MacRumors

The United States Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent for a "Stylus with inertial sensor," equating to an advanced version of the Apple Pencil that could potentially function with the company's iMac-compatible Magic Trackpad (via Patently Apple). The patent was originally filed in November 2014, but was only recently published in May of 2016.

The patent briefly mentions the combination of the Apple Pencil and Magic Trackpad (or "electronic equipment"), which would receive "electromagnetic signals from electrodes at the first end of the stylus" and translate a user's drawing into a compatible iMac program. The potential integration could bring artistic drawings and programs to Apple's desktop line, similar to the boom such apps saw with the release of the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro last year.

Overall, the new patent details a next-generation Apple Pencil with a far greater technological reach than the current version of the stylus. The proposed update could bring in-air gestures in order to let users control Keynote slides or rotate objects on an iMac screen, turn the accessory into a joystick for games, or even use the Apple Pencil as "an air mouse" in lieu of the Magic Trackpad itself.

Although Apple was granted the patent today, as with other patents, it's a good idea to remain wary as to how long it will take the company to announce, reveal, and release such a device like the Apple Pencil described here, if it ever will. All the same, it would appear a safe bet that a new version of the stylus could pack in some of these motion-sensing features, even if it's still limited to the iPad line.

T-Mobile has announced that Apple Music and fifteen other additional streaming video providers, including various ABC, Disney, and FOX apps, are now covered by the carrier's Binge On program. Binge On now supports over 100 video services in the United States after launching eight months ago.

Binge On enables customers on a qualifying Simple Choice plan to stream unlimited 480p video from dozens of partnered services, led by Netflix, HBO NOW, Hulu, and YouTube, without any of the data consumed counting towards their monthly data bucket. Starting today, any Apple Music video content qualifies too.

The full list of new providers joining Binge On today include:

• ABC
  

• Apple Music
  

• Big Ten Network
  

• CEEK VR
  

• DISH Anywhere
  

• Disney Channel
  

• Disney Jr.
  

• Disney XD
  

• D-PAN.TV
  

• DramaFever
  

• FOX NOW
  

• FXNOW
  

• NAT GEO TV
  

• Shalom World
  

• Sioeye
  

• Tubi TV

T-Mobile expanded Binge On to PBS in June and thirteen video services in May, including NBC and video content from existing Music Freedom partners Google Play Music, Radio Disney, Spotify, and TIDAL, after adding 16 new Binge On and Music Freedom partners in April. YouTube, Google Play Movies, and others were added in March.

Apple Music's audio content has streamed for free on T-Mobile via Music Freedom since July 2015.

Microsoft recently announced an incoming update for its two-factor authenticator apps on iOS and Android, bringing a more robust suite of password authenticator abilities, along with a redesigned user interface, to each app (via The Verge). Set to launch on August 15, the update combines "the best parts" of the company's previous authenticator apps into one service, letting users save data for both a Microsoft account (targeted at consumers) and an Azure AD account (targeted at enterprise users).

The update is planned to overhaul Microsoft's existing, two-step verification iOS app, Azure Authenticator, while the Microsoft account app on Android will prompt users with a starting message to download the new app in the Android store. For iOS users, the company promised that any accounts saved in Azure Authenticator will be "automatically upgraded" into the new version of the app. Before the new update, the iOS app solely supported Azure AD accounts.

Also coming to Microsoft Authenticator is a new, "incredibly simple" user experience that the company promises maintains "the highest level of security" for all of the accounts linked to the app. There's also a streamlined multi-factor authentication in the app's one-click notifications, where users just click an "approve" button in the notification to finish an account's login. In addition, fingerprint approval will be coming to the Microsoft Authenticator app for anyone who wants to bypass needing to type in a passcode.

On August 15th, we will start releasing the new “Microsoft Authenticator” apps in all mobile app stores. This new app combines the best parts of our previous authenticator apps into a new app which works with both Microsoft accounts and Azure AD accounts.

We’re just getting started on this new app! Now that we’ve finished consolidating into a single code base, we’re expecting to deliver new improvements at a very rapid pace.

