June 4, 2014
Earlier this week, Samsung announced their first Tizen smartphone, sending a shot across Google’s bow, from the Android side. Apple then followed up with their announcement that Bing would be the default search engine in Spotlight searches. Also, note this text from Apple’s Yosemite preview page:
You can also now search the web using DuckDuckGo, a search engine that doesn’t track you.
Samsung’s Tizen threat is an obvious one, a move to derail Android’s dominance as the number one competitor to iOS in the mobile space.
The change in Apple’s search defaults is much more subtle, but no less important.
From Forbes:
In the new versions of their operating systems, Google results will be removed from Spotlight and replaced with Microsoft’s Bing. Of course Apple is going to offer searches through iTunes, the App Store, Apple Maps, iBooks, and more, but the prize of web searches in Spotlight now goes to Redmond.
Keen followers of Apple will note that Bing was already powering results for Siri.
It’s not a total wipe-out, users searching in Safari will see results from Google, but Apple is slowly winding back their reliance on Google. Wherever web searching remains visible to the user, Google will likely remain in the short to medium term, But in areas where users are searching and just want results rather than Google results, Apple is using alternative providers. Bing is one. DuckDuckGo for private search is another.
From Kyre Lahtinen:
Recently Google received a lot of heat for changes it made to developer builds of the Chrome web browser. Google removed the the url from the top bar. Many suggested that Google was testing this tweak because this is how people use the internet anyway. They open their browser and type a search into Google; Google is most people’s gateway to the web. Google was in effect seeing if they could add one more layer of abstraction on top of the internet so that Google would likely be the only way to the rest of the web.
I can not help but think that Apple is doing a similar thing, but Google is the target. Apple is uniquely positioned to harass Google’s near search monopoly. Because Apple is in complete control of their platform they are able to integrate different services into their search. iOS already benefits from a variety of data sources; iOS gets sports data from Yahoo!, mathematical computations from WolframAlpha.
It appears that much of the search results from Spotlight will not come from Google. [Correct – as pointed out above] I imagine this trend will continue. Apple already encourages users to bypass Google by using Siri to perform searches. Look for Apple to slowly and methodically exclude Google where it can on Apple devices. Users will not care who provides the data just as long as it is fast and accurate, and Apple’s silent war against Google will continue.
The chess match continues. Fascinating to watch this unfold.
June 3, 2014
Written by Shawn King
Ars Technica:
The final version of the software won’t be available for a few months, but Apple developers (and, for the first time ever, one million public beta testers) can download and install the first Yosemite beta version now. Developers will be used to the process of testing new OS X versions on their hardware, but those people in the public beta may be wading into uncharted waters. This guide is for those people, the ones who want to test the new OS X beta without wrecking their Mac—you never want to put your data at risk by installing beta software on your main partition. This way, you can play with all the shiny new features without risking the comfortable, stable, non-beta OS X installation you need to get all your work done.
You don’t want to install the Developer Preview or the beta on your main machine without doing something similar to this.
Apple:
“I think a developer would look like a geek – nerdy, plaid, unshaven, glasses, spiky hair beard…
Another typically well done video from Apple. This is the same video that played at the 2014 WWDC Keynote yesterday.
I’ve spent the last couple of days walking the halls of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, talking to developers about the announcements yesterday. One common theme emerged from those discussions: Possibilities.
I haven’t seen developers this excited about a WWDC in many years—probably since Apple first allowed native apps on iOS. There is a real sense of Apple turning a corner with all of the new tools they gave developers during the conference.
This isn’t just good news for developers—everyone will benefit from this type of excitement. The more developers believe in the platform, the more they continue to push the envelope of what can be done with Apple products—that ultimately means more, and better, apps for consumers. That’s just what every platform needs to thrive.
Most non-developers watching the keynote yesterday probably didn’t care much about Apple’s new Swift programming language, but developers sure took notice. Swift is part of the tools that are going to make app development more efficient. And, because Swift code is interoperable with Objective-C, developers can start using it right away.
