Apple

6,136 'Apple News' stories November 2008 - June 2014

Apple News and Brief History

Before you can properly understand Apple News, it’s important to know its history. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. In 1977, Apple’s sales were growing with the success of its early computers. Within a few years, Jobs and Wozniak hired designers and a production line crew. Apple went public in 1980 and was an instant success. Over the next few years, Apple shipped new computers featuring new graphical user interfaces, such as the original Macintosh in 1984. As the market for personal computers expanded through the 1990s, Apple lost market share to the cheaper Microsoft Windows on PC clones. Eventually, Wozniak and Jobs both left Apple. Jobs would go on to found NeXT and would return to Apple when NeXT was acquired in the late 90s. Apple then began a journey to the great second act in the history of the business world.

Since the release of the iPod in 2001, Apple has become a major player once again in the technology industry. After releasing the iPhone in 2007, the iPad in 2010, and the Apple Watch in 2015, Apple is now one of the largest companies in the world. Apple’s worldwide annual revenue totaled $274.5 billion for its 2020 fiscal year.

Today, Apple operates retail stores all across the world, has a growing services division, and an ever-expanding hardware lineup. The technology industry follows Apple news to see where the company is headed in the future.

Keep reading for the latest Apple news

iOS 8 uses peer-to-peer connections for AirPlay to Apple TV, no longer needs a network

Benjamin Mayo Jun 3 2014 - 1:58 pm PT

24 Comments

iOS 8 uses peer-to-peer technology to stream video to Apple TV, as described by Apple on a page highlighting enterprise features.

Today, AirPlay requires both devices connect to the same WiFi network before they can communicate.

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Top 10 useful features of iOS 8 (Video)

Dom Esposito Jun 3 2014 - 1:19 pm PT

31 Comments

Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the unannounced and hidden features in iOS 8, it’s time to check out what’s been in the open since Apple’s official announcement. Of course, there are a lot more than 10 features in iOS 8, but in order to keep things to a minimum, we’ve put together video containing some of our favorites.

While some of these features may not be the most exciting around, they are definitely helpful and seem to be a good fit in iOS 8. Check out our video overview below to find out more about our top 10 favorite iOS 8 features…

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Top 10 hidden features of iOS 8 (Video)

Dom Esposito Jun 3 2014 - 9:38 am PT

38 Comments

Now that iOS 8 is officially out for developers, it’s time to start digging into the apps and settings to find out what Apple didn’t tell us. Sure there are plenty of new features available in iOS 8, but there are definitely other little (and bigger) ones that didn’t make it to the unveiling.

We’ve been exploring iOS 8 and finding all sorts of features and helpful tips that Apple failed to mention during the keynote, but we feel are important enough to share with you. Check out our top 10 hidden iOS 8 features video below…

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Flappy Bird recreated in Swift, Apple’s programming language announced just hours ago

Zac Hall Jun 3 2014 - 9:17 am PT

2 Comments

Okay, it may just be Flappy Bird, the addictive game that once took over the news cycle for days and still threatens to return again some day, but the thing here is it was written in Apple’s new programming language for developers called Swift. What’s so special about that? Swift was only announced yesterday, less than 24 hours ago, so what this simple Flappy Bird clone really means is Swift is off to a good start given its only a few hours old. You can view the code for the Swift version of Flappy Bird by Nate Murray on Github, and read more about Apple’s new programming language Swift on iBooks.

Creators of Alfred say OS X Yosemite’s Spotlight is not another case of the Sherlocks

Zac Hall Jun 3 2014 - 8:25 am PT

7 Comments

Sherlocked. It’s a word that often gets thrown around after Apple casually integrates a feature offered by some other software into one of its operating systems. Its origin goes back to a time before OS X’s Spotlight feature when Sherlock was the Internet and file search software offered by Apple. Watson, at the time, was a third party utility by Karelia Software that offered very similar functionality, and one of Apple’s versions of Sherlock closely resembled the popular Watson.

