MacRumors

Facebook-owned chat app WhatsApp today updated its iOS and Android applications with a collection of new features aimed at making group chats more in-depth and easier to catch up with. The update also introduces revamped administrator controls to enhance a group's privacy during chats.

To start, users can set a short blurb under their group info to highlight the "purpose, guidelines, or topics" that will be the main focus of the discussions. This way, when a new member joins the blurb will appear at the top of the chat and they'll understand the general goal of the group.

When users have been away from a group chat for a period of time, they can now catch up on any messages that specifically mentioned them, in a similar vein to Discord and Slack. Users can find the catch-up feature behind a new @ button at the bottom right corner of chat. Additionally, a new participant search lets users find anyone in their group through a search bar on the group info page.

Groups have been an important part of the WhatsApp experience, whether it's family members connecting across the globe or childhood friends staying in touch over the years. There are also people coming together in groups on WhatsApp like new parents looking for support, students organizing study sessions, and even city leaders coordinating relief efforts after natural disasters. Today, we're sharing improvements that we've made to groups.

For admins, there is a new control to restrict which members can change the group's subject, icon, and description. Admins can also now remove admin permissions of other group participants, while group creators can no longer be kicked out of the group they started. The company said that it has also introduced a safeguard that will protect users from repeatedly being added to groups they have already left.

The updates are rolling out today for WhatsApp on iOS [Direct Link] and Android.

Apple News now lets all publishers use Google's industry standard ad-serving tool DoubleClick, after limited testing last year.

Apple told Digiday that DoubleClick can now be used to serve traditional banner ads on Apple News, including animated GIF ads, but it can't yet be used to serve HTML5-based ads or pre-roll video ads in the app.

The rollout should make it easier for publishers to sell and fill ad space next to their articles on Apple News. Apple lets publishers keep 100 percent of the revenue from the Apple News ads they sell directly.

"We're thrilled with the results we've seen from the Apple News DFP beta," said Beth Lawrence, executive vice president of digital sales for Discovery. "We've seen strong fill rates across our Apple News channels for Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, with a peak fill rate over 90 percent."

DoubleClick-served ads in Apple News have limited targeting options, in line with Apple's commitment to user privacy:

The ad-targeting options break down into two categories: context-based targeting and audience-based targeting. Contextual ads can be aimed based on the article's publisher, its content category within Apple News and the tags a publisher appends to the individual article as well as according to whether it appears on an iPhone or iPad. Audience-wise, the ads can be targeted by a person's location (though only at the designated market area level), their gender and their age group.

Apple previously used its now-defunct iAd platform to fill unsold ad space in Apple News, but it later outsourced the job to NBCUniversal.

Adonit today announced the launch of the Snap 2, an accessory that melds a traditional stylus with selfie stick functionality.

Designed for customers who use social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat, the Bluetooth-enabled Snap 2 offers a PixelPoint tip for taking notes, making sketches, drawing, and other purposes, along with a built-in Bluetooth camera shutter remote.

The remote feature can be used to snap photos using the built-in camera app on the iPhone or within photography apps. Adonit has added a new 1.9mm PixelPoint tip to the Snap 2 for better precision with less offset, and there's a new triple burst photo capture mode that joins the standard single shot photo mode.

Our vision behind Snap 2 is to improve the way we share our experiences with friends," said Jasper Li, CTO for Adonit. "Today, Snapchat and Instagram play a big part in how we communicate. From selfies to doodles, Snap 2 powers users to take sharing to the next level. We introduced the triple burst feature for capturing the perfect moment with three continuous shots. The slim design and built-in magnetic makes it easy carry wherever your day takes you."

The Snap 2 has a 12-hour battery life and it can be charged via micro USB, and for portability, it attaches magnetically to the back of the iPhone. The thin body is designed to add little bulk to an iOS device.

This is a niche stylus that isn't going to appeal to all users, nor is it a replacement for something like the Apple Pencil on the iPad, but for those who want a tool for taking photos and then annotating them with drawings and other designs, the Snap 2 may be worth checking out.

The Snap 2, which is compatible with the iPhone 6 and newer, can be purchased from the Adonit website or from Amazon.com for $34.99.

Twelve South today announced the launch of the AirFly, a new adapter accessory that's designed to let you use your AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones in situations where only wired headphone jacks are available, such as on an airplane or at the gym.

When you fly, in-flight entertainment systems often require you to plug wired headphones into the headphone jack to hear sound, preventing you from using AirPods or Bluetooth headphones. The AirFly connects to these kinds of systems, allowing you to listen wirelessly using your AirPods.

