MacRumors

Google today announced a forthcoming update to its Google Translate app for iOS that will bring instant camera-based translation and automatic language recognition to Apple's mobile devices. This will be Google's first update to the translation app in nearly a year.

The updated translation app improves upon the current text recognition feature by incorporating the real-time translation technology that Google acquired with Word Lens last year. Instead of capturing a photo for translation, users can point their phones at signs, menus and other text and immediately view overlays containing the translated phrases.

At launch, this Word Lens feature will support a limited number of languages (English to and from French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) with additional languages expected in the future. It also will work even when there is no available Internet connection.

Google has also added a new real-time conversation mode that is available for the first time on the iOS platform. Previously incorporated into Android, this real-time mode improves the flow of a conversation by automatically detecting the languages being used by the participants. Once language identification is complete, users can speak at a natural pace without needing to tap the mic between each side of the conversation.

Google is rolling out the Translate update across its platforms with the iOS version debuting in the next few days. Google Translate is a universal app and available for free in the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]

Update 10:42 AM: The Google Translate update is now available in the App Store.

Facebook today plans to launch a new app for iOS and Android, simply titled "Work", that will allow businesses to build their own Facebook-like social networks to facilitate interaction amongst employees.

The service, which will also available on the main Facebook website, has been beta tested in "a very small set" of businesses around the world, Lars Rasmussen, the engineering director at Facebook who is heading up the project, told TechCrunch. Today's launch is the next step in testing the project, a continuation of a process the company has essentially been working on for a decade due to its basis in Facebook's own employees using the service to plan meetings, share files, and collaborate on projects.

“Facebook at Work’s strength is that we’ve spent ten years and incorporated feedback from 1 billion active users,” he says. “All of that is embedded now in the same product but adapted for different use cases.”

And it’s actually used by staff. “When Mark makes an announcement he just posts it on Facebook at Work,” Rasmussen says.

No details on pricing of the app, or overall service, were given, though TechCrunch points out that Rasmussen never rules out advertisements as a future possibility for the service. Facebook at Work will also be a bit bare bones when it launches today, as the service will allow users to share and receive documents, but due to the company's time crunch to meet today's launch, there won't be any in-app editing yet.

Rasmussen also gave TechCrunch a run-down of how the service functions when starting out, describing linking accounts amongst a user's personal Facebook and an overall similarity to the company's previously established Groups service.

“When an employer adopts Facebook at Work, they can construct it with a set of new accounts. Users can then link their work and personal accounts together so that they are logged into both at the same time.” This would work much like Groups and public profiles do today. On mobile, you would have two mobile apps running at the same time, he adds. “Even if the employee chooses to link there is no crossover. The content stays entirely within your personal or work Facebook.”

Though Facebook's new app is decidedly business-focused, it follows the company's recent trend of separating individual aspects of the service into multiple independent apps acting autonomously from the main Facebook app.

The nascent service has a bit of an uphill battle, with competing services already filling the market and ensuring users their personal data won't leak over into the work side of things, but Rasmussen points out he's already seen how a service like this can fail by working on Google Wave, a similar work-focused service. “I can say that the challenges of making work more efficient is something that has been on my mind for a long time," he told TechCrunch, "And I come to it with a lot of passion and the knowledge of a failure of doing this at a different company."

Facebook's Work for iOS app is scheduled to launch later today.

Apple last week implemented price increases for App Store content throughout the European Union and in several other countries, rebalancing the company's pricing as exchange rates have shifted and new taxes have gone into effect in some countries.

One side effect of that change, however, is that auto-renewing subscriptions for app content have been automatically turned off for any pricing tiers that saw increases due to Apple's changes. The issue was noticed by a MacRumors reader and also highlighted by Popular Science UK editor Tom Royal today.

Users have so far apparently not been notified that auto-renewals have been turned off following the price increases, although in the examples we've seen the renewal dates are still several weeks into the future.

It is understandable that Apple may want or need to receive consent from customers before automatically raising recurring subscription fees, but so far neither publishers nor users have been notified of this issue and they are only discovering it for themselves when digging into the subscription settings for their apps.

Apple was proactive about notifying app developers of impending price increases roughly a day and a half of time, but additional information on the effect those changes are having on recurring subscriptions was not included. As a result, some users may suddenly find themselves losing access to their content while publishers may lose out from users who simply elect not to follow up on the issue and resubscribe, regardless of whether the new rates themselves would be a determining factor.

Users in affected countries should check their settings for any recurring in-app subscriptions and ensure that they turn auto-renew back on should they wish to continue receiving their content.