One developer I spoke with said Swift has him considering the possibilities of taking his iOS app to the Mac. As a small shop, Swift takes away some of the headaches and resource drain on his company when considering such a big move. His plan is to use Swift for any new code, while utilizing common Objective-C code between the apps. When the Mac app is completed, he will systematically replace the remaining code with Swift.
Other developers told me that apps that were in the beginning phases of development will be done in Swift, while they reevaluate what to do with existing apps.
It’s hard to explain how monumental WWDC 2014 has been. Every developer here is excited about the possibilities for their existing apps and new ones they will build—ideas are flowing, but nobody wanted me to say what they were doing, so you’ll have to wait.
There are some great things coming out of WWDC this year.
Written by Shawn King
Re/code:
This morning, Instagram is rolling out the sixth version of its mobile photo-sharing app, loading it up with 10 creative tools, including the ability to manipulate images in a variety of new ways like saturation, sharpening and highlighting. The new version for the 200 million monthly active users of the Facebook-owned service will be available for both Apple iOS and Google Android, adding a number of tools that users pay for when using other photo apps.
Are you an “Instagrammer”? Are these new features of interest to you?
The AltBeard Bash, done in conjunction with AltConf, is happening tonight in San Francisco from 7-11 pm at the Children’s Creativity Museum at Moscone.
Interest from developers has been overwhelming. Be aware that entry to the party is on a first come, first serve basis—it doesn’t matter if you received an invite or not—those that are at the venue first will get in first.
We will also be supporting Home To Stay Dog Rescue at the party. This is my wife’s project to help save, vet, and find new homes for dogs in need. If you have a few extra dollars in your pocket and see her walking around, please consider donating to help the dogs.
We’re grateful to have two sponsors for this year’s AlBeard Bash: Microsoft Azure and Sling Media. Sling is offering $50 off a Slingbox for The Loop readers.
Written by Jim Dalrymple
Imagine if poring over your finances were as easy as using your favorite app, or smartphone. – “The Apple of finance,” Quartz.
Now it is, with Betterment.
Betterment is a groundbreaking automated investment service, with over 35,000 customers already benefiting from Betterment’s integration of technology and years of investment expertise, combined in one elegant online application.
Betterment’s UX and UI are adored by tech and design enthusiasts, without the red tape of other investment providers. Betterment is delightful on the outside, with killer technology under the hood, and our free iPhone and Android apps help you stay connected to your diversified portfolio at all times.
Betterment has eliminated the unnecessary costs and complications of investing intelligently. It’s straightforward investing for all, whether you have $10,000 or $10 million.
Ready to invest? We’re excited to offer readers of the Loop up to 6 months of Betterment automated investment management for free.
Written by Shawn King
Stacksocial:
License purchased is good for 1 year of service, upon expiration, the Backblaze service can be renewed for $5/month or $50/year.
These services (Crashplan is another) are very dependent on the amount of data you have and your upload speeds but, if you can take advantage of it, it’s a good deal even at the full price. I always tell people you need multiple backups in multiple places. Having an online backup is an option for some.
Written by Shawn King
TIME:
The story behind Robert Capa’s iconic shot of a soldier in the surf at Normandy, one of the most celebrated pictures of the Second World War, is nearly as complex as it is incredible.
The D-Day anniversary is June 6th. Watch the video on the site for more of this incredible story.
Written by Shawn King
Ole Begemann:
With the release of the beta versions of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite at WWDC 2014 yesterday, Apple has also updated the legal agreements for registered iOS and Mac developers. I am not a lawyer, but if I am reading this correctly, it means that beta version of the operating systems and SDKs are still under NDA, but Apple allows developers to discuss new APIs and features that have been introduced at WWDC in public. That should cover pretty much all the new stuff in iOS 8, Yosemite and the Developer Tools.
