MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

Over the weekend, Apple informed some users who signed up to its Apple Watch Heart Study that their contributions were complete. An app notification thanked them for their participation and asked them to complete an exit-survey about the study, which first launched in November 2017. The study in collaboration with Stanford Medicine was offered to anyone in the United States who was 22...

Microsoft is to simplify the user experience of its Skype mobile and desktop apps, with the aim of returning the platform's focus to core services like calling and messaging. In announcing the decision in a blog post, Microsoft acknowledged that the Snapchat-style redesign it introduced last year "didn't resonate with a majority of users" and had "overcomplicated" the platform, and said it...

Nanoleaf, the company known for its HomeKit-enabled triangular Light Panels, is expanding into new shapes with the Nanoleaf Canvas. Nanoleaf Canvas features square-shaped touch-enabled panels that can be set to hundreds of different colors. With just a touch, you can activate the light panels, increase or decrease brightness, or change them to another color. Nanoleaf's Canvas panels were...

Apple today seeded the tenth beta of a new tvOS 12 operating system to developers for testing purposes, four days after releasing the ninth beta and more than two months after introducing the new software at the 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference. Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the tvOS 12 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV using a profile that's...

Apple today seeded the tenth beta of an upcoming watchOS 5 update to developers, one week after releasing the ninth beta and more than two months after introducing the software at the Worldwide Developers Conference. To get the beta, you'll need the proper configuration profile, which can be obtained through the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 5 beta can be...

As we head into the three-day Labor Day weekend -- and the unofficial end of Summer in the United States -- numerous online retailers have kicked off sales for anyone shopping around during the long weekend. Although Labor Day is on Monday, September 3, many sales have already begun and last through Monday evening. We've collected many of the best bargains and discounts in this article, so be...

Customers who use Apple's CarPlay feature report a higher satisfaction rate than those who are using Android Auto, according to data gathered by a new J.D. Power survey. On a 1,000 point scale, Apple's CarPlay earned a satisfaction score of 777, compared to Android Auto's score of 748. Though drivers appear to be more satisfied with CarPlay, Google still has an edge over Apple on...

Philips is planning to introduce support for Apple's Shortcuts feature in its Hue app in iOS 12, Philips announced today at the IFA electronics trade show in Berlin (via iCulture). With the integration, Hue owners will be able to add lighting recipes to various Siri Shortcuts, such as shifting the lights in the dining room to a certain color with a Siri voice command like "Dinner Time," as...

Mophie today announced the launch of four new wireless charging products designed for the iPhone and other Qi-based smartphones, debuting the Charge Stream Vent Mount, the Charge Stream Desk Stand, and the Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless in standard and XL configurations. The Charge Stream Vent Mount ($69.95) is designed to fit in most vehicles with a four-prong mount that slips over the ...

Apple's Shortcuts app has been in beta testing and available to developers since July, and over the course of the beta testing period, Apple has been slowly adding new features through Shortcuts beta updates. The latest beta, number four, is a significant update that introduces iCloud syncing for Shortcuts for the first time. Prior to today's beta, Shortcuts created on one device wouldn't sync ...

Eve Systems, formerly Elgato, today announced several new additions to its popular HomeKit product lineup, including a power strip, a light strip, and a new light switch for use in Europe. The Eve Light Strip follows the Eve Flare, a HomeKit-connected mood lamp that was released in May. The Eve Flare was limited to countries in Europe and is not available in the U.S., but the Light Strip will...

Apple is again partnering with Postmates for this week's Apple Pay promotion, which offers a free delivery from the app when using Apple Pay for your first Postmates delivery. This means that the offer is valid only to new customers who have not previously made an order on the Postmates app before. If you qualify and are 18 years or older, the promotion will run through September 5, 2018....

Popular speaker company Ultimate Ears today announced the launch of the two newest speakers in its product lineup, the BOOM 3 and the MEGABOOM 3. Like all Ultimate Ears speakers, the BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3 are portable, waterproof speakers that can be used in a variety of conditions and are perfect for the pool or the beach. Compared to previous-generation speakers, the BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3...

Zagg today announced the launch of the Zagg Flex Universal Keyboard and Stand, which is designed to work with any Bluetooth device. It can be paired to the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and more, along with smart TVs, other tablets, and other smartphones. The Flex Universal Keyboard features a slim protective cover that keeps it safe when in a bag or a purse. When in use, the cover turns into a...

Square today announced that it has updated its original free Square Reader for Magstripe with a new Lightning connector, so sellers with the iPhone 7 and above will no longer need to use an adapter to accept payments from customers. Prior to the Lighting connector update, the Square Reader plugged into the headphone jack on a device. Square users with the iPhone 7 or later were required to use ...

Avido's new WiBa Wireless and Stackable Power Bank and Charging Pad combines wireless charging with a wireless power bank, allowing for a completely wire-free iPhone charging experience both at home and on the go. The WiBa kit comes with three pieces: a wireless charging pad, a 5,000 mAh battery pack, and a cable plus power adapter to power the wireless charging portion of the device. The...

Sonos today announced the launch of the Sonos Amp, a new audio hub that's designed to replace the existing Connect:Amp. The Sonos Amp is able to connect to traditional home audio speakers and integrate them into a Sonos home sound system. According to Sonos, its new Sonos Amp is twice as powerful as the Connect:Amp with the ability to power four speakers with 125 watts per channel, up from...

Following DirecTV Now's addition of numerous local stations for its customers, Sony this week announced the addition of around 200 new local network affiliates for PlayStation Vue users in cities across the United States. These include affiliate partners with ABC, FOX, and NBC in cities like Buffalo, Honolulu, Memphis, Austin, and many more. ABC affiliates on PS Vue now include Cincinnati,...