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

Google has announced that the latest version of Google Maps for Android has an improved offline mode, providing access to turn-by-turn directions and several other features in areas without a reliable cellular data or internet connection. It also confirmed these features will be coming soon to iOS, but did not provide a specific release timeframe. Google Maps was previously limited to viewing...

With Sam's Club having started taking pre-orders for the iPad Pro on Friday and selling out within hours and MacMall also moving to accept pre-orders ahead of an expected launch next week, Staples is the latest major U.S. retailer to allow customers to begin placing orders for the new device. Staples is offering all Wi-Fi models of the iPad Pro for pre-order, as well as a number of...

The photographers who had their photos featured in an assortment of billboards and TV ads for the "Shot on iPhone 6" ad campaign Apple ran to promote its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have begun receiving a set of special coffee table photo books that include their artwork. Image via Brendan Ó Sé Cult of Mac spoke to photographer Brendan Ó Sé, one of the lucky few to receive one of the books...

Earlier this week, Plex released its highly anticipated app for the tvOS App Store, making Plex officially available on the Apple TV for the first time. Given Plex's popularity, we decided to check out the new app and do a quick video overview for those who might be interested in getting a new Apple TV to use with Plex. Plex is a media server and personal library that's able to organize the...

The Logi Circle, a home monitoring camera, is one of the first products Logitech is selling under its new Logi brand, which it's using for devices that are part of the Internet of Things. The Logi Circle is a palm-sized connected camera designed to let its users monitor their home and interact with pets, children, and other people when away. I've been using the Logi Circle in my home for the ...

Following yesterday's official launch of the first Apple Pay-enabled loyalty card from Walgreens with its Balance Rewards program, a number of MacRumors readers reported that their Shoppers Club loyalty cards from grocery store chain Wegmans were also showing up in Apple Pay. Early testing has shown that card readers at Wegmans stores are not yet accepting Shoppers Club cards via Apple Pay,...

Instagram has begun testing various ads that will allow users to shop for everything from clothing to menu items at local restaurants, integrating new iPhone features like 3D Touch and Apple Pay as well (via Digiday). The social network has had ads appear in users' feeds for a while now, but hopes that more unobtrusive shopping experiences that keep users in the app itself will attract bigger...

Facebook today announced a new feature for its iOS app called "Music Stories" that will allow users to sample 30-second clips of songs that their friends and family post to the social network from services like Apple Music, iTunes, and Spotify. Users will be able to stream the clip directly from their feed and even follow a link to purchase or add the music directly into their Apple Music or...

Apple has opened a subsidiary company in Vietnam to import and distribute iPhones directly in the country, one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Reuters. Vietnam's national business registry website confirms that Apple Vietnam Limited Liability was established in Ho Chi Minh City on October 28 with a registered capital of 15 billion dong, or...

The United States Patent and Trademark Office today published a patent application initially filed by Apple in May of 2014, describing a method for users to designate a specific finger to unlock an iPhone with using Touch ID, which would then cause the iPhone to enter a "panic mode" (via Business Insider). The mode could then tell the iPhone to completely lock down, limiting access to personal...

Google today updated its Google Maps app to version 4.12, adding spoken traffic alerts in navigation mode as well as the ability to easily add new or missing businesses from the app's sidebar. Spoken traffic alerts will tell users about traffic congestion and incidents on a user's route. Additionally, users will get traffic descriptions summarizing traffic conditions before they set off on...

Microsoft this week began the sign-up process that will let a few iOS users test out an early beta version of its Cortana personal assistant ahead of its wide release sometime next year (via The Verge). Specifically, the company said it's looking for a "limited number of people" in the United States and China, with updates rolling out over the next few months to tweak features and provide any...

Apple and its former sapphire supplier GT Advanced have reached an agreement that will allow GT Advanced to absolve itself of the remaining $439 million that it owes Apple, reports The Wall Street Journal. Under the settlement, GT Advanced will host an auction on November 23 to get rid of the equipment that it contributed to the sapphire making process, with the proceeds being split between...

Tapbots today released a significant update for its latest Tweetbot 4 Twitter client, adding support for the Apple Watch. On the Apple Watch, the default view is the Activity Feed, which includes Mentions, Favorites (soon to be likes), and Follows - the content you'd most likely want to view on a small screen. From the Activity Feed, it's possible to tap to view individual tweets to Reply,...

Sam's Club today announced its "Lowest Prices of the Season" event, starting in retail locations around the country at 7 A.M. on Saturday, November 14. The company promises that the event will feature deals on "the most sought-after tech, toys and home décor for the holiday season," which includes the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPad Air 2. “We’re excited to kick off holiday shopping...

Twitter today announced the impending rollout of a new "Hearts" and "Likes" system for its social network, which will replace the traditional "Stars" and "Favorites" that's been used on the service for the past few years. The company cites a "confusing" quality to the star system that causes a disconnect between a new Twitter user and anyone who favorites their tweet. The heart, it believes, is...

Nomad today announced a new product, the "Wallet for iPhone," which hides a small rechargeable battery cell within a traditional billfold wallet. The 2,400 mAh lithium-ion battery is housed in the hinge of the Wallet and promises to provide a full charge to an iPhone 6s. Owners of an iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6s Plus will probably only see half the charge of their phone restored due to the smaller...

Apple updated its Apple Pay participating issuers list today with 54 additional banks, credit unions and financial institutions supporting the contactless payment service in the United States. Apple Pay now has over 650 participating issuers nationwide, and several more plan to support the NFC-based mobile payment service in the future. The newly added Apple Pay participating issuers are...