(Thanks, Richard!)

Microsoft today announced the release of an updated version of its Skype iOS client app bringing a few tweaks to the dial pad and chat picker alongside a new pre-release feedback program.

The first major user interface overhaul focuses on the dial pad, streamlining the process by automatically detecting matching numbers as soon as the user begins inputting a phone number. The update to the new chat picker further expedites the process of starting a chat or a call, letting users scroll through a quick list of their contacts, making them all a tap away from a video call or voice chat.

Perhaps most interesting in the 5.9 update, however, is Microsoft's introduction of the new pre-release program for the iOS Skype app. The company states it is currently looking for "enthusiastic Skype users" who can provide feedback on the chat program's iOS app to "shape and enhance" the program in the future.

Those willing to sign up will gain access to early versions of Skype for iOS in the future, provided they agree to update the company with "regular feedback" as each update is rolled out to them. Applicants must also be 18 years or older with a valid email address and Skype or Microsoft account.

You can help us shape your skype experience by:
-Trying out some new or upgraded features (don't worry we'll let you know what's new) and tell us about your experience after doing so
-Giving us feedback and suggestions on what you would like to see in the app in the future
-Letting us know of any issues that you run into while using this previewed version

The new version 5.9 is available now, and those interested in the pre-release program, which the company promises has limited availability, can sign up on Skype's official website. Skype for iPhone is available for free from the App Store. [Direct Link]

A new survey from finance company Credit Suisse found that of the solely iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners questioned, 18 percent of them would "definitely" purchase Apple's upcoming wearable, the Apple Watch.

As reported by Business Insider, the level of interest from iPhone owners could translate to 35 million units moved during the device's first year. Beyond the definite purchasers, 11 percent of those surveyed said they "probably" would buy the Watch, another 18 percent said they would "definitely not" buy it, and a large pool of "maybe" and "probably not" users occupied 27 percent each in the middle.

With strong interest levels in the Apple Watch, Credit Suisse believes there will be shortages of the device at its rumored March launch.

But even if one out of every five iPhone 6 owners wants an Apple Watch, Credit Suisse believes Apple will only make about 20 million Apple Watches in 2015, suggesting there might be a supply shortage when the smartwatch goes on sale.

These estimates aren't far off from a survey by UBS in early December that focused on consumers in general, not just specific iPhone 6 owners, and found that 10 percent are "very likely" to buy the Apple Watch, with the company selling 24 million units in the first nine months. Following Apple's unveiling of the device last September, speculation on the Apple Watch's unannounced details has continued in the lead-up to its launch, with the most recent piece of news revealing details of the Watch's iPhone companion app.

Belkin's WeMo line, which consists of a range of home automation products like light switches, motion sensors, cameras, and more, has been around a few years, but the company has been dedicated to updating it and adding new products on a regular basis.

It appears that the WeMo line's next major update could be the addition of HomeKit support, letting the complete range of products integrate with Apple's upcoming home automation platform. Speaking to MacObserver, a Belkin spokesperson confirmed that the company is committed to introducing HomeKit support, which will come in "the very near future."

WeMo will continue to evolve as we deliver on our promise of being the most approachable entry point to the connected home, and it is a natural progression based on Belkin's long-term partnership with Apple that compatibility with HomeKit will be a part of that evolution.

We are currently in conversations with Apple, but no specifics have been finalized at this point. Though our primary goal will always be to create a robust WeMo platform and unparalleled user experience for both current and future WeMo users, we are actively engaged in bringing HomeKit compatibility to fruition in the very near future. Stay tuned.

Belkin was one of the first accessory companies to embrace home automation, and its wide collection of connected products will likely help skyrocket HomeKit to popularity once it becomes available. Belkin started out with a line of connected WeMo switches that allowed any electronic item plugged into them to be controlled by a mobile device, but has since expanded to light bulbs, slow cookers, humidifiers, coffee pots, cameras, motion detectors, and more. There's even a WeMo Maker that can be used by do-it-yourselfers to for a wide range of connected home projects.

Belkin has even bigger plans for home automation in the future. At CES this year, the company was demoing a smart home system that included an under-the-sink WeMo Water sensor designed to measure a home's water usage, and Belkin told MacRumors that a similar product for measuring total home power usage was in the works.