Apple has always had very restrictive NDAs (I’ve signed some Apple NDAs that say I can’t even say I’ve signed an NDA with them!) but they have historically ignored all the sites, rumour and otherwise, who have “broken” NDAs for the developer program. Good to see them loosening the reins a little bit to reflect reality.
Handoff is perhaps my favorite of all the new features announced at yesterday’s WWDC keynote.
From Apple’s web site:
When your Mac and iOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass whatever you’re doing from one device to another. Say you start writing a report on your Mac, but you want to continue on your iPad as you head to your meeting. Handoff lets you switch over and pick up instantly where you left off. Or maybe you start writing an email on your iPhone, but you want to finish it on your Mac. You can do that, too. Handoff works with Mail, Safari, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts. And app developers can easily build Handoff into their apps.
The key to Handoff’s success is widespread adoption. Apple is building Handoff support into all of their major apps, so that’s already a heck of a start. Developers creating apps with both an OS X and iOS component need to build Handoff support into their apps as well.
I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about a new OS release. Clearly, a lot of effort went into not just the individual releases of iOS and OS X, but into their integration as well. This was very well planned and executed, an excellent bit of engineering on Apple’s part. Well done.
There have long been devices that allowed you to use your Mac as a speaker phone. In the long ago, you’d plug some device into a phone jack in your wall (assuming you even had such a thing), then plug another cable into your Mac. The results were spotty at best. Nowadays, you’ve got solutions like iChat and Skype, but they don’t connect to your iPhone.
With the combination of Yosemite and iOS 8, you’ll get a notification on your Mac when your iPhone rings, giving you the option of accepting the call, or ignoring it. You can answer the call from your iPhone, of course, but having the ability to minimize the interruption, keep your focus on your Mac, is a godsend to me.
From Apple’s web site:
Now you can make and receive iPhone calls right on your Mac. When your iPhone rings, you’ll get a notification on your Mac showing you the caller’s name, number, and profile picture. Click the notification to answer, and your Mac becomes a speakerphone. You can also decline the call or respond with a quick iMessage. Making a phone call from Mac is just as easy. Just click a phone number you see in Contacts, Calendar, Messages, or Safari. Dial in to a conference call from a Calendar event, and your Mac automatically enters the passcode for you. And if your iPhone rings while it’s charging in the bedroom, you can answer the call on your Mac in the living room — they just have to be on the same Wi‑Fi network. Because it works with your existing iPhone number, there’s nothing to set up. Just point, click, and say hello.
So if my phone is upstairs, and I’m downstairs on the couch with my laptop, I can still make and receive calls. Genius!
Prior to Yosemite and iOS 8, SMS/MMS text messages were a second class citizen on your Mac. The Messages application only displayed iMessages, not SMS/MMS messages. A new day is dawning. From Apple’s web site:
With OS X Yosemite and an iPhone running iOS 8, you can send and receive SMS and MMS text messages right from your Mac. So when friends text you — regardless of what phone they have — you can respond from whichever device is closest. All the messages that appear on your iPhone now appear on your Mac, too. You can also initiate a text message conversation on your Mac by clicking a phone number in Safari, Contacts, or Calendar.
I use Messages all the time, partly because I spend more time on my Mac than on my phone or iPad, but mostly because I can type a lot faster on my Mac. Most of the folks I interact with work with iMessages, but when I run into someone who doesn’t my workflow grinds to a halt. I have to pull my phone out of my pocket, type a response, perhaps wait for their response, all while switching between my phone and Mac.
To me, this is another home run feature.
Written by Dave Mark
Let’s say you have a spouse and between zero and four children. If that’s you, iOS 8 has a fantastic new feature, called Family Sharing, that will make your life easier.
Family Sharing is a new way to bring harmony to your family’s digital life. Up to six people in your family can share purchases from iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store without sharing accounts. Pay for family purchases with the same credit card and approve kids’ spending right from a parent’s device. Easily share photos, a family calendar, and more to help keep everyone connected.
Once you set up Family Sharing, family members get immediate access to each other’s music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps. Download what you want with a tap anytime you like. All without having to share an Apple ID or passwords.