Yesterday Apple introduced a more powerful version of Spotlight on OS X after quite a while of letting the feature remain unchanged. The easiest way to describe the updated version of Spotlight is to compare it to the popular Mac utility Alfred. For this reason, several Alfred users voiced concern about Alfred’s fate going forward, enough people that its creators addressed Alfred’s place in a Yosemite world on their blog:

A few users have voiced concerns that Spotlight in Yosemite looks more like Alfred, and wonder whether this changes anything for Alfred and his future.

What you have to remember is that Spotlight’s primary objective is to search your files and a small handful of pre-determined web sources. Meanwhile, Alfred’s primary objective is to make you more productive on your Mac with exceptional and powerful features like Clipboard History, System commands, iTunes Mini Player, 1Password bookmarks, Terminal integration, fully bespoke and customisable user-created workflows and much, much more.

Their message is very similar to last year’s WWDC when Apple introduced its iCloud Keychain which closely resembles a specific feature of 1Password and similar apps. 1Password has since shipped several updates adding new features to its software on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and it sounds like Alfred is planning to do just the same.

In fact, we’ve been working on some pretty special and truly amazing new features that you’ll hear about over the next few months. We think these will blow your mind and can’t wait to tell you more.

Apple makes it easy for devs (and others) to screencast iOS apps with OS X Yosemite

Benjamin Mayo Jun 3 2014 - 7:28 am PT

17 Comments

Apple has added a handy feature into OS X to easily capture the screen of an iPad or iPhone on the Mac itself. Apple positions the feature as a way to help developers quickly make app previews, which Apple introduced as part of iOS 8’s improvements to the App Store, but there is no reason why this couldn’t be used by others for different purposes.

When plugging an iPad or iPhone running iOS 8 into a Mac running OS X Yosemite via USB, the iOS device now shows up as a standard camera input. This means any video app can be used to record the screen of the iOS device without the need for additional hardware.

Although Apple is targeting the feature at developers in its documentation for making app previews, it is not limited to being a developer-only feature.

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WWDC 2014 keynote recap: Everything you need to know about iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite (Video)

Dom Esposito Jun 3 2014 - 7:07 am PT

23 Comments

Apple’s WWDC 2014 keynote was home to plenty of announcements including iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. There was quite a bit of information covered during the two hour presentation, but luckily we didn’t miss a second of the action.

If you don’t feel like sitting through the entire keynote video, we’ve put together a condensed version to give you the rundown on everything that was announced. Find out all that you need to know about iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite in our keynote recap below…

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Review: TwelveSouth HoverBar 3 positions your iPad right where you want it

Ben Lovejoy Jun 3 2014 - 6:00 am PT

8 Comments

There are times when an iPad can act as a handy sidekick to your Mac, but with a typical iPad stand you end up looking a little like a nodding dog as you look up at your monitor and down at your iPad. The TwelveSouth HoverBar 3 is designed to solve that, positioning your iPad display right next to your iMac or Apple Thunderbolt/Cinema Display.

The HoverBar can also be used on its own to position an iPad more comfortably, especially when using it to watch movies …
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Polls: What are your first impressions of iOS 8 and Yosemite?

Ben Lovejoy Jun 3 2014 - 5:23 am PT

165 Comments

Now you’ve had a chance to catch up on our coverage of the main new features of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, and seen our hands-on videos (iOS 8 overview, OS X Yosemite overview, iOS 8 Spotlight and iOS 8 interactive notifications), we’d like to hear your first impressions of each.

Whether you’re blown away by all the new features, disappointed by things you wanted but didn’t get, or just a bit underwhelmed, here’s your chance to let us know.

We’ve summarized the features Apple has chosen to highlight, and there are separate polls for each platform …
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Android migration means there’s more iPhone growth to come, suggests Cook

Ben Lovejoy Jun 3 2014 - 4:31 am PT

20 Comments

With so many new iOS and OS X features being introduced in yesterday’s WWDC keynote, the numbers that kicked off the show perhaps didn’t get the attention they otherwise might have done.

While the Wall Street line is that the smartphone market is saturated and iPhone and iPad growth is done, Tim Cook clearly thinks otherwise. Business Insider highlighted Cook’s comment on the migration Apple is seeing from Android phones.

