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YubiKey Gains iOS SDK to Enable Secure 2FA Logins in Select Apps Using NFC

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Yubico is a company that sells the "YubiKey," a small piece of hardware that protects access to computers and online accounts by providing strong two-factor authentication in lieu of receiving a text message code on a smartphone or other 2FA steps. With the NFC-equipped YubiKey NEO, Android users have been able to authenticate their log-ins with a tap, and this week Yubico announced that ability has launched for iPhone users as well (via The Next Web).

yubikey neo ios
With the launch of the YubiKit 1.0.0 iOS SDK, the company is allowing developers to add support for the YubiKey NEO into their iOS apps, starting with sole support from LastPass. Once set up with a LastPass account, the YubiKey NEO generates a one-time password, and when the user gets to the 2FA log-in screen, they simply tap the NEO near the back of the iPhone to authenticate.

It has been possible for developers to integrate with YubiKey NEO since iOS 11 launched in September, but the debut of the SDK should lead to wider adoption since it will be far easier for developers to introduce support for the device's NFC abilities.

The NEO does not require a battery to function, nor does it need network connectivity, and Yubico says that it is "four times faster" than typing a traditional one-time passcode. In addition to NFC, the device has a dongle for USB-A connectivity so it can double as an authenticator on laptop and desktop computers, and Yubico says that it's crush resistant and waterproof.


The YubiKey NEO is supported on iPhone 7 devices and newer, and for LastPass the feature is supported under the Premium, Families, Teams, and Enterprise subscription tiers. Yubico hasn't yet revealed which apps might next launch support for the YubiKey NEO on iOS devices. YubiKey can already securely log users in on macOS 10.12 or later, and the product integrates with hundreds of services and applications online.

Those interested can purchase the YubiKey NEO from the company's website for $50.

Tags: Two-Factor Authentication, YubiKey
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Spark 2.0 Launches for Mac and iOS With Support for Team Email

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Readdle, the company behind the popular Spark email client for Mac and iOS, today announced the launch of Spark 2.0, a free update to the existing line of Spark apps.

Spark 2.0 continues to offer the same feature set for individual users, but it introduces a new collaborative email experience for teams.


Teams can use Spark 2.0 to discuss email using private in-line conversations, share emails through email threads rather than forwarding, collaborate on emails, and create links to email threads that can be shared in various ways with security settings to control who can view it.

In Spark 2.0 for Mac, there's a full-featured Calendar available to Spark for teams users, and on iOS, there are third-party integrations for Reminders, 2Do, Omnifocus, Things, Wunderlist, Todoist, Asana, Trello, Bear, and Files.

Spark is going to continue to be free for all individual users and core team functionality will be available at no cost, but a fee will be charged for teams who want upgraded features.

A premium Spark subscription for teams is priced at $7.99 per month per user, a fee that includes additional storage for comments and file sharing (5GB is available free), 3 or more collaborators for composing an email, premium customer support, advanced link sharing options, and access to admin settings and controls for the team.

Spark 2.0 can be downloaded on iOS devices from the iOS App Store [Direct Link], and on the Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: Readdle, Spark
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'Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia' Coming to Mac on Thursday, May 24

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Feral has announced that Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia will be released this week for macOS. The epic historical strategy game made its way onto Windows last month to generally favorable reviews, and from Thursday, May 24, Mac owners too can test their strategic nous on the battlefield, provided they can match the system requirements.

Originally developed by Creative Assembly, Thrones of Britannia is the first in the new Total War Saga series of standalone titles inspired by great turning points in history.

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The first game in the new series sets Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers against each other as they vie for supremacy across the British Isles, circa 878 AD. Players can command one of ten factions, each with a unique branching narrative, and make decisions that reshape history in unexpected ways.

Combining huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based strategy, THRONES OF BRITANNIA challenges players to build and defend a kingdom. Players will forge alliances, manage settlements, raise armies and embark on a campaign of conquest from the snowbound highlands of Gaelic Scotland to the green fields of Anglo-Saxon Kent.


Focusing on a specific historical flashpoint, Thrones diverges from typical Total War titles, with some changes to the series' standard game mechanics, including variations in building construction and military training to better reflect geographical differences.

