What to expect from Apple in 2015

Apple had a momentous 2014, in which the company finally made the iPhone bigger, launched a “phablet” version of the iPhone, and unveiled the much awaited Apple Watch. So what does this year hold for the company?

Apple Watch

While Apple unveiled the Apple Watch at an event last year, the company said that the wearable will go on sale only this year. The Watch’s release date has been marked as early 2015 in the US, and the company briefly put up the same release date for the European region as well, but quickly backtracked.

The Apple Watch will be available in three variants, the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. While there are no detailed price breakdowns, Apple said that the range would start at $349. As we move further into 2015, we expect Apple to announce exact release dates for the Apple Watch’s worldwide rollout, and the price breakdown.

WatchKit and native Watch apps

Apple released WatchKit to developers last year, that lets them develop Glances, Actionable Notifications and WatchKit apps. WatchKit apps actually live as background extensions on the iPhone, that constantly update the Apple Watch’s screen. Full blown native Watch apps will come by the end of this year, Apple promised.

iPhone 6s/iPhone 7

Every year Apple releases a new iPhone around September, and after a substantial update last year, it’s likely that this is the year of the iPhone 6s. Rumors suggest that along with the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone, Apple will bring back the 4-inch screen size as the iPhone 6s mini.

iOS 9

Like every year, around June, Apple will preview a new iOS release. We expect the company to continue the trend with iOS 9 this year, but hope that rather than continuing to add new features, Apple devotes a considerable amount of time towards squashing bugs, and making iOS even more reliable and rock solid.

OS X 10.11

Like iOS, OS X follows an annual update cycle, so we expect the company to announce the successor to OS X Yosemite later this year. There are no rumors about this major release till now, but we expect it to be previewed in June, during WWDC, and publicly released a few months later in October.

iPad Pro

Apple has been rumored to launch a larger, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, that the company hopes would appeal buyers in the enterprise market, and bring back growth to the iPad lineup. The device is rumored to enter mass production in Q2 2015, with a 12.2 or 12.9 inch display, an A9 chip, 4 speakers and more.

Of course Apple will also update the iPad Air and iPad mini with improved internals, and possibly a newer design for the iPad mini.

12-inch Retina MacBook Air

Another long rumored product is the Retina MacBook Air, that reportedly has an ultra thin design, a 12-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2304 x 1440 and more. The device is rumored to go into production Q1 2015.

5K Cinema Display

Apple launched the 27-inch Retina 5K iMac last year, but the computer can’t be used as an external display, like other iMacs. We expect Apple will launch a standalone Retina 5K Cinema Display for Mac Pro and MacBook users, who need a 5K display, and can’t buy the 5K iMac desktop.

Broadwell Macs

Macs with Intel’s next-generation lineup of 14-nanometer Broadwell chips are expected to launch in “early-to-mid” 2015. These chips will be 30 percent faster and more power efficient that older generations, translating into better performance, and improved battery life on MacBooks.

TV

Another long rumored area of interest for Apple is the Television market. Apple has the Apple TV set top box, but the company, for years, has been rumored to work on a full blown television set. While we haven’t seen anything on those lines in these past couple of years, many people hope that Apple finally launches a Television this year. We also hope that Apple finally releases the new Apple TV with motion controls this year.

What are your expectations from Apple in 2015?

Download the best apps and games for free for a limited time (Jan 3)

We have some great apps for you today that have gone free for a short duration on the App Store, including Greg, Zonr, Smart Office 2 and more.

Free Games:

• GREG: The main purpose of the game is to combine the numbers in the grid to match the given one. The more you go ahead, the more difficult the game will become. $.99 → Free
• ZONR: Touch the largest zone. $.99 → Free

Free Apps:

• Smart Office 2: View, edit, create, print, and share documents (PDF, doc, xls, ppt etc.) on your iPhone or iPad. $9.99 → Free
• English-Spanish Reference Dictionary: Over 718,000 entries, 524,000 translations, 558,000 synonyms, 98,000 definitions and 40,000 examples. And it works offline. $7.99 → Free
• ProShot: A third party alternative to the stock Camera app with several modes, aspect ratio control, manual focus, ISO settings and a lot more. $2.99 → Free
• Alayer: Alayer is an image editing app with a streamlined workflow and powerful tools. $.99 → Free