AirFly is a small Bluetooth device that's about the size of the AirPods themselves. You connect them to the AirPods over Bluetooth and then use a small cable to plug the AirFly into any headphone jack that requires a physical connection.

This is a bit of a niche product because this likely isn't a situation most people run into on a daily basis, but for long-haul flights where in-flight entertainment is essential, the AirFly is a useful little addition to your carry-on. It's also handy for workout equipment at the gym that requires a physical connection to listen to the gym's entertainment offerings, or in a car that doesn't have native Bluetooth support.

As previously mentioned, the AirFly is similar in size to the AirPods, and it comes with a travel pouch, so it's easy to take with you. Along with the pouch, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo audio cable is included, plus there's a micro-USB to USB-A cable for charging the AirFly.

The AirFly has a built-in battery that will last for approximately eight hours, and it can charge from any USB port.

You can purchase the AirFly from Twelve South's website or from Amazon.com for $39.99.

Apple Music now has over 50 million users on either paid subscriptions or free trials, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Cook revealed the updated total in an interview with Bloomberg Television, nearly five weeks after Apple's services chief Eddy Cue said Apple Music had 48 million users, including 40 million paying and eight million on a trial.

Apple Music remains the world's second most popular streaming music service, behind Spotify, which disclosed that it had 75 million paying subscribers as of March 31, 2018. Spotify has a much larger total of at least 170 million active users, however, due to the free, ad-supported tier that it offers.

Apple Music has been a key contributor to the continued growth of Apple's services category, which brought in $9.1 billion revenue last quarter, an increase of 31 percent on a year-over-year basis. Other service-related revenue includes App Store and iTunes Store sales, paid iCloud storage, licensing, and more.

Google has announced a new series of cloud storage plans arriving for Google Account holders, including a new family option for divvying up a single storage plan amongst up to five members.

Called Google One, the new plans will replace existing Google Drive paid storage plans and include 100GB storage for $1.99 a month, 200GB for $2.99 a month, and 2TB for $9.99 a month (down from $19.99).

As a result, Google is removing its 1TB/$9.99 plan, but will continue to offer 15GB storage for free to all Google Drive users. The other existing tier that will continue to be offered is 30TB for $300 a month.

As before, the new storage plans provide users with space for Google Drive, Gmail, and original quality photos and videos (including 4K) in Google Photos.

All the paid plans come with access to live chat support, a feature that was previously limited to G Suite business account holders. The changes will be seen first by paying Google Drive users in the U.S. "in the coming months", with rollout to users in other countries shortly after.

For the sake of comparison, Apple's iCloud monthly storage plans are 50GB for $0.99, 200GB for $2.99, 2TB for $9.99, and 5GB free storage for non-paying users.

Most Apple Watch owners will recognize the "Now Playing" app – it automatically launches by default whenever you play audio through the Music or Podcasts app on your iPhone. A similar screen shows when you play audio through any third-party iPhone app that also has an Apple Watch extension, like Overcast, for example.

The Now Playing app provides quick access to playback controls on your wrist, as well as track options like Love/Dislike and Delete From Library. You can also turn the Crown on your Apple Watch to adjust volume, which is handy when you're listening on AirPods or other headphones that don't have built-in volume controls.

You might not like the way the Now Playing app automatically appears when you play audio on your iPhone. If you just want to see your watch face when you raise your wrist during audio playback, you can turn off the default behavior by following the first set of steps below.

You can still make it easy to access the Now Playing app without it automatically taking over the screen whenever you play audio. One solution is to add the Now Playing app to your Apple Watch's Dock, accessed with a press of the Side button. Another option is to enable the Now Playing watch face complication. Click the links to find out how.

How to Disable Auto-Launch Audio Apps on Apple Watch

1. Press the Crown on your Apple Watch to invoke the app launcher.
   

2. Launch the Settings app.
   
   

3. Tap General.
   

4. Tap Wake Screen.
   

5. Toggle off Auto-Launch Audio Apps.

How to Disable Auto-Launch Audio Apps via iPhone

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
   

2. Tap General.
   
   

3. Scroll down and tap Wake Screen.
   

4. Toggle off Auto-Launch Audio Apps.

How to Add 'Now Playing' to Your Apple Watch's Dock

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
   

2. Tap Dock.
   

3. Tap Favorites in the Dock Ordering section if it isn't already selected.
   
   

4. Tap Edit in the upper right corner of the screen.
   

5. Scroll down to the Do Not Include section and tap the plus (+) symbol next to Now Playing to add it to the list of docked apps. Alternatively, drag the app into the Favorites list via the three-line button at the far right of the entry. (Note you can also use these buttons to control the arrangement of apps in the Dock.)
   