In that same vein, Microsoft is making MFA challenges even easier to approve, thanks to Apple Watch support in the new update. The same "approve" button notification will appear on Apple's wearable, letting users bypass needing to pick up their iPhone at all to finish up the authentication process. The company said that Samsung Gear devices will also be supported for those on Android.

Users on iOS can get ready for the incoming update by downloading Azure Authenticator for free from the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]

WhatsApp developers pushed out a new update for the hugely popular messenger platform today that includes a couple of new video and chat features for iOS users.

The main change for users who record video through the app is that they now have the ability to zoom in and out while recording, simply by sliding a finger up and down the screen.

On the interface front, WhatsApp developers have added an Edit option to the chat thread tab to make it easier to archive, delete or mark as read multiple chats in one go.

Elsewhere, individual chat threads are faster to load and can now be scrolled through continuously, rather than users being confronted by requests to 'scroll again' in order to access earlier parts of the same thread.

In addition, singular emojis now show up bigger when sent within a thread (only the heart emoji showed bigger previously).

A new WhatsApp Web/Desktop section has also been added to the Settings screen for users to adjust account login options relating to the new desktop app directly on their iOS device.

WhatsApp Messenger is a free download for iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Google Maps developers yesterday introduced some visual changes and subtle navigation aids for both desktop and iOS that aim to make it easier for users to explore the world around them.

The most immediately obvious visual changes include the removal of road outlines to make traffic and transit routes easier to delineate, as well as clearer typography for street names, points of interest, transit stations, and so on, making them more distinguishable.

Another, less obvious but significant change is the way Google Maps represents high density areas of interest – restaurants, bars, shops, and so on – which now appear as orange shaded hotspots on the map. As the video above demonstrates, zooming into an orange area brings more details into focus, allowing users to tap them for more information.

The new Maps also gains a more subtle and balanced color scheme to help users differentiate between man-made and natural topographic features, as well as identify places like hospitals, schools and highways more easily.

Google Maps is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Apple recently updated its Maps app to include transit information in San Diego, California and British Columbia, Canada allowing iOS users in those locations to incorporate public transportation options when seeking directions through the Apple Maps app.

In San Diego, Apple Maps will now offer up routes that include transportation by the city's Trolley, which connects the east and south counties with the Downtown area. The Trolley is San Diego's light rail system and sole public transportation option besides buses.

In Vancouver, Victoria, and other cities in British Columbia, Canada, Apple Maps directions now incorporate the SkyTrain and other rail lines. Transit directions should be a welcome addition in Vancouver, which is Canada's third-largest metropolitan area.

Transit directions were first added to Apple Maps in 2015 as part of iOS 9. At launch, transit information was only available in a handful of cities, but Apple has been working hard to expand the feature to additional locations.

Transit data is now available in more than 20 cities around the world, along with dozens of cities in China.

Earlier this year, Apple announced plans to build an iOS App Design and Development Accelerator in Bengaluru, India, for the purpose of supporting engineering talent within the Apple ecosystem and giving developers tools to "create innovative apps for customers around the world," according to CEO Tim Cook.

A few new details about the development center have emerged today, including news that Apple has leased more than 40,000 square feet of space for the Bengaluru offices.

According to sources speaking with The Economic Times, the new Apple center will cover two floors at Galleria, located in North Bengaluru. The office space Apple is interested in is owned by Standard Brick Tile Company, and includes other companies like Atkins and Comviva as tenants within the building.

Tens of thousands of developers in India make apps for iOS, the mobile operating system that is the foundation for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The company said Apple's team would work to inspire and instruct developers on best practices, help them hone their skills and transform the design, quality and performance of their apps on the iOS platform

Apple's current plan is to open the new iOS App Design and Development Accelerator sometime in early 2017. The space in Bengaluru will be the second biggest of Apple's facilities in India, following the company's proposed 250,000 square foot campus in Hyderabad. That location will be the focus of developments in Apple Maps, with up to 4,000 employees expected to be hired at the site, which will cost the company $25 million to build.

Password management company Dashlane today announced an update to its iOS and Android business apps, Dashlane Business, centered around a way for its users to easily navigate between personal and work passwords on their mobile devices. Called "Spaces," the new tool lets company employees keep track of important enterprise information within Dashlane, while simultaneously allowing for the storage of equally important personal passwords and data.

