot.

One of Ars Technica’s favorite additions to the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is the device’s screen and its refresh rate, which has been bumped up from 60Hz to 120Hz. Apple calls the technology behind the refresh rate bump „ProMotion,“ and it allows for overall smoother animations and motions on the iPad’s display, creating a better user experience and reducing input lag. When the iPad doesn’t need a full 120Hz refresh rate, it can dip to as low as 24Hz, „and pretty much anywhere in between,“ in order to save battery life.

As for how it is to use a 120Hz display, I can say that it’s undeniably slick and it makes animations and transitions look great; it’s also easier to read text and scroll simultaneously, since the “ghosting” effect you get at 60Hz is much-reduced. None of the display improvements that Apple has made post-Retina—an ever-longer list that now includes the DCI-P3 color gamut, True Tone, and ProMotion—have had quite as big an impact as those sharper screens did, but the 120Hz refresh rate comes close. The sooner this trickles outward to the iPhone and Apple’s various Macs, the better.

Ars Technica called the new display, „The best screen Apple ships,“ and hopes for Apple to soon introduce the technology into iPhone and Mac sometime in the future. The site also dove deep into performance tests of the new iPad Pro, noting that single-core performance was up 25 percent with the A10X chip, while multi-core performance improved by nearly 80 percent, „If you’re using an app that can hit all three of the high-performance CPU cores at once.“

The Verge got between 8 and 9 hours of battery life on the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, describing the tablet as a „stupendous device“ that most people should probably not buy at launch. The site explained the expensive price point an iPad Pro becomes to turn it into a main computing device, including extra-cost accessories like Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, and upping storage, while also continuing the theme of many reviews posted today about the new iPad: it’s launching too early.


Now that we know that the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is an impressive device and that we further know that iOS 11 is going to radically change how you use it, let’s get back to that value equation I mentioned earlier. Basically, should you buy it? The iPad Pro 10.5 presents a conundrum: it is a stupendous device that I firmly believe most people shouldn’t buy just yet.

If you’re going to spend that much money on an iPad, you should know exactly what you’re going to do with it that takes advantage of all the Pro features. There are people who are already doing that, but I don’t think the majority of computer users can be comfortable using an iPad as their main device. For those who can, go out and buy the hell out of this thing (unless you already have the iPad Pro 9.7).

For the rest of us, my advice is to hold out and see whether iOS 11 changes the calculus.

There are a wealth of other opinions about the 10.5-inch iPad Pro to read today, including reviews posted from the following sites: Engadget, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Business Insider, MacStories, CNET, and The Loop. For other WWDC-related review roundups, check out the first impressions of the new MacBook and iMacs, as well as opinions on HomePod.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Buy Now)

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Leaked iPhone 8 Screen Protector Includes Reduced Bezels and Front-Facing Camera Cutout

0
0

New images and a video of a screen protector for the upcoming „iPhone 8“ have been posted to the Chinese social network site Weibo and shared recently by leaker Benjamin Geskin and leak aggregation site SlashLeaks. The tempered glass screen protector is said to be made for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 with a 5.8-inch display, and represents a design that falls in line with current rumors for the unreleased iPhone.

The screen protector’s bezels are noticeably thin and are the same thickness all the way around, with the exception of the front-facing cutout for the device’s camera and various sensors. Although reports have failed to largely agree upon how Apple will incorporate the iPhone 8’s front camera into a device with dramatically thinner bezels, recent renders have suggested a minor cutout for the camera, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and potentially a 3D sensing module.


To make the cutout less noticeable, iOS could then use deep black technology provided by the new OLED screen to make the area atop the screen appear like one uninterrupted dark strip. As Geskin tweeted out over the weekend, the new tempered glass screen protector aligns nicely with his previous iPhone 8 renderings.


Called the „Olixar iPhone 8 Full Cover Tempered Glass Screen Protector“ and priced at $31.99, the MobileFun description for the accessory says that it supports 3D Touch and provides edge-to-edge protection for the iPhone 8’s screen. The screen protector is also said to include a 2.5D rounded edge, supporting the rumor that the iPhone 8 will include a flat OLED display.


In a separate image posted on SlashLeaks today, another screen protector manufacturer has leaked a picture of an iPhone 8 accessory, claiming the 5.8-inch iPhone will be dubbed the „Decade Edition.“ This name has never been mentioned in previous reports on potential name schemes for the iPhone 8, so it’s best to remain skeptical about its veracity.