As for spec requirements, the game officially runs on the following:

  • All 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since 2016

  • All 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012

  • All 15-inch MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012 with a 1GB Graphics Card

  • All 21.5-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 with a 1.8GHz i3 processor or better

  • All 27-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 (late 2012 models with Nvidia 675MX or Nvidia 680MX graphics card are also supported)

  • All 27-inch iMac Pros

  • All Mac Pros released since Late 2013.

Visit the minisite for more information. Thrones of Britannia can be pre-ordered now for $39.99/£29.99 from the Feral Store and Steam.

Tag: Feral
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Google Photos Gains 'Favorite' Feature and Shared Album 'Hearts'

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Google Photos is set to plug a couple of holes in its basic feature set over the next few days, bringing it in line with similar functions available in Apple Photos.

Google Photos
Up until now, the cloud-based photo service has lacked the ability to favorite photos, but that's about to change. Google says it's rolling out an option for users to tap a star in the upper right of any photo in their library, and the photos will be automatically added to a new Favorites album.

Google Photos will also soon let users "heart" photos that have been shared with them, which essentially functions the same way the "Like" button does in Apple's Shared Photo Albums, adding a touch of social interaction to the service.



Google has promised additional Photos features powered by some AI innovations the company showcased at its I/O event earlier this month. They include suggested quick edits to improve images, color pop, and the ability to colorize old photos.

Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: Google, Google Photos, Photography
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Razer Launches New Core X External Graphics Enclosure, Adds Mac Support to Razer Core Lineup

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Razer today announced the launch of its latest external graphics enclosure, the Core X, and alongside the debut of the new accessory, the company is also adding Mac support to its enclosure lineup.

Both the new Core X and the existing Core V2 external graphics enclosure are now compatible with all Macs that offer support for Thunderbolt 3, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro.

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The Razer Core X, which also works with Windows machines, has been designed based on customer feedback Razer received after releasing the Core V2. Users wanted a wider external graphics enclosure able to fit larger 3 slot PCIe graphics cards, which the Core X delivers along with better cooling capabilities.


Razer designed the Core X to be future proof with the aforementioned larger enclosure and a 650W power supply that offers enough power to support all graphics cards on the market today and those coming in the future. While this is larger than the Core V2, Razer still designed it with desktop use in mind, so it's relatively slim and compact.

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For those unfamiliar with Razer's Core series, the enclosures are designed to add additional graphics power to a Mac or a PC for tasks like gaming and system intensive workflows. With an external graphics enclosure, a machine not normally capable of handling GPU-intensive tasks can be hooked up to a powerful GPU. You will, of course, need to purchase a GPU alongside the Razer Core accessories - these are just enclosures.

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To use the Razer Core X with a Mac, the machine must be running macOS 10.13.4 or later, and the Razer Core X needs to be equipped with an AMD Radeon card. It is not compatible with NVIDIA cards when used with a Mac at this time.

Pairing the Core X to a Mac is as simple as plugging the accessory into the Thunderbolt port on a compatible machine, with no restarting or fussing with settings needed. 100W passthrough charging is supported, so even the 15-inch MacBook Pro can charge when plugged into the Core X.

Razer designed the Core X to be more affordable than the slimmer V2 enclosure, and it is priced at $299. It can be purchased directly from the Razer Store starting today. Razer is also continuing to sell the Core V2 for $499.

Tag: Razer
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1Password 7 for Mac Launching Today With Redesigned Sidebar, Easier Access to Vaults, and Much More

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Following two months of beta testing, AgileBits has announced that 1Password 7 for Mac will be released for all users at some point on Tuesday.

1password 7 macbook pro
The latest version of the popular password manager is a major update with dozens of new features and improvements, including a new dark-themed, collapsible sidebar that makes it easier to use and manage password vaults.

Users can now access their vaults by clicking on "All Vaults" in the sidebar, with full drag-and-drop support to conveniently move or copy items from one vault to another, including between different accounts. Users can also drag items onto the "New Vault" menu item and one will be created automatically.

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1Password 7 for Mac integrates with Have I Been Pwned? to securely check a user's passwords against a database of passwords that have been compromised in known data breaches, such as when a popular service or website is hacked.

The app's security-focused Watchtower feature can also identify any login items that support two-factor authentication and help users enable it on those websites. Watchtower can now also keep track of expiring items so users know in advance if they need to renew their credit cards, passports, licenses, and more.

