Joe Rossignol

Home security startup Abode today announced that its Smart Security Kit is now compatible with HomeKit. The kit includes a gateway, a motion sensor, a door/window sensor, and a key fob. HomeKit compatibility enables users to add the Smart Security Kit gateway directly to the Home app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, in addition to any Abode sensors connected to the gateway. HomeKit also allows...

Microsoft today updated its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps for the iPhone with a simplified three-tab layout. The three tabs include Home, New, and Open: Home: Sign in to your Microsoft account and view recent documents, spreadsheets, or presentations New: Create a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation with various templates to choose from Open: Open an existing document,...

Today marks two years since Apple released the HomePod, with deliveries to customers and in-store availability having begun February 9, 2018 in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. At launch, the HomePod cost $349, but Apple reduced its price to $299 in April 2019. Apple has never disclosed HomePod sales, instead grouping the speaker under its "Wearables, Home, and Accessories"...

Built-to-order iMac, iMac Pro, and MacBook Pro models, excluding the low-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, are currently facing an extended delivery estimate of March 10 on Apple's online store in the United States. While custom configurations usually take more time to ship than standard configurations, current delivery estimates are even lengthier than usual. The reason for the delay is unknown, but ...

Over the last few months, an increasing number of references to AMD processors have been uncovered in macOS Catalina code, starting with the 10.15.2 beta in November and now continuing in the 10.15.4 beta. Given that Macs currently use Intel processors, the references are naturally prompting speculation that perhaps Apple plans to release Macs with AMD processors, but this is unconfirmed as of ...

February is Heart Month, aimed at promoting cardiovascular health, and Apple is taking part with a new Activity Challenge that tasks Apple Watch users with closing their Exercise ring in the Activity app for seven consecutive days. The challenge kicks off tomorrow, February 8, and runs through February 14. Those who successfully complete the Activity Challenge will receive a special...

Another week, another Apple Arcade release. The latest addition is Charrua Soccer, which aims to evoke nostalgia with its retro style 3D graphics. The game is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Developed by Batovi Games, Charrua Soccer offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, with simplified controls for casual players. There are both friendly match and penalty match...

As a factory-installed option, wireless CarPlay has been primarily limited to premium brands like BMW and Porsche, but Fiat Chrysler Automobiles this week introduced its redesigned 2021 Chrysler Pacifica minivan with a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen that supports both wireless CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Wireless CarPlay is a feature of Fiat Chrysler's new Uconnect 5 infotainment...

Dolby Atmos support for the newly released Apple TV app and AirPlay 2 on select LG smart TVs is coming in a software update "later this year," an LG spokesperson has confirmed to FlatpanelsHD.com. Earlier this week, LG announced that the Apple TV app and accompanying ‌Apple TV‌+ streaming service are now available on select 2019 LG smart TVs in the United States and more than 80 other...

A refreshed Apple TV with an A12 Bionic chip or newer appears to be in development, according to 9to5Mac, which uncovered an unreleased model with the codename "T1125" in the tvOS 13.4 beta seeded yesterday. Details about the new ‌Apple TV‌ are slim beyond the faster chip and its maximum supported resolution remaining 4K with HDR. Rumors of a new ‌Apple TV‌ with an A12 chip began swirling...

FBI officials have still not managed to unlock a passcode-protected iPhone that investigators believe was owned by Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, the perpetrator of a mass shooting at a Naval Air Station in Florida in December. The disclosure was made by FBI director Christopher Wray at a House Judiciary Committee hearing today, according to Bloomberg. Wray told Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that the...

Back in October, the developers behind email app BlueMail sued Apple, alleging that the "Hide My Email" feature of "Sign in with Apple" infringes on its patented technology. The complaint [PDF] also accuses Apple of anticompetitive behavior, including removing BlueMail from the Mac App Store. "Hide My Email" hides a user's personal email address by substituting it with a unique, random email ...

Apple Card users will be able to export their transaction data in an OFX file format for use with third-party financial apps "within the next few days," a support representative said in an online chat with customer Jed Schmidt. The exporting feature rolled out last month, but only with CSV file support. Apple said an OFX option would be available in the future. The option to export...

Nearly five months after the release of iOS 13, Google has finally updated its Translate app with Dark Mode support on the iPhone and iPad, although the color scheme is dark gray rather than true black. Dark Mode in the Google Translate app is tied to the system-level appearance selected in Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance. Google has been slowly adding Dark Mode support to...

Microsoft today updated its Outlook app with full support for Split View on compatible iPad models, allowing users to multitask in a variety of ways, such as having an email and calendar open side by side. Split View also enables users to drag and drop text, photos, and files from one app to another, such as dragging text from Safari into an Outlook email. To drag and drop text, select the...

Apple this week has been granted a patent for a foldable device with a unique hinge mechanism that utilizes movable flaps to help prevent the display from being creased or damaged when folded. Published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today, the patent explains that the hinge mechanism would ensure adequate separation between the first and second portions of the display. When the...

Apple's largest manufacturing partner Foxconn has seen a "fairly small impact" from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak so far, but the company could face a "big" impact to its iPhone production if the Chinese government forces factories to remain closed for an additional week or longer, according to Reuters. The report claims that Foxconn has halted "almost all" of its production in China through...

Apple today announced that it will be providing special coverage of the 2020 presidential election in the United States starting today, complete with news and analysis from dozens of sources, including ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FiveThirtyEight, Fox News, NBC News, ProPublica, Reuters, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, TIME, USA Today, and...

Sold between 2002 and 2004, the iMac G4 is long outdated, but MacRumors forum member Hughmac has given the arm-mounted computer a second life by cleverly transforming his into a desk lamp. Hugh says he started by gutting the inside of the iMac's base, removing all components. Next, he removed the display and cut the back side of it into a flower shape, making sure to keep the Apple logo...

A new ad for Apple Arcade released today blends the real world with the virtual one while showcasing several games available on the service, including LEGO Builder's Journey and Ultimate Rivals: The Rink. Apple Arcade launched in September, providing iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month in the United States....