Following a report last year that Apple employees were referring to the 2017 iPhone as the „iPhone 8,“ that nomenclature has largely become the go-to title for the 5.8-inch device. More recently, Japanese site Mac Otakara has suggested that the device could be called the „iPhone Edition,“ marking the new iPhone as a higher-end device similar to the Apple Watch Edition. The „Edition“ name would furthermore differentiate it from the iterative iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus updates also expected to launch this fall.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Facebook Messenger Home Screen Ads Rolling Out Worldwide

0
0

Home screen ads in Facebook Messenger, which have been in testing in Australia and Thailand since January, will soon roll out to all users in a beta capacity, Facebook announced in a blog post this morning.

The Facebook Messenger home screen currently displays recent messages from friends, „Shared Days,“ Favorites, and friends who are currently online. When ads roll out, this screen will also feature tailored advertisements similar to the ads already displayed on Facebook and Instagram.

Today we’re pleased to announce the global beta expansion of Messenger ads. People already spend time on Messenger interacting and conducting commerce with businesses and brands they love, and now with Messenger ads, they have an opportunity to discover experiences directly on their home tab.

Home screen ads will join „Click to Messenger“ ads that drive customers to Messenger after clicking an ad in Facebook or Instagram, and sponsored messages, designed to let companies to send ads to users after an interaction to „re-engage.“

According to Facebook, a „small percentage“ of people will begin to see ads on the Messenger home screen towards the end of the month as the company begins to build ad inventory. Facebook says ads will gradually be extended to additional users over the coming months as it learns from the beta experience to ensure it is „continuing to deliver the best experience.“

Global ads will be available to a select number of advertisers starting today, and those advertisers can begin to add Messenger to their ad campaigns.

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

What’s New in iOS 11 Beta 4: Lock Screen and Notification Center Changes, New App Icons and More

0
0

Apple seeded the fourth beta of iOS 11 to developers this morning, bringing some of the most significant changes we’ve seen yet in an iOS 11 beta.

A much-desired swipe feature for clearing Notifications on the Lock screen has been added, and there are also several visual tweaks to icons throughout the operating system. We’ve outlined all of the changes in both the video and the post below.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

New icons – Apple has introduced new icons for the Contacts, Notes, and Reminders app. Some of the app icons may be bugged for some people, showing certain details, like bullets for Reminders, on the wrong side of the icon. This is because Apple inverts the icons for languages that read right to left instead of left to right, and it should be fixed in a later beta.


There’s also a new icon for Contacts in the Settings app, while the Notes and Reminders icons in Settings remain the same.

Notification Center – You can now swipe to the left on a Notification on the Lock screen to bring up options to clear it or view it. Tapping on view or tapping on the Notification itself also brings up a new screen that instructs you to use Touch ID to unlock your device to open the associated app.


In addition to tapping on an icon or using the view option to open it, a Notification will also open if you slide to the right. A full slide to the left automatically clears a Notification without having to tap the clear button.

Settings (Capacity) – In the General section of the Settings app, when you choose „About,“ the Capacity listing now shows the total amount of storage a device possesses rather than the amount of storage available minus the size of iOS.


Settings (AirDrop) – In the Settings app under General, there’s now a dedicated section for AirDrop that allows it to be toggled off, set to everyone, or limited to contacts. Previously, only the Control Center could be used to change these settings.


Settings (Accounts & Passwords) – In the Accounts & Passwords section of the Settings app, the key icon is now vertically oriented instead of displayed horizontally.


WiFi icon – The WiFi icon in the upper left hand of the display that shows when you’re connected to a WiFi network has been slightly tweaked with thicker, more uniform lines.

App Store – There’s now an option to pull downwards to refresh the App Store’s Updates tab.


iOS 11 beta 4 is currently limited to developers, but Apple will likely introduce the changes in a third public beta that we expect to see later this week.

Related Roundup: iOS 11

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories


Apple’s ‚iPhone 8‘ May Mute Notification Sounds When the User is Looking at the Screen

0
0

The HomePod firmware that Apple pushed out to public servers over a week ago continues to reveal tantalizing tidbits of information about unannounced Apple hardware, and this time the plaudits go to iOS developer Guilherme Rambo for discovering lines of code that suggest the upcoming „iPhone 8“ will automatically suppress notification sounds when a user is looking at the screen.



