Good news! Niantic updated the Pokémon GO app to address the three-step tracking bug. Bad news! They “fixed” it by taking the feature out. And the salt in the wound is that third-party Pokémon trackers stopped working, too. Good luck finding new Pokémon now.
Touch ID Trick: Train Multiple Fingerprints at Once
Apple’s Touch ID is an excellent security convenience, allowing you to quickly unlock your iPhone or iPad without having to type in your Passcode. Most of us will want to train at least the index finger and thumb of both hands in order to have some unlocking flexibility. That requires adding each fingerprint manually, and the iPhone only allows five total fingerprints to be trained. What if you want to train more than five fingers? Or what if you want to make the training process more efficient? In Sunday’s Mac Geek Gab 616, listener Robin provided an answer to these questions: train multiple fingerprints simultaneously.
Didi Buying Uber China Could Spell Opportunity for Apple
Apple’s US$1 billion investment in Didi Chuxing just became more interesting because the ride sharing company is buying rival Uber’s China business in a deal valued at $35 billion. Didi is also investing in Uber outside of China, and that means Apple’s interest in the ride sharing market may get a lot bigger.
Revogi 'Smart Meter' Bluetooth Outlet: $24.99
Check out the Revogi Smart Meter Bluetooth Outlet. Combined with a companion app for Android and iOS, this device will let you control and monitor electricity going through it. Schedule on and off times, see your usage, and stop devices from using electricity even when they’re turned “off.” You can get this device through our deal for $24.99.
Pokémon GO: Can't Catch More Pokémon? Clear Out Your List
My first experience playing Pokémon happened when I installed Pokémon GO on my iPhone, and it didn’t take long before I discovered “gotta catch ’em all” doesn’t mean you have to catch every one you see. I quickly hit my 250 Pokémon storage limit, mostly with Pidgeys, but also found you can offload as many as you like to make room for that Pikachu you really want. Read on to learn how.
My Year With the Stellar 2015 MacBook and Life With USB-C
John has had his 2015 MacBook with its single USB-C port for a little over a year now. Here’s his complete first report on life with that Macintosh notebook and daily life with USB-C. Did he regret an early engagement with USB-C? Read on.
Layze Flexible Universal Car Mount: $12.99
Check out the Layze Flexible Universal Car Mount. It has a flexible neck that allows you to position your smartphone just the way you want it. and the universal mount is designed to hold what the manufacturer says is all smartphones. The clamp is shock-resistant and slip-resistant rubber pad that won’t slide, You can get this device through our deal for $12.99.
Apple Patents iPhone Digital Crown, but that Doesn't Mean We'll See One
The iPhone and iPad may seem like an odd place to find an Apple Watch-like Digital Crown, but that’s exactly what a just published patent application shows. The patent shows the Digital Crown controlling volume, snapping photos, and locking the display. That doesn’t, however, mean your next iPad will look like a giant Apple Watch.
Apple Tops 1 Billion iPhones Sold
Apple has a thing for its billion milestones, and this time it’s for the iPhone. CEO Tim Cook says the company recently sold its billionth iPhone—a number the company hit just days before its third fiscal quarter earnings report.
OS X Preview: Clipping Out Backgrounds Using Instant Alpha
Today’s Quick Tip is on how to use Preview’s Instant Alpha tool, so if you’ve got an image on a colored background, for example, you can clip that baby right out. Better-looking graphics with no Photoshop required? We love it.
Olympics Committee tells Non-sponsors to Stay off Twitter
The U.S. Olympics Committee has always had a pretty hard core control fetish, and this year that reaches all the way to Twitter. The organization plans to crack down on non-sponsors mentioning this year’s summer games—and that includes using trademarked hashtags such as #TeamUSA and #Rio2016. It’s almost like the USOC borrowed its rule book from Fight Club.
KOAR Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headset: $76.99
Check out the KOAR Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headset, a headset with patented transducers that use bone conduction technology to convey crystal clear sound directly to your inner ears. The idea is that whatever goes into the headset does so without blocking out the rest of the world. That means you can listen to your music while chatting in the real world, or you could have a conversation through your headset in an otherwise noisy environment. You can get this device through our deal for $76.99.