This addresses what has become a bit of a headache for me. My wife and kids all have their own devices and their own taste in music, apps, movies, etc. They also each have their own Apple ID. Sharing media between our group requires a fair amount of hand work. Family Sharing just made the process completely seamless.
Home run, Apple. Big thanks.
Written by Dave Mark
One of the charms (and curses) of WWDC is the massive line outside Moscone of folks trying to get into the main hall. Seeing the keynote from one of the overflow rooms is fine, but there’s a real feel of electricity in the main room that is hard to match.
The San Francisco Chronicle blogged some pictures and tweets from the line. It’s as if you were there in person!
Written by Dave Mark
Good summary of the new features announced yesterday.
If you were hoping for a shiny new Apple TV or wearable, you’ll be sorely disappointed by Monday’s WWDC announcements. But for those interested in advancements for both Apple’s mobile and desktop operating systems, iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite spell big news for both developers and consumers alike.
The biggest news for Yosemite is its redesign, which more closely unifies the desktop operating system with iOS. Broader iCloud-based syncing across Apple’s operating systems virtually erases the borders between devices. But updates to iOS, and the developer side of iOS, were the key focus of today’s presentation. With a slew of new APIs, an entirely new language for developers, and a handful of “kits” (HealthKit and HomeKit) for them to tie into, iOS 8 marks a huge step for iOS.
June 2, 2014
Written by Shawn King
Ars Technica:
The downside of new Apple software is that it usually displaces old Apple hardware. With rare exceptions, new versions of iOS and OS X usually don’t make it to a handful of older iDevices and Macs, leaving owners of those gadgets stuck with old software or pushed into upgrading. Luckily, most iOS and OS X users are getting off easy with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. Any Mac that can run OS X 10.8 or 10.9 can also run 10.10, a list that includes Macs from as far back as 2007. Here’s the full list.
Always happily surprised to see how far back Apple provides compatibility for the latest and greatest OS.
Written by Shawn King
Geek:
Aspiring animators, listen up! Pixar’s working on a brand new version of Renderman, the in-house software they use to render (duh) all their awesome digital creations. There are a slew of improvements coming, but the big news is that there’s a version you can download for free. That’s a pretty amazing giveaway — Renderman is a $500 piece of software. Between Autodesk offering students a free download of Maya and the new Renderman v19 being completely free, young amateur animation enthusiasts have access to two of the tools that power some of the highest-grossing animated features in the history of cinema.
No guarantees you’ll create something amazing but at least the tools are getting cheaper for animators.
Written by Shawn King
TUAW:
Apple spent a whole lot of time talking about photos today during its WWDC 2014 keynote address. From iCloud Photo Library to smart image adjustments, there is clearly a lot to be excited about for iOS shutterbugs. But there is one feature that wasn’t mentioned on-stage, yet it has appeared on Apple’s iOS 8 teaser page: time-lapse videos.
I don’t know about “awesome” but it does go to show there’s lots of things Apple is rolling out that they didn’t have time to mention in the Keynote. Expect to see more of these little tidbits as developers get their hands dirty with the new OS.
There are a few things that struck me during the WWDC keynote presentation this morning. The first, and perhaps most important, is how much fun the Apple executives were having on stage. I’m not talking about the normal smiles and jokes, I mean they genuinely looked like they were having a good time.
Let’s face it, most presentations we see are dry, boring affairs that we can’t wait to be over, so we can run out of the room. Apple’s keynotes have never really been like that—although there has been the odd exception—but today’s seemed even more jovial than previous keynotes in recent memory.
When I thought more about what would make them so happy, I came up with one answer: confidence. They knew that what was being delivered to consumers and developers was so good, they had every reason to be confident and therefore happy.
I had the opportunity to meet with a number of executives after the keynote and they were still excited about what they had announced. That says a lot to me about the feelings of these new operating systems from inside Apple.
