Notification Center

50 'Notification Center' stories February 2012 - June 2014

Polls: What are your first impressions of iOS 8 and Yosemite?

Ben Lovejoy Jun 3 2014 - 5:23 am PT

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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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.

Gallery: First look at iOS 8 with Health app, Notification Center widgets, and more

Mike Beasley Jun 2 2014 - 1:41 pm PT

22 Comments

Earlier today Apple announced the next version of its iOS software, iOS 8, during the WWDC keynote today. Below you’ll find a gallery of all the new bells and whistles in the latest operating system. If you’ve got some screenshots you’d like to send us, you can send them to tips@9to5mac.com.

The new software includes features like iOS-to-Mac continuity, quick-reply for first- and third-party apps, a new predictive text keyboard, changes to the Mail app, HealthKit framework and Health app, Family Sharing features, new Photos cloud storage, an updated iCloud pricing scheme, new commands for Siri, App Store changes including beta distribution, a Touch ID API, third-party keyboards, new iCloud management and development features, a home automation framework, and even support for a brand new programming language.

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Auki may be the best quick reply tweak for iOS 7 (Jailbreak)

Dom Esposito Apr 13 2014 - 8:16 pm PT

19 Comments

Auki is a new jailbreak tweak from Surenix and Benno available for iOS 7. This tweak brings a native style quick reply feature to the Messages app. Along with that, Auki provides several other features including a “Silent Mode” that can be applied to individual contacts, similar to Tweetbot’s mute feature.

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Firefox 28 released w/ Mac OS X Notification Center support for web notifications

Jordan Kahn Mar 18 2014 - 12:34 pm PT

5 Comments

Firefox today released the latest version of its desktop browser for Mac, Linux, and Windows and in the process added one much welcomed feature for Mac OS X users: support for Notification Center. This means that web apps and sites taking advantage of Firefox’s web notifications feature will now also appear for Mac users in the Notification Center.

Version 28 of Firefox also introduces a few new behind the scenes improvements including VP9 video decoding, volume control for HTML5 audio/video, and a number of other fixes.

Firefox 28 for Mac is available to download from the Mozilla website now.

Opinion: When will iOS evolve beyond the static grid homescreen?

Ben Lovejoy Mar 14 2014 - 8:35 am PT

125 Comments

Now that we’ve had our first look at at least an early take on iOS 8, what stands out most to me is how little the basic appearance of the iOS homescreen has changed over the years. On the left is iOS 1, on the right the recently-leaked iOS 8 homescreen.

Seven years apart, yet still essentially identical in form: a grid of static icons. Looked at in one way, that’s incredibly impressive: that a user-interface that worked in 2007 still works today. But it does make me wonder at what point the iOS homescreen will move beyond this format?
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iOS 8: Apple considers Notification Center + Messages tweaks, removing Game Center app

Mark Gurman Mar 14 2014 - 6:00 am PT

69 Comments

Besides adding new Maps, Healthbook, and iTunes Radio applications, Apple plans to enhance and refine the functionality of some of its current pre-bundled applications and features for iOS 8. Here is a list, provided by sources, of some of the refinements Apple is considering for select applications and system functions in iOS 8:

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The making of Writing Aid — behind the scenes of app development

Benjamin Mayo Mar 3 2014 - 11:34 am PT

7 Comments

I released Writing Aid to the App Store today. Due to the glaring conflicts of interest in reviewing my own app for 9to5Mac or even having my colleagues review it, I thought instead I’d give some insight into the creative and development process behind the app. If you are looking for a more traditional review, please check out these writeups over at MacStories, Beautiful Pixels and iMore.

As a finished product, Writing Aid is best described as a dictionary app that also works in reverse. However, it didn’t start that way. For a while, I have been annoyed by the offerings on the store. Most apps are bogged down with gimmicky extras like ‘Word of the Day’ and such and many have been abandoned by their owners (which means they aren’t updated for iOS 7 either). When I’m writing, I don’t want distractions. I want to be able to type a word in a box and get a definition.

