MacRumors

Television channel Syfy announced today that it is relaunching its two apps for iOS as Syfy Now, a universal app with a complete redesign and more access to greater content. The app allows users to watch full episodes of Syfy programs and makes new episodes available the day after they air, and also syncs watch lists and in-show progress across multiple devices via iCloud. Social media sharing is also enabled in this update, as users are given the ability to share episode information directly to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Syfy Now is your destination for full episodes of your favorite Syfy shows, including new episodes available the day after they air for most programs. Once you open the app, log in with your cable or satellite provider account to gain access to the currently available episodes. The same app works on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – you can even sync your watchlist and in-show progress across multiple devices via iCloud.

The app allows for full viewing capability with 11 cable and satellite providers, and claims that more are coming in the future. Users who do not have a compatible cable or satellite provider are still allowed to view select full episodes and clips from Syfy shows, as well as additional content including original online series.

Syfy Now is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), primary Apple supplier Japan Display Inc. is gearing up to focus its production efforts on Apple’s next-generation iPhone set to be released next month.

The firm is currently a major supplier of displays for the iPhone 5, joining fellow Japanese company Sharp and South Korean electronics manufacturer LG in handling Apple's production needs. A report earlier this year stated that Apple had sent orders for LCD panels for the iPhone 5S to all three companies in June.

"JDI is focusing on [production] volumes for the next iPhone launch. So capacity is consumed by smartphone production right now leaving little room for other [production] applications," Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile and emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, told CNET.

The report also says that JDI is a candidate to provide Retina displays for an upcoming iPad mini, although it may not do so initially as it focuses on iPhone 5S production. Yesterday, IHS iSuppli reported that LG should be the main supplier for Retina iPad mini panels, with Sharp and perhaps Samsung also handling some of the production.

Apple will reportedly unveil the next-generation iPhone on September 10, but it is still unclear whether the event will focus singularly on the iPhone 5S or also include the announcement of the rumored low-cost iPhone.

Automatic today sent out an update email to customers eagerly awaiting one of its Link connected car systems, announcing that the public release date of the product has been pushed back yet again.

As we work to fulfill your pre-order, here’s an update. In short, we’re making a lot of progress towards the public launch of Automatic, but we’re pushing back that date by just a few weeks. Read on!

In the email, Automatic says that despite shipping a number of test units to customers who volunteered for a private beta, production delays have prevented them from shipping additional devices to beta customers who have yet to receive a Link.

Unfortunately, we recently experienced a production delay, which has temporarily affected our ability to ship Links to Beta customers. We’re working around the clock (literally!) to fix the issue and our hope is to ship to all remaining Beta customers by the end of the month.

Beta customers were originally supposed to receive both the Link and the accompanying app in mid-June, but the company now expects the remaining Links to ship out by late August.

The Automatic Smart Driving Assistant can currently be preordered from the Automatic website for $69.95. Automatic claims that the Link and iPhone app will begin shipping out to standard customers in September and in the meantime, MacRumors has posted a hands-on look at the device and its accompanying app.

(Thanks, John!)

There are a number of Markdown-based apps that are designed to facilitate simple writing and text editing on the iPad, including options like iA Writer and Byword.

Editorial, from developer Ole Zorn, is another app that falls into this category, but in addition to offering many of the features of the aforementioned text editing apps, it also includes an array of useful scripting and automation tools that speed up repetitive tasks.

Along with multiple pre-installed workflow options and snippets to allow links, frequent phrases, dates, footnotes, and more to be inserted into text quickly, Editorial also allows users to create entirely customized workflows (this functions similarly to OS X Automator) with a fully equipped action library and support for custom actions via a Python interpreter. Snippets can also be fully edited and customized.

Editorial is not a simple app, but the interface is intuitive which means it can be picked up and used without having to read through a detailed instruction manual. It does, however, have such a manual for users who want to get the most out of the app.

Federico Viticci of MacStories has written an extremely detailed, in-depth review of Editorial, which is worth a read for users interested in the app. It also includes a number of workflows that he crafted and included for download.

As a text editor with automation features for power users, Editorial is incredible. It has, admittedly, an initial learning curve, but that’s quickly overcome thanks to the app’s intuitive drag & drop interface and Automator-like UI that is well-designed and easy to use.

Even without any knowledge of Python or regular expressions, iPad users moderately interested in text automation will find great utility in Editorial’s workflow actions; as I demonstrated above, Editorial provides tools to create workflows that can speed up common tasks related to text, list-making and management, web research, and sharing.

While creating complex workflows isn’t necessary, it’s fun to become more comfortable with the workflow system and the URL scheme to explore the possibilities of chaining apps and web services together with text.

