MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

Apple Music today announced that it'll stream a concert for the band The 1975 Thursday at 9 a.m. Pacific on Beats 1. Apple Music has been teasing the announcement all day on its Snapchat account, displaying the band's lyrics and teasing the concert's set as preparations for the event are completed. Apple isn't a newcomer to live streaming concerts, as it broadcasts its annual Apple Music...

IBM has announced that it is bringing Apple's Swift development language to the cloud to simplify end-to-end development of enterprise apps. Swift will be available as a server-side language on IBM Cloud, and today's phase of the rollout includes a preview of a Swift runtime and a Swift Package Catalog.Developers can start exploring the benefits of Swift on the IBM Cloud in three ways: - Experi...

In January of 2015, WayTools announced the TextBlade, a compact, collapsible keyboard that sparked a lot of interest with its unique multilayered layout that replaces a full keyboard with eight large smart keys. Refinements, production issues, and other hiccups have long delayed the release of the TextBlade, which was originally scheduled to ship out to pre-order customers in the early months...

Donald Trump, a leading Republican candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, has called for a boycott of Apple until it complies with a court order to unlock an iPhone 5c used by shooter Syed Farook in the 2015 San Bernardino attacks, according to Reuters."Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information,” Trump said at a campaign event in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. "It ...

Smartphone users in China are facing a number of system errors trying to sign up for Apple Pay after it was officially released in the country yesterday. Apple's mobile payment service became available on February 18 through a partnership with China's state-run interbank network, UnionPay. However, it appears that the sheer amount of users attempting to sign up to the platform during the first ...

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is working on legislation that would penalize companies that don't comply with court orders to unlock encrypted devices, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move comes a day after Apple announced that it would oppose an order to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c. The bill could reportedly be...

Apple's iPhones have long been protected by numeric passcodes, giving iOS users a way to protect keep their devices safe from hackers and prying eyes. Over the years, passcodes have been supplemented by Touch ID, Apple's fingerprint recognition system, but the passcode is still the iPhone's main line of defense. A passcode is required to set up Touch ID, and Touch ID is automatically disabled...

Earlier in January, Microsoft announced that it would bring a group chat feature to the Skype app on mobile devices over "the next few weeks," but never locked down a specific launch window. Today, the popular video chatting app will begin to support group video calling, similar to its web counterpart, on iOS and Android (via Engadget). The new feature will allow as many as 25 participants...

Apple updated its Apple Pay participating issuers list today with 45 additional banks, credit unions and financial institutions supporting the contactless payment service in the U.S. Apple Pay now has 1045 participating issuers nationwide, including 1043 U.S. banks and credit unions and store card support at BJ's Wholesale Club and Kohl's. The newly added Apple Pay participating issuers are...

Late last year, Mophie unveiled its latest lineup of Powerstation external batteries, offering a number of slim new options for recharging mobile devices on the go. The lineup includes five models: 1X (2,000 mAh), 2X (4,000 mAh), 3X (6,000 mAh), 5X (10,000 mAh), and 8X (15,000 mAh), with prices ranging from $40 to $150. Mophie's Powerstation batteries are available from a number of outlets,...

Apple today announced that developers are now able to include short videos in their tvOS App Store descriptions, allowing users to see a tvOS app in action before deciding to download it. Preview videos can be between 15 and 30 seconds, providing a quick look at an app's functionality or gameplay. Showcase your tvOS app in action by bringing its features and functionality alive with a short...

Philips Hue today tweeted an open call for beta testers to join in putting the company's new and overhauled lighting app through its paces. Users will help Philips "shape a whole new lighting experience" through the beta test, which has already mostly been tested by the company and is seeking fans of Hue to help "with the last finishing touches." Great news! We’re running a beta program for ...

In a new article posted yesterday by Bloomberg, interesting details have been shared about one of Apple's secretive iPhone recycling plants. Detailing the "after-life of an iPhone," the piece focuses on the plant located in an industrial park in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long district and run by Apple contractor Li Tong Group, whose sole purpose is the deconstruction and recycling of iPhones, iPads, and ...

App developer Matt Wiechec yesterday launched the new game A Tiny Game of Pong [Direct Link], which lets users engage in the classic 1970's video game of Pong using the Apple Watch's Digital Crown to control their paddle. The free app version comes with an endless arcade mode that pits you against the high scores of your friends, Game Center integration, and allows for standalone play when the...

Apple has ceased sales of some of its older iPhone models in India in a bid to improve its flagging profitability and average selling price in the country. The company today withdrew the iPhone 4s, which was selling for as low as Rs 12,000 ($175), in a move aimed at increasing share and acquiring new customers. Apple also stopped selling its iPhone 5c model, priced at Rs 20,000 ($292),...

Following a testing phase that started in late last year, Instagram today started rolling out two-factor authentication to its users, reports TechCrunch With two-factor authentication, Instagram accounts will have another layer of security to keep them safe from hacking attempts. Instagram's two-factor authentication allows users to establish a verified phone number, which will be used to...

In November, AgileBits announced 1Password for Teams, giving 1Password users a way to share passwords with friends, family, and coworkers. As of today, 1Password for Teams is expanding to 1Password for Families, introducing a special pricing plan designed to give all members of a family access to secure password options at an affordable price. For $5 per month, a family of up to five people...

Verizon today announced the return of one of its popular data promotions, offering an additional 2GB of shareable data per month for both new and existing customers who choose an XL or XXL Verizon data plan when upgrading to a new device with a device payment plan or activating a new line. Verizon's XL and XXL plans are available to both individuals and families, providing 12GB for $80 per...