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Fantastical – a slick replacement to iPhone’s stock Calendar app [Review]

David Gilson — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:58 +0000

The built-in Calendar app on iOS does its job pretty well, but if you feel like having a change there are plenty of options out there. One of these is Fantastical. This app gives a simpler interface than the built-in app but doesn’t skimp on functionality. Read on to find out more. Upon first launching Fantastical, you are greeted by a tutorial that shows you how to get around the app with touch gestures. This is something I look out for in all apps because as more app rely on gestures rather than virtual buttons, the user interface becomes invisible – while this is convenient it can also make things inaccessible without a tutorial. If you’ve used Fantastical on the Mac, then you’ll glad to know that Fantastical’s powerful natural language parser has been ported to the iPhone. This means that you can say things like “Meet John tomorrow at 7 pm” and the app will automagically create a calendar event with the appropriate date and time, without having to go through the hassle of setting the date and time separately. The animations are also pretty cool, just like the Mac app, the words fly down from the entry field to the Calendar. Before we go any further in this review, there’s something we should get out of the way. Fantastical does not have a day-view, whereas the built-in Calendar does. Fantastical probably isn’t for you if you rely on that mode. However, keep reading if you are an agenda-view junkie! When you launch the app it displays a scrollable horizontal menu, which Fantastical calls the DayTicker instead of the standard monthly calendar. There are two primary panes in Fantastical. The lower and larger section gives a vertically scrolling list of your Calendar entries. The upper section scrolls horizontally – by default it shows a list of days which coloured bars to indicate the quantity of appointments. However, drag this section down slightly and you’ll reveal a search box, drag it down even further, and the section extends to show a month calendar. Swiping sideways moves from month to month. You’ll find as you scroll through the agenda list that your position in the upper view (either days or month) will adjust accordingly. The reverse is true too; you can use the upper section to move quickly through the agenda view. Fantastical has full access to all the calendars added to your device, which means iCloud, Google, Exchange Active Sync, etc. An area in which Fantastical’s search interface surpasses the built-in Calendar app. Searching in the latter, automatically searches all event fields. However, Fantastical lets you search by title, location, invitees, or all fields. Those tabs allow you to be more specific than the built-in app. Search results come through in (what feels like) real time. A nice touch with Fantastical is that you can set its icon badge to either display the current date or the number of remaining appointments for the day. This is a neat touch and shows the developers are doing their best to match the privileges that the built-in Calendar has. I.e. Changing the icon every day to reflect the date. One of the limitations of Fantastical and any other third-party calendar app, through no faults of their own, is that calendar alerts from iOS launch the stock Calendar app rather than Fantastical. There is also no landscape mode or week view. Fantastical costs $4.99 / £2.99 in the iTunes App store [Download]. It’s on the expensive side, but the natural language parser makes it worth every penny. Examine the screenshots, because what you see is what you get with this app, which I think is a good thing in this case. Continue reading →

iWatch Concept imagines Maps UI

Rounak Jain — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:20:50 +0000

A new concept render by designer Martin Hajek gives us a glimpse of how the Maps app might look like on Apple’s much-rumored smartwatch. Hajek sees the smartwatch, dubbed “iWatch,” as a companion to the iPhone, reflected in his renders of the iWatch. The watch sports an edge-to-edge display that is showing directions to a location. The maps interface hasn’t been ported to the iWatch, but instead displays only the relevant information such as a turn coming up in x meters. While a Maps app may not be the best use case for a smartwatch while driving, it gives a good idea of how the smartwatch could become a second screen for devices like the iPhone and could be quite useful while walking or jogging. Communication could very easily be done between the two devices using the new low energy Bluetooth standard the iPhone already supports. Here are the renders: The watch itself has a curved metal body and a leather strap, which is engraved with an Apple logo. There’s also a front facing camera, a button that most likely is for sleep/awake, and what seems to be a microphone or a very tiny home button. Head over to Martin Hajek’s website for more images. Tell us what you think about the iWatch as well as the companion maps interface in the comments below. HT: iDB Continue reading →

Does each color in Apple’s WWDC logo represent a redesigned app?

Rounak Jain — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:45:05 +0000

Apple’s known to hide subtle clues in its event invites each year, so this year shouldn’t be any different. The WWDC logo this year was a series of brightly colored roundrects stacked over each other. Some folks said that the shape hinted at an iWatch, while others noted that this is a sign of the “flattening” of iOS. However the logo might mean something entirely different. Entrepreneur Joshua Merrill came up with the theory that each colored roundrect in the logo represents a redesigned app. He bases this theory on information about iOS 7′s redesign that leaked out earlier today, which said “each app has a white base with a respective color theme.” What further supports this theory is that iOS app icons are the same shape as the series of stacked objects in the logo. The colors in the invite are pink/purple, green, orange, red, violet, blue, light blue and yellow. Green is known to be associated with Messages or Phone, blue with the App Store or Mail, violet with the Podcasts app, the pinkish purple with the iTunes app and orange with the music app. Your guesses as to what color scheme would each stock app use? (Keep in mind that there might be an entirely new “killer” stock app introduced at WWDC, according to some rumors.) Also see: Did Apple make fun of iWatch rumors in the latest iPhone ad? Continue reading →

Did Apple make fun of iWatch rumors in the latest iPhone ad?

