Apple Reminds iOS 8 Developers of Upcoming 64-Bit App Requirment :

Apple has posted a notice on their developer website reminding app developers that starting Feb. 1, all new iOS 8 software submitted to the App Store must include 64-bit support.

AppleInsider:

Today’s reminder is the second such notice sent out to developers ahead of Apple’s planned migration to a comprehensive 64-bit App Store. The company first announced 64-bit requirements for iOS 8 in October.

The 64-bit requirement is for new submissions only. Developers who want to update existing apps have until June 1, 2015 to build in 64-bit support. All newly submitted apps after Feb. 1 will need to be built using Apple’s iOS 8 software development kit.

The iOS 8 SDK is available via Apple’s Developer Portal, and is included as part of Xcode 6.1.1.

The iPhone 5s debuted in 2013 as the first mainstream 64-bit device, sporting the A7 SoC. Other device makers soon scurried to pledge 64-bit support for their future devices soon after the A7 was released.

Pebble 2.3 For Android Brings Interactive Notifications, Will Work With Android Wear-Ready Apps::

Pebble’s upcoming Android software release will introduce support for directly replying to messages and performing other actions right from the watch based on inbound notifications. The 2.3 software update effectively makes Pebble compatible with apps that have built-in support for Android Wear notifications, giving them a way to benefit from the explosion of app development interest in Google’s wearable platform while continuing to chart their own course.

The new software update and notification interactivity features will be available to Android users only, since Android Wear underpins the functionality, but it won’t require an invite for anyone wishing to participate, and instead needs only that the device paired with your Pebble is running Android 4.0 or higher. Which, keen observers will note, actually covers a wider range of devices than Android Wear’s own requirements, which puts the cut off at Android 4.3 and above.

Pebble has a growing challenge on its hands – the company was an early entrant in the smartwatch space, but with every OEM and their brother working on an Android Wear device and Apple readying its own platform for launch very soon, the idea of an independent third-party being able to compete in the space seems increasingly a rather quaint notion. Capitalizing on the opportunities made available by others entering the space is a good start, but Pebble will need to do more to maintain longterm viability.

Apple Says iOS 8 Is Now Installed on 60% of iOS Devices:

Apple updated its App Store Distribution Data for developers on Wednesday, to show that 60% of iOS devices are now running iOS 8. That number is up from 55% of devices when Apple last updated the figure earlier this month.

Apple collected the adoption numbers by way of App Store visits on November 24. Even though adoption of iOS 8 has lagged behind the previous version – iOS 7 – Apple’s adoption numbers for the latest version of its mobile operating system still look great when compared to competitor Android’s numbers.

Apple hit the 60% adoption rate milestone in a little over 60 days since its release, while Android’s KitKat release took 313 days to reach an installed base of 25%. (Android’s fragmented device market, with numerous manufacturers, models, and versions, all lead to Android’s lagging adoption rate for new versions.)

Facebook Closes $21.8B Deal to Acquire Popular Messaging Service WhatsApp

Facebook has announced it has closed the deal on its acquisition of messaging giant WhatsApp. The deal’s price tag, originally announced for $19 billion, has jumped to $2

The Verge:

As WhatsApp officially joins the Facebook fold, WhatsApp founder Jan Koum has joined Facebook’s board. He will also be paid just $1 per year like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to filings, but has been given a very hefty purse of Facebook shares to hold on to.

Koum has an “inducement grant” of stock currently worth $1.9 billion if he stays with the company for the next four years.

Facebook is likely to operate WhatsApp as an independent entity, much like they have previous acquisitions Instagram and Occulus. “There would have been no partnership between our two companies if we had to compromise on the core principles that will always define our company, our vision and our product,” Koum said when the deal news broke months ago.

 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus ::

Apple has officially introduced two bigger, and thinner, iPhones. But the larger touch screens aren’t the only thing that’s different in the new iPhones. Tim Cook touted the new iPhones as “the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone.”

Let’s get down to the details. Here’s a rundown of the specs for the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Release DateThe phones will ship Sept. 19, and pre-orders begin this Friday.

They’ll be available in 115 countries by end of 2014, and 8 countries at launch.

PricesPrice tiers are the same for iPhone 6, but the storage capacity in the two higher price points have doubled.

Two-year carrier contracts: The iPhone 6 starts at $199 with 16 GB of storage, $299 for 64 GB, and $399 for 128 GB.

The iPhone 6 Plus is, of course, more expensive. The 16GB model starts at $299, the 64GB model sells for $399 and the 128GB will fetch $499.

DisplaysBoth the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus feature curved glass “retina HD” displays, which will make it easier to swipe from the edges of the display.

iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch display with a 1334×750 resolution, density of 326 pixels-per-inch. More than 1 million pixels are spaced across the display, which is 38% more pixels than the iPhone 5s display.