Game Price Drops:

• Game Dev Story: Manage your own game company and try to create a million-selling game in this unique simulation. $4.99 → $.99
• Hot Springs Story: Build your own resort and propel it to success with but a touch of the finger. $4.99 → $.99
• Venture Towns: Assume the reins of a mega-conglomerate to build your very own metropolitan utopia. $4.99 → $.99

App Price Drops:

• Money Pro: Money Pro is the one place for bill planning, budgeting and keeping track of your accounts. Easy sync and iPhone/iPad versions combined in one app. $4.99 → $.99

If you like any of these apps, make sure you download them right away, since we don’t know when their prices could go up.

Best Tweaks of the Week – [December 29 – January 4]

2015 is here and we’re starting off the first weekend with a Best Tweaks of the Week! Today we’re going to be looking at Auxo 3, DoubleTapToSleep, MSGAutoSave8, Searchlight, and Confero. Let’s go ahead and jump in and take a better look at these tweaks!

Auxo 3 – $2.99

If you’re not familiar with Auxo 3, you’re in for a treat. This is one of the most anticipated tweaks for every jailbreak. It was released this past week and it does a great job of integrating the app switcher and control center. It has some really great animations and even a “Quickswitcher” that you can use by swiping up from the bottom left (or right) of the screen. To take an in depth look at this tweak you can check out this separate video I made just for this tweak right here: http://youtu.be/33owLuGlPSc

DoubleTapToSleep – Free

This is a very simple and free tweak that just allows you to double tap on the springboard to put your device to sleep. This is something that’s native to some Android devices and is a nice addition to the iPhone.

MSGAutoSave8 – Free

If you like to save all your photos and videos from messages, this tweak does it automatically. You no longer have to do this manually, once you receive the photo/video it’s directly saved right in your photo album for later access.

Searchlight – $1.99

If you’re a fan of accessing a bunch of different stuff within your spotlight, you might want to check out Searchlight. It allows you to add 3 additional categories, your Favorites, Recent Apps, and All your apps. After customizing Searchlight in the settings, just pull down your spotlight on the springboard and you’ll be presented with your additional information.

Confero – $1.50

This is a cool tweak that allows you to check out all the apps that have notifications in one convenient folder. Just tap on the newly added status indicator in the top left of your screen to open up the folder. There’s a lot of configuration that you can set up in the settings to make this tweak just like you’d want it.

Apple facing a class action lawsuit over iOS 8’s large space requirements

When iOS 8 launched, it was met with quite a bit of shock at the amount of storage space necessary to upgrade and install the software to older handsets. Of course, it all resurfaced when the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launched, with iOS 8 taking up quite a bit of storage space right out of the box.
Now, a class action lawsuit has been levied against Apple recently in a federal court in the United States, claiming that Apple does not properly inform owners of the amount of storage space that will be taken up when iOS 8 is installed. The lawsuit was originally surfaced by Siliconbeat, and in the report states that iOS 8 can take up to a total of 23.1 percent of the total storage space available on an iOS device, but that fact is not openly advertised by the company.
The plaintiffs in the case point out situations where a user might need that extra storage space, which is taken up by the operating system itself, when certain moments in life crop up, like sporting events for family members or weddings:

“Using these sharp business tactics, defendant gives less storage capacity than advertised, only to offer to sell that capacity in a desperate moment, e.g., when a consumer is trying to record or take photos at a child or grandchild’s recital, basketball game or wedding,” alleges the plaintiffs in the case.“

The case is being handled by William Anderson of Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca, which is a law firm based out of Washington, D.C. The goal of the proceedings is both damages paid from Apple, as well as a major change in Apple’s policies:

“We feel that there are a substantial number of Apple consumers that have been shortchanged,” Anderson said in a statement. “And we’ll be pursuing the claims vigorously.

