Category: Cool Features

Apple maps will soon feature COVID-19 testing locations

Apple has launched an online portal for healthcare providers, labs or other businesses to register as COVID-19 testing locations, which means that you’ll soon be able to find COVID-19 testing locations on Apple Maps – alongside information specific to the location.

 

After the sites are registered, the ‌Apple Maps‌ team will review the application, and upon approval it will appear in ‌Apple Maps‌.

 

To see the testing locations, look for a red medical glyph icon and a unique “COVID-19 Testing Site” card. ‌Apple Maps‌ will show the place name, associated healthcare provider, contact number and website, as well as information about the type of testing location. Applicants wishing to register a site will also be asked to state whether the testing location will require a doctor’s referral or a scheduled appointment.

 

Apple has not said how long it will be before we start to see the sites appear on Maps, but they say that they are working quickly to verify and add as many testing locations as possible.

 

 

More Free TV!

GUESS WHAT

 

Along with other providers, because of the current situation a lot of us we find ourselves in, Apple has made a whole bunch of its original Apple TV+ series and movies FREE for us all! You know, for a limited time.

 

You can now watch these titles for free:

 

*Dickinson
*Ghostwriter
*Helpsters
*For All Mankind
*Servant
*Snoopy in Space
*The Elephant Queen

 

You can go get streaming online via Apple.co/FreeForEveryone or through the ‌Apple TV‌ app on iPhone, iPad, ‌Apple TV‌, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.

 

You just need to sign in with an Apple ID.

 

The free part of their service is still rolling out, so everyone should be able to connect with it soon! Just in time for stupid boring Wednesday, right? I mean.. wait, what day is it?

 

 

What’s next for Apple?

Seems like it’s pretty likely that we’ll see an Apple media event near the end of next month! There is a chance that these plans may be delayed however, depending on the continued impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic.

 

The rumored event would take place on March 31st and would see the reveal of a cheaper ‘iPhone 9’ alongside refreshed iPad Pro models. The new iPad Pros would apparently have a triple-lens rear camera system with 3D sensing.

 

We may also see mention of ‘AirPods Pro Lite’ (what?),  a cheaper set of AirPods without noise cancellation, water proof and magnetically charged AirTags item trackers, and a new “CarKey” feature to let an iPhone or an Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start NFC-compatible vehicles. You will also be able to send CarKey in conversations with an individual.

 

This is all a little up in the air because of the aforementioned epidemic, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

 

Also in the works for Apple; it seems like you’ll be able to set Third-Party Web Browser and Mail Apps as Defaults in iOS 14, and there is a chance that in the future Apple will allow third-party music services like Spotify and Pandora to be streamed directly on the HomePod with Siri.

 

 

 

Apple Maps redesign

Apple today announced that all users in the United States can now experience a redesigned Maps with faster and more accurate navigation and comprehensive views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, malls and more.

 

From Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services:

 

“We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today. It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core. The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.”

 

Features include:

 

‘Look Around’ – an interactive way to visually explore a city with 3D imagery.
 

‘Collections  – ‘Users can easily build and share lists of places they love or want to go to with friends and family.
 

Customers get quick and easy navigation to the places they visit every day with ‘Favorites’.
 

Real-time transit information gives detailed transit schedules, live departure times, arrival times, the current location of a bus or train en route, and system connections to help plan a journey.
 

Share ETA sends an estimated time of arrival to family, friends or coworkers with a simple tap. The receiver can follow along on the journey, and Maps will even update them with a revised estimate for when the traveler is arriving if a significant delay occurs.

 

Flight status uses on-device Siri intelligence to scan for information stored in Mail, Calendar or Wallet and proactively serves flight information for terminals, gate locations and departure times, as well as flight changes or cancellations for upcoming travel.
 

By using Indoor Maps for airports and malls users can see what level they’re on, restroom locations and even which stores and restaurants are open.
 

Siri Natural Language Guidance provides more natural-sounding directions that are even easier to follow, such as “At the next traffic light, turn left.”
 

Flyover offers a way to see select major metro areas with photo-realistic, immersive 3D views.

 

 

Maps it the best, we get it.

 

 

What will the first half of 2020 bring for Apple?

Let’s collect all the little rumours falling off the Apple tree shall we?

 

*Tile-like item tracking tags potentially called “AirTags”

 

*Blue tooth supported high-end (possibly over ear) headphones

 

*A 4.7-inch, low cost (~$399) iPhone with a similar design to the iPhone 8, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM.

 

*Refreshed iPad Pro models that have a triple-lens rear camera system that supports 3D sensing for augmented reality

 

*Small wireless charging mat. So Apple canceled its AirPower charging mat last year due to quality concerns, which may have been fixed by now. The Airpower charging mat would have been able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods case simultaneously.

 

*Lastly, it’s predicted that we’ll have refreshed MacBook Pro and/or MacBook Air models.

 

What are you most excited about?

 

 

Save $80-$100 Off Latest Model Apple iPad 10.2″ Tablets!

Tuesday is present day, right? YOU get an iPad, now YOU get an iPad!

 

Get a new Apple iPad (10.2-Inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB) – Space Gray (Latest Model) for $249 down from $329 here, with free Prime delivery.

 

OR

 

Get a new Apple iPad (10.2-Inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 32GB) – Space Gray (Latest Model) for $379.99, down from $459.00 here, with free prime delivery.

 

Happy iPad Tuesday!

 

 

 

Ten years ago today, we were introduced to the iPad

Time flies when you’re having fun, right? We’ve all been having fun, right? Just ten years ago, we were introduced to the wondrous device that is the iPad.

 

It all went down at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, and it was one of the last major products that he unveiled before his death in 2011.

 

Whilst doing so, he said:
“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Jobs. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

 

That original iPad featured a 9.7-inch display, a single-core Apple A4 processor, up to 64GB of storage, 256MB of RAM, an advertised 10 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 2.1, a 30-pin dock connector, and a headphone jack. Wi-Fi-only models started at $499, while models with both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connectivity started at $629. Notably, the original iPad lacked cameras.

 

Apple released the iPad on April 3, 2010 and, one day later, the company announced that it had already sold over 300,000 iPads. Since that time, Apple has released a new generation of the iPad every year, as well as Pro’s, Air’s and Mini’s coming to the party.
Erryone loves an iPad party!

 

 

36 years ago today the Macintosh was revealed!!

On this day in 1984, Steve Jobs introduced the first Macintosh at Apple’s annual shareholder’s meeting in Cupertino. The brand spanking new computer was equipped with a 9-inch black and white display, an 8MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 128KB of RAM, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and cost, wait for it, $2,495 ( which is about