The Police Can Force You To Unlock An iPhone With Touch ID

According to the Fifth Amendment and Judge Steven C. Fucci, the police cannot force you to unlock an iPhone with a passcode, but they can with a fingerprint. Keep in mind that iPhone requires a passcode after 48 hours of inactivity, restarting an iPhone, or three failed Touch ID attempts. Essentially, if one wanted to be protected by the law, all they would have to do is restart the iPhone or  fake a Touch ID by trying to obscure their fingerprint to the Touch ID sensor. Hopefully, soon there will be a law that does the same with a passcode, not just Touch ID.

Notification Calculators Are Allowed in the App Store

After a very brief dispute, Apple is allowing the app PCalc on the Apple App Store. Basically, PCalc allows you to use a calculator from Notification Center. Apple didn't anticipate people to make something like this and they were going to pull it from the App Store. Apple takes back all that it has said and will allow the app to remain on the App Store. PCalc can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for $9.99 [Direct Link]. In addition, there is a free version that has the same Notification Center widget available for free [Direct Link].

Image Credit: MacRumors

Microsoft Announces The Microsoft Band

Today, Microsoft revealed a new wearable just after the release of Apple Health, Google Fit, and the Fitbit Charge. It's called the Microsoft Band. It can track heart rate, exercise, sleep, and UV exposure to monitor stress. It works on iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone. It works with Microsoft Health, which is basically Apple Health and Google Fit. It collects data from apps and devices and displays them in one place. It goes on sale tomorrow for $199.

iOS 8 is Now Installed on Over Half of All iOS Devices

According to the Apple App Store Support Page for Devlopers, over half of all iOS devices are running iOS 8. This took just over a month. A very fast rollout. Hopefully by the end of the year, more the 75% will run iOS 8. A screenshot of the statistic is below.

Image Credit: MacRumors

Apple Watch Will Be Charged Nightly

At the WSJ.D conference, Tim Cook commented on the battery of the Apple Watch. He said that people will use it so much that it will need to be charged on a daily basis. He said, "You're going to wind up charging it daily." I guess that's fine. Many other wearables require nightly charging. I do that with my phone, tablet, Glass, and laptop (even if they're at 90%), so why not my watch? Unless the Apple Watch gets an awesome sleep analysis app that syncs with Apple's Health app (*cough* This is all your fault Fitbit! *cough*). Apparently, the small battery life is the reason why charging the device is so easy. The charging takes after the MacBook's MagSafe technology.

Eddy Cue Posts Use of Apple at World Series on Twitter

Eddy Cue (@cue) posted a picture of him using Apple Pay at the World Series. The picture shows an NFC card reader. This comes just after CVS and Rite Aid discontinue their support for Apple Pay. The service seems to be good and has had a fairly good launch, the biggest problem being that cashiers don't know how to activate the NFC in the credit card terminal. I guess Google Wallet never really took off in its first two years of operation and cashiers were never trained on the matter. Anyways, here's Eddy's tweet.

Just used Apple Pay at the World Series. Go Giants! #ApplePay pic.twitter.com/clfQAeOGH3
— Eddy Cue (@cue) October 26, 2014

CVS Pharmacy Follows Rite Aid's Footsteps

Walgreens must be laughing at CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid, because CVS and Rite Aid have both removed functionality for Apple Pay and Google Wallet. CVS Pharmacy removed the ability with the reasons that they will have the own "mobile wallet" in 2015. Wow. Like I'm gonna get another app just to pay money to CVS. Anyways, below is a picture of the memo sent to CVS employee informing managers to tell the cashiers how to properly apologize to a customer and that they'll have to wait months for a worse solution.

AT&T Doesn't Allow Apple SIM Users To Switch Carriers

One of the nice things about the new iPads is the new Apple SIM. This allows you to pick a carrier after you buy an iPad and switch without buying a new iPad. Usually you'd have to buy an iPad with a specific carrier with no way to switch carriers. AT&T has disabled the ability to switch carriers after choosing AT&T. An AT&T spokesperson said "it's just simply the way we've chosen to do it." It's clear they did it so you can't change carriers and support the competition.

Image Credit: John Legere

Rite Aid Not Accepting Mobile NFC Payments Anymore

Causing the biggest geek riot against a company since Fitbit announced that they won't support HealthKit, Rite Aid has stopped accepting mobile payments from Apple Pay and Google Wallet after accepting them initially. Josh Hundall notes that the terminal specifically said that Apple Pay wasn't supported. This means that it is intentional that Rite Aid isn't accepting Apple Pay anymore.

