'Workflow' for Apple Watch Brings Automated Tasks to Your Wrist

Popular iOS app Workflow was today updated with support for the upcoming Apple Watch, bringing its highly useful task automation capabilities to the wrist-worn device.



For those of you unfamiliar with Workflow, it's a powerful automation app that was first launched on iOS last December. Workflow lets users create actions and connect apps to automatically perform a huge range of tasks on the iPad or the iPhone.





Workflows can be built from a series of actions to perform tasks like making GIFs from a series of photos, creating PDFs from websites, appending content or recordings to Evernote, seeing older versions of websites, getting images from websites, and translating text on the clipboard. There are hundreds of actions that can be combined for an endless number of different workflows.



On the Apple Watch, Workflow will work in the same way, giving users one-tap access to a wide range of different timesaving actions. For example, it'll be possible to pull up a map to the nearest coffee shop or call an Uber using Workflow. These type of quick-access actions may be particularly valuable on the Apple Watch, given its limited input methods.





One of the best features about Workflow for iOS is its included Workflow Gallery, which makes it easy for even those new to the app to download actions that are immediately useful. The same gallery feature will be available on the Apple Watch for fast access to workflows.




Workflow's Gallery and a workflow in action


Workflows can be executed by raising the Apple Watch on the wrist to turn it on and swiping up at the bottom of the screen to get to the Workflow Glance. Workflows can be run directly from the Glance portion of the Apple Watch, so accessing them will be similar to accessing an app in the Notification Center on iOS. As a reminder, Glances are quick snippets of information that are meant to be easy to access.



Third-party Glances on the Apple Watch are not interactive and do not support buttons or scrolling, so launching a workflow through the Apple Watch's Glance view is done in a unique way. The Glance automatically scrolls through the different workflows that are available and selecting one is done by tapping on the screen.



Scrolling through workflows can be sped up with a rather unique interaction -- knocking the Apple Watch against the iPhone in a pants pocket. This causes the built-in scrolling mechanism to shift to the next available workflow in the list.



Workflows from the iPhone are automatically available on the Apple Watch, including all custom-created workflows constructed from the available actions in the Workflow app. Many Apple Watch apps are somewhat limited in function due to the restricted access developers have to Apple APIs, and the same goes for Workflow.



Apple Watch workflows aren't as full-featured as those on the iPhone -- it's not possible to run workflows that open other apps -- but Handoff is supported to allow users to transfer a workflow on the Apple Watch to the iPhone.




Workflow's Glance menu and Handoff message
Workflows that involve opening apps, sending messages, or placing phone calls will all require the iPhone because developers cannot use these functions. Workflows that are not supported on the Apple Watch will direct users to use Handoff to swap over to the iPhone.



Though Apple Watch workflows can't open apps (aside from getting directions within Maps) they can still take advantage of the same data available to many iOS apps, like calendar info, contacts, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Currently, 163 out of 226 of available actions within the Workflow app are able to run natively on the Apple Watch, so there's still quite a lot that can be done directly on the device.



Workflow for the Apple Watch is available through an update to the Workflow app as of today, so it'll be accessible on the Apple Watch as soon as the first devices arrive in customers' hands.



Workflow can be downloaded from the App Store for the sale price of $2.99. [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 06:00PM, April 14

MacRumors Giveaway: Win a 'Fantastical' Bundle That Includes New Mac App, iOS and iPad Apps [Mac Blog]

Flexibits launched Fantastical 2 for the Mac this morning, the long-awaited update to its popular calendar app for the Mac. To celebrate the launch, Flexibits has teamed up with us to offer 25 MacRumors readers a chance to win a Fantastical bundle that includes a copy of the new Fantastical 2 for Mac app, a copy of Fantastical 2 for iPad, and a copy of Fantastical 2 for iPhone.



If you're not familiar with Flexibits' line of Fantastical apps, they're some of the most popular calendar apps in the Mac and iOS App Stores, due to cross-platform availability and the use of natural language parsing for scheduling events. It's possible, for example, to write something as simple as "Meeting with Eric at 4 p.m. tomorrow" and have the event properly scheduled in the app.



The apps also integrate with Reminders to allow users to schedule to-dos that are time and location-based, putting event details and reminder lists in one easily accessible spot, plus they includes customizable event alerts, geofencing, built-in maps, and more.






The Fantastical 2 app for Mac launching today includes a Yosemite-style redesign, a full calendar window, Handoff and extension support, a Notification Center widget, and a new feature called Calendar Sets, for quickly switching between groups of calendars.



To enter to win one of the 25 Fantastical bundles, use the Rafflecopter widget below. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting our Facebook page. Due to the intricacies of international law regarding giveaways, this giveaway is open only to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway will run from today March 25 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through March 27 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The winners will be chosen randomly on March 27 and will be contacted through email. A response to our email is required within 48 hours or the winner will forfeit the prize and we will pick a new winner.



If you want to buy Fantastical 2 for Mac and iOS, the apps are available through the following links:



- Fantastical 2 for iPhone, $2.99 [Direct Link]

- Fantastical 2 for iPad, $6.99 [Direct Link]

- Fantastical 2 for Mac, $39.99 [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 06:00PM, March 25

SanDisk Announces 128GB iXpand Flash Drive and Updated Sync App With Touch ID [iOS Blog]

This week at mobile-focused technology show Mobile World Congress, SanDisk plans to announce a several updates to its line of iXpand Flash Drives and companion app, mainly focused on expanding storage space and enabling quicker and more secure data decryption with the help of Touch ID.



The iXpand flash drive includes both USB and Lightning connectors to allow users the ability to easily transfer files, photos, and videos from an iOS device to a desktop or notebook with a traditional USB port. Currently available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB sizes, the company will be announcing its first addition to the iXpand line with the introduction of a 128GB model for even more file storage.