Editorial can be downloaded from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]

News of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition for the iPad first hit in March of 2012 and was followed by a December 2012 release.

After being in the App Store for six months, the game was pulled over a contractual dispute between Overhaul Games (a division of Beamdog), and Atari, who had requested the game’s removal from the App Store.

It appears the dispute has been resolved and the game returned to the App Store this morning. According to our sister site TouchArcade, a future patch for the original game is in the works, as is Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition. TouchArcade also has a full review of the game from when it was originally released, warning that the "game requires commitment" and "keeps its treasure for the dedicated."

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]

Finish, the Apple Design Award-winning to-do app created by a pair of 16-year-old developers, has today received a significant update that adds a host of new features that were requested by users, including a much desired Task-by-Task time setting option that allows users to set times for tasks.

In addition, version 2.0 of the app allows users to add notes to tasks, activate a "Bother Me" reminder function, quick-add tasks, and share tasks via email. It also includes a "Rewards" function that allows users to earn real life rewards for completed tasks.

REWARDS: As you complete your tasks, you’ll have the option to earn free, real-life rewards. You’ll never know for sure when you’ll receive rewards–though let’s just say, the earlier you finish your stuff, the better ;). Rewards are constantly changing. They could be anything from productivity tools, coupons,yummy snacks, gift cards, discounts, and more. Keep an eye out for stuff from your favorite brands, and enjoy another huge weapon against procrastination.

The app has been redesigned with both visual and interface enhancements and other new features include task restore abilities and data export options.

Finish can be downloaded from the App Store for $0.99. [Direct Link]

ESPN has updated its WatchESPN app with new support for split-screen viewing of content. For example, users could watch a live stream of one of ESPN's many channels while simultaneously pulling up some on-demand video content or live sports scores.

The feature is exclusive to newer iPads and the iPad mini currently, but will be coming to other devices like the Apple TV and Xbox in the future.

AllThingsD has more on how the feature works:

The key here is something ESPN is calling a “live toolbar.” It’s a widget that runs across the bottom of the video screen and lets you pull up data like scores and stats for other games you’re not watching. And, if your attention span can handle it, you can also use it to pull up on-demand video clips, like highlight reels, that you can watch side-by-side with a live feed.

What's new

Introducing the WatchESPN Live Toolbar on iPad! Now you can keep up with news, scores and on-demand video from your favorite sporting events while watching live programming on ESPN.

The live toolbar includes:
- Live TV Lineup: See what's on ESPN's networks and switch to additional ESPN programming without exiting the video.
- Scores: Follow additional games while watching your game on ESPN. Launch video highlights at the conclusion of an event (where available).
- Top Videos: Watch multiple things at once! Keep up with the latest news and highlights right alongside the live ESPN programming you're watching. Rotate your device while watching two videos.

*The Live Toolbar is available on iPad and iPad Mini only.

Also new in 1.7:
- Users connecting from a college or military network now get access to ESPN3 events automatically!
- WatchESPN is now compatible with iOS7.
- "ESPN on ABC" events will now appear in the WatchESPN app. Selecting these events will bring you into the WatchABC app.

As with many of these apps, live streaming is U.S. only and requires authentication through one of these paid television providers: AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast XFINITY, Cox, Midcontinent Communications, Optimum, Time Warner Cable, or Verizon FiOS TV.

WatchESPN is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

A newly-published patent application from Apple (via AppleInsider) describes a method to allow users to "gift" media content purchased via iTunes and from their own libraries to other users through near-field communication (NFC), suggesting that the technology may eventually find a way onto iOS devices in the near future. The patent, which was filed back in March of this year and stretches over a lengthy 63 pages, describes a system whereby:

...an offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection.

The filing shows a picture of a generic iPhone with an additional chip (labeled 50 in the above diagram) on both the front and rear of the device which may potentially allow users to exchange content through NFC. The patent describes two methods of "gifting" – either by purchasing the media directly from the iTunes Store and sending to another user's Apple ID or by sending a copy of already-owned media to another device, which is currently unavailable on all iOS devices.

The patented method involves digital media protection keys, such as a DRM key, that allows the "gifted" file to be only played on one device in accordance with copyright regulations. This is similar to the existing method of gifting through the iTunes Store, however the transfer would be over NFC, not the Internet or 3G. The NFC chip may allow for data transfer speeds of up to 560 Mbps, according to the filing, and may be compatible with the new TransferJet protocol, first developed by Sony, which allows for faster transfer speeds between devices. The new chips will have a range of 2–4 cm, so users do not physically have to touch phones.