Today, Allison asked me to pick up a few things on my way home from the office, and I’m a major nerd, so naturally I was all too happy to oblige. I was equally disappointed, then, when my transaction was declined with a message on the terminal informing me that Apple Pay was not supported. The terminal mentioned Apple Pay by name. So the system is smart enough to know about Apple Pay and to decide not to take it.

- Josh Hundall 

Rite Aid hasn't commented on the matter, making it seem like an intentional removal instead of an accident. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite tweets on the matter.

@riteaid disabling a way for your customers to give you $$$? Your loss @Walgreens gain! Your shareholders weep at your inept mgmt #ApplePay
— Jay Amato (@redhookgreen) October 24, 2014

thank you @riteaid for making sure I never shop at your stores #ApplePay
— gino (@_shiny_side_up_) October 23, 2014

Dear @riteaid, Thank you for deciding not to accept #ApplePay in your stores. Love, CVS & Walgreens
— Trevor (@ShoreTKD) October 23, 2014

.@riteaid Intentionally disabling a way for techie early adopters to give you money? Your shareholders weep at your inept org. #ApplePay
— Michael (@dukejl) October 24, 2014

I've got a @RiteAid and a @Walgreens right across the street from my work. Guess which one gets my business, #ApplePay
— drewsparks (@drewsparks) October 23, 2014

How To Expand Windows in OS X Yosemite

In OS X Yosemite, the green "expand" button is replaced by a green button that makes the window go full screen. But what if you don't want full screen (Like I have to ask...)? Simple! Just hover over the green button in the top right corner of any window and hold the alt (option) key down when you click on the button. This allows you to expand the window instead of going full screen. I hope this helps!

Green Button Without Alt (Option) Key (Left) / Green Button With Alt (Option) Key (Right)

Apple Pay at a McDonalds

Here's a cool video of a man using Apple Pay at McDonalds. This is one of the first examples of how Apple Pay works. After ordering, the man taps his iPhone 6 to the credit card reader (but the cashier forgets to press a button) and the transaction is securely processed. Check it out in the embed below!



To use Apple Pay at a physical store, you must have an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8.1 installed.

How To Setup SMS Relay on iOS 8

With iOS 8.1 available today, one of the main features (especially if you don't have an iPhone 6) is SMS Relay. This allows your other iOS devices and Macs to send and receive SMS (which is different from iMessage). Here's how to set it up.

You'll Need:

• An iPhone (Running iOS 8.1)
• Someone to text who doesn't have an iPhone
• An iOS device (NOT an iPhone; Running iOS 8.1) and/or a Mac (Running OS X Yosemite)

The Procedure:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding
2. Change one of the switches next to your device from grey to green.
3. Pick up the device you picked and look for a code.
1. If this doesn't happen instantly, go back to Settings > Messages on your iPhone and toggle iMessage off and turn it on again.
2. If this still doesn't work, be sure that the two devices are on the same WiFi network.
4. Enter the code on your iPhone.
5. Celebrate with cake!
6. Realize that the cake was a lie.

Get Favorites Bar Back in Safari in OS X Yosemite

In Yosemite, Safari automatically disables the Favorites Bar by default. Want it back? Just open Safari, right click (or press control and click) on the toolbar and select "Customize Toolbar...". Add "Favorites Bar" in your toolbar somewhere and click "Done". Press "Favorites Bar" and then right click (or press control and click) on the toolbar again. Drag the "Favorites Bar" icon out of your toolbar and click "Done". There you go! If you've followed this procedure correctly, you should have your Favorites Bar back in your browser. I hope this helps!

Photo Booth is Back in OS X Yosemite!

After being removed in public betas and developer previews, Photo Booth is back. Users of the beta and preview were worried the picture taking application would be removed by Apple. This caused many to be disappointed as kids and new OS X users loved the cool effects you could add. Anyways, it's back. It's not know why the app was gone in the previews and betas. It may have been because Apple didn't have an icon and design ready at the time or because Apple may have been considering removing it but changed its mind after the response from users.

Pre-Order Your iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 Today!