Apple’s redesigned OLED iPhone is believed to include a front-facing 3D sensor capability, likely powered by acquired PrimeSense technology, that enables Apple’s new facial authentication feature.

As a possible extension of biometric authentication, the line of code beginning „TLAttentionAwarenessObserver“ implies that the same infrared depth sensors may be used to mute audible notifications when the user is giving the phone their full attention and looking directly at the screen. Previously uncovered code within the HomePod firmware suggests the „iPhone 8“ will also be able to scan the user’s face even while the device is lying flat on a table.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that the sound suppression feature will show up in Apple’s upcoming OLED iPhone, due to launch next month, but if it does, it’s likely to be user-configurable as an Accessibility consideration. If anything it highlights another potential use case for Apple’s face detection feature, which could replace Touch ID fingerprint authentication entirely on future iPhones.

While many observers remain skeptical that Touch ID can be replaced by a facial recognition system that’s equally secure, rumors have suggested Apple’s facial recognition technique captures more data points than a fingerprint scan, making it even more secure than Touch ID.

(Thanks, Dean!)

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, HomePod

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

iFixit Launches New iPhone 7/7Plus Fix Kits for At-Home Battery Replacements and Screen Repairs

0
0

iFixit today released a collection of all-new Fix Kits for iPhone 7 devices that guide users through replacing batteries, cracked screens, and even the front and rear camera modules and sensors on an iPhone.

The new battery Fix Kits for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus join previous kits already available for iPhones as far back as the iPhone 4s. iFixit said that these battery replacement kits help bring a dead iPhone back to life, and include all the usual tools needed for the replacement process: a collection of screwdrivers, tweezers, iFixit’s own Opening Tool and Opening Pick, and more. Battery Fix Kits start at $44.95 for the iPhone 7 and increase to $49.95 for the iPhone 7 Plus (pictured below).


The cracked screen Fix Kits are newly available for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus as well, and include parts and tools for users to replace a broken iPhone 7 screen on their own. Contents include a custom driver, steel bits, opening tools, tweezers, and a replacement screen backed by iFixit’s lifetime guarantee, but users will have to transfer their old display’s home button assembly to retain Touch ID functions. Cracked screen Fix Kits cost $134.95 for the iPhone 7 and rise to $164.95 for the iPhone 7 Plus.

There are also new iPhone 7 repair components in the Small Parts Kits section, aimed at the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus’s Lightning Connector, front camera and sensors, and rear camera. The small parts Fix Kits vary more drastically in price, with an iPhone 7 front camera and sensor cable kit costing $34.95, and an iPhone 7 Plus Dual Rear Camera kit priced at $84.95.

While each Fix Kit has a guide for users to follow, iFixit has also published a few How To videos on its YouTube channel, including an iPhone 7-specific playlist, to make following along to some of the repair kits even easier.

Depending on the issue at hand, and the iPhone model, out-of-warranty repairs directly from Apple can cost as much as $349 for an iPhone 7 Plus. Similar to iFixit’s recent battery replacement Fix Kits for MacBook Pro devices, users have a chance to save money if they try out iFixit’s guided replacement kits, as long as they are also up for the challenge of an at-home repair.

Tag: iFixit

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

‚iPhone X‘ Split Status Bar Leak Shows Off Animated Battery Icon and Screen Recording Indicator

0
0

Amid the leaked release of the golden master of iOS 11 last night, developers Steve Troughton-Smith and Guilherme Rambo shared a few interesting tidbits about how the split status bar on the OLED „iPhone X“ will work (via 9to5Mac). Falling in line with previous rumors, the iPhone X’s status bar will show the time of day on the left of the „notch“ and cellular signal strength, Wi-Fi, and battery will be located on the right.

These „ears“ of the iPhone X will also be animated in a few ways — when you plug the device into a power source to charge it, the battery icon grows slightly larger (lower right image) to indicate a successful connection and then minimizes back to its original size. Rambo shared a video of this animated icon in action on his Twitter account.

Images via @stroughtonsmith


There’s also a new method to indicate when screen recording is on or when you’re taking a phone call. On the iPhone X, the time on the left side of the notch will be highlighted in red for when screen recording is on, or green to indicate that you’re in a call but outside of the Phone app. This will replace the current „double height“ indicator bar on iOS 10 that pushes down the status bar and displays messages to remind you about apps running in the background.