“Over 130 million customers who bought an iOS device in the past 12 months were buying their first Apple device,” said Cook before introducing iOS 8, the new software for the iPhone and iPad. “Many of these customers were switchers from Android. They had bought an Android phone — by mistake. Then had sought a better experience … And a better life. And decided to check out iPhone and iOS.”

He added, “Nearly half of our customers in China in the past six months switch from Android to iPhone. This is incredible.”

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Hands-on with the new Notification Center and Spotlight in OS X Yosemite (Video)

Michael Steeber Jun 2 2014 - 9:06 pm PT

13 Comments

Two of the great updated features in OS X Yosemite are improved versions of both Notification Center and Spotlight, both of which have become staples on OS X. Both of these features have received substantial updates, dropping their old user interfaces entirely, and gaining quite a few new features.

In this video, we’ll take you on a little tour of the new interfaces and their features.

Video: Hands-on with interactive notifications (quick reply) in iOS 8

Dom Esposito Jun 2 2014 - 6:32 pm PT

16 Comments

It’s been a long time coming, but Apple has finally implemented useful notification features in iOS 8. Interactive notifications are essentially Apple’s version of quick reply (or quick actions) that will be available for a wide variety of apps when iOS 8 is released. We’ve had some time to explore the beta version today and put together a quick video to show off iOS 8’s new notification features.

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Apple replaces Google with Bing search in OS X Yosemite’s redesigned Spotlight?

Jordan Kahn Jun 2 2014 - 4:14 pm PT

22 Comments

One big change for Apple with the unveiling of OS X Yosemite today is Bing web searches in the completely revamped Spotlight feature. Spotlight, which allows users to look up anything locally on their Mac as well as perform web searches, received a redesigned user experience in Yosemite, but it might have also received a switch to Bing from Google search.

To be fair, the “web search” feature of spotlight prior to Yosemite actually just defaults to the default search engine in your browser of choice. If that happens to be Safari or Chrome like it is for most users, that meant Spotlight would typically send users to a Google search results page if they hadn’t changed their default preference. Now, Apple is listing Bing searches– but not Google– as a feature of Spotlight regardless of the default option (pictured above). We’ve yet to confirm that Bing is the only web search option for Spotlight in OS X Yosemite, as we’ve not yet been able to get the new Spotlight web search feature to work properly in the first beta.

While Spotlight is going to use Bing, Apple’s revamped search bar in Safari still uses Google as does iOS 8. Its easy to imagine Apple is only continuing to use Google search in Safari due to contractual agreements, but it’s harder to imagine it just decided to use Bing for Spotlight with no plans to possibly use it in its other products down the road.
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T-Mobile confirms WiFi calling arriving for iPhone users with iOS 8

Jordan Kahn Jun 2 2014 - 2:58 pm PT

42 Comments

Earlier today we pointed out that Apple quietly announced WiFi calling would arrive in iOS 8 despite not actually talking about the feature on stage. Now, T-Mobile has confirmed that it will soon enable the experience for iPhone users on its network when iOS 8 is released later this year:
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Hands-on with OS X Yosemite [Video]

Michael Steeber Jun 2 2014 - 2:11 pm PT

46 Comments

Alongside the brand new iOS 8, Apple today unveiled OS X 10.10 Yosemite today at WWDC 2014. OS X Yosemite is by far the biggest change to OS X since its introduction itself, well over a decade ago. Of course, the biggest news here is the all new, iOS 7-inspired UI.

Above you’ll find a hands-on with the new software, taking a look at the new UI, feature set, and more. Stay tuned to 9to5Mac for more coverage of both OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 today and in the coming days.

Apple posts stream & download of WWDC 2014 video

Benjamin Mayo Jun 2 2014 - 12:35 pm PT

0 Comments

Update: Download is now available on iTunes.

You can now rewatch the WWDC 2014 keynote online at Apple.com. You can also read full coverage of all the announcements here on 9to5Mac.