Indeed, when iOS 8 was launched, reports surfaced outlining not only the size of the download itself, but also the requirements place in front of the upgrade by Apple. Downloading and installing iOS 8 on an iOS device, in some cases, requires a total of 6.9GB of free space.
[via MacRumors; Siliconbeat]

10 apps to start the New Year off right

It is finally 2015 and we’ve all got big dreams and big goals for the New Year. I love setting resolutions, but hate trying to keep to them. My biggest problems are with staying fit and keeping organized. I start off with a bang, but eventually lose momentum after a few months.
Whether you are fighting to shed that “winter coat” you gained during the holidays, or are looking for a better way to get your life organized, we’ve got a list of apps to help you start the New Year off right.

Health & Fitness

MyFitnessPal

When it comes to keeping track of your daily health and fitness habits, nothing compares to MyFitnessPal. You’ll be able to add your calorie intake, keep track of how much you walk everyday and include workout sessions. Add your goal weight and, based on your size and typical activity, you’ll find out how long it will take you to reach that goal. Include a customized ingredient intake goal to keep an eye on your diet. If you are eating too many carbs and too little protein, you’ll know it. This app is available for free.

Runtastic PRO

Right after the New Year begins, I always feel like I’ve overloaded with too much rich food, booze, and sugar. One easy way to feel better after all this is to start running. If you’ve fallen off the exercise wagon and are looking for a way to get motivated to start again, this app will get you moving. The voice coach will keep you motivated while your heart is pumping. Track your route using the in-app GPS and see just how far you’ve gone. Integrate your run sessions with MyFitnessPal. If you are just starting out, you can choose a training plan to get help with daily fitness goals and weight loss plans. This app is available for $4.99.

MyPlate

Exercise is only one part of getting healthy. The food you eat has a major affect on your energy levels and for some people might even affect their health. This app helps you keep track of what you consume every day. The in-app scanner will even automatically add all nutritional information if the item is already stored in the database. If you’ve got a customized meal, you can add the nutritional content to help you get detailed information on your diet. You can also add exercise statistics from a large database, or customize your own information. This app is available for free.

Sleep Cycle alarm clock

Sleeping is a major part of a healthy lifestyle and tends to be one of those activities that get overlooked, especially for those with a busy schedule. If you find yourself feeling tired and don’t know why, use this app to track your sleep cycle and find out what is going wrong. There are multiple types of alarm clocks to suit different needs, like immediate or slow wake-up modes. The sleep aid helps you fall asleep. The motion detector recognizes when the Sandman has come and will turn off the audio track. Use the sleep notes to see how events like too much coffee or stress affects your sleep cycle. This app is available for $0.99.

FitStar Personal Trainer

Whenever I see celebrities looking fantastic right after having a baby or into their twilight years, I envy their lifestyle. I could probably stay in shape if I had a personal sushi chef and someone kicking me out of bed to go for a jog every morning. Not everyone can afford a personal trainer, but this app makes you feel like you can. It features dozens of specialized workout sessions for all levels of fitness. If you are just getting started with your New Year’s resolution or are looking to drop those last five pounds, you’ll be guided to a workout routine that is just right for you. After your workout is over, you tell the app what was easy and what was hard and the next session will adjust based on your feedback, just like a real personal trainer. This app is available for free.

Productivity

Evernote

When it comes to keeping track of your ideas, articles, and project progress, nothing says “productivity” the way Evernote does. You can write original notes, grab copied content from the Internet, and even save entire web pages. You can organize your notes into specific categories and add tags for easy research. Make lists and check off items as you complete them. Prepare agendas for upcoming meetings. Share your notes with others for collaboration. You can save your travel reservation and ticket information so you can easily find it all in one place. The business card scanner will even import new contact information by taking a picture of a card. You can also use Touch ID to secure Evernote, so no one will get in without your knowledge. This app is available for free.

Duet Display

Since my desktop has been giving me trouble, I’ve been spending more and more time on my laptop. However, I really miss the screen space. I’ve tried a few Wi-Fi connected second screens and found them to have too much lag to make it worth my while. This app connects directly to your Mac computer using the USB cable, so information is send directly to your iOS device instead of over the air. On my 2013 MacBook Pro and iPad Air, there is zero latency. I can even watch YouTube videos while typing up app reviews. The app also gives you control over the FPS rate and screen resolution for better performance. This app is available for $14.99.

