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Showing posts with label 2014 at 06:01PM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 at 06:01PM. Show all posts
Earlier this week, file management app Transmit from developer Panic gained some attention after Apple required the company to remove a key sharing feature that let files be sent to multiple services like Dropbox and iCloud Drive.



Apple's concern was Transmit's ability to send files to iCloud Drive, which it said violated one of the iOS Data Storage Guidelines. Apple asked Panic to remove the feature, but unfortunately, due to an unalterable Share Sheet, sending files to iCloud Drive was tied to sending files to other services, requiring the company to completely remove the feature from the app.



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Unalterable Share Sheet in iOS 8



Shortly after several news sites wrote about the confusing position Panic had been put in with its Transmit app, Apple called the developers and confirmed that the sharing functionality could be reinstated. According to Panic, a new version of Transmit has been submitted to the App Store, which includes a restored "Send To" feature that will once again allow the app to send files to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and other third-party apps.



This is the second time that Apple has reversed course on an App Store decision that received significant negative attention in recent months. In late October, Apple told PCalc that it would need to remove its calculator widget from the Notification Center, but a day later, the company changed its mind and opted to allow calculator widgets to remain in the Notification Center.



Apple has a large team of app reviewers and somewhat ambiguous guidelines on several new iOS 8 developer features. This has led to many app use cases that the company did not anticipate causing several contradictory and confusing removal requests in recent months for features that were previously approved. Though PCalc and Transmit have been allowed to retain their functionality, other apps like Neato , Drafts , and Launcher have not been so lucky.



Transmit can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]


















Apple today released iOS 8.1.2 to the public, introducing bug fixes and addressing an issue that caused ringtones purchased through the iTunes Store to be removed from an iOS device. Apple advises users who have lost ringtones to restore them by visiting http://bit.ly/1ui0ldZ from their iOS devices.



iOS 8.1.2, carrying a build number of 12B440, was not seeded to developers before being released to the public. The software is available immediately as an over-the-air-download.



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Like iOS 8.1.1, released on November 17, iOS 8.1.2 is a minor update that focuses solely on bug fixes. It does not bundle in any of the major new features that are rumored for iOS 8, like improvements to Maps and split-screen multitasking for the iPad. Apple is also working on iOS 8.2 with the WatchKit SDK, which was seeded to developers in mid-November.


















The Unicode Consortium has released a technical report (via Emojipedia ) detailing a new method for handling the representation of multi-ethnic groups in emoji. Previous guidelines have stated that emoji people be "as neutral as possible regarding race, ethnicity, and gender". Unless the emoji calls out specific gender or racial cues, then a "generic (inhuman) appearance, such as a yellow/orange color or a silhouette" should be used in its place.



A forthcoming update, Unicode 8.0, plans to change all of that. It proposes to introduce a skin-tone modifier which could be added to certain emoji, allowing users to send any emotion using any skin tone. Plans even reach as far as to allow emoji couples to feature individually different skin tones. Planned for release in the middle of next year, Unicode 8.0's skin tone and racial diversity proposals are only proposed drafts at the current stage.



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Mockup via Emojipedia



Although the wide acceptance of new emoji is rather slow-going (no major platforms yet support Unicode 7.0 emoji released earlier this year), Apple has shown previous interest in updating the diversity in its emoji lineup. Earlier in the year, Apple's then-vice president of worldwide corporate communications, Katie Cotton, spoke to vocalized support in working with the Unicode Consortium and updating its emoji character offerings.
"Tim forwarded your email to me. We agree with you. Our emoji characters are based on the Unicode standard, which is necessary for them to be displayed properly across many platforms. There needs to be more diversity in the emoji character set, and we have been working closely with the Unicode Consortium in an effort to update the standard."

The most recent major change to emoji on Apple platforms was for iOS 6, when the company expanded native support beyond Japan and made the feature accessible to all users without the use of a third-party app.



Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.


















While the second-generation iPad Air has been the subject of a number of rumors ahead of its expected unveiling this Thursday, there has been less information about the Retina iPad mini, which is currently more or less identical to its larger sibling with the exception of display size.



Apple has generally been assumed to be planning a parallel upgrade for the iPad mini this month, but an early September report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expressed some uncertainty, saying the iPad mini would receive only a minor upgrade such as Touch ID, "if any", this year. Kuo's report was followed by another from Taiwanese media claiming the Retina iPad mini 2 was likely to launch early in 2015 ahead of the rumored 12.9-inch "iPad Pro".



But now a new report from Mac Otakara [Google Translate] claims the second-generation Retina iPad mini does indeed appear set for an introduction alongside the iPad Air at this Thursday's press event.



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As part of this introduction, Apple also may update its Smart Cover and Smart Case lineup with new colors and a tweaked design compatible with these new tablets.



While leaked iPad Air 2 components have been abundant, details on the upcoming Retina iPad mini 2 have been sparse, with a few reports claiming the device will receive only a modest upgrade as compared to the flagship iPad Air 2. The Retina iPad mini 2 is rumored to include only a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the A8 processor, as compared to the iPad Air 2, which may ship with a more powerful A8X processor, 2GB of RAM, Touch ID, a new gold color option, and more.



Apple is holding its press event this Thursday, October 16 at 10:00 AM PT on its Cupertino campus. Besides a new iPad Air and Retina iPad mini 2, the company also is expected to introduce new iMacs as well as unveil the launch date for the final version of OS X Yosemite.


















Now that Apple's purchase of Beats Electronics is complete, the company has begun expanding its promotion of Beats products, giving the Beats by Dr. Dre line of accessories its own dedicated section in the Accessory portion of the Apple Online Store.



Added yesterday, the Beats by Dr. Dre section joins "All Accessories," "Apple Accessories," "Exclusives," "Now Trending," and Gift Cards" on the top menu bar of the "Shop Accessories" section of the online store.



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Though Apple has long sold Beats products, the dedicated menu bar position gives the accessories far more prominence online. The section, first noticed by 9to5Mac , promotes Beats headphones, Beats in-ear headphones, Beats speakers, and Beats accessories like the Pill Dudes and Sleeves designed to hold Beats speakers.



Apple is also continuing to show off the Beats line of headphones in its retail stores, with the Beats by Dr. Dre Solo2 and Studio over-ear headphones accompanying iPod touches in many retail locations.



Apple's $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics and Beats Music became official last week, following U.S. regulatory approval of the deal. As of August 1, Beats Electronics shut down its own online store and began directing customers to the Apple Online Store.


















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