Apple usually posts downloads of the event, through podcasts in the iTunes Store, shortly afterwards too. We’ll update when these go live.

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Apple.com updated with information on iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, and more

Michael Steeber Jun 2 2014 - 12:10 pm PT

17 Comments

Following today’s WWDC 2014 keynote, Apple has just refreshed their website with tons of new information on iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, and all of the new developer announcements unveiled at the keynote. (Now let’s just hope they update that navigation bar soon!)

Apple has also refreshed the Dev Center with new betas for registered developers.

Stay tuned to 9to5Mac for more news coverage from WWDC 2014.

Apple announces iOS 8 device compatibility, drops support for iPhone 4

Dom Esposito Jun 2 2014 - 12:04 pm PT

22 Comments

During the WWDC 2014 keynote, Apple wrapped up its overview of iOS 8 and has officially announced device compatibility. This release is available for developers today and schedules for a public launch in fall.

iOS 8 will be compatible with iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display. So it looks like the iPhone 4 is officially dead to Apple.

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Apple announces new Xcode, ‘Swift’ programming language

Benjamin Mayo Jun 2 2014 - 11:51 am PT

40 Comments

Apple has introduced a brand new programming language alongside a brand new version of Xcode.

Swift is a big deal for developers. The language includes loads of features third-party developers have been asking for. It sits alongside Objective-C and C, meaning developers can interchange between languages in the same project.

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Apple announces HomeKit API for iOS, will serve as a central hub for home automation

Dom Esposito Jun 2 2014 - 11:46 am PT

3 Comments

Along with several other new APIs for developers, Apple has announced HomeKit which allows all home automation accessories/devices to work together. The new API will allow home automation developers to centralize all home automation in iOS without needing separate apps to access each device’s specific features. These devices include locks, lights, cameras, doors, thermostats, plugs, switches, and more.

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Apple announces CloudKit, a new way for developers to easily create cloud-connected apps

Benjamin Mayo Jun 2 2014 - 11:44 am PT

2 Comments

Apple has announced CloudKit, a new way for developers to create cloud apps. Apple takes responsibility for the server-side elements of apps. This leaves developers with a greatly simplified client-side development experience.

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Apple focuses on developer features for iOS 8: TestFlight beta testing, biggest SDK ever, inter-app communication and more

Benjamin Mayo Jun 2 2014 - 11:28 am PT

6 Comments

Alongside a whole of other changes to the App Store, Apple is integrating TestFlight. This allows developers to do seamless beta-testing for free. There are also a whole host of ‘extensions’ apps can access, enabling integration into share sheets, Notification Center widgets and more.

Apple is heavily stressing that this is the biggest developer release since the App Store was announced.

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Apple announces new iCloud pricing: 5GB free, 20GB for $1/month, 200GB for $4/month, up to 1TB

Jordan Kahn Jun 2 2014 - 11:23 am PT

8 Comments

Apple just announced new iCloud pricing coming soon to compliment a ton of new cloud features unveiled for iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite today.

The new pricing starts with the same free 5GB for all users and introduces a new 20GB for $1/month tier as well as a 200GB for $4/month tier. Currently Apple offers 5GB for free and charges $20.00 for an extra 10GB, $40 for an extra 20GB, or $100 for 50GB per month.

Apple didn’t say exactly when it would be flipping the switch on the new prices, but it did confirm that tiers up to 1TB will be available under its new pricing scheme.

Apple now stores ‘every photo you take on all of your devices’ with new Photos app

Benjamin Mayo Jun 2 2014 - 11:20 am PT

3 Comments

With iOS 8, Apple will now backup of all your photos. The limitations of Photo Stream seem to have gone away. Apple will now store all of your photos in iCloud, regardless of what device you take them on. iPhones and iPads can view these entire libraries, without having to download them to local storage. The photos stream in as you scroll.

Storage is only limited by your iCloud Storage. Apple has announced new cheaper storage plans to go along with the new philosophy.

Apple is also adding a whole host of color and other editing features into the Photos app. This includes things like color correction, brightness, cropping and more. These edits automatically sync across devices.