MacRumors

Philips today updated its Hue app, used to control its line of Philips Hue lights, to version 2.6.0. The update adds long-awaited support for the iPad, allowing iPad users to access their lights from an iPad-optimized app for the first time.

The iPad version of the Philips Hue app features the same general design and controls that were introduced when Philips revamped the Hue app back in April.

For iPhone users with a 3D Touch-enabled device, the new version of the app also adds improved iOS 10 support and new 3D Touch options. When you press on the Hue app icon, you'll now get access to the Widget options you've established in the app.

Scene editing has been improved, making it possible to edit custom scenes with and without a picture, and the update includes bug fixes and stability improvements.

What's New
- Added iPad support
- Improved iOS 10 support, you can now 3D Touch the app icon to quickly access your widgets
- Improved scene edit, now you can also edit your custom scenes both with and without a picture
- Bug fixes and stability improvements

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

Apple has advised developers to make sure their apps are up to date by Thursday, December 22, as new apps and app updates will not be accepted between Friday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 27.

Apple says any planned app releases during this holiday period should be submitted, approved, and scheduled in advance. Other iTunes Connect and developer account features will remain available through the five-day period.

Apple has enabled carrier billing in Belgium and Norway, expanding upon the feature's existing availability in Germany, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The feature is limited to select carriers in each country — share if yours is supported in the comments.

The payment method enables customers to pay for iTunes content, App Store apps, iBooks, and Apple Music subscriptions without needing a credit or debit card, or even a bank account. Instead, purchases are added to a customer's mobile phone bill and paid off at the end of the month.

Apple has a support document explaining how to set up carrier billing on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and Mac or PC.

Smart lock manufacturer Kwikset recently announced that the company's simplistic deadbolt solution, the Kevo Convert, is now available for users to pre-order for $149. Unlike Kwikset's other systems, including the Kwikset Kevo, the Kevo Convert is an easy-to-install conversion kit that keeps the outward-facing hardware of a standard door lock, while replacing the interior deadbolt.

Due to its simpler solution, the Kevo Convert system is cheaper at $149 than Kwikset's other products, which run for upwards of $230. The conversion kit comes with all of the company's smartphone-connected abilities, including ways for users to distribute access keys to people trying to get into their home when they aren't around, and push notifications each time the deadbolt is locked or unlocked.

Other features include an "auto lock" security system that automatically locks the door thirty seconds after it's been unlocked, "eliminating the need to double-check the front door before bed." The Kevo Convert system works with any smartphone within Bluetooth range, but users who want the ability to unlock their home and gain remote access to their smart lock when out of that range will have to purchase the $99.99 Kevo Plus kit.

Like other Kwikset products, the Kevo Convert will also be able to integrate with the Nest Learning Thermostat, Ring Video Doorbell, and other smart home connected devices.

Anyone interested can pre-order the Kevo Convert for $149 in Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze at The Home Depot.

Connected security camera company Canary is today launching a new update to its app that introduces support for the fourth-generation Apple TV, letting users view their camera's live stream on their television, or watch older recordings saved within the app. Prior to the Apple TV app, Canary users only had the company's mobile app to view content captured via a Canary or Canary Flex system (via TechCrunch).

When the Apple TV app is opened, Canary users will be presented with a dashboard and choose between live and recorded feeds. For those who have multiple Canary cameras, the app will initially open upon a "Location view," so they can choose which system to access video.

Canary cameras record movement as "events," so users can scrub through each on the Apple TV app, bookmark important ones, delete those deemed unnecessary to save, and jump to the next one with a Related Videos section under each of these events. The version 2.0.2 update to the Canary app also brings support for iPads and Android tablets.

In addition to HD video capture, the Canary cameras monitor air quality and include a built-in 90 decibel siren that users can activate through the mobile app to scare off intruders the camera notices within the home. The Canary Flex has many of the same camera-capturing features as the basic model, with the added bonus of a completely weatherproof outer shell.

Canary can be downloaded from the iOS App Store for free [Direct Link]. The 2.0.2 update has yet to hit the App Store, but should begin rolling out today.