Rounak Jain — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:10:24 +0000

Last night, Apple posted a new iPhone ad titled “Music Every Day” on their YouTube channel, which shows users using their iPhone to listen to music at school, in the shower, at the gym, at a club etc. Folks at 9to5Mac point out that at around the 30th second in the ad, a man tapping on the table while listening to music on his iPhone, is wearing a watch with a large display. If you look closely at the device, it looks like a fake watch. We may be reading too much into it, but it looks like someone at Apple decided to make fun of the iWatch rumors that have picked up steam this year. Continue reading →

Smarter Stand Clips: The world’s most portable iPad stand [Deals Hub]

StackSocial — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:45:02 +0000

The Smart Cover is one of the best iPad accessories on the market but it’s way too limiting as an iPad stand. Today’s iPhone Hacks Deals offer is for an accessory that will take your iPad to new heights…literally. These *Smarter Stand Clips *turn your cover into a fully functional powerhouse that will put your iPad into perfect positions for surfing the web, watching a movie, or chatting with a friend. And for a limited time we’ve got them for just $14.99. (Please note: Promotion available to US customers only and does not include iPad cover or case. This promotion includes 3 Smarter Stand Clips and 3 non-slip pads only.) Here’s what people have had to say about it: “Just the kind of gadget we like: cheap, simple and ingenious.” – Cult of Mac “Turns iPad Smart Cover into smarter cover.” – CNET “Meet Smarter Stand, a new way to hold up your iPad.” – Mashable The key features of Smarter Stand Clips include: 3 new ergonomic viewing angles for the iPad Sleek, minimalist, and easy to use No added bulk but a ton of added functionality The clips live on your Smart Cover so you always have your stand with you when you need it Compatible with iPad Smart Cover, iPad Smart Case, and iPad mini Smart Cover The Smarter Stand Clips are available in both black (click here) and dark grey (click here). You’ll get 1 set of 3 clear Smart Cover clips and 1 set of 3 non-slip pads with your purchase. This offer won’t be around for very long – so get it while the getting is good. Pick up the Smarter Stand Clips from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub for just $14.99 before your time runs out! Subscribe to our mailing list Continue reading →

Apple drops prices of refurbished iPads

Rounak Jain — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:06 +0000

Apple has quietly dropped prices of all refurbished iPad 4 and iPad mini variants on its online store. Refurb iPad mini models now start at $279 while refurb iPad 4 models start at $419. iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi: $299 -> $279 32GB Wi-Fi: $389 -> $359 64GB Wi-Fi: $489 -> $439 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $429 -> $389 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $519 -> $469 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $619 -> $549 iPad 4 16GB Wi-Fi: $449 -> $419 32GB Wi-Fi: $549 -> $499 64GB Wi-Fi: $649 -> $579 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $579 -> $529 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $679 -> $609 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $779 -> $689 Refurb models now amount to a discount of at least 15 percent on the original price of iPads, and come with a 1 year warranty. Apple notes that all refurb units are tested and certified, and each unit ships with a new battery and outer shell. You can order refurb iPad minis from here, and refurb iPad 4s from here. Also see: Best Buy offering $50 discount on all iPhones Via: MacRumors Continue reading →

Best Buy to offer $50 discount on iPhones from Sunday, May 26

iPhoneHacks — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:52:39 +0000

If you’re planning to buy the iPhone sometime soon, then you may want to hold off until Sunday as Best Buy is planning to offer a $50 discount. AllThingsD reports that Best Buy will be offering a $50 discount on the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 for four weeks starting this Sunday. From AllThingsD: The company is also doing some shorter-term promotions over Memorial Day, cutting the price on several popular but older Android models. From May 26 to June 1, Best Buy is selling Samsung’s Galaxy S III for $49 on AT&T or Sprint, a $50 price cut. Meanwhile, it is offering the HTC Droid DNA for Verizon for $49 ($150 savings) and the HTC One X on AT&T for free (a $100 price cut.) The $50 discount is applicable when you buy an iPhone with a two-year contract. We’re also assuming it will be available across all carriers. Best Buy had offered a similar discount earlier in the year and late last year, but the offers were valid just for a few days. Continue reading →

