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Category: smartphone

All the new features in iOS 9

Apple has finally unveiled the much awaited iOS 9. This new soon to be launched operating system is more intelligent and packed with improved privacy and Siri features. The system also features new multi-tasking features that’s specifically designed to allow iPad users to simultaneously work with 2 apps, side-by-side.

The new iOS also comes with picture-in-picture feature that allows one to browse the web, compose an email, or use any other app while watching a video.

More so, the built-in apps become more powerful with this new operating system. You will therefore encounter a redesigned Notes app that allows for easy capturing of ideas, an all-new News app that allows for easy access and reading of the news, together with detailed transit information in Maps.

A detailed look into iOS 9 Features is available below:

Siri is Pre-loaded with an all new Super-Effective Design

Siri becomes more intelligent with iOS 9 as it provides for new ways to search videos and photos together with contextual reminders. Proactive assistance provides you with the most relevant info without compromising your own privacy. Your usage patterns allow iOS 9 to automatically suggest the apps to launch or the people to contact even before you start typing. You will also be notified when to leave for appointments, taking into account the traffic conditions at the time. Typed queries will deliver even more precise and accurate results than ever before.

Slide Over feature for your iPad

The Slide Over feature allows you to work on a second app without leaving the first with a simple swipe. A quick tap will give you access to the new Split View feature. The Picture-in-Picture feature allows you to continue watching a video or go on with your FaceTime call and still get to use your favorite apps. A new Shortcut Bar also provides for easier and faster typing.

More Support for the Built-in Apps

You now get even more support and functionality with the built-in apps. For instance, Maps features more precisely mapped subway station entrances and exits together with metropolitan schedules and transit systems. A Nearby feature in Maps will quickly find the nearest shopping mall or restaurant.

The Notes app is also completely redesigned to allow you to easily create checklists, draw a quick sketch with your finger, or snap a photo directly to your note. You can as well easily save important items from other apps directly to your note. Keep them synced across all devices using iCloud.

The News app on the other hand delivers a rich reading experience using an immersive design of a print magazine and the interactivity of digital media. The app will quickly learn your interest and suggest relevant content for you.

Apple Pay also receives support for Discover. It also issues rewards for merchant programs such as Kohl’s Department Stores and Walgreens. The Wallet app allows for easy management of store-issued debit and credit cards. Apple Pay will be available to UK users starting July, 2015.

Availability

The iOS 9 SDK and beta software are available for iOS Developer Program members. The beta program will be available for public use starting July, 2015. iOS 9 is however set to launch this fall as a free software update for iPad mini and later, iPad 2 and later, iPod touch 5th generation, and iPhone 4s and later. Some features may only be available for certain regions only.

June 11, 2015
First Batch of Apple’s HomeKit IoT Accessories now Available

True to their word, the first batch of Apple’s HomeKit compatible accessories has been released. Just last month we heard of the possibility of Apple releasing the much awaited HomeKit accessories in June and they have not disappointed.

For those of you who might be hearing of Apple’s HomeKit for the first time, then you need to know that this tech allows you to control any compatible connected sensors, plugs, thermostats, lights and many more functions using your iPhone or other iOS device.

Currently, there are 5 home automation accessories that work with HomeKit and we have discussed each of them below.

Originally appeared on What’s On iPhone. Read the full article.

June 3, 2015
A Number of Macs and iPhones are about to become ‘Vintage’ or ‘Obsolete’ in June, losing Apple Repair Support

Starting 9^th June, 2015 a couple of Apple products will be classified as either vintage or obsolete in Europe, Canada, Asia-Pacific, United States, Japan, Latin American and Apple Retail Stores.

According to Apple, vintage products are those that have been in production for more than 5 years and less than 7 years. Apple has discontinued hardware service for all vintage products apart from Macintosh products purchased in Turkey and Products purchased in California, United States.

Obsolete products on the other hand are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago. These products hardware service has been discontinued with no exceptions.

Some of the iPhone models that are about to get the boot include the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G (China), iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS (China). These models will achieve the vintage status if they were bought in California.

Other Apple products that are becoming obsolete come 9^th include iMac (24-inch, Mid 2007), iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007, and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid-2009). These products will no longer be supported for service or repair unless they were bought in Turkey. In addition, a few more Apple products lose the vintage status after they were marked as obsolete in the US and they include Xserve RAID (SFP, Late 2004), Xserve (Late 2006), AirPort Express Base Station, MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4/2.2GHZ), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHZ).

The above products will achieve their new status (vintage or obsolete) sometime next month and they will therefore no longer be supported for repair by authorized resellers or Apple Stores. However, Apple will continue offering support to AppleCare customers by phone.

A comprehensive list of the vintage and obsolete Apple devices is available here.