OmniFocus 2

If you want to get serious about getting things done, this app will take you to the next level. Create project lists with sub lists and deadline schedules, make a to-do list for daily tasks, and have Siri add information to your organizer for you. Under the project creation section, you can prioritize items, track their progress, and set deadlines. Add a location to your errand list and get reminders when you are near somewhere important. Check the overview to see what your week ahead looks like in terms of projects. You can also sync with OmniFocus for iPad and Mac to keep your productivity on track. This app is available for $19.99.

Launch Center Pro

Contrast describes their app as “speed dial for everyday tasks,” and that about sums up this amazingly useful program. Users set up a particular formula, like “call mom” or “find a gas station” and add it to their main page. Then, tap that app to activate the particular action. It will automatically open and load to the parameters you’ve specified. It is compatible with such apps as FaceTime, Safari, Facebook, Google search, and more. You can automatically send photos to group messages, scan items and search for their counterpart on Amazon, and even create a new project list in OmniFocus. Plus, with IFTTT integration, you can also create recipes to perform even more tasks automatically. This app is available for $2.99.

Wunderlist To-Do List & Tasks

I’ve been using this app to keep track of my daily work assignments for a long time now. It is easy to set up and syncs across all of your iOS devices. You can create lists and add to-do items to each one. Schedule due dates for tasks to see what you must do each day. You can also check the weekly view to see the work you’ve got ahead. Customize to-do items with notification reminders, recurrences, subtasks, and more. Add notes to items to help you stay on track and remember what the task is for. With the Pro features, you can also collaborate with others in Wunderlist by sending your tasks to others that use the list. This app is available for free.

Apple pushes ‘Start Something New’ webpage worldwide to highlight iOS’ artistic nature

Apple’s marketing team has pushed a new webpage worldwide titled “Start Something New” to highlight the iPad as a way of creating art through drawings and photographs.
I guess it’s there way of bringing in the New Year.
“Every piece in this gallery was created on an Apple product,” the company wrote. “Every brushstroke, every pixel, and every frame of film was brought to life by talented Apple users from around the world. As you explore their work, we hope it inspires you to create something new.”
The website first appeared on Apple Japan’s website earlier this week, but on Wednesday reached the US and locations across Europe and Asia.
Apple not only highlights its own products like the iPhone 6 Plus’ camera and its panorama mode, but also makes customers aware of apps like VSCO Cam. Available on the App Store, VSCO Cam touts itself as the “premier way to shoot, edit, and share your photographs”, and many of its users and Apple’s marketing team have agreed.
The iPad Air 2’s drawing capabilities are highlighted with “Artwork by Nomoco”, drawn on the Brushes app to portray her art “exactly as she had imagined it”. Marcelo Gomes and Jingyao Guo are among the other artists portrayed that use photography and sketching apps like Camera’s HDR and Mac’s iDraw to create art.
Even if you’re not an artist your self, it’s a cool webpage to look at to see what’s been created.
[Apple]

Confero now available in Cydia, brings a new way to manage Notification badges [Jailbreak Tweak]

A few days ago, we went hands on with an upcoming jailbreak tweak known as Confero that makes it a lot easier to manage all the notifications on your iOS device and take a quick preview at apps with notification badges.
Good news is that the tweak just got released on Cydia and is now available for download.
If you didn’t get a chance to read our early review of the tweak, Confero groups all the apps with notifications into a single folder which can be accessed by tapping on its icon in the top right corner of the Status Bar. As you’d expect, you can invoke the tweak from anywhere within iOS as long as you can view the Status Bar.

It also allows users to clear the app badges by swipe up an app icon or long holding on it to clear all of them at once. Keep in mind that the tweak doesn’t really clear the app badges, but rather hides them.
Confero is a promising tweak, and can come in handy if you’ve lots of apps installed across multiple Home screen pages. It would have been nice to be able to also clear the Notifications rather than just hide them. You can now purchase it from Cydia’s BigBoss repository for $1.50.