Today, the new iPads are available. Be sure to pick up yours as soon as possible if you want one. Also, there are new prices for these iPads. You can pickup a shiny, new iPad for the low, low price of $249 (for a 16 GB iPad mini). Take it a step up for an additional $50 for an iPad mini 2 (16 GB). Another $100 ($399) will get you an iPad mini 3 (16 GB) or an iPad Air (16 GB). Finally, another $100 will get you a 16 GB iPad Air 2. Head on over to the Apple Online Store to get your iPad by the end of next week.

iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, Apple Pay, and New Macs: The Scoop

Today, Apple announced a bunch of new stuff. Let's do a quick review, shall we?

iPad Air 2

iPad Air 2

The new iPad Air 2 is 18% thinner and features Touch ID. The display has the least reflective display of any tablet in the world and has a resolution of 2048 by 1536. This iPad also has a 64-bit architecture and an A8X chip. The camera also has a long overdue update with an 8 megapixel camera and burst mode.

iPad mini 3

The iPad mini 3's spotlight is on Touch ID. While it has a 64-bit architecture, it only features an A7 chip. In addition, it still has a 5 megapixel camera. A small update for the iPad mini 3, but it's not like the camera is an essential feature on the iPad anyways. Try it if you just want to browse and shop on the web.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay will come out on Monday (along with iOS 8.1). More vendors have been added along with more banks and compatible apps.

iMac with Retina 5K Display

iMac with Retina 5K Display

Wow. Where to begin? This makes the Mac Pro look "so five minutes ago." 5K! That's a lot of pixels. About 14 million pixels. But this Mac isn't just focused on looks. It can have up to 4 gigahertz with your i7 processor, 3.5 teraflops of computing power, and 20 gigabits of speed with Thunderbolt 2.

Mac mini

This Mac mini costs $100 less than its predecessor. It's now $499. It has some minor tweaks including new Intel Core processors, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt 2 ports, and all that good stuff.

What I Could Dig Up: iPad, Apple Pay, and New Macs

Tomorrow, Apple will announce some iPads, the release date for Apple Pay, and some updated Macs. Here's a quick roundup of what we should expect to see tomorrow.

iPad

• Touch ID
• Apple Pay for apps
• Not available in stores
• A8X Processor
• 2 GB RAM
• New Gold Color

Apple Pay

• Some form of release date
• Release will be very close to event date

Macs

• 27" iMac expected to come with Retina Display
• OS X Yosemite expected to be released soon
• Price: Free
• Available on Mac App Store
• iOS 7 for the Mac (Yay?)

The event starts tomorrow morning at 10 AM (PDT) and is available for streaming on Apple's website.

Quickly Mark iMessages As Read From Lock Screen

If you're like me, then you hate having to unlock your phone to end up locking it two seconds later just to have your recipient know that you read the message. In iOS 8, this is much quicker to do. Just swipe from right to left on the notification on the lock screen (when you get an iMessage) and click the little "x" to dismiss it. This marks the message as read and doesn't badge your messages app. I hope this helps!

Dropbox Users: Change Your Passwords

If you use Dropbox, you'd better change your password and enable two-step verification. According to a Reddit thread, an anonymous user asked for Bitcoin donations for leaked accounts.

"Here is another batch of Hacked Dropbox accounts from the massive hack of 7,000,000 accounts

To see plenty more, just search on [REDACTED] for the term Dropbox hack. 

More to come, keep showing your support"

The main point is that you should seriously change your password! To do this, log into Dropbox, go to settings, click on the "Security" tab, and click "Change password."

Hidden Quote In Document Quick View Preview Icon

Many of you know of the "Here's to the Crazy Ones" quote. Well, in certain types of document files the OS X can't view with Quick View (such as a JSON file), it displays a document icon instead of the actual file. This icon holds a cool Easter Egg. If you look closely, you'll find the quote in the form of a letter.

It reads:

"Dear Kate,

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. 

They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see the as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Take care,

John Appleseed"

Why Apple Pay Will Probably Be Available on October 18th (Along With iOS 8.1)...

According to a memo sent to Walgreens employees, the launch of Apple Pay will be on October 18th (Note that Walgreens is an Apple Pay partner). This is two days after the iPad event on October 16th. This is somewhat strange because October 18th is on a Saturday. Apple tends to release their services and products on weekdays. We will know the true date (should this date not be true) at Apple's event next week (October 18th).

Image Credit: Mac Rumors

Apple's Finally Done Helping The Competition

Apple retail stores better get ready, because Apple is going to remove all of the Bose audio products from their selves, as Apple's acquisition of Beats suggests that Beats (and Apple EarPods) should be the only audio products sold at the stores. This comes just after a new sponsorship deal concerning the NFL and Bose. This prevents any football players from wearing Beats on camera.

Bose Headphones (upper left) next to Beats Headphones (right) in an Apple Store
Image Credit: BetaBoston

Next Generation iPad May Have Retina HD Display

With the announcement of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, a new Retina HD Display was created. In the beta of iOS 8.1, there seems to be proof that at least one of the new iPads will have a Retina HD Display. This is because of the new dimensions of the icons below. Credit to Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) for this one.