More details on iOS 7′s flat redesign

iPhoneHacks — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:56 +0000

It has been widely speculated that Apple will give us a sneak peak at iOS 7, the next generation mobile operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at the WWDC 2013 Keynote on June 10. Last month, 9to5Mac revealed that iOS 7 codenamed Innsbruck will feature a “fresh look” with a “very, very flat” interface. The overhaul is being led by Jony Ive, Apple’s SVP of Industrial Design, who took over the design of iOS 7 from Scott Forstall. 9to5Mac provides some more details about the changes we can expect in iOS 7, based on information it has received from its sources. iOS 7 will feature a “black, white, and flat all over” design instead of the heavy textures that iOS users are accustomed to. Ive has apparently stated in meeting that he believes that designs filled with physical metaphors, which is popularly called as skeuomorphism “does not stand the test of time”. Lock Screen Apple plans to replace the “shiny, transparent time bar” on the top of the Lock screen with “a shine-free, black interface.” The square-grid for entering the passcode will be replaced with “round, black buttons with white text and white borders.” It looks like users will finally be able to dismiss notifications on the lock screen with gestures. 9to5Mac says “overall, the Lock screen is different than what users have become accustomed to, but it functions in a similar manner.” Notifications Notification center will sport a “dark/black color background with white text” instead of the dark linen background. Notification center will come with new widgets for localized news feed and quick access to Settings toggles for Wi-Fi, Airplane Mode, and Bluetooth etc. Home screen App icons will come with rounded edges like we have currently, but will “lose shine, shadows and gloss.” App icons of most of the stock iOS apps have been redesigned with “flatter, less-skeuomorphic textures.” The Game Center app icon will “lose the green felt and chess pieces”. You will be able to add panoramic wallpapers, which sounds like the scrolling live wallpaper available on Android. Other changes Navigation and tab bars have been redesigned to remove gradient textures and may instead come with a “slight blurring effect”. Status bar is likely to be less transparent than the one in iOS 6. The system-wide virtual keyboard may get a minor design change. The design is “a lighter shade of grey and does not include shadowing.” Apps Not surprisingly, the stock apps have been redesigned to fit iOS 7′s white, black, and flat theme. The shredding animation when you delete a Passbook has been removed. The Notes app will sport a “flat white look” instead of yellow notepad like design. Mail, Calendar and Maps app will also sport a “more uniformed look with flat white textures.” 9to5Mac goes on to add that “while the core elements of those apps are mostly white, each app has been given a unique button color. Essentially, each app has a white base with a respective color theme.” The Calendar app may come with red button, whereas the Messages app may come with green controls. App Store, Newsstand, Game Center, Safari, Camera, and Weather apps will also come with “significant transformations.” The Weather app will come with animations to highlight rain, sun or snow. According to their source the Calendar app may look something like below design, which was posted on Dribbble. The iPhone will come with a standalone app for FaceTime like the iPad and iPod touch to avoid confusion. New features: 9to5Mac hasn’t revealed any new features in the latest report. It reiterates the features it had reported previously such as: Flickr and Vimeo integration Optimized in-car support for Maps and Siri integration 9to5Mac says that iOS 7 will be released along with the launch of new hardware later this fall. Though Apple has added tons of new features in iOS with every major update, it hasn’t made any major improvements in the UI, it is looking outdated and it is high time Apple re-imagines the user interface in iOS 7. It looks like Apple is not going to disappoint us this time. What do you think of the changes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Via 9to5Mac Continue reading →

AT&T’s new administrative fee will make the company half a billion dollars richer every year

Stefan Constantinescu — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:30:50 +0000

If you’re on AT&T, then starting this month you’re going to see an extra $0.61 fee added to your phone bill under the line item “administrative fee”. According to 9to5Mac, this fee helps “cover certain expenses, such as interconnection and cell site rents and maintenance.” Now let’s do some math, shall we? AT&T has over 70 million customers who are on post-paid contracts. So that’s $0.61 per month multiplied by 12 months in a year multiplied by 70 million. The answer is $512,400,000. No, that’s not a typo, that’s half a billion dollars. The Tech Block notes that since AT&T has changed the terms of your contract by adding this new fee, you’re technically allowed to terminate your contract without facing any penalties. And you know what? You should. Earlier today there was a story on MacRumors that said AT&T was going to bring 4G LTE to their prepaid plan. For $65 per month you get unlimited talking, texting, and 1 GB of data. If you’re not a heavy data user, then switch. Same network, lower price. You’ll have to buy your next iPhone full unlocked and unsubsidized, which will cost you over $600, but you more than make up for it by having a lower monthly bill. Continue reading →

Video: Jon Stewart rips Apple a new one over their tax situation

Stefan Constantinescu — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:49 +0000

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart poked quite a bit of fun at Apple last night. The show featured a skit showing the American government trying to figure out how to make Apple happy, which is confusing, since Apple should just do what everyone else does and pay their taxes. The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook Here’s Apple’s current situation in a nutshell: Like every other American company, they setup holding companies in countries where the taxes are more favorable. So say for example Apple needs to buy some boxes. A lot of boxes. They open Apple Incorporated in a country where sales tax is next to nothing, buys a whole bunch of boxes, and then ships them to where they’re needed. It’s obviously a little bit more nuanced than that, and I’m not even going to pretend to understand how a multinational corporation the size of Apple gets taxed, but they, like every other company, uses loopholes to minimize what they have to pay. You’ve probably heard about Apple’s recent debt offering. Apple, a company with over $100 billion in the bank, borrowed money so they could pay shareholders a nice fat dividend. Why didn’t Apple just pay them with money from their own bank accounts? Because those bank accounts are in other countries, and bringing that money into America would cause it to be taxed at some absurd rate. In other words, it’s cheaper for Apple to pay people with cash they’ve borrowed than their own money due to how the laws are setup. Pretty crazy, eh? Continue reading →