The breadcrumb trail icon is also staying on the iPhone X, but now it’ll reside just below the time, linking you back to the most recently used app with one tap.


Troughton-Smith theorized that the small dot on the right side of the status bar might indicate „pages“ for the right ear that you could tab through by tapping that area of the iPhone X. Further digging led the developer to change his theory to describe the dot as some kind of „network activity indicator,“ because it pulsates from time to time and vanishes in Airplane Mode.

This theory was further corroborated in a separate video shared by Guilherme Rambo, where the dot in this area of the status bar moved back and forth whenever a piece of media began loading on the smartphone. It’s also worth noting that the location services indicator arrow is now sitting to the right of the time.


The iOS 11 GM has leaked just three days ahead of Apple’s September 12 media event, where the company will officially announce what is now expected to be called the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, third-generation Apple Watch, and more.
Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iOS 11

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

How to Record Your iPhone or iPad Screen in iOS 11

0
0

iOS 11 comes with a handy new Control Center function that allows you to record what you’re doing on your screen. It’s great if you want to capture gameplay, walk someone through a tutorial in an app, demonstrate a bug, and more, and it’s available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 11.

Enabling Screen Recording

If you don’t have the screen recording icon in Control Center, you can add it in the Settings app.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Choose Control Center.
  3. Select „Customize Controls.“
  4. Drag „Screen Recording“ up to the „Include“ section.

Starting a Recording

  1. Bring up the Control Center.
  2. Tap the icon for screen recording. It’s two nested circles.
  3. Your iPhone or iPad will start recording video of your screen automatically following a three second countdown.

While screen recording is turned on, a red bar is plastered across the top of the display so it’s clear when you’re recording and when you’re not.



Ending a Recording

  1. Open Control Center again.
  2. Tap the screen recording icon.
  3. The video that you made is saved to the Photos app.

Accessing Screen Recording Options

There are a few options that are available when making a screen recording, which can be accessed directly in the Control Center. To bring up these options, simply 3D Touch on the screen recording icon.


From this menu, you can start a screen recording and toggle microphone audio on or off. These are the only options that are available for the feature — it’s fairly basic.

Related Roundup: iOS 11

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

How to Hide Text Previews for Every App Notification on iOS 11’s Lock Screen

0
0

iOS 11 has introduced a simple blanket solution for those who want to hide text previews for all of their apps at one time, bringing about a quick remedy for anyone concerned about privacy on iPhone and iPad. In previous iterations of iOS, you could only toggle the „Show Preview“ notification setting on or off for select apps, and the feature was largely exclusive to a few of Apple’s own first-party apps, like Messages.

With iOS 11, that option has extended to individual third-party apps, and Apple has now introduced an overarching „Show Previews“ toggle for all apps installed on your iOS device.

Hiding Text Previews for All Apps on the iOS Lock Screen

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap „Notifications.“
  3. Tap „Show Previews.“
  4. Tap „When Unlocked.“

With this setting turned on, every app that you have notifications enabled for will appear on the Lock Screen, but without the actual content of the notification displayed. You can quickly make that content appear with a simple press (but not tap) of your finger on Home Button to activate Touch ID, unlocking your device and confirming it’s you who wants to read the various messages.

If you choose „Never“ in the same area of Show Preview settings, these notification previews won’t show notification content even when the iPhone or iPad is unlocked.

Preview notifications hidden (left), and then shown after the iPhone is unlocked (right)

The same options are also available for each individual app, allowing for more granular control over your notification privacy settings in iOS 11. If you don’t want the same setting for all of your apps, visit Settings > Notifications > scroll to the desired app > and then scroll to the bottom of the app’s notification page to find Show Preview settings for that specific app.
Related Roundup: iOS 11

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Google is Prepping a Tabletop Smart Screen Device to Rival Amazon’s Echo Show

0
0

Google is working on a tabletop smart screen for video calling and more that will go up against Amazon’s Echo Show, according to sources who spoke to TechCrunch.

The Google device is internally codenamed „Manhattan“ and will have a screen size similar to the 7-inch Echo Show, said two sources, one of whom reportedly received information directly from a Google employee. The device is said to run a version of Android, meaning it could be capable of running third-party apps, with Netflix being mooted as a possibility.

Amazon’s Echo Show device.