1Password now helps users sign in to their favorite apps by showing them suggested logins for the app they are currently using. If a user is signing into the App Store, for example, they can click the 1Password icon in the menu bar to see their Apple ID and simply drag and drop their username and password to log in.

agilebits sidebar 2
The app's redesign extends to the lock screen, login icons, tags, pop-out windows for items, and more, while there is a new custom font Courier Prime Bits, by Alan Dague-Greene, that makes it easier to view passwords.

A quick list of other changes from AgileBits:

  • Every pixel has been put under the microscope and polished for maximum upgradedness.

  • The new "pop-out" feature allows you to view an item in a window of its own and keep it handy.

  • Secure notes are now rendered using Markdown.

  • Quick Open allows you to quickly jump to your items or vaults (find it under the File menu).

  • A custom password font, all our own, courtesy of Alan Dague-Greene.

  • A new password strength meter.

  • Touch ID now leverages your computer's Secure Enclave, making it more secure than ever before.

  • Login items now have a gorgeous, custom rendered icon by default.

  • Remove duplicate items on a per-vault basis by clicking Help > Tools > Clean Up Duplicate Items.

  • Integration with Spotlight allows you to find your items using Apple's built-in search engine.

  • Nested tags allow you to up your organization: add tags with / in them and 1Password will break
    them down into groups.

  • Opt in to automatic updates and never be left behind again.

1Password is a popular tool for storing usernames, passwords, credit cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's licenses, passports, and more behind one master password, with end-to-end encryption. A built-in password generator lets users create strong, unique passwords and memorizable pass-phrases.

1Password 7 for Mac is the first paid upgrade to the desktop version of the app in five years, meaning that users of previous versions will need to purchase a new license, or have a subscription, to use the new version.

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Users with an active 1Password subscription, which start at $2.99 per month for individuals, can simply install 1Password 7 from the Mac App Store or AgileBits website and be ready to go. Otherwise, after installing the latest version, there is a prompt to sign up for a 1Password membership.

For those who wish to purchase a license for 1Password 7 for Mac, instead of a subscription, the app must be downloaded directly from the AgileBits website. Licenses are $49.99 for a limited time, and $64.99 after that, and are per-person, per-platform. macOS Sierra or later is required.

The version of 1Password 7 rolling out on the Mac App Store later on Tuesday is a new, separate app listing from 1Password 6, which has been removed from the Mac App Store, and will only be available for users via subscription.

Tags: 1Password, AgileBits
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Instagram Working on 'You're All Caught Up' Feature to Let You Know When All New Posts Have Been Viewed

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Instagram has not used a chronological feed for years now, making it difficult to determine when you've seen all of the new content on the social network.

Instagram may be planning to fix this issue with a new "You're All Caught Up" feature that's designed to notify users when all unseen posts from the last 48 hours have been viewed.

instagramyoureallcaughtup
The feature was first noticed by TechCrunch, and an Instagram spokesperson confirmed that it is being tested and will show up for a limited number of users.

Instagram did not, however, share details on how it works and whether it includes every single post from the people you follow or just the best ones that its algorithm has decided to display.

The new "You're All Caught Up" text is part of Instagram's pledge to offer a Usage Insights feature that will let users know just how much time they're spending in the Instagram app.

"We're building tools that will help the IG community know more about the time they spend on Instagram - any time should be positive and intentional. Understanding how time online impacts people is important, and it's the responsibility of all companies to be honest about this. We want to be part of the solution. I take that responsibility seriously," Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom wrote on Twitter last week.

Tag: Instagram
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Intel Discloses New 'Variant 4' Spectre-Like Vulnerability

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Intel, Google, and Microsoft today disclosed a new variant of the Spectre design flaw and security vulnerability that impacts millions of computers and mobile devices from a range of manufacturers.

Called Variant 4, or the Speculative Store Bypass, the vulnerability is similar to Spectre, taking advantage of the speculative execution mechanism of a CPU to allow hackers to gain access to sensitive information. Variant 4 was demonstrated by researchers in a language-based runtime environment.

meltdownspectre

CVE-2018-3639 - Speculative Store Bypass (SSB) - also known as Variant 4

Systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and speculative execution of memory reads before the addresses of all prior memory writes are known may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis.

According to Intel, the new vulnerability has a "moderate" severity rating because many of the exploits that it uses have already been addressed through mitigations that were first introduced by software makers and OEMs in January for Meltdown and Spectre. Intel is, however, releasing a full mitigation option that will "prevent this method from being used in other ways."