Being a developer conference, we expect to hear about iOS and OS X. In past years, Apple would throw in a hardware announcement as well—a Mac or iPod to round out the announcements. This year was different—it was all about the software, and only about the software.
In fact, there was so much software news that Tim Cook didn’t even have time to give us an update on the company’s retail operations—something the company normally does during the WWDC presentation.
I’m excited about OS X Yosemite—more excited than I’ve been about a Mac operating system in a long time. I’m using it right now and it’s very responsive and gorgeous with its new design.
iOS has taken center stage at most WWDC’s since its introduction, but this is the first time I’ve really felt that both operating systems were on a level footing. It feels to me that OS X and iOS were developed in conjunction with one another, and not independently. This matters, of course, when you consider how people use the operating systems to share information between devices.
That was one of the biggest parts of the WWDC keynote for me this year.
Apple showed that it’s not just the data that is following the user through iCloud to a variety of devices, but it’s bigger than that—it’s a uniform experience that is following the user.
An app experience that allows the user to start a document on a computer, and then instantly pick it up on an iPhone or iPad is a brilliant feat of engineering. The greatest part—and the Apple way of doing things—is they take that complexity and make it seamless for the user.
That’s the magic that we’ve come to expect from Apple in its apps. Take complex tasks and make it simple to use—no configuration, no messing around, it just works.
It’s hard to imagine how much simpler the Safari Web browser could be, but as it turns out, a lot of things could be taken away. I really like what Apple has done with Safari in Yosemite. They took away so much, but yet it’s still as functional—or even more so—as it was before.
There are many other examples of this type of design in Yosemite and iOS 8, which we’ll discover as the weeks and months go on. It seems to me that Apple has put more thought into how these releases need to work together than any other in the past.
For me, WWDC 2014 is clearly about the developers and helping them make the best apps they possibly can. The new developer tools ensure that they will have everything they need to not only build cool apps today, but also push the envelope for years to come.
What Apple did today at WWDC was ensure that, as a consumer, I’ll be a happy iPad, iPhone, and Mac user for years to come.
Written by Shawn King
Vox:
Apple kicked off the event by announcing major upgrades to both of its flagship operating systems: Mac OS X, which powers Macs, and iOS, which powers iPhones and iPads. The releases included a slew of new features. Here are the most important among them.
Good overview of what developers are looking at right now and what the rest of us will see later this year. Some very exciting stuff coming.
Written by Shawn King
PetaPixel:
Apple has really opened the door for developers to go crazy when it comes to creating and improving camera apps. Developers can now access manual controls for the camera.
This is one of those things a lot of people don’t get about WWDC. It’s not for consumers – yet. But developers (and photo app users like myself) are very excited about these kinds of “hooks” Apple is giving them access to.
Written by Shawn King
Apple:
Thoughtfully redesigning OS X meant going deep into every aspect of the interface and focusing on details large and small. There are obvious changes to big things, like translucency in windows and streamlined toolbars. And there are more subtle changes to a lot of small things, like the buttons, icons, and font you see throughout the system. The more you use your Mac, the more you’ll notice, and the more you’ll love it.
Given that few (if any) of us have used it yet, what are your initial thoughts about Yosemite? Overall, I’m excited to use it.
Written by Dave Mark
Apple’s iOS 8 press release:
Apple® today unveiled iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store℠, giving users incredible new features and developers the tools to create amazing new apps. iOS 8 delivers a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience, including iCloud® Photo Library, allowing you to enjoy your photos and videos more easily across your devices; new Messages features to easily share voice, video or photos with just a swipe; and an entirely new Health app that gives you a clear overview of your health and fitness data all in one place. iOS 8 also includes predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType™ keyboard; Family Sharing, the easiest way to share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household; and iCloud Drive™, so you can store files and access them from anywhere.
“iOS 8 offers simpler, faster and more intuitive ways to use your device with incredible new features like iCloud Photo Library, a new Messages app, the QuickType keyboard and an entirely new Health app,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “We’re also giving developers amazing new tools to make managing your health and your home from your devices an integrated, simple and secure experience.”