Some Apple frameworks on iOS 8.1 contain @3x iPad assets. Bring on the Retina HD iPads! pic.twitter.com/QY3rX0SLVy
— Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) October 9, 2014

Apple Sends Out iPad 2014 Invite

Apple has announced that their next event (for the new iPads) will be on October 16th. The event has the tagline "It's been way too long." This is probably in reference to the iPhone event hosted just weeks ago. The proximity of the two events date-wise has always played into the tagline in someway. Anyways, save the date: October 16th. That's next Thursday.

Apple Pay Setup Process Shown in iOS 8.1 Beta

Today, Apple released iOS 8.1 to developers. Hamza Sood found a setup screen for Apple Pay in the Passbook app. It was previously in the Settings app. Because the first screenshot shows the credit card option on top, it seems that credit cards will be the main focus of Passbook. It is expected that Apple Pay and iOS 8.1 will be released with the new iPads on October 16.

Vidgets

Vidgets is truly iOS 8's new best friend. It brings the joy of quick widgets to Notification Center for the low price of free. You can add several widgets to Notification Center such as CPU, battery, clock, weather, speedometer, and more. Vidgets is available from the Apple App Store for free (contains an in-app purchase) [Direct Link].

Third Anniversary of Steve Jobs' Passing

Today marks the third anniversary of Steve Job's passing. In honor of this, Tim Cook has issued a memo to Apple employees, asking them to remember Steve Jobs and how he "made our world better."

"Team, 

Sunday will mark the third anniversary of Steve's passing. I'm sure that many of you will be thinking of him on that day, as I know I will.

I hope you'll take a moment to appreciate the many ways Steve made our world better. Children learn in new ways thanks to the products he dreamed up. The most creative people on earth use them to compose symphonies and pop songs, and write everything from novels to poetry to text messages. Steve's life's work produced the canvas on which artists now create masterpieces. 

Steve's vision extended far beyond the years he was alive, and the values on which he built Apple will always be with us. Many of the ideas and projects we're working on today got started after he died, but his influence on them -- and on all of us -- is unmistakeable.

Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for helping carry Steve's legacy into the future.

Tim" 

Remembering SJ, "You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever."
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2014

In Grand Canyon National Park backpacking and thinking of SJ and his many gifts to the world.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2014

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

- Steve Jobs

I remember watching Steve Jobs saying this at his famous speech at Stanford University. He truly lived by these words. May Steve Jobs rest in peace. 

Fitbit Finder

Have you ever lost your Fitbit and didn't know how to find it? You should get the Fitbit Finder app! While it's a bit pricey ($4.99), it gets the job done. It shows you a graph with a line. The closer you are to your Fitbit, the higher the line goes. Fitbit Finder is available from the Apple App Store for $4.99 [Direct Link].

Quickly Archive Emails in iOS 8

In iOS 8's new mail app, you can quickly hide those pesky emails that won't affect your life in anyway and clean up your inbox. This is called "archiving." Archiving is nice because it hides the email, but it doesn't delete it and is safely stored on your email provider's server. To archive an email, slide your finger from the far right of the screen all the way to the far left of the screen. This will archive your message. To get back an archived message, just select your email account (under accounts, not inboxes) in the mail app, select "All Mail," and it'll be in there along with all your other emails.

Apple Creates 'Activation Lock' Tool

In iOS 7, Apple made it so you would have to enter your Apple ID and password to erase a device, turn off Find my iPhone, and to start a wiped iPhone. However, if someone sells you a used iPhone, it might have Activation Lock turned on. Find the device IMEI or serial number and enter it on this website that Apple made. It'll tell you if it has Activation Lock turned on.

FitBit and HealthKit - Update

As a follow up to my previous post on the matter, I found an Apple Support forum about FitBit and Apple's HealthKit. Apparently, I didn't get a representative who was "in the loop" on FitBit's plan for HealthKit. Michaelfromcrystal beach also emailed FitBit and got a very different response.

"We are working very hard to get our next-generation Fitbit app to market. While we do not have a firm date to share, know that the update is in progress, undergoing testing, and will be released as soon as it is ready. We are thrilled there is so much excitement and appreciate your patience as we go through this process. At this time we don’t have an estimated availability date, but our website will be updated as soon on this matter."

- Ralph M.

Although HealthKit isn't mentioned explicitly, it can hopefully be safe to assume that FitBit will be integrated into HealthKit. I mean, they'd be crazy not to! Especially since they were mentioned at WWDC during the announcement of HealthKit.

The FitBit Flex