TheNewsGuru

Tag: App Store

  • How to use Face ID, Touch ID on WhatsApp

    How to use Face ID, Touch ID on WhatsApp

    WhatsApp for iPhone recently received an important update that allows users to lock the app by deploying the native Face ID or Touch ID.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the latest update brings the much anticipated biometric authentication through build version 2.19.20.

    The update essentially applies biometric authentication to open WhatsApp.

    However, the feature does not add the additional security to individual WhatsApp conversations.

    With the new update, WhatsApp users can lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID by going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Screen Lock.

    Once on the Screen Lock screen, the app shows the available authentication method – either Face ID or Touch ID – that you can enable to lock WhatsApp.

    Users can also choose whether to use the biometric authentication requirement immediately or after an interval of a minute, 15 minutes, or an hour.

    However, WhatsApp still allows users to reply to messages from notifications and answer calls, without requiring biometric authentication.

    Also, once unlocked after successfully detecting the correct biometrics – either through Face ID or Touch ID feature – the instant messaging app opens access to all your messages.

    This means the latest development doesn’t lock your WhatsApp chats on an individual basis.

    To experience the new change, you need to download the latest WhatsApp version from the App Store.

    The app is 137.7MB in size and is compatible with iPhone models running iOS 8.0 and above.

    WhatsApp for Android is also in the rumours to bring a similar form of authentication layer in the coming future.

    The use of biometrics to unlock could help WhatsApp officially launch its payments feature.

     

  • Family delight: Facebook announces Messenger Kids

    Facebook has announced the introduction of Messenger Kids, a new app that makes it easier for kids to safely video chat and message with family and friends when they can’t be together in person.

    “Millions of parents are part of Messenger community and they asked us for controllable solutions that let them message with their children.

    “We heard that they were looking for better apps for their children to use and from there, we worked directly with parents and kids along with experts in child development, online safety and children’s media to help build our first app for kids,” Facebook said in a statement.

    TheNewsGuru reports Messenger Kids is a standalone app that lives on kids’ tablets or smartphones but can be controlled from a parent’s Facebook account.

    Whether it’s using video chat to talk to grandparents, staying in touch with cousins who live far away, or sending mom a decorated photo while she’s working late to say hi, Messenger Kids opens up a new world of online communication to families.

    Messenger Kids is full of engaging and interactive features for kids to connect with the people they love.

    Once their account is set up by a parent, kids can start a one-on-one or group video chat with parent-approved contacts.

    The home screen shows them at a glance who they are approved to talk to, and when those contacts are online.

    “In addition to video chat, kids can send photos, videos or text messages to their parent-approved friends and adult relatives, who will receive the messages via their regular Messenger app.

    “And, a library of kid-appropriate and specially chosen GIFs, frames, stickers, masks and drawing tools lets them decorate their content and express their personalities,” the statement read.

    Parents are in full control of who their child interacts with on Messenger Kids; so, parents have nothing to worry about.

    Parents can use their main Facebook app to control kids’ accounts and contacts through the Messenger Kids Controls panel.

    At this time, Messenger Kids is available in the App Store for iPad, iPod touch and iPhone devices for users in the United States, and will be coming to Amazon App Store and Google Play Store in the coming months.

    Every child account on Messenger Kids must be set up by a parent.

     

  • Big changes coming to your Apple device

    Big changes coming to your Apple device

    Apple recently announced some big changes to be rolled out to its devices later this year.

    The consumer tech giant has released a new range of tablet devices, is set to unveil the iPhone 8 sometime around September and pretty soon will release a new operating system to accompany them.

    The company is calling it the biggest software release ever for the iPad and it’s packed full of pretty cool upgrades.

    Apple’s iOS 11 brings powerful multi-tasking features, new ways to manage files and deeper integration with Apple Pencil on its tablet device.

    Here are just a handful of changes you will see on your iPad and iPhone when iOS 11 rolls out.

    A NEW APP STORE

    Apple has completely changed the look of the Apple store to reimagine it as a place where users can find stories and content about the latest apps and developer news.

    The idea is to attract users on a more frequent basis and turn the app store into a more engaging and content friendly environment.

    The new app store also allocates games such as Candy Crush their own category in the top ranked apps. As a majority of the most popular apps are games, the change will give more exposure to developers creating unique and different applications and should make stumbling across great new apps a little easier.

    A new Today tab will appear to highlight special apps and new arrivals on offer.

    ImageFile: Apple makes big changes1

    DRAG AND DROP

    Those using iOS 11 on their iPad are in for a real treat. With competition heating up in the tablet and two-in-one laptop market, Apple has boosted the power of its latest range of tablets and brought in some great new functions.

    Apple has always excelled at providing an intuitive interface and that experience will be improved for iPad customers as iOS 11 brings support for multi-touch drag and drop between applications.

    For instance, users can highlight a bunch of different photos, pull up the applications bar at the bottom of the screen, open up messenger or email and then drag and drop the photos into a message to send to a friend.