This additional mitigation for Variant 4 has been delivered in beta form to OEM system manufacturers and system software vendors, and Intel is leaving it up to its partners to decide whether or not to implement the extra measures. Intel plans to leave the mitigation set to off by default because of the potential for performance issues.

This mitigation will be set to off-by-default, providing customers the choice of whether to enable it. We expect most industry software partners will likewise use the default-off option. In this configuration, we have observed no performance impact. If enabled, we've observed a performance impact of approximately 2 to 8 percent based on overall scores for benchmarks like SYSmark(R) 2014 SE and SPEC integer rate on client1 and server2 test systems.

The Spectre and Meltdown family of vulnerabilities affect all modern processors from Intel, ARM, and AMD, but Intel has faced more scrutiny over the design flaw due to its high-profile position in the processor market. Apple's iOS and Mac devices are affected by these vulnerabilities, but Apple has historically been quick to patch them.

Prior to when Spectre and Meltdown were initially discovered, for example, Apple had already implemented some patches and has since addressed known Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities with little impact to performance on Macs or iOS devices. As mentioned above, many of the exploits in Variant 4 have been previously addressed by Apple and other manufacturers in already-existing software patches.

Spectre and Meltdown-related vulnerabilities are hardware-based and therefore must be mitigated rather than outright fixed, but future Intel chips will not be as vulnerable. Intel has said that its next-generation Xeon Scalable processors (Cascade Lake) and its 8th-generation Intel Core processors will feature redesigned components to protect against some Spectre and Meltdown flaws.

Tags: Intel, Meltdown-Spectre
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Apple's Clips App for iOS Gains New Soccer Graphics, Poster and Label

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Apple today updated its Clips video app for iOS devices to introduce new soccer assets ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off in Russia on June 14.

Apple has added new soccer graphics that can be added to video clips, and there's a new soccer label and a soccer-related background poster that includes customizable text elements.

clipssoccer
Today's Clips update comes several months after the launch of Clips 2.0, a new version of the app that introduced 360-degree selfie scenes, a feature limited to the iPhone X and its TrueDepth camera.

Clips, for those unfamiliar with the app, is a video editing app designed to allow users to combine several video clips, images, and photos with voice-based titles, music, filters, and graphics to create enhanced videos that can be shared on social media sites.

Clips can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Clips
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Sonos Launches New Lineup of Discounted Speaker Bundles

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Sonos today introduced several new speaker bundles, which are designed to allow customers to purchase more than one Sonos speaker at a discounted price.

The new bundles range in price from $379 to $1,899 depending on the products included, with discounts up to $157 on the highest priced bundles.

sonosbundles
A two room set that includes two Sonos One speakers is priced at $379, for example, down from the regular price of $398 that the speakers would cost when purchased separately.

A two room pro set, which includes two of the Sonos Play:5 speakers, is priced at $899, almost $100 off the separate pricing.

Sonos has options for multi-room speaker setups and entertainment arrangements that include the Playbase and the Playbar, along with more expensive setups designed for vinyl records.

All of the new speaker bundles can be viewed and purchased on the Sonos website.

Sonos is one of Apple's main competitors, with the Sonos One, which includes support for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, designed to compete with the HomePod. Sonos first introduced bundles when the HomePod launched, selling two of the Sonos One speakers for $349, the same price as the HomePod. The new bundle that includes two Sonos One speakers is more expensive than that original deal, but, along with other offerings, allows for Sonos equipment to be purchased at a discounted price.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.

Tag: Sonos
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MacRumors Exclusive Sale: Power Your Apple Devices With RavPower's Portable Batteries, Qi Mats, Cables, and More

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Our next exclusive partner sale is debuting this week, and it allows our readers the chance to save on nine Apple accessories from well-known company RavPower. The products on sale focus on power delivery for your Apple devices, with Qi mats, Lightning cables, portable battery packs, and more available at a discount.

All of RavPower's products included in the sale are on Amazon, so if you're interested in any of the accessories simply add one to your cart, proceed to the checkout screen, enter the relevant promo code into the Gift cards & promotional codes field, and then click "Apply." As usual, Amazon Prime customers can get free two-day shipping on all orders.