6. Tap Done in the upper right of the screen.

How to Enable the 'Now Playing' Complication

Before following these steps, make sure you're using a watch face that accepts text-based complications (Modular and Activity Digital are two such examples.)

1. Hard press the watch face on your Apple Watch.
   

2. Tap Customize.
   
   

3. Swipe left until the large text-based complication space is highlighted.
   

4. Turn the Crown to scroll through the options until you get to the Now Playing complication (also shown as 'Tap to Open' in the text space).
   

5. Press the Crown twice to set the complication and exit Customize mode.

Apple has partnered up with French cable television Canal+ to allow 5.2 million Canal+ subscribers in France to opt to receive an Apple TV 4K in lieu of a traditional cable box.

Customers who choose the 4K Apple TV will need to pay Canal+ an equipment rental free of 6 euros, equivalent to approximately 7 dollars. This is the same price that Canal+ charges to rent a standard cable box.

In a statement to French site Numerama (via VentureBeat), Canal+ Deputy General Manager Frank Cadoret said that the company's goal with the Apple TV offer is to reach a younger clientele and to offer existing customers a second box.

Apple vice president of Apple Music and International Content Oliver Schusser also told the site that Canal customers will be able to "enjoy a rich experience" with access to iTunes movies and the App Store in addition to regular cable programming that will be accessible through a Canal app.

Canal+ customers will be able to choose an Apple TV over a cable box starting on May 7.

Apple recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the iMac G3, and to mark the occasion, Spigen has created a line of fun cases for the iPhone X that have been designed in homage to the candy-colored iMacs that restored Apple's reputation and revenue streams while also establishing the company as a force to be reckoned with.

Spigen's new Classic C1 cases are available in a selection of shades designed to match the original colors of the first iMacs, like Bondi Blue, Ruby, Sage, and Graphite. Spigen is launching its new case lineup via an Indiegogo project with prices starting as low as $18.

Spigen sent MacRumors its Classic C1 case lineup ahead of the launch of the Indiegogo project, and we can confirm that these combine the protection Spigen is known for with a whimsical interpretation of classic Apple designs.

Each Classic C1 case actually consists of three components. There's an inner silver shell that's made of a soft, flexible material that fits right onto the iPhone. It features iMac-style chip and battery designs, with a cutout that lets the Apple logo of the iPhone shine through.

The inner shell pairs with a two-piece outer shell that's made of a translucent plastic, which snaps right onto the iPhone. Because it's see through, the outer shell allows the design of the inner shell to peek out, giving the case a 3D iMac-style look that's quite attractive and a must have for fans of classic iMac designs.

Spigen paid quite a bit of attention to detail with these cases, and there are even detailed iMac-like design elements included in the inside of the case.

Because this is a multi-layer case, it's thicker than some of the cases that Spigen offers, but it provides an attractive iMac design that pairs with solid protection. The softer inner component paired with the hard plastic exterior will keep the iPhone safe from mild drops, scratches, and other damage.

The inner silver case provides a nice lip around the display for protection when it's face down, and the bottom offers protection while still leaving ports accessible. The case also covers the volume and side buttons with the exception of the mute switch, but it does not impede button usage.

Spigen is also offering another case based on a classic design -- the original iPhone. Available alongside a C1 case, the Classic One offers a simple silver and black design that turns the iPhone X into something resembling the first iPhone. This case is simpler than the C1 with just a single layer and no intricate design elements, but it will be ideal for those who want a sleek design.

Super early bird Indiegogo backers can order a Classic C1 case for just $18, and when those are gone, prices will go up to $22 and then $25. If Spigen gets enough orders, additional colors will be unlocked, including Grape and Blueberry.

Spigen plans to begin shipping out the Classic C1 cases to backers in June.

Update: Spigen's Indiegogo campaign raised more than $100,000 from backers, and as a result, and due to demand, Spigen is now going to make its Classic C1 iMac cases available for the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus.

Apple is hosting a one-night-only Shawn Mendes concert at the Ford Theatres in Los Angeles, California this Thursday, the company shared today on Twitter.

The live performance kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will include the debut of a brand new song that will be included on Mendes' upcoming album.

Tickets for the event are available for free, with potential attendees able to sign up for a chance for a ticket on Apple's ticketing website.

Those who are not able to attend will be able to watch the performance on YouTube or on Apple Music at 7:45 p.m. Pacific Time.