Apple's iPad was one of the five best-selling electronic devices on Cyber Monday yesterday, November 28, according to new data acquired by Adobe and published in a press release last night. Every iPad appears to be taken into account in Adobe's data, but it's likely that the newest iPad Pro models helped fuel sales thanks to a handful of discounts from various retailers, particularly on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

Accompanying the iPad in the best-selling category for Cyber Monday this year were Sony's PlayStation 4, Microsoft's Xbox One, Samsung's line of 4K TVs, and Amazon's Fire tablets. In addition, it was noted that Beats by Dre products -- mainly the company's headphones -- were among the items that were most likely to run out of stock.

In total, 2016's online shopping holiday is on track to hit $3.39 billion in estimated spending, which will mark a 10.2 percent increase in comparison to Cyber Monday in 2015. Once all of the numbers come in, this year's Cyber Monday could be "the largest online sales day in history," and it's already surpassed Black Friday spending this year, which sat at $3.34 billion.

“Cyber Monday is on track to be the biggest online shopping day ever, surpassing our forecast by almost $27 million or 0.8 percent,” said Tamara Gaffney, principal analyst, Adobe Digital Insights. “This indicates that consumers still had more appetite for online shopping despite the incredible volume of online sales on Black Friday. Prices are expected to start climbing after today as retailers shift attention to extend the season late into December with quick shipping deals and the option to click and collect in store.”

Apple didn't participate directly in Cyber Monday deals, but the company did run a Black Friday offer this year that granted customers up to $150 worth of gift cards on specific product purchases. Last year, the company didn't offer Black Friday deals, opting to allow third-party retailers like Best Buy and Target to do so instead.

Adobe's full Cyber Monday report can be read here.

Amazon's next iteration of the Echo speaker will be a "premium" model that includes a touchscreen measuring around seven inches, marking "a major departure" from the tall, cylindrical design of the Echo currently on sale. The company is said to be upgrading Echo for two reasons: to capitalize on the device's success, and as early preparation to "fend off competition" from Google Home and Apple's rumored entry into the smart home speaker market (via Bloomberg).

The logic behind adding a touchscreen to Echo is reasoned as a way "to make it easier to access content," like the weather and upcoming calendar events. Currently, Echo is a voice-activated device with limited volume and mute buttons on its topside. While the exact design of the speaker wasn't pinned down, people familiar with the plans said it will be larger and "tilt upwards" so users can read the screen when the Echo sits on a kitchen counter or desk.

The new device will have a touchscreen measuring about seven inches, a major departure from Amazon’s existing cylindrical home devices that are controlled and respond mostly through the company’s voice-based Alexa digital assistant, according to two people familiar with the matter. This will make it easier to access content such as weather forecasts, calendar appointments, and news, the people said. They asked not to be identified speaking about a product that has yet to be announced.

Amazon’s planned expansion of the Alexa-powered line coincides with growing competition from Alphabet Inc.’s Google Home speaker and Apple Inc.’s interest in building a home device using its Siri digital assistant.

The upgraded Echo is also believed to get a major boost to speaker quality and "sound much better" than the current line of Echo speakers. One version of Amazon's prototype of the upcoming device placed the speakers below and behind the screen, which is said to help the new generation of Echo "play high-quality audio at all volume levels." The current Echo was designed to sound better at only moderate volume levels.

In total, Amazon is now selling the Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and Amazon Echo, for $50, $130, and $180 respectively, and the upcoming speaker -- believed to be announced as early as Q1 2017 -- is expected to be the most expensive Echo in the line.

On Apple's side, the most recent reports placed the Cupertino company's Siri-fueled, Echo-like device in the prototype phase. The Siri speaker is expected to include the usual support for music playback, search queries, and dictation, with additional potential for new technology, like facial recognition.

Samsung Electronics announced on Tuesday it is considering splitting itself into a holding company and an operating company in order to boost shareholder value, in what could be the biggest shake-up in the South Korean tech giant's history.