In the list below you'll find every RavPower product offered in the sale, all of which will remain active through 11:59 p.m. PT on June 15, 2018. Note that only one code can be used per order, so if you'd like to order more than one type of item, you'll need to place separate orders. Prices listed below also exclude additional taxes.

ravpower may 2018 1Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with RavPower. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

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Visit our full Deals Roundup to catch up with more of the latest sales happening this week.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
Tag: RAVPower
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Apple Shares New Animoji Karaoke Ad Featuring Korean Band HYUKOH

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Apple yesterday shared a new Animoji karaoke ad on its Korean YouTube channel to highlight the newly released "Citizen Kane" single from Korean indie group HYUKOH.

As with previous Animoji karaoke songs Apple has shared, the new spot features Apple's Animoji characters lip syncing to the new song.


HYUKOH's "Citizen Kane" single comes ahead of the planned release of the group's newest album on May 31.

Apple first adopted Animoji karaoke for two ads that were created for the 2018 Grammys, with Apple's characters singing "Redbone" by Childish Gambino and "Stir Fry" from Migos.

Animoji karaoke is a concept that was conceived by iPhone X users back in November of 2017 shortly after the release of the new device. People discovered that Apple's 3D emoji characters that are designed to mimic facial expressions and emotions could be used for lip syncing to songs, and for a short period of time, Animoji karaoke took over the internet.

Animoji are limited to iPhone X users because the front-facing TrueDepth camera is required to create the depth map that's used to animate them with a person's facial expressions, but in the future, Animoji will be available on additional devices. The next-generation iPad Pro, which is rumored to be adopting the TrueDepth camera, is likely to be the next device that will support Animoji.

Since the launch of the iPhone X, Apple has added four new Animoji characters, including the dragon, bear, skull, and lion, two of which are used in the new Animoji karaoke ad.

Apple is planning additional updates to Animoji karaoke in iOS 12, with rumors suggesting Apple will add more new Animoji characters. Apple is also said to be planning an overhauled Animoji interface and Animoji integration in FaceTime. Animoji support for FaceTime would allow users to use Animoji characters during FaceTime calls.

Tags: Animoji, Apple Ads
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Apple Loses Out as Netflix Inks Content Deal With Former President Obama

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Former United States President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have signed a multiyear production deal with Netflix that will see the two producing television shows and films for the service, reports The New York Times.

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Though Netflix had been in negotiations with the Obamas for several months, Apple was rumored to be interested in working with the duo had the Netflix deal fallen through. Apple has been developing a slew of original television shows, and a deal with Michelle and Barack Obama would have been a big win.

Obama's deal with Netflix will allow for him to create content that will reach millions of people both in the United States and internationally through a new production company he created alongside Michelle Obama called "Higher Ground Productions."

According to Netflix, the Obamas will create "scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features" that are meant to highlight the issues and themes the president worked on during his eight years in office.

"One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience. That's why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix -- we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world."

Obama has said that he does not plan to use Netflix to wage a public campaign against current president Donald Trump or to fight against conservative media outlets.

While Apple did not secure a deal with the Obamas, the company has more than a dozen original television shows in the works at the current time. Most of the shows are dramas, with one real estate-related docu-series in the works. Apple does not have any politically-oriented shows planned, and is said to be aiming to keep its content family friendly.

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.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater
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Evernote Adds Ability to Transcribe Voice-to-Text Notes via AirPods, BeatsX, and More

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Note-taking app Evernote was updated over the weekend with a new feature that allows you to connect your Bluetooth headphones to the app and use them to record audio and transcribe voice-to-text notes. The company says that as long as the headphones have a microphone they will work, so if you own AirPods or BeatsX you'll be able to use the wireless earphones to quickly jot down notes and reminders using your voice and Evernote.

To use the feature, make sure your Bluetooth headphones are on and connected to the iPhone, which you can double check in the Settings app > Bluetooth. Next open Evernote, tap the large "+" button at the bottom of the screen to create a new note, then tap the microphone icon at the bottom right of the keyboard on iOS. As long as your headphones are connected, Evernote will now route audio from the headphone's microphone instead of the iPhone, so you can transcribe notes or save audio files without needing to hold your iPhone up to your mouth.

evernote voice dictation on beatsx

If your bluetooth headphones also have a microphone (*cough* Apple AirPods *cough*), you'll be happy to know you can now use them to record audio into Evernote.