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How to change OS X banner notification duration using Terminal

Zac Hall Jan 30 2014 - 11:59 am PT

4 Comments

I’ve recently found myself wishing there was a space between banners and alerts with OS X’s notification system. Alert style notifications that require manually dismissing can be rather annoying, but quick banner notifications often fly by before I’ve had time to glance at the information. It turns out despite not having a toggle in the system preferences, a little Terminal code shared by OS X Daily allows you to toggle the duration down to the second…

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Google Now comes to the Mac in the latest Chrome Canary release

Benjamin Mayo Jan 16 2014 - 5:50 am PT

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There have been indications for a long time that Google Now was eventually coming to the Chrome browser. Via the Google Operating System Blog, the service has finally surfaced in the most recent release of Chrome Canary (Google’s name for the app’s ‘alpha’ channel builds).

As expected, Google Now in Chrome closely mirrors Google Now on Android. The contextually-relevant cards (which show information such as weather, news or upcoming flights) appear in Chrome’s Notification Center on the desktop. The notification area can be accessed in the menubar, represented by a bell icon.

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CloudApp, Droplr both updated with new design, features on Mac

Zac Hall Jan 9 2014 - 9:51 am PT

1 Comment

Popular (and competing) cloud sharing services CloudApp and Droplr both announced big updates to their Mac apps this week with new features and designs.

CloudApp 2.0 (seen above) now features thumbnail previews, the ability to share links before an upload is complete, Notification Center support, hot key support to open the menu bar popover, and a lot more.
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Pebble smart watch gets smarter with do-not-disturb mode plus improved notifications & alarms

Ben Lovejoy Dec 13 2013 - 3:53 am PT

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Photo: @granddiamondwit

Pebble has announced that v1.14 of the smart watch firmware introduces a do-not-disturb feature, to block all notifications for a set period of time, together with improvements to both notifications and alarms.

Do Not Disturb. Block notifications for a set period of time (from Pebble: Settings » Notifications » Do Not Disturb).

Alarms app update. Create multiple Alarms, toggle Alarms on/off, and edit existing Alarms.

New “Snooze Alarm.” Customizable via the Pebble Alarms app.

Improved Notification Control. Specify what notifications are displayed (Notifications On, Phone Calls Only, or Notifications Off). Notification settings are now accessible more quickly through a dedicated menu (Settings » Notifications).

Improved iOS performance. Notifications are now sent more quickly from your iOS device to Pebble. After exiting Airplane Mode, Pebble will now search for connectable iOS devices immediately, instead of waiting one minute.

The new firmware also includes a number of bug-fixes. Pebble was last updated last month to allow it to reliably receive all notifications from iOS 7 devices. Apple updated its Bluetooth APIs back in June to provide full Notification Center access via Bluetooth.

To install it, simply open the iPhone app and you should be prompted to upgrade.

Apple releases iOS 7.1 beta to developers w/ UI tweaks and new Yahoo! logo, speed improvements, more

Zac Hall Nov 18 2013 - 10:17 am PT

76 Comments

Apple has released the first seed of iOS 7.1 beta (build number 11D5099e) to registered developers today. Check below for a comprehensive overview of changes and iOS 7.1 Release Notes below:

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Pebble smartwatch will finally receive all iOS 7 app notifications

Jordan Kahn Nov 6 2013 - 10:18 am PT

1 Comment

Today, smartwatch maker Pebble finally announced a long awaited feature that will allow users to receive all notifications from their iOS 7 device reliably. It also announced version 2.0 of its SDK with new features for developers.

First, we’re introducing a more delightful user experience for Pebble customers using iOS. Pebble is now fully integrated with iOS 7 and works seamlessly with Notification Center. This means that any notifications you’ve enabled in Notification Center on your iOS 7 device will appear on your Pebble — just like that. It’s easier than ever to pick and choose which updates you want to see on your watch.