Apple has so far shied away from NFC technology, instead stepping gingerly into scannable digital tickets, coupons, gift cards and loyalty cards with its own Passbook service introduced with iOS 6. This patent suggests, however, that the company is seriously considering NFC as a feature in upcoming devices. NFC is already available on several other devices, including those running Android, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile, and it allows users to achieve much more with their smartphones, including paying for goods and services (examples include Visa's payWave and Mastercard's PayPass) and using their smartphones on public transport, which is already being tested in several U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an Apple patent application (via AppleInsider) covering an idea for flexible headphone connectors to avoid plug breakage and accidental equipment damage – a common complaint of many users. The patent application, which was first filed back in June 2011 and lists Albert Golko, an iPhone and iPad product development engineering manager at Apple, as its inventor, describes a system whereby:

…a portion or all of the plug connector may comprise a flexible material that allows the connector to bend with respect to an insertion axis and prevent the connector from breaking when inserted or extracted improperly.

The patent describes an audio connector (i.e. a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack) that is manufactured from a flexible material that allows it to bend slightly during use. The audio connectors currently in use on most devices are inflexible and offer no strain relief, meaning that any sudden force to the headphone jack risks damaging the port, which often warrants an expensive repair.

A further addition to the patent is a certain level of flexibility along the connector's length, which allows for more strain in areas that are prone to breakage, such as the tip or base of the plug. Many smartphone users are accustomed to wrapping headphones around the device, which causes an enormous amount of strain to the base of the plug. It is envisioned that Apple's patent will help reduce this slightly by providing more relief to both the headphone jack and the connector.

Although the intentions of the patent application are as of yet unclear, Apple has in the past expressed interest in improving and shrinking headphone plugs and jacks. A patent application published in 2010 outlined a headphone jack design using pogo pins rather than cantilevered metal strips for electrical contacts within the jack, a design which could allow for thinner headphone jacks. Existing audio connectors, both in the standard 3.5 mm and smaller 2.5 mm sizes, remain limiting factors in making smartphones and other devices smaller and thinner, but Apple's work toward thinner jacks and more flexible plugs could help the company achieve smaller and thinner device designs in the future.

Augmented reality service Layar has released an update for its iOS app today, bringing a complete redesign to the app as well as the ability to archive AR content for later viewing. The app also includes an integrated QR code scanner and a refined Geo Layer interface that allows the user to find points of interest within a physical location.

Scan print materials enhanced with Layar to view rich digital experiences right on top! Then be amazed as extra digital content appears, allowing you to interact with your world in a whole new way!

Layar was one of the most prominent early apps to take advantage of support for augmented reality features enabled by Apple in iPhone OS 3.1 back in 2009. Layar is a free download in the App Store. [Direct Link]

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for displays destined for this year’s upcoming iPad mini are set to be on par with those of last year’s model. The firm also believes that this year’s iPad mini will feature a high-resolution Retina display, something that has been highly rumored for the upcoming device.

"Based [what] we are seeing in the [production] pipeline...The volumes are similar to the iPad Mini that we saw in Q4 of last year," said Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile & emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, referring to display production. [...]

LG Display is expected to be the main supplier initially for the Mini Retina, though Sharp is also expected to participate in production, Jakhanwal said. Other reports have also cited Samsung as a supplier as various manufacturers struggle to reach high-volume production of the pixel-dense yet thin display.

Jakhanwal also notes that AU Optronics is currently supplying a small share of iPad mini displays but that it would need to "scale up" before it could begin supplying Retina display panels. Reports have indicated that Apple is likely to dump AU Optronics as an iPad mini display supplier as it moves to Retina panels.

Earlier this week, a report from Bloomberg claimed that Apple will indeed release a thinner full-sized iPad and a Retina-equipped iPad mini within the last three months of 2013. This would mean that the upcoming September 10 media event for the iPhone would be completely separate from that of an iPad announcement. The new full-sized iPad is expected to have a narrower bezel like the existing iPad mini, while the new iPad mini is not expected to have any significant design changes.

Ginger Labs launched a major update to its iOS note-taking app Notability today that includes universal compatibility with both the iPhone and iPad, as well as iCloud support for syncing and viewing between devices. The update also adds features such as cosmetic user interface changes and a new scissor tool for scaling and rotating.

Welcome to Notability, the best-selling note-taking app on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Notability is so powerful that it will transform how you work: sketch ideas, annotate documents, sign contracts, complete worksheets, keep a journal, jot travel notes, teach a class, make a presentation and much more. With iCloud support, your notes stay up to date on all your iOS devices!

Last year as the App Store reached the 25 billion download milestone, Notability was recognized by Apple as one of the "Top 25 All-Time Paid Apps" for iPad. Notability is $2.99 for the iPhone and iPad and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]