    You will also be able to drag and drop files between apps that are running simultaneously in split screen mode.

    This week, multiple reports pointed out that inter-app drag and drop actually exists in iOS 11 beta for iPhone but is disabled and hidden. The news has caused many in the industry to speculate that the improved drag and drop functionality could soon come to the iPhone as well.

    ImageFile: Apple makes big changes2

    SIRI GETS A NEW VOICE

    Both male and female versions of Siri will be getting a new and reportedly more natural-sounding voice.

    With tech companies wanting us to talk to our devices more than ever and Apple’s introduction into the smart home speaker market, giving a facelift to our favourite virtual assistant makes a lot of sense.

    Another exciting Siri addition is a translation feature which will let you translate English into other languages. The update will let you ask Siri to speak translations, a feature that Google Assistant already offers on Android.

    NEW CONTROL CENTRE

    The quick access menu on your iPhone will also look rather different on iOS 11.

    The handy shortcut menu can be pulled up by swiping up from the bottom of your device and features controls for things such as brightness and volume adjustment, as well as buttons for data links, flashlight and the calculator.

    The new look menu can be seen below and now includes the option to turn on/off mobile data from the Control Centre.

    DO NOT DISTURB WHILE DRIVING

    Apple wants you to be safe behind the wheel — so it’s helping you help yourself.

    A new do not disturb while driving feature will automatically detect when someone is in a car and will block notifications and texts and stop drivers from opening apps on their phone.

    The system can send an automatic text response saying the person is driving and it will still allow drivers to take hand-free calls.

    The new iPhone software will prompt people to turn on the do not disturb mode but the driver can ignore the advice and risk the distraction of looking at a smartphone.

     

     

  • Developers earn over $70 billion in App Store – Apple

    Developers earn over $70 billion in App Store – Apple

    Apple on Thursday, few days ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kickoff, announced that its global developer community has earned over $70 billion through the App Store since its launch in 2008.

    The Cupertino-based giant further added that last 12 months have seen massive growth, and the App Store has seen over 70 percent growth in downloads.

    Talking about its App Store, Apple said that iOS developers around the world have been catering to 155 countries, and few segments have lately seen massive growth.

    Apple says that the Photo and Video category is among the “fastest-growing” as it registered nearly 90 percent growth. Other segments like Lifestyle apps, Health and Fitness have seen over 70 percent growth in the past year. Gaming and Entertainment are top-grossing categories, adds Apple in a statement.

    Apple also adds that the subscription model introduction has bumped the paid subscriptions as it saw 58 percent more paid subscriptions compared to over a year ago. The company notes that subscription model has been doing well in a wide variety of services including Netflix and Hulu. While newcomers like Tastemade, the mobile-first cooking network, and photo editing apps like Over and Enlight, have also done well.

    Announcing the news, Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing said, “People everywhere love apps and our customers are downloading them in record numbers. Seventy billion dollars earned by developers is simply mind-blowing. We are amazed at all of the great new apps our developers create and can’t wait to see them again next week at our Worldwide Developers Conference.”

    Apple’s annual developer conference WWDC is no doubt one of the biggest events for the technology lovers and it will take place from June 5 to June 9. The 28th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will be returning to McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, which will host the event after 15 years. For those unaware, San Jose was the original venue of WWDC, and it hosted Apple’s annual event from 1988 to 2002.

  • Apple makes biggest sales ever on App Store New Year’s Day

    Apple on Thursday announced that the New Year’s Day 2017 was the biggest day ever for the App Store, with nearly $240 million in purchases worldwide on that day alone. That hints at robust sales of Apple devices during the crucial October to December quarter, ahead of Apple’s earnings call later this month.

    The Cupertino giant also announced that developers earned over $20 billion in 2016, up over 40 percent from the year before. Holiday spend was also at record levels, Apple said, with purchases from the App Store topping $3 billion in December.

    “2016 was a record-shattering year for the App Store, generating $20 billion for developers, and 2017 is off to a great start with Jan. 1 as the single biggest day ever on the App Store,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

    “We want to thank our entire developer community for the many innovative apps they have created – which together with our products – help to truly enrich people’s lives,” he added.

    Apple also announced that since the App Store launched in 2008, developers have earned over $60 billion across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac platforms. Since Apple keeps 30 percent of most App Store revenue, passing on the rest to the developers, that means lifetime sales on the App Store have now topped $85 billion.

    China App Store revenue in 2016 saw ‘record’ 90 percent year-over-year growth.

    The App Store offers 2.2 million apps in total, up over 20 percent from last year, and is available in 155 countries. iPhone and iPad customers grew the App Store’s subscription billings significantly in 2016, to $2.7 billion, up 74 percent from 2015.

    Apple also announced that since iOS 10 launched in September, developers have shipped over 21,000 iMessage apps to send stickers and collaborate with friends.

    Analytics firm Flurry estimated that Apple accounted for 44 percent of device activations during the holiday period, a healthy figure, but down slightly over the previous two years.