SanDisk also promises new iOS 8-inspired updates to the iXpand Sync app, notably implementing Touch ID to let users encrypt and decrypt their most sensitive files while transferring data to and from the drive. The company also notes that the update will allow users to interact and open files from the iXpand drive with various other "popular apps", as well as save content inside of the third-party apps directly onto the drive.





No official pricing has been given for the 128GB drive yet, but seeing as the current highest capacity version of the iXpand flash drive at 64GB retails for $109.99, those interested in the new high-end model can expect to pay a substantial premium over that for double the storage.



The company says the extensive update to the iXpand app will be going live this week during Mobile World Congress, taking place in Barcelona from March 2-5. The SanDisk iXpand Sync app is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 06:00PM, March 01

EA's 'The Sims 4' Now Available for Mac [Mac Blog]

As promised in January, the newest game in the EA-owned Sims franchise, The Sims 4 , is now available for purchase on the Mac. The Sims 4 initially launched for PC back in September of 2014, but it's taken several months for the company to ready a Mac version of the game.



Like other games in the franchise, The Sims 4 tasks players with the creation and control of the lives of virtual characters. The goal of the game is to guide sims through life, establishing relationships, building homes, advancing through careers, and conquering goals.






The Sims 4 begins with creating a sim with deep customization options. It's possible to randomly create a sim to start the game off in just a few minutes, but for those who would like select each aspect of their sim, the options are available. You can customize facial features, hair, accessories, makeup, and select outfits for every occasion from day to day wear to party wear.



Beyond the physical, creating a sim also involves choosing a name, personality traits that affect how sims interact with other sims, and a lifetime aspiration like reaching the top of a career ladder, having a big family, or hosting amazing parties.





Once a sim is created and ready to move into the world, the idea is to choose a house and direct your sim through life. With The Sims, the possibilities are endless. Sims can lounge around all day watching TV and being slobs, or pick up a job and pursue a career in several different fields, including crime, business, food, and more.



Sims have a never-ending list of minor achievements that are based on their relationships, personality, and lifetime goal, so gameplay largely involves fulfilling these minor achievements (a goal might be talking to a friend, cooking a meal, or buying a household item), earning money, building families, and progressing through the sim's life. Amidst all of this, it's also necessary to meet a sims' basic needs like hygiene, food, and sleep.





Building houses and community lots is the other major aspect of gameplay in The Sims, and in The Sims 4, a lot of the building tools are easier to use and more intuitive than in past games, making it easy to create detailed structures that range from the simple starter house to sprawling castles.



The Sims 4 has a thriving online community where it's possible to download sims, houses, and rooms created by other users or upload your own. This content is accessible from the "Gallery" option marked by a portrait icon at the top of the screen. The gallery is home to a huge collection of content that can be added to your game with just a few clicks -- one of the most impressive aspects of The Sims 4.





The Sims 4 has received some criticism for notable gameplay changes and features that were stripped from the previous game, but EA has pledged updates that will return some of the missing functionality to the game over the course of time. EA has already re-added pools and ghosts, two major features that did not ship with the game, and two additional free content updates have added genealogy to track sim family lines, holiday items, and two new careers.



EA's also released a major content pack for The Sims 4, Outdoor Retreat, which introduces a new vacations feature, new areas to explore, new traits, new skills, and more. Along with the full game, the new expansion is available on the Mac.






We tested The Sims 4 for Mac over the weekend ahead of its launch and we didn't encounter any significant bugs, performance issues, or lag when playing the game. Performance was equivalent to the PC version of the game. Of course, some users could still see issues, but on a 2013 iMac and a 2012 Retina MacBook Pro, the game ran well. System requirements can be found here.



The Sims 4 is missing some of the content from The Sims 3 and has some major differences in gameplay, namely that it's no longer possible to travel around the world without loading screens, but it should be noted that the game's performance has been much improved by some of these tweaks to the gameplay -- The Sims 4 runs quickly and has minimal lag.



If you've been playing The Sims 4 for PC and want to transfer your saved game to Mac, that's possible with a USB drive. Simply copy the "saves" folder from the PC and transfer it to The Sims 4 folder on the Mac, and the save files will be available and ready to play once you log into The Sims 4 on a Mac.



The Sims 4 for Mac be purchased through EA's Origin platform for $59.99. There's also a deluxe version available for $69.99, which includes exclusive bonus content. Outdoor Retreat can be purchased for an additional $19.99. If you already own the PC version of the game, you can download the Mac version at no additional cost.

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Posted in 2015 at 06:00PM, February 17

EA Announces 'The Sims 4' Will Launch on Mac in February [Mac Blog]

EA today announced via Twitter that the newest game in The Sims franchise, The Sims 4 , will be coming to the Mac in February. The Sims 4 was first launched on the PC in September and EA initially promised a 2014 Mac launch for the game, but was unable to meet that target.





As with other games in the franchise, The Sims 4 invites players to create and control the lives of virtual characters, establishing relationships, building homes, and helping them advance through their careers. The Sims 4 has received some criticism for gameplay changes and features that were stripped from the previous game, but EA has pledged to return at least some of that former functionality to the game in the future.



The Sims 4 has received several content updates since its September launch, adding in ghosts, pools, and holiday decor. The game's first "Game Pack" expansion, The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat will launch next week, adding new objects, features, and gameplay options.






Mac users who may have already purchased the PC version of The Sims 4 will be able to download the Mac version of the game at no additional cost. Though EA says the game will launch "next month," there is no specific release date specified at this time.

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Posted in 2015 at 06:00PM, January 13