Back in June, we noted that Apple was introducing Apple Notification Center Service to allow Bluetooth devices to reliably receive all notifications that hit Notification Center on a connected iOS device. Before integrating ANCS, Pebble could only receive SMS, Email and Call notifications reliably from iOS 6+ devices.

Pebble’s SDK 2.0 announced today for developers includes a number of new APIs for Javascript, Accelerometer, Data Logging and Persistent Storage:

These API allow developers to make Pebble apps that interface directly with the web (real-time weather, transit info, location check-in), access the accelerometer (health/fitness monitoring and gesture-based remote control), log data when disconnected from the phone (health/fitness tracking), and store info on the watch (high scores for games, settings). You can find out more about SDK 2.0 on the Pebble developer blog.

The notifications support will arrive via an update to the Pebble iOS app later today for iOS 7 devices. Pebble also announced that it’s offering free worldwide shipping through its website starting today and shared some numbers:

Number of Pebbles on wrists worldwide: 190,000
Number of apps and faces downloaded: 2 million
Number of apps and faces on mypebblefaces.com: 2,200
Number of watchfaces created on watchface-generator.de: 80,000
Number of companion apps available on the iTunes and Google Play stores: 50+
Number of developers: 10,000+

OS X Mavericks is out, walkthrough: iBooks, Maps, and more

Mike Beasley Oct 22 2013 - 11:53 am PT

8 Comments

Today Apple released version 10.9 of Mac OS X, codenamed “Mavericks.” The new OS includes several new features and enhancements over the previous version, “Mountain Lion.” The update is available for free for all compatible Macs from the App Store

Below you’ll find a closer look at some of the new features in 10.9.

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How-to: Customize and use Notification Center in iOS 7

Sarah Guarino Oct 10 2013 - 11:10 am PT

14 Comments

Notification Center in iOS is a panel that keeps track of all of your incoming notifications so you can easily access them. It has been around since iOS 5, but it has been completely redesigned in iOS 7. In this article, you’ll discover how to increase enjoyment of your iOS device by customizing Notification Center. First, you’ll learn how to change the way certain apps show notifications. Then you will learn how to set Notification Center to show only the notifications you want in a customized view.

First, there are a few important settings you’ll want to pay attention to. On your iOS device go to Settings, Notification Center and scroll down to the bottom. Confirm that under Government Alerts, both AMBER and Emergency Alerts are ON. Both of these settings are optional, but they are potentially life saving…

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Apple seems to have acquired Cue personal assistant app, would fit well with Siri, Notification Center

Mark Gurman Oct 3 2013 - 12:53 pm PT

2 Comments

Apple seems to have acquired Cue, a former personal assistant application for the iPhone. TechCrunch says that the purchase price was in the realm of $40 million, and AppleInsider initially reported the rumor this morning. Cue’s service shut down yesterday, leading to the acquisition chatter. The company gave its “sincerest thanks” to users, but did not provide detail behind the closure…

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A fresh look at iOS 7 on the iPad [Gallery]

Seth Weintraub Jun 16 2013 - 5:21 am PT

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Control Center iPad iOS 7, Game Center and Notification Center below

It appears that some developers have been posting iOS 7 on iPad (emulator) usage shots on the web. Aside from Apple’s somewhat hidden official images, there aren’t any other official images of the iPad running iOS 7 that are public. We’d heard even before the keynote that Apple was behind in releasing iOS 7 for iPad and as such initial iOS 7 betas are only for iPhones and iPod touches.

You’ll note the flashlight option on the Control Center which is probably just a leftover since the iPad doesn’t yet have a Flash.

Reader Phillip describes how to get iOS 7 iPad emulator running in Xcode 5:
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Apple unlocks full Notification Center access & much more for Bluetooth LE devices in iOS 7

Jordan Kahn Jun 13 2013 - 8:58 am PT

1 Comment

Something new in iOS 7 that hasn’t been getting much coverage is the improvements Apple is making to Core Bluetooth for better integration with Bluetooth LE accessories. Apple is making a lot of changes to its Bluetooth APIs in iOS 7 that will not only allow your iOS devices to work with more Bluetooth LE devices, it will also introduce new features for everything from time to notifications, keyboards, and stereo sound.