The iPhone 6 Plus has a larger 5.5-inch display with a 1920×1080 resolution and density of 401 pixels-per inch. That’s more than 2 million pixels in total and 185% more pixels than iPhone 5s.

Thinness
The iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm thin, and the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm. The iPhone 5S is 7.6 mm.

ColorsGold, silver and space grey — just as before with the iPhone 5s.

ConnectivityBoth the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have 802.11 ac Wi-Fi connections, which Apple says is three times faster than 802.11 n. Both also support up to 20 LTE bands and will be available on more than 200 carriers.

Battery Life

Apple says the iPhone 6 will have 10 days of standby battery life and up to 10 hours of LTE web browsing battery life.

The larger 6 Plus promises 16 days of standby time, and 12 hours of continuous LTE web browsing.

Chipset
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both have the new Apple A8 system-on-a-chip inside. This 64-bit chipset is has 2 billion transistors inside, up from 1 billion in the A7, and the A8 is 13% smaller than the A7 chip. Apple says this all adds up to 25% faster CPU performance and up to 50% faster graphics performance when compared with the 5s. The A8 is also promised to be 50% more energy efficient than the A7.

Rear camera
Both models will ship with a new 8-megapixel iSight camera sporting a f/2.2 aperture. The new photo sensor has what’s called “phase detection focus” which Apple says will make it’s autofocus faster, improve skin tones, recognize faces faster and take better macro photos.

The iPhone 6 has digital image stabilization, but the iPhone 6 Plus takes a step up with true optical image stabilization that mechanically moves the lens up, down, side to side, to automatically adjust and stabilize your image as you move the phone.

The new phones will shoot 1080p video at 30 frames-per-second or 60 frames-per-second, and capture slo-mo video at 120 frames-per-second or 240 frames-per-second. There’s also a time lapse feature and new continuous autofoucs for video.

The from camera also has improved face detection and a new burst mode for selfies, along with single-shot HDR photos and HDR video.

Apple Confirms Special Event On September 9, Likely For iPhones

 

Apple has sent out invites to a special event it’s holding on September 9, where we will almost certainly get our first official look at the next iPhone. The invites follow a previous report from Re/code pegging Tuesday, September 9 as the date, and the event’s timing is consistent with the launch of the iPhone dating back to to the iPhone 4S, when Apple began releasing new versions of its smartphone in the fall instead of in the early summer.

The event will almost definitely see the introduction of one, if not two new iPhone models. Scuttlebutt is that we’ll see at least a 4.7-inch iOS-powered smartphone and maybe one larger 5.5 inch model introduced by Apple at the event. Though only one might launch a few weeks after, with the larger version shipping later. Apple has been reportedly gearing up to provide sapphire-based displays in at least some of these devices, which could offer benefits in terms of durability and resistance to scratches and shattering.

This event is a bit atypical for Apple in that it’s being held neither on Apple’s Cupertino campus nor the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Instead, it’s being held at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino. Our guess is that this has something to do with capacity — Apple’s auditorium is very small and if Apple sees this as a high profile release — there are rumors of a wearable, too — then it could want more bodies in the seats.

Apple will also likely announce the general availability of iOS 8 at this event. If it follows the pattern of previous releases, it’ll arrive for existing device owners a few days before the iPhone 6 (or whatever Apple chooses to call it) ships.

Apple Says App Store Has Created 500,000 Jobs in Europe

Apple Inc. is embarking on something of a charm offensive with the European Union, and it seems the feeling is mutual.

The bloc’s antitrust unit waved through its purchase of Dr. Dre’s headphone company Beats, it trademarked the concept of its shops, while at the same time, the EU is looking into its tax situation.

On Wednesday, Apple reminded Europe that the App Store—which offers everything from Angry Birds to Menstruation Tracking Apps—isn’t just a place to download games, but a force for economic growth.

“Roughly 500,000 jobs have been created in Europe that are directly attributable to the App Store. Of the more than $20 billion developers have earned from App Store sales worldwide, $6.5 billion has been paid to European developers,” Apple said on its Web site. “In 2014 the overall app economy is expected to deliver $16.5 billion in revenues to EU GDP, and this contribution is growing at a rate of 12% per year.”

There are different sites for each country, highlighting app-based jobs there—the UK version features Ndemic Creations and Top10.com while France has Les Trois Elles Interactive and Stupeflix.

Apple is also keen to highlight its role in Ireland, where it’s been active since 1980.

Apple also has 4,500 suppliers in Europe, and directly employees 16,000 people on the Continent.

The feeling is reciprocal. Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner responsible for digital agenda, said the speed of job creation and revenue growth in the app economy is “incredible.”

“What other sector grows 25% a year? The ripple effects go far beyond the app makers themselves. Apple and others have started an economic revolution, and I want Europe to be front and centre in that action. Being an entrepreneur is hard and valuable work – leaders need to do everything they can to smooth the path for these start-ups who are helping to build the new economy,” she said.

Source : allthingsd