Quite a few companies have announced plans to integrate with Apple's HomeKit, including iDevices, Elgato, Schlage, and more, but Belkin is one of the largest. At the current point in time, it seems that Apple is still putting the finishing touches on its HomeKit tools with chips just beginning to ship out in November, so it may be a few months yet before we begin seeing the first HomeKit-compatible products hitting store shelves.

WayTools today debuted the TextBlade, a compact, collapsible keyboard that's just a third of the size of an iPhone. Instead of using traditional keyboard layout, it uses "next-gen key switch technology" to allow users to type using just eight large smart keys that represent the entire alphabet.

Described as the first MultiTouch keyboard, the TextBlade weighs 1.5 ounces and lasts for a month in between charges thanks to the lithium polymer battery built into the spacebar. Charging takes less than an hour and works through any USB port.

The TextBlade is collapsible and uses built-in magnets snap the pieces together into a form factor thats "as easy to carry as a pen," which was WayTools' main goal for the product. Its keys use a technology called "MagLever," which the company says is superior to a rubber spring keyboard with no drag, stretch, or wear.

TextBlade is brimming with advanced technology, including the World's first physical MultiTouch Keys, ultra low energy Bluetooth Smart, and the first MultiLayer Keys, bringing symbols and editing to home row ... all engineered into the most compact touch-type machine ever produced.

TextBlade uses the same character map as a traditional QWERTY keyboard, allowing people to use the same fingers to select the same letters as they would on a standard keyboard. This function makes typing on the TextBlade "instantly familiar" according to WayTools. The keyboard's eight smart MultiTouch keys are also described as "MultiLayer," allowing them to be used to select symbols and make edits quickly. All keys one might expect to find in an iOS-compatible keyboard, including keys for accessing audio controls and Siri, are included in the TextBlade.

Keyboard covers shrink keys, and fatten your tablet. Not TextBlade.You get full 19mm finger spacing – the same as a desktop.Precision keys outperform a MacBook Pro, with full 2mm travel and extra large keytops. TextBlade's innovative frameless array eliminates all keyboard shudder, with rock-solid grip that hugs the table closer than a MacBook Air, so it's even easier on your wrist. TextBlade's ultra-low profile is half as thick as an iPhone 6.

TextBlade can be pre-ordered from the WayTools website for $99, and will begin shipping out to customers in February.

Apple sensor supplier InvenSense is facing a class-action lawsuit filed by investors accusing the company of defrauding investors by not revealing the true terms of its deals with Apple and Samsung, reports Silicon Beat. InvenSense recently joined Apple's supply chain, producing gyroscopes and accelerometers for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

In the lawsuit, investors accuse InvenSense CEO Alan Krock of providing misleading guidance when he discussed a large new customer during the company's earnings conference call in July 2014.

"Instead of revealing the true condition of the company and its prospects, defendants hid those facts from investors and chose to issue strong guidance and paint a picture of a bright future with a new mega-customer," the complaint states.

Investors believed the new customer to be Apple and increased their stock holdings based on this assumption. During this buying frenzy, InvenSense insiders reportedly sold off their shares, making more than $5.3 million at a time when the price of InvenSense's stock was climbing.

Investors were surprised when InvenSense's gross margins dropped 11 percentage points in the following quarter despite this supposed lucrative Apple contract, and the company's share price quickly fell 20 percent. Plaintiffs in the case assert this decline in the company's financial state was the result of overly generous supplier deals with Apple and Samsung, as well as manufacturing problems that delayed component shipments. The company's failure to disclose these "sweetheart deals" is the basis for the class-action lawsuit.

InvenSense isn't the first supplier to face financial troubles after inking a deal with Apple. Materials manufacturer GT Advanced last year filed for bankruptcy following a failed manufacturer agreement with Apple to supply sapphire for future Apple devices.

The popular Android-only AllCast media streaming app has now made its way to the iOS App Store. The app allows users to stream media to a variety of smart TVs and standalone set-top devices such as the Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, and Amazon Fire TV.

The app uses DLNA to stream media and requires only minimal configuration before users can stream to any media device on the same wireless network as their iPhone or iPad. The setup varies with each device -- Xbox 360 owners must enable the "Play To" option in the settings, while Fire TV owners must install the AllCast app for the Fire TV. Once configured, users can open the AllCast app for iOS, select their media, and choose the connected streaming media device to start playback.

AllCast is similar to Apple's AirPlay technology, an Apple-developed streaming system that allows Apple owners to wirelessly stream content on their iOS devices and Macs to their HDTVs and speakers. Unlike AllCast, AirPlay also supports mirroring that uses an Apple TV to display a Mac or iOS device screen on an HDTV.