In iOS 8, the Photos app and iCloud Photo Library give you access to all of your photos and videos anytime, anywhere. Your photos are easy to find and are organized consistently across your enabled devices. The Photos app can automatically straighten horizons and with smart editing tools, you can quickly adjust light and color or access individual tools for deeper fine-tuning. With iCloud Photo Library, every adjustment and effect is automatically updated across your devices.
Conversations in Messages become more immersive with the ability to communicate with just a swipe. Tap to Talk allows you to share your voice and the same simple gesture also works for sharing videos and photos within Messages. Group messaging now gives you the ability to add and remove contacts, leave a conversation and the option to not be disturbed. Users can easily browse through all of the photos and videos within a conversation and share multiple photos and videos at once. You can choose to share your current location from within Messages for an hour, a day or longer.
The new Health app gathers the information you choose from your various health apps and fitness devices, and provides you with a clear and current overview in one place. iOS 8 offers developers the ability for health and fitness apps to communicate with each other. With your permission, each app can use specific information from other apps to provide a more comprehensive way to manage your health and fitness. For example, the Nike+ apps using NikeFuel will be able to pull in other key HealthKit metrics such as sleep and nutrition to build a custom user profile and improve athletic performance.
New predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType keyboard is smarter and more personalized, and intelligently takes context into account, such as who the recipient is and in which app you’re typing. QuickType understands the way you communicate, suggesting favorite phrases, so you can write entire sentences with just a few taps. What the keyboard learns is encrypted on your device and never sent to the cloud.
iOS 8 introduces Family Sharing, making it easier than ever to communicate and share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household. Family members can browse and download each other’s iTunes®, iBooks® or App Store purchases. Up to six members can participate, each with their own Apple ID. Parents can create Apple IDs for children, which includes Ask to Buy, requiring parental permission for purchases. Family Sharing automatically keeps everyone connected by creating a shared family photo stream, shared calendar and provides an option for locating family members and their devices.
With iCloud Drive, documents of any type can be safely stored, accessed and edited across your devices. Make edits on one device and the most up-to-date version of your documents will be available across all devices, whether an iOS device, Mac®, Windows PC or on www.icloud.com. iCloud Drive brings a whole new level of collaboration between apps, providing seamless access and the ability to work on the same file across multiple apps.
For Enterprise, iOS 8 builds on the new IT model for a mobilized workforce by improving the way users are informed of how their devices are configured, managed or restricted. iOS 8 offers expanded security and management improvements as well as new productivity features, including an expanded level of data protection for key built-in apps, the ability to set your out of office response, see your colleague’s availability when scheduling a meeting and support for configurable Thread Notifications in Mail.
Additional iOS 8 features include: • design enhancements that build off the stunning interface of iOS 7, bringing interactive notifications, quick access to key contacts, the ability to quickly switch back and forth between the inbox and drafts in Mail, as well as intelligent suggestions; • extended Spotlight® capabilities that give you results beyond what’s on your device, including articles from Wikipedia, findings from the news and results from places nearby; and • greater continuity between iPhone®, iPad® and Mac, including Handoff to start an activity on one device and finish on another, along with Instant Hotspot and the ability to make and receive calls and send SMS and MMS messages from your Mac or iPad.
The iOS 8 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. iOS 8 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch® 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina® display, iPad Air™, iPad mini™ and iPad mini with Retina display. iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Drive use your iCloud storage with the first 5GB free. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages.
Written by Shawn King
Apple:
Swift is a new programming language for creating iOS and OS X apps. Swift builds on the best of C and Objective-C, without the constraints of C compatibility. Swift adopts safe programming patterns and adds modern features to make programming easier, more flexible, and more fun. Swift’s clean slate, backed by the mature and much-loved Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks, is an opportunity to reimagine how software development works.
Of all the announcement Apple made today, this might turn out to be one of the biggest.