A desktop version of Spaces hit Dashlane earlier in the summer, along with Dashlane Business itself, introducing similar capabilities for companies to encourage increased privacy among its employee base. The new addition works as a button on the top left corner of the app that users can tap to bring up their Spaces, and either showcase every password stored in Dashlane, or only those in a particular Space.

Thanks to the new update's multitasking ability, more than ever the company said that Dashlane offers "a best-in-class onboarding process, employee experience, and functionality."

“Password management blurs the line between home and work. If an employee practices safe password habits at home, that same mindset will carry over into his or her workplace,” said Emmanuel Schalit, CEO of Dashlane. “The majority of notable breaches stem from password hacks, so it’s critical that companies educate their employees on how to manage their passwords and provide them with tools such as Dashlane that make secure password management simple and effective.”

While the new update is mainly for its enterprise-focused app, Dashlane did confirm that anyone who works for a company that uses Dashlane Business will in turn be able to get all of the advantages of Spaces in the regular consumer app. Those interested in the basic features of Dashlane can check it out for free on the App Store [Direct Link], and the company said that users can expect to see the Spaces update rolling out today.

DVD rental company Redbox has started to test a new movie streaming and download service with some of its customers, according to Variety.

Known for its DVD rental kiosks, Redbox has dubbed its latest online service "Redbox Digital", which comes two years after the company shut down Redbox Instant, the ill-fated joint venture with Verizon that officially launched in early 2013.

The subscription-based service was patently unable to compete with the likes of Netflix, and Redbox has reportedly learned from the experience: it's staying away from subscriptions in order to concentrate on transactional video on demand, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

An app for the service similar in appearance to Netflix showed up on the App Store last week, allowing trial users to stream or download content from the company's digital catalog. A company spokesmen contacted Variety via email to confirm the news:

We are testing a potential new transactional digital VOD and EST offering, with a small subset of our customers, designed to complement our core kiosk rental business. As we test and learn from our customers, we will make evaluations that determine any future course of action.

The Redbox Digital catalog is said to be dependent on the company's deals with movie studios, meaning some movies could be available at kiosks when they're not available for streaming. However, the digital catalog will have a much larger offering than kiosks, which usually only hold a few hundred titles.

No word was given on pricing, but typical one-off streaming costs are likely work out more expensive than the $1.50 Redbox customers currently pay for physical disc rentals.

Nintendo shares took a beating on Monday after the company released a statement saying Pokémon Go would have limited impact on its quarterly earnings since it only owns 32 percent of the Pokémon Company, which has the licensing rights to the game.

The announcement by Nintendo appeared to take investors by surprise and had an immediate impact on its share price, with stock dropping 17 percent at one point, wiping around $6.4 billion off their value – their biggest decline since October 1990.

The news poured cold water on hopes of a stunning revival for the Kyoto-based game company, which said its earnings outlook would not be revised. Nintendo is due to reveal its Q1 report later this week.

Some observers remained optimistic however, noting that shares were still up some 60 percent compared with levels prior to the game's July 6 launch, adding nearly $12 billion in market value. They argued upward revisions of the company's profit targets so early after the game's release were beyond reasonable expectations.

"The market has overreacted to the Nintendo statement," said David Gibson, a senior analyst at Macquarie Securities Group who spoke to Reuters. Gibson noted the game in Japan had broken records with 10 million downloads in one day.

"I believe that Pokémon Go will be material in the company's earnings given the current trends for the game."

Global rollout of the game continued over the weekend, with Pokémon Go launching in App Stores in France and Hong Kong – the first Asian location outside Japan to gain access to the wildly successful title by U.S.-based developers Niantic.

CEO of Niantic John Hanke took to the stage Sunday at Comic-Con, where he revealed the new features coming to the game in the coming years, including new pokémon and a trading feature that will allow players to trade captured characters.

Niantic also revealed team leaders for Team Mystic, Team Valor, and Team Instinct, with each trainer set to communicate with players within the game world and offer them advice. Hanke promised fans the leaders would be making their way to the game soon.