Siri Features, CarPlay Support Expanded to Additional Countries [iOS Blog]

Apple today updated its iOS 8 Feature Availability page to note that support for Siri certain features and CarPlay has been expanded to new countries.



CarPlay functionality is now accessible in Brazil, China, India, Thailand, and Turkey, in addition to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.



Different countries have gained new Siri features like Sports scores, Twitter integration, and Shazam, as listed below:



Sports - India, New Zealand

Twitter integration - Brazil, Denmark, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Facebook integration - Brazil, Denmark, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Local Search - Brazil, Denmark, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Directions - Brazil, Denmark, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Shazam - Brazil, Denmark, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey



Today's iOS 8.3 update also brought additional changes to CarPlay and Siri, adding wireless CarPlay support to alleviate the need for a Lightning cable with some CarPlay installations, and new Siri languages.

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Posted in 2015 at 07:24PM, April 08

What happens when you hook a 1986 Mac up to the modern Internet

The wonderful thing about the Internet is that it lets people who love to do insane things instantly show off their creations to the rest of the world. One such person is Jeff Keacher, who has written at The Kernel about his experience hooking up his ancient 1986 Macintosh Plus up to the modern Internet via an incredibly lengthy and comically intricate process that involved installing the old-timey MacWeb 2.0 browser, hooking the computer up to a home network through a Raspberry Pi, and using a potpourri of archaic software and code tweaks to actually get the machine to properly render HTTP.

Continue reading...

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Posted in 2015 at 07:24PM, March 23

Comcast finds an exciting new way to anger subscribers

If you are already paying for HBO through your cable provider, then you should have no problem watching HBO Go on your device of choice at home, right? Right... unless you're a Comcast subscriber. The Verge's Chris Welch points out that PS4 owners who also subscribe to HBO through Comcast still aren't able to access the app on their devices even though it released to the console earlier this week.

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Posted in 2015 at 07:24PM, March 05

Starbucks iOS App Gains Support for Apple Pay [iOS Blog]

Starbucks today updated its iOS app to add support for Apple Pay, making it possible for iOS users to reload their Starbucks cards using Apple's payments service.



Starbucks was listed as an Apple Pay app partner when Apple Pay launched in October, but it has taken several months for the feature to be available to Apple Pay users. Apple Pay can only be used in the Starbucks app for reloading Starbucks cards because Starbucks is not an Apple Pay retail partner.



The coffee chain uses its own bar code-based system for in-store purchases with the Starbucks app and Starbucks locations are not outfitted with the NFC technology that would enable Apple Pay. There has been no word on whether Starbucks plans to implement NFC and support for in-store use of Apple Pay.





Along with Apple Pay support, today's Starbucks app update also introduces an enhanced menu with calorie counts and a better experience for Mobile Order & Pay in Portland.

Introducing Apple Pay and a Few Helpful Changes



Now you can use Apple Pay to quickly reload your Starbucks Card. Touch ID makes it faster than ever.



By popular demand, the menu is enhanced. When you browse our menu you'll now find additional calorie information on menu items. We've also enhanced the experience for Mobile Order & Pay in Portland.



This update addresses various bugs and stability issues.

The Starbucks iOS app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 07:24PM, February 11