Both sources claim the device will offer access to Google Assistant, Google Photos, and YouTube – which goes some ways to explaining why the latter video service was unceremoniously pulled from Amazon’s Echo Show on Tuesday.

Google’s device will also reportedly work as a smart hub for controlling other connected smart home gadgets and appliances, similar to Amazon’s new Echo Plus speaker unveiled earlier this week.

According to TechCrunch’s sources, the original target launch date for the Manhattan device was mid-2018, but Google is apparently under intense pressure to get the product out the door before the end of this year, given that the Echo Show is already on the market. Google has a hardware event scheduled for October 4, but it’s unclear if the device will make an appearance.

Other rumors floating about suggest the tech giant is readying an upmarket version of its Google Home smart speaker to rival Apple’s upcoming $350 HomePod. Known internally as „Google Home Max„, the „premium“ device is said to feature stereo speakers housed in a high-quality design.

Thanks to leaks, we already know that Google will announce a mini version of its Google Home speaker at its hardware event, alongside new Pixel smartphones and a rebranded Google Pixelbook. But there’s also talk of $159 Google-branded Bluetooth earbuds on the way with Google Assistant built-in.

Whatever the exact line-up of products the company drops on October 4, stay tuned to MacRumors for a full summary immediately following the event next week.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Tags: Google, Amazon Echo

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Uber Removing Apple-Granted API That Could Have Let it Record a User’s iPhone Screen

0
0

When the Apple Watch was first released, Apple gave Uber what’s known as an „entitlement“ to run a special API to improve performance of the Uber app on the wrist worn device.

That entitlement made headlines today when security researchers told Gizmodo that Uber could have used it to record a user’s iPhone screen even with the Uber app just running in the background.

In a statement, Uber said the entitlement was used for an old version of the Apple Watch app and was provided to Uber because the original Apple Watch couldn’t render maps.

„It was used for an old version of the Apple Watch app, specifically to run the heavy lifting of rendering maps on your phone & then send the rendering to the Watch app,“ an Uber spokesperson told Gizmodo, saying that early Apple Watches couldn’t handle this process alone. „This dependency was removed with previous improvements to Apple’s OS & our app. Therefore, we’re removing this API from our iOS codebase.“

The entitlement is no longer necessary and Uber is planning to remove it from the iOS codebase, according to both the statement given to Gizmodo and a tweet from Uber head of security and privacy communications Melanie Ensign.

According to security researcher Will Strafach, who first brought attention to the issue, Apple does not often give out entitlements. Strafach said he could find no other apps on the App Store that have the permissions that the Uber app has.


Strafach says there is no evidence that Uber ever misused the entitlement, but it could have been utilized to monitor activity on an iPhone, recording passwords and other personal information. „Essentially it gives you full control over the framebuffer, which contains the colors of each pixel of your screen. So they can potentially draw or record the screen,“ another security researcher, Luca Todesco, told Gizmodo.

Uber says the app is no longer connected to anything in the company’s current codebase, but users will likely be wary anyway as there have been other privacy concerns with the Uber app. There was a feature that allowed riders to be tracked for up to five minutes after a trip, and Apple CEO Tim Cook even went so far as to threaten to remove the app from the App Store after it was found to be secretly recording the UDID of iPhones to identify them even after the Uber app had been deleted.

Tag: Uber

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories


YouTube Testing Autoplaying Videos in Mobile App Home Screen

0
0

Google is reportedly testing a new feature for the YouTube app in which featured videos on the home screen start to play without the user’s permission.

According to AndroidCentral, some users are seeing the first video featured in the Home section automatically play as soon as they open the YouTube app, with subtitles replacing the muted audio.

The video starts from the beginning and plays all the way through if the user allows it, while scrolling further down the Home section causes subsequent videos to also autoplay as they appear on the screen.

While the default behavior is obviously intended to give users a preview of the contents of featured videos, the experimental feature is likely to be seen by some as a distraction, bad news for mobile data limits, or a drain on battery life.

Fortunately, it looks like the autoplay feature can be turned off in Account -> Settings -> General, where a new „Play as you browse“ toggle has been added. Toggling the feature also brings up an additional option to only allow autoplay when connected to WiFi, which should go some way to assuage concerns about the feature eating up data allowances.

It’s not clear if or when the autoplay feature will be rolled out to all mobile users, but we’ll keep an eye out for it in future updates to the official YouTube iOS app.

Tag: YouTube

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Facebook Live Now Offers Built-In Screen Sharing Feature

0
0

Facebook Live, the feature that allows Facebook users to broadcast live video to followers and friends, was today updated with support for screen sharing.

As noticed by The Next Web, there’s now a button for sharing your computer screen when broadcasting on Facebook Live.

Image via The Next Web

Using the screen sharing feature requires a Facebook Screen Sharing browser extension to be installed in the Chrome browser.

Facebook’s built-in screen sharing feature lets users decide what to share based on application, with an option available to stream specific browser tabs.

Screen sharing was previously available in Facebook Live, but it required third-party Open Broadcaster Software to use, and it was more complicated to get running than Facebook’s new solution.

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Verizon Lowering Cracked Screen Repair Fee to $29 for Customers Enrolled in Total Mobile Protection

0
0

Verizon today announced it is lowering its deductible for cracked screen repairs for customers signed up for its Total Mobile Protection plan. Starting on Thursday, October 19, the fee will be reduced from $49 to $29. Total Mobile Protection itself costs $11 per month for smartphones and $9 per month for tablets.


Enrolling in Total Mobile Protection is typically only allowed within 30 days of activating a new account or upgrading to a new device, but Verizon is offering an open enrollment period between tomorrow and Friday, November 17 for any existing customer with a functional device less than two years old.

Verizon said customers who need repairs have the option of bringing their device to one of its 296 carry-in locations across the United States, while technicians are also available to meet customers at home, office, school, or during travel in 152 cities. Verizon allows up to three claims per year per enrolled device.

Total Mobile Protection also includes expert technical support called Tech Coach and other perks like the potential for same- or next-day device replacements.

Tag: Verizon

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an InvisibleShield Glass+ Screen Protector for iPhone 7/8 From Zagg

0
0

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Zagg to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an InvisibleShield Glass+ screen protector for the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus.

Zagg’s been in the screen protector business for a long time, so most people are likely familiar with the company’s line of InvisibleShield screen protectors. There are several options available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.


The Glass+ is designed to offer scratch and drop protection for the iPhone’s display while continuing to offer the same smooth feel of glass and no loss of touch sensitivity, for protection that’s nearly unnoticeable.


It uses Ion Matrix technology to offer impact and shatter resistance, and reinforced edges ensure edge-to-edge protection. According to Zagg, its Glass+ screen protector offers 3x more shatter protection compared to an unprotected iPhone display. It’s also designed to have a 100% clarity rating and will not impact the look of the iPhone’s Retina display.


A smudge resistant top layer prevents fingerprints from muddying the display, and there’s a bubble-free adhesive to make sure the screen protector can be applied cleanly.


Zagg InvisibleShield screen protectors come with a limited lifetime warranty, so Zagg will replace them if they get worn out or damaged.

Zagg normally charges $39.99 for its screen protectors, but we have 12 of them to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The contest will run from today (October 20) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 27. The winners will be chosen randomly on October 27 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

NOTE: Starting today, our giveaways are expanding to cover Canada (excluding Quebec) as well as the United States. Canadian citizens and residents are eligible to enter today’s giveaway.

Tags: giveaway, Zagg

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Belkin’s New iPhone X Screen Protectors Now Available

0
0

Belkin’s new InvisiGlass Ultra and Anti-Glare screen protectors for iPhone X are now available to purchase.

Left to right: Anti-Glare, InvisiGlass Ultra, and EasyAlign sticker

InvisiGlass Ultra is made with 0.21mm ion-strengthened glass supplied by Corning, the same manufacturer of iPhone display glass. Belkin says the screen protector improves the iPhone X’s scratch resistance by up to three to five times, with up to a 25 percent increase in protection against cracking and breakage from drops.

The anti-glare screen protector is said to reduce harsh reflections from both sunlight and artificial lighting, allowing you to view the screen comfortably in bright conditions. The ultra-thin screen protector has an anti-scratch coating.

Both screen protectors include a cleaning cloth and so-called EasyAlign sticker in the box for easier installation at home. The anti-glare version can also be professionally installed at an Apple Store with Apple’s ScreenCare+ application system.

Belkin’s InvisiGlass Ultra and Anti-Glare screen protectors are $39.95 and $19.95 respectively on Apple’s online store in the United States. Both are currently estimated to ship in one business day.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)

Discuss this article in our forums


MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All Stories

Viewing all 79 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images