The version 8.12 update also brings a tweak to the note list view so you can better keep track of where you are in your notes, with month and year designators staying pinned at the top of the screen as you browse. The company also cleaned up the sharing menu, brought back the Context feature for Premium and Business users, and fixed a handful of bugs.

Evernote previously debuted full "Hey Siri" support last September, allowing iPhone owners to use phrases like "Hey Siri, add 'I should bring pizza' to my Meeting Ideas note in Evernote." The app has long supported voice notes and transcribing features on iOS with the iPhone and iPad's built in microphones, but the new addition of Bluetooth headphone support should make note-taking easier for many users.

Evernote is free to download on the iOS App Store [Direct Link], while Evernote Premium runs for $7.99 monthly, or $69.99 annually, and comes with more monthly storage space, unlimited devices, and more.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Tags: BeatsX, Evernote
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods
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Speculative Report Claims 'Low-Priced' HomePod Will Fall Under Beats Brand

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A questionable new report from Apple's supply chain claims that the company's rumored "low-priced" version of the HomePod will be placed under the Beats by Dre brand instead of the expected Apple branding. The report comes from Chinese news site Sina, which also says the $199 speaker will have MediaTek as the supplier, a change from Apple's decision to give Inventec sole supplier duties on the first HomePod (via LoveiOS).

Reports about a cheaper HomePod began appearing quickly after news of lackluster sales for the first version of the speaker emerged earlier this year, with former KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and other industry watchers predicting a low-cost speaker priced between $150 and $200. What's new in this week's report is the idea of a Beats-branded version of the HomePod, but it's unclear exactly what form the speaker would take, what features it would carry over from the $350 version of the speaker, and where Sina is sourcing the news from in the first place.

mitchs homepod on shelf
It seems unlikely that Apple would somehow combine the HomePod and Beats brands into one product, and due to all of this it's important to take the new report with a dose of skepticism. Beats last updated its Pill line of speakers with the Pill+ in 2015, which ran for $230 at launch but nowadays is priced closer to $130 when purchased on sale. Pill devices lack persistent "Hey Siri" functionality, likely due to their lack of constant AC power, so it also seems unlikely that Apple would extend that feature beyond its own line of devices, currently including the iPhone, iPad, HomePod, and Apple Watch.

In his prediction, Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is "mulling" a "low-cost version" of the HomePod in an effort to boost short-term shipments. Apple's main selling point on the $350 HomePod is its high-quality audio playback, with reviewers agreeing that the speaker blows other smart speakers out of the water in terms of audio performance, but Siri's performance, the lack of certain languages, and Apple's walled garden ecosystem (particularly excluding any music service besides Apple Music) left many to wonder if the price was actually justified.

As a point of comparison, two of Apple's rivals sell entry-level versions of their smart speakers for as low as $50 in the United States, including Amazon's Echo Dot ($49.99) and Alphabet's Google Home Mini ($49.00). The smaller, cheaper devices allow users to expand features of the connected speaker system into other rooms around their home, without having to spend a lot of money on purchasing the base speakers multiple times.

For now, the HomePod still lacks a few features Apple announced prior to the speaker's launch, namely AirPlay 2 support and multi-room audio, both pegged for release through a firmware update sometime later in 2018. Although there have been many reports about a cheaper HomePod, none have yet hinted at a potential launch window for the rumored lower-cost speaker.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)
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Apple Drops to #4 Spot in Annual Fortune 500 Rankings

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apple logo grayAfter retaining the #3 spot on the Fortune 500 list for the past two years, in 2018 Apple has dropped one place and now sits at #4 on the list of the top U.S. corporations based on gross revenue. Apple's displacement on the list came due to Exxon Mobil rising from #4 in 2017 to #2 in 2018.

The full top five spots were Walmart at #1, Exxon Mobil at #2, Berkshire Hathaway at #3, Apple at #4, and UnitedHealth Group at #5. Other technology companies on the list include Amazon at #8, AT&T at #9, Verizon at #16, Alphabet at #22, and Microsoft at #30.

Fortune broke down Apple's spot on the list, mainly citing the "overall saturation of smartphones" as a potential reason for the company's inability to rise higher in the rankings. Fortune discussed similar problems for Apple in the company's profile last year, stating at the time that "Apple finally appeared to hit a wall" in reference to its reliance on iPhone sales.