May 26, 2015
Confirmed: Apple HomeKit Products to Start Shipping in June

Soon your iPhone will control your locks, cameras, lights, thermostats, doors, plugs and switches via corresponding apps.

Apple has confirmed to Mashable that the HomeKit products will start shipping in June this year. This news comes in the wake of another published by Fortune claiming that Apple users might have to wait longer for HomeKit products.

Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, said in an email directed to Mashable that the HomeKit had already attracted dozes of partners who are ready to provide HomeKit accessories, with the first hitting the market as early as next month.

The HomeKit platform was first announced in June last year during Apple’s developers conference promising to replace garage clickers, thermostat dials, and light switches with a single control panel that seamlessly integrates with Apple devices. Siri could for example be extended to respond to commands for HomeKit enabled products.

It is important to note that Apple won’t be launching HomeKit by turning on a switch since the HomeKit products will be available once the approved accessory developers go live with their products.

Apple opened the certification process last November and the first batch of approvals came in January. Apple says it is now waiting for the device makers to launch their products.

Also read: Apple TV will be the center of Apple’s smart home

May 22, 2015
Broadcom’s Internet of Things WICED Platform Now Offers Full HomeKit Support
Broadcom has announced that its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) SDK now offers full HomeKit support. As the first company to meet HomeKit technical specifications for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart, Broadcom expands its Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio offerings.

Broadcom’s WICED platform enables developers and OEMs to take advantage of the growing Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. By helping companies create IoT products that are HomeKit compliant, Broadcom is said to reduce time-to-market and improve the consumer experience.

Broadcom’s WICED platform can also connect endpoints through a process known as bridging that delivers the benefits of HomeKit through a hardware module. This allows a product like a Bluetooth Smart light bulb to connect to a smart plug containing Broadcom’s WICED module, creating a bridge from the light bulb to the user’s HomeKit-supported app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

HomeKit offers a set of common protocols making it easier for customers to control HomeKit-enabled accessories using Siri or iOS applications. HomeKit is built on a secure foundation with end-to-end encryption which provides customers a secure connection between their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and HomeKit-enabled accessory.

Key Features:
- Support for 802.11ab/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart
- Compact design to support multiple microcontrollers (MCUs) and systems-on-a-chip (SOCs)
- Low memory footprint
- Integrated development tools
- Reliable interoperability and integrated security
- Upgradeable over wireless connections
Availability
Broadcom’s WICED SDK and hardware module with HomeKit support are available now.
May 14, 2015
The Open Mobile Summit London 2015 – Big Business Mobile Transformation
The Open Mobile Summit London 2015 (29th – 30th June, The Proud Archivist) brings together mobile marketers, creatives and strategists to investigate the impact of placing mobile at the heart of all business operations. Expert speakers from Thomas Cook, Bayer, Bupa, Shazam and many more will share their transformative journeys.

Biz-news is a Media Partner for the event.

This is the event for the executives leading the mobile transformation in every sector, including FMCG, finance, travel, automotive, telecoms, utilities and more. They will seek to explore innovative tactics to drive outstanding financial results and increased brand loyalty.

Highlights include:
- 20+ expert speakers incl. Shazam, Bayer, Thomas Cook and Financial Times will share their mobile transformation journeys to inspire the audience
- Meet 150+ mobile marketers, creatives and strategists to discuss how to align the mobile strategy across marketing, IT and corporate culture to stay in tune with their customers and increment the business revenue
- Get up to speed with the latest mobile marketing strategies, the money making mobile ad tech and the talent that will support the mobile transformation initiative
Face-to-face networking is crucial to business success. Attendees will have access to our pre & post show e-networker, networking breaks, including a drinks reception on day one.

Event website.
May 13, 2015
Toshiba Launches Application Processor Development Platforms For Wearable And IoT Devices
Toshiba has rolled out hardware and software development kits (HDK and SDK) for the Toshiba TZ1000 Application Processor Lite (ApP Lite) series of processors for wearable and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Together, the kits allow evaluation of devices in an environment closer to that of their final application. The TZ1000 processor can also be optimized for specific product characteristics, compared with the previous development environment.

Given the explosive growth of the wearable and IoT markets, customers need to be able to quickly and easily design application processors into their products. Toshiba’s new development platform allows them to do just that, enabling new products with short development cycles.

The company said it will supply a limited number of reference boards to select IoT device developers free of charge, under certain conditions.

Three elements make up the TZ1000 development environment:
- HDK, consisting of a main reference board embedded with a TZ1001MBG processor and a biometric sensor board that measures pulse waves and the heart’s electrical activities;
- SDK, comprising driver software that controls each component incorporated in the TZ1001MBG, middleware that measures activity and pulse waves, and application software that controls the overall system;
- supporting software development tools. Examples of supporting development tools available include Keil MDK-ARM and IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM.
First introduced in 2014, the TZ1000 series of ApP Lite devices integrate a sensor, an ARM Cortex-M4F processor, flash memory and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) controller in one package.