Enhance your apps with support for new types of accessories. Location beacons are a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence. Location beacons will provide apps a whole new level of location awareness, such as trail markers in a park, exhibits in a museum or product displays in stores. Other new features include the ability to setup and configure Wi-Fi accessories, such as AirPlay speakers, directly from iOS.

On top of the new location beacons, we already know about a few new Bluetooth improvements in iOS 7 including the new framework for hardware game controllers, and the AirDrop file sharing feature. However, there are also some big improvements to APIs coming that will make your Bluetooth devices work seamlessly with iOS 7…
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iOS 7 incorporates Google Now-type functionality into the Notification Center

Ben Lovejoy Jun 13 2013 - 4:31 am PT

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Apple has added Google Now style functionality into the Notification Center in iOS7 with a feature called Today, using information from your calendar appointments and knowledge of your frequently-visited locations to proactively offer you information and advice that it thinks will be relevant.

The Google Now app first launched on Android was made available on iOS back in April as an update to Google’s existing search app. Apple has been gradually distancing itself from Google, most notably by replacing Google Maps with Apple Maps – hopefully with those lessons now firmly learned …
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Review: Moment is a huge improvement on Facebook sharing for OS X

Mike Beasley Jun 6 2013 - 8:00 am PT

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When Mountain Lion launched last year, Apple introduced some basic Facebook sharing options to OS X. You can post a status update from Notification Center or upload a photo from Finder, Preview, iPhoto, or other Mac applications. While those functions are useful, Apple has yet to really embrace all of Facebook’s features. For example, you can’t tag a friend in a status update or create a new photo album, and the notification integration, while nice, is a bit unreliable.

Today, Tapmates released Moment, a new app that bridges the gap between OS X’s Facebook integration and the features you’re already used to on the Facebook website. Keep reading for our full review.

Twitter for Mac updated with Notification Center integration, performance improvements, more

Zac Hall May 22 2013 - 11:39 am PT

0 Comments

Twitter for Mac is continuously receiving updates and today it received a highly requested feature: Notification Center integration. Users can configure the setting in the preference window within the app.

OS X already offered Twitter integration, but notifications deferred to the web rather than its native client. It was less than a month ago when the app received its first update in countless months, and today’s update demonstrates Twitter’s dedication to its continued development.

Twitter 2.2.1 is now available in the Mac App Store:

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Review + Giveaway: Abstergo jailbreak tweak finally fixes iOS notifications

Mike Beasley Apr 21 2013 - 10:00 am PT

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When Apple introduced Notification Center in iOS 5, they changed the way most people manage notification on their iOS devices. For the most part, they were right. Unfortunately, Notification Center introduced its own deficiencies and now people are looking for changes once again.

Today, change has finally come in the form of a jailbreak tweak called Abstergo, and we’ve got five free copies for our readers. Keep reading for a full breakdown of the tweak and more information about how you can win a copy.

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New quick app switching & other concepts show options on the table for iOS 7 [Videos]

Jordan Kahn Feb 18 2013 - 10:42 am PT

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With the recent departure of longtime iOS chief Scott Forstall, many expect some big changes in iOS 7. Not only is Jony Ive taking over design responsibilities related to iOS, but also Apple is increasingly coming under criticism for its aging core iOS apps and highly requested features already available on other platforms that it has yet to implement. We discussed some of the big software features iOS 7 might have in store, but today we present a roundup of the best iOS 7 concepts we could find starting with a new one from the creator of jailbreak tweak Auxo.

Sentry, the original designer behind the popular Auxo jailbreak tweak, yesterday posted the new Quick App Switching concept above (via iFun). While Auxo provided a screenshot of running apps integrated into the iOS multitasking tray, the concept above takes a different approach and aims to add speed to the app switching process.

This next concept comes from YouTube user imjeanmarc and shows a tray accessible from the lock screen, providing quick toggles for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.:

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