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Apple took a small step back, from No. 3 to No. 4, despite a 6% gain in annual sales, but it led the way in profits with more than $48 billion in net income. In short, the Apple juggernaut continues at tremendous scale and despite the overall saturation of smartphones, which make up the vast majority of the company’s sales and profits. In an unusual move, Apple introduced three new phones, the upgraded iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, as well as the redesigned iPhone X (pronounced “ten”), powered by facial-recognition technology. Services likes Apple Pay and Apple Music continued to rise too.

Going back eight years, Apple's previous rankings include 5th place in 2015 and 2014, 6th place in 2013, 17th place in 2012, 35th place in 2011 and 56th place in 2010. This year marks 24 years that Apple has been on the Fortune 500 list, with $229.2 billion of revenue and $48.3 billion of profits in the 2017 fiscal year. Although it lags behind the companies in revenue, Apple still beats the top three Fortune 500 companies in terms of annual profits, with Walmart at $9.9 billion, Exxon Mobil at $19.7 billion, and Berkshire Hathaway at $44.9 billion.

Tag: Fortune 500
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'Procreate Pocket' Gets Major 2.0 Update With New Interface, Hundreds of Handcrafted Brushes, and More

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Illustration app Procreate today updated its Procreate Pocket iPhone app to version 2.0, which developer Savage describes as "reengineered from the ground up" and "an entirely new app." Procreate Pocket 2 is powered by Silica-M, the same graphics engine that powers Procreate for iPad, as well as Apple's own Metal technology.

procreate pocket 2
Savage says that with the upgraded technology boost in version 2.0, Procreate Pocket can now create canvases with rich P3 color depth, and users can choose from 136 hand-made brushes that include pencils, inks, wet painting, and digital-only abstract effects. Procreate Pocket also now includes "almost every Procreate feature from iPad," like ColorDrop, QuickLine, Perspective Guides, Layer Masks, custom brush creation, and more.

The developer specifically optimized Procreate Pocket 2 for iPhone X users, with features that take advantage of 3D Touch and haptic feedback.

"We literally threw the Procreate Pocket 1.0 codebase away and started fresh. Every pixel and every line of code is new, and we're so happy to finally bring Silica-M to our iPhone users," said James Cuda, CEO and co-founder of Savage.

The app is also gaining two new features not yet available on iPad, including Brush Set export and import, allowing artists to easily share their creations through online marketplaces or expand their own libraries with thousands of custom brushes from other users. The second addition is a 30 second time-lapse export, which uses a custom built algorithm to remove non-essential frames from any time-lapse and offers a shortened version that can easily be shared on social media.


Procreate Pocket 2 is available today on the iOS App Store as a free update for existing users, and those who haven't downloaded the app yet can do so for $4.99 [Direct Link].

Tag: Procreate
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How to View All Events as a List in Your Mac's Calendar App

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Some third-party calendar apps (Fantastical, for example) allow you to view all your upcoming events as a vertical list. Many users find this sort of viewing mode beats staring at the regular calendar interface, since it provides a quick at-a-glance summary of their entire schedule over the coming days and months.

fantastical mac list view

Fantastical 2 for Mac

On the face of it, Apple's Calendar for macOS lacks an equivalent feature. However, there is one way to force a list view that includes all your events, which we've detailed below. The trick even works with iCal going back at least to OS X Mountain Lion, which makes us wonder why Apple doesn't make the option a bit more obvious.

How to View All Events as a List in Calendar

  1. Launch the Calendar app on your Mac.

  2. Click the Calendar button.
    1 basic calendar view macos

  3. Select which calendars you want to include in the list view using the checkboxes.
    2 select calendars macos

  4. Click the Search field in the upper right corner of the Calendar window and type two double quotes ("") to generate a list of all upcoming events.
    3 list view calendar macos

We find the list view makes it easier to copy multiple events and paste them into other apps in chronological order. For example, to copy several contiguous events, hold the Shift key, click the two outlying events bordering a given period, right-click (or Ctrl-click) an event in the selection, and select Copy from the contextual dropdown menu. You can then paste the events (including their details) straight into a document in date order.

copy events in list view macos calendar
To copy non-contiguous events in your calendar, simply perform the same action but hold down the Command key instead of Shift. (Note that you can also open multiple event info boxes using the same method - just select Get Info from the contextual dropdown menu.)

get info list view macos calendar

Tag: Calendar
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