Also included is a high-resolution ADC that can convert analog signals from external sensors, such as pulse wave and electrocardiogram, into digital data and deliver it to the processor. T

he single-device solution measures, processes, saves and communicates data required for IoT devices and wearables, operating at low power to enable long battery life.

ApP Lite
Toshiba ApP Lite processors enable raw data to be fed to the cloud, and also carry out high-performance and efficient signal processing. They extract necessary data through sensors and image recognition, contributing to a reduced data load.

The ApP Lite family consists of four series, each optimized for specific applications: TZ1000, TZ2000, TZ3000 and TZ5000.
May 12, 2015
Nokia dispels rumors that it might be manufacturing smartphones again

A report published on Gizmodo stated that Nokia might be getting back into the manufacturing of consumer handsets at the end of the year (Dec 31^st, 2015) – that is immediately after its non-compete agreement expires. However, a statement released yesterday by Nokia dispels the rumors as inaccurate and false.

The statement reads, “Nokia notes recent news reports claiming the company communicated an intention to manufacture consumer handsets out of a R&D facility in China. These reports are false, and include comments incorrectly attributed to a Nokia Networks executive.

Nokia reiterates it currently has no plans to manufacture or sell consumer handsets.”

The return of Nokia into the manufacture and selling of consumer handsets started at Re/code where an article at their site stated that Nokia was plotting a 2016 return. The article speculated that Nokia was looking into designing exciting devices and then licensing the designs and its name to a Chinese manufacturer.

Nonetheless, the recent press release by Nokia pours cold water over the rumor and this somehow makes a Nokia revival pretty damn unlikely, at least for now.

April 29, 2015
Clear Destination Launches New Apple Watch-Compatible Web App, Lets Customers Track Home Deliveries

Clear Destination has announced the launch of a new web app that customers can use to track the delivery of large household items, like furniture and appliances. The web portal is available on all web browsers, iPhone, Android, Windows phone, Blackberry (through a software development kit), and on the new Samsung and Apple watches.

Clear claims it is the first home delivery tracking web app to provide such complete details on each step of the delivery, “from the moment customers make the purchase and schedule the shipment, to real-time updates on the item’s location until it’s been delivered.”

To use the app, a customer first signs in via their computer or smartphone, and can instantly locate their item in real-time on a map. Customers can also arrange to receive notifications by texts or emails.

The site has a comprehensive set of tracking features: on top of seeing their purchase, address, and scheduled delivery date, customers will also see pictures of the delivery team assigned to their items, a map with a truck icon displaying the real-time location of the delivery team, the number of deliveries the team has to make before arriving at the customer’s home, an estimated time of arrival (ETA), a customer service chat window, and the ability to cancel or reschedule a delivery at any time.

Plus, if the delivery team arrives at the customer’s home when no one is available, they’ll take a picture of the house or building and upload it to the tracker to demonstrate that they attempted a delivery.

April 8, 2015
Survey: Website or App for e-Commerce? Depends on Your Nationality
Different nationalities have different preferences in their method of online shopping – website/mobile site vs. mobile application, according to a survey conducted by OHT-Mobile.

The survey, conducted in February 2015, was jointly carried out with Google Consumer Surveys based on a representative sample of 800 respondents – 100 each from the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.

58% of all respondents worldwide answered that they prefer shopping using a website. In Canada 67% still prefer to shop using a website or mobile site but in the UK, only 49% express the same preference.

In Germany, more than half (51%) responded that they prefer either an app or have no preference – meaning that those who prefer to shop on websites (44%) are in the minority.

The full results are as follows:
- USA (65% prefer web or mobile site; 21% app; 10% no preference)
- Canada (67%; 15%; 13%)
- UK (49%; 23%; 23%)
- Australia (58%, 11%, 29%)
- Germany (44%; 22%; 29%)
- Italy (61%; 16%; 21%)
- Netherlands (62%; 14%; 22%)
- Japan (56%; 16%; 23%)
“The preference for shopping on websites is still strong, but there is a growing trend for app shopping. What’s more is that we are seeing variation between nationalities,” said Ofer Shoshan, CEO of One Hour Translation. “Online retailers should be aware of the different preferences of the audience in each region and be sure to localize their mobile sites and applications to suit accordingly.”

The survey results follow similar results of a One Hour Translation survey completed in Q4 of 2014 with 2,000 participants from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada. According to that survey, 83% of Italians prefer to buy goods and services online in their native language, compared with 80% of Germans, 65% of the Dutch, 74% of the Canadians, and no less than 90% of Japanese people.

Image: Jason Howie
March 26, 2015