Become a Maestro of Mac Macros
Become a maestro of time-saving macros with Keyboard Maestro, one of Dr. Mac’s favorite all-time Mac productivity enhancers.
Apple Pencil Could be Your Next Gaming Device
If Apple’s latest patent is any indication, your next Apple Pencil will be more than a pointing and drawing accessory for your iPad Pro. It’ll also be a pointing device for your Mac, and a joystick for gaming.
Apple Scores Exclusive Deal for CBS Carpool Karaoke TV Series
Carpool Karaoke, the wonderfully fun segment on The Late Late Show where host James Cordon sings in his car with celebrities, is getting its own spin-off series streaming exclusively on Apple Music. The deal shows Apple’s growing interest in original content, and could draw more subscribers to its streaming music service.
Tim Cook: 'Think of Apple TV as a Foundation for Broader Business'
It might be tempting to think about the Apple TV as a hardware device, and its associated revenue combined with apps that deliver content and the associated revenue collected by Apple. But, during Apple’s 2016 Q3 earnings report, CEO Tim Cook said that we should think about the Apple TV in a different way.
Apple Beats Estimates, Sees iPhones Sales Decline
Apple on Tuesday reported revenue of $42.4 billion for the June quarter, the company’s 3rd fiscal quarter. That included earnings of $7.8 billion, or $1.42 earning per share (EPS). Those results were down from the year ago quarter of $49.6 billion in revenue and $10.7 billion in earnings. It was within Apple’s own guidance of $41 to $43 billion, and earnings beat analyst expectation.
Mobile Data Management Bundle: $9.99
Check out the Mobile Data Management Bundle, a deal for Leawo iOS Data Recovery and Leawo iTransfer. Leawo Data Recovery allows you to restore 12 types of data from your devices, iTunes, and iCloud backup when you suffer a lost or broken device. And Leawo iTransfer allows you to transfer files between iOS devices, and backup your iPhone, iPad, and iPod data to a Mac. You can get both products for $9.99 through our deal.
How to Display the macOS/OS X Version From the Command Line
There may be occasions when one wants to verify what OS X version is running on a Mac. We all know how to do it from the GUI with “About This Mac,” but John shows us how to do it from the UNIX command line when necessary.
Investor's Expensive Lesson: Nintendo Didn't Make Pokémon GO
Investors, just like gamers, are a fickle lot, and Pokémon GO is showing just how true that is for Nintendo. The company’s stock shot up to its highest point in decades after pretty much everyone with a smartphone went crazy over the game, then took a big hit when Nintendo reminded investors it has only a partial stake in developer Niantic and Pokémon Company.
AAPL Q3 Earnings Report Set for Tuesday Afternoon
Apple’s 2016 third fiscal quarter earnings report is scheduled to start this afternoon after the market closes. This quarter will include iPhone SE sales, and analysts will be watching closely to see if the company’s smartphone numbers show a year-over-year decline for a second quarter. The Mac Observer will be here to bring you the latest news and analysis from the event, so be sure to follow along with us this afternoon.
iOS Messages: Leaving Group Conversations
This Quick Tip is all about a neat Messages feature called “Leave this Conversation.” Melissa Holt will discuss why you need it and why you might not be able to use it in certain situations.
The Case For a Shatterproof iPhone
The iPhone’s display is made of Corning’s gorilla glass. It’s durable, but not indestructible. As a result, most iPhone customers (try to) protect their investment with a case. Should Apple try to make the iPhone shatterproof? Is it possible? Will a case be, someday, unnecessary? Or is an iPhone that can be damaged preferable in some respects? Page two of Friday’s Particle Debris explores.
Titan Travel MFi-Certified Lightning Cable: $22.49
We have a deal for you today on a metal-clad MFi-certified Lightning cable. The Titan Travel MFi-Certified Lightning Cable is 19-inches long and designed to be portable, in addition to being tough. As you can see in the image, it can be rolled up into a compact roll. You can get this cable through our deal for $22.49.