According to Reuters, the move is part of a bid to improve investor returns after Samsung came under pressure from shareholders to simplify its business structure. Critics argue that the current structure makes it difficult to value Samsung since its assets are spread across various sister companies and affiliates. Establishing a separate holding firm would bring these under one name, improve transparency, and make it easier to value Samsung Electronics' business.

Samsung said it would also increase returns to shareholders by one third and accelerate its share buy-back program. The plans come after U.S. hedge fund Elliot Management, which owns 0.6 percent of Samsung, called for a managed split of the company last month.

A split in two of the company has been a subject of speculation among market analysts for a while and would allow Samsung to list on additional stock exchanges around the world. However, some say any potential split could hand more control back to the original family owners and be a particularly favorable outcome for Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-Yong, who was recently nominated for a seat on the company board.

Despite the announcement, Samsung offered little detail on the potential restructuring and said it was "absolutely neutral" about whether to proceed. "The review does not indicate the management or the board's intention one way or another," said the company in a statement, adding it had hired external advisers for a potentially six month-long review process.

While Samsung moves to assuage investor concerns, the company still has to win back confidence in its consumer mobile division after its disastrous Galaxy Note7 recall in early September. Samsung's share of the smartphone market dropped in the third quarter of 2016 to its lowest level in nearly two years, with financial results for the fourth quarter expected to suffer more after the subsequent discontinuation of the flagship phone.

Panic, the famed developer behind apps like Coda and Transit, today announced that it is discontinuing its Status Board app for iPad. The app was released in early 2013 and was intended to help people easily view a variety of relevant data in a beautiful interface.

The developer says that sales weren't enough to sustain further development, outlining three reasons for low sales. While Panic was hoping to find a sweet spot in between the pro and consumer markets, it found that the market for Status Board was almost entirely pros. Those pro users expected better integration with a wide variety of data sources but Panic wasn't able to provide that with the limited resources the app generated. And finally, Panic says they were on the "wrong side of the overall 'want a status board' budget" as companies bought $3,000 displays to show off its $10 app.

The app will continue to work for those who have it installed with two caveats. Dropbox support will stop in June 2017 and the app's weather service will end in late 2017. Panic is also urging customers who purchased Status Board in the past 30 days to contact them. While Apple does not provide a way for the company to do refunds directly, it will do what it can to help.

Finally, Panic notes that it's not feasible for them to open source Status Board because it shares frameworks and code shared by its other apps.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today rejected an application from several Australian banks that sought to collectively negotiate with Apple over Apple Pay, reports Reuters.

Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank (NAB), and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank sought to enter into group talks with Apple in an attempt to establish a deal that would give them access to the NFC hardware in the iPhone, allowing them to offer their already-established bank-run mobile payments services using the iPhone's NFC chip.

The four banks needed the permission of the ACCC to avoid violating anti-cartel laws, but their request has been officially denied. In a statement, ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the benefits are "uncertain" and "may be limited."

"While the ACCC accepts that the opportunity for the banks to collectively negotiate and boycott would place them in a better bargaining position with Apple, the benefits are currently uncertain and may be limited."

Today's denial follows an initial denial in August, where the ACCC opted to take more time to consider the issue before granting a request that would have allowed the banks to boycott Apple Pay while negotiations took place. The ACCC has now denied the banks both interim and draft authorization, but a final ruling on the request will not come until March of 2017.

Apple vigorously opposed the initial request, stating that allowing banks to access hardware within the iPhone would compromise security, undermine customers' privacy, and harm innovation. The banks, meanwhile, claim access to NFC would give customers more choice and would have "tremendous benefits for the entire Australian mobile payments landscape."

While Apple Pay has been available in Australia since November of 2015 through partnerships with ANZ and American Express, Australia's three major banks -- Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and National Australia Bank -- have thus far resisted signing deals with Apple to accept Apple Pay.

Recently, Apple inked a deal with Cuscal Payments Group, expanding Apple Pay to more than 30 small banks and credit unions across Australia. The agreement saw Apple Pay becoming available to four million additional Australians.