How to use all the awesome new Messages features in iOS 8
It might not seem like it on the surface since last year’s iOS 7 update included a huge revamp of the entire iOS interface, but iOS 8 is Apple’s most significant software update in years. Beyond the thousands of new APIs available to developers behind the scenes, every in-built Apple application in iOS has been updated with fresh new functionality in iOS 8.
One of the most frequently used iOS apps on the planet is Messages, and this app in particular has been stuffed with tons of awesome new functionality. Do you know how to use all of Messages’ great new features? The answer is almost definitely no, but you’ve come to the right place.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
iOS 8: How to install and use widgets
In addition to third-party keyboards, support for widgets is another new iOS 8 feature that Android users have had for years. Now that iOS 8 is finally available for a slew of iOS devices, users will be able to get widgets on their screens. However, these aren’t Android-like widgets, but Apple-style widgets, and users will only get to play with the widgets that are supported by certain apps, as GigaOm points out, and the widgets will only show up in the Notification panel, which means they can’t be setup on any other home screen.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
This might be Apple CEO Tim Cook’s most important message yet
Apple’s stance on privacy and data security appears to be stronger than ever, as the company has published an entire new privacy section on its website, complete with an important privacy-related message from CEO Tim Cook. The pages also include details on how Apple handles private data, what users can do to protect their Apple IDs used to log into iTunes and iCloud, and what information the company shares with law enforcement agencies.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
iOS 8: How to install and use your favorite keyboard app
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 8, which brings many interesting new features to iPhone and iPad owners, including support for third-party keyboard apps, something Android users have been enjoying for years. There already plenty of alternative keyboards in the App Store to Apple’s default (and improved) keyboard in iOS – such as Fleksy, Swype, SwiftKey and many others – and AppleInsider has put up a quick guide on how to enabled them on iOS 8 devices.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
BUMMER: Apple never planned to give your iPhone 6 a sapphire screen
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the iPhone 6 before its unveiling was whether or not the device would come with a scratch-proof sapphire display. Now that we know the new device won’t have a sapphire screen, the question becomes whether Apple ever intended to use sapphire on the device at all.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
Late deliveries could be a thing of the past this holiday season
The Internet has changed the way we shop for birthdays, holidays and just about every one of life’s big events. Given enough time, nearly any product from any corner of the world can be shipped to your doorstep, but when you have to depend on retailers and delivery services, sometimes things don’t go as planned. So if you’re one of the unfortunate souls who have had to make a disgruntled phone call on December 23rd, the latest FTC rules should warrant a sigh of relief.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
Has Apple finally killed its famous ‘i’?
One surprise during Apple’s big event last week was that the company unveiled two new products… and neither of them contained the letter “i.” Although we expected Apple to show off its first-ever wearable computer at the event, we thought that it would be called either the iWatch or iBand and were a little surprised to see it labeled the Apple Watch. Similarly, Apple’s mobile payment platform was dubbed Apple Pay instead of iPay, which further signaled Apple might be moving in a different direction when it comes to branding.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
Samsung reportedly missing out on huge 50 million Apple Watch display deal
Apple may be preparing a massive Apple Watch launch for 2015, a new report from Digitimes indicates, citing unnamed sources at LG Display. Apparently, Apple will order as many as 5 million AMOLED displays each month for the Watch, with sources revealing that Apple wants to sell as many as 50 million units next year. Interestingly, the report goes on to say that Apple decided not to purchase any displays from Samsung, even though the Korean giant’s AMOLED technology for mobile devices has been praised in recent reviews.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
OUCH: Apple exec mocks Samsung’s ‘four or five’ watches that ‘nobody is wearing’
Over the past year, Samsung has announced a mind-numbing six different smartwatches that run on four different platforms and none of them so far have come close to being hits. This fact isn’t lost on Jeff Williams, who serves as Apple’s senior vice president for operations and who was chosen to be the project lead for the Apple Watch. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Williams takes a dig at Samsung’s approach to flooding the market with gobs of different gadgets and hoping that one of them will manage to stick.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report
Jony Ive explains why designing the Apple Watch was insanely difficult
Even though Apple was late to announce its first smartwatch compared to its rivals and its Apple Watch will hit stores only at some point next year, the company has been working on its wrist gadget for quite a long time, a new Bloomberg Businessweek profile on Apple reveals.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report