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Airbnb Rooms feature; Apple inspiration; Jony Ive redefining the mission

CEO Brian Chesky has said in a new interview that a number of the changes Airbnb has made – including Airbnb Rooms and a complete reorganization of the company’s structure – were inspired by Apple.

He added that the launch of Airbnb Rooms represents the company returning to its roots: letting people rent out a room in their home, rather than an entire apartment …

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Airbnb and ClassPass clash with Apple, raising yet another antitrust issue

Airbnb and ClassPass clash with Apple

Airbnb and ClassPass have found themselves in an interesting dispute with Apple, as they adapt their business models in response to the coronavirus crisis. Apple is, they say, now demanding a cut of their revenue.

The issue is a tricky one, but may prove yet another antitrust concern for the Cupertino company …


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Feature Request: Airbnb’s Apple TV app is perfect for a concierge-style experience for guests

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Feature Request is a new regular 9to5Mac series where authors offer their opinion on how to improve popular hardware or software products.

A lot of the apps on the new Apple TV bring similar experiences as on iOS to the big screen, but we’re bound to see some unique apps designed specifically for the living room that perhaps didn’t make a lot of sense on smaller or mobile devices. One example of this and my first Feature Request: Airbnb should add a concierge-style experience for guests through its new Apple TV app.
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Airbnb for iOS updated with support for Apple Watch

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Airbnb, the popular service that allows you to instantly book homes, apartments, and more on the go, has today been updated with support for Apple Watch. The update, which bumps the app to version 15.35, adds support for Apple’s wearable and makes it even easier and quicker for both hosts and guests to handle reservations.

[tweet https://twitter.com/airbnb/status/639468592002543616 align=’center’]

With Airbnb on Apple Watch, hosts can quickly be notified of new booking requests and be presented with the traveler’s name, photo, requested dates, and personal message directly on the Watch itself. The hosts can then decide whether or not to accept the reservation on the spot. Hosts and travelers both can also initiate and reply to messages. Hosts have the ability to create and save replies, allowing them to keep their response rate high.

Introducing Airbnb for Apple Watch! The new app features Airbnb messaging, which hosts and travelers can use to communicate with each other instantaneously. Hosts can receive a new booking request complete with the traveler’s name and photo, requested dates, and personal message, and decide whether to accept or decline on the spot. Hosts can also initiate and respond to messages, as well as create and save quick, pre-recorded responses to help maintain a healthy response rate.

The update is available on the App Store now for free.

A look at what some high-profile apps will look like when iOS 7 hits

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Apple announced on Tuesday that iOS 7 will be publicly available on September 18th. The revamped OS moves completely away from the realistic designs of the past six generations, dropping almost all “artificial shadows” (as Apple SVP Craig Federighi called them), gloss, and even button borders. Instead, the Jony Ive-inspired interface features an entirely rethought design language that focuses heavily on large icons, lightweight fonts, whitespace, transparency, and conservative use of color.

We previously took a look at what some of Apple’s own in-house apps could look like when redesigned for iOS 7. During Apple’s September 10th event, Federighi flashed up a slide displaying the upcoming iOS 7 updates for many third-party applications. None of the apps were labeled, but we’ve tracked down names for most of them.

The apps featured are:


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Orbitz, Pinterest, Sky Gamblers, Foursquare and others added to Apple’s App Store Hall of Fame

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Apple is once again inducting new apps into its iPhone and iPad Hall of Fame, a section on iTunes that it launched back in 2010 to feature its “the best of the best on the App Store,” and Orbitz is one of many apps listed on Apple’s new inductees page. The company issued a press release announcing Orbitz induction into the Hall of Fame for iPhone (pictured below) along with 13 other apps and six games this week. Other new inductees listed include Foursquare, Walking Dead: The Game, Action Movie FX, Airbnb, Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy, The World Ends With You, Pinterest, and more.

“Whether you are a long-time iPhone user or hope to get one as a holiday gift, this Hall of Fame recognition confirms that the Orbitz app for iPhone is the go-to travel tool to have,” said Chris Orton, president of Orbitz.com.

Check it out: App Store Hall of Fame

The iPad Hall of Fame is also listing new inductees, with some iPad specific apps that aren’t on the new iPhone list, including: National Parks by National Geographic, The Room, Mint.com Personal Finance, Paper by FiftyThree, Kayak, Barefoot World Atlas, and Adobe Photoshop Touch. We have seen a few of these apps in the Hall of Fame before (Facebook, Things, Skype), but the majority of new inductees listed are making their first appearance. All new inductees in the iPad and iPhone Halls of Fame are below:

iPhone Hall of Fame new inductees:

iPhone Hall of Fame new inductees 2012

iPad Hall of Fame new inductees:

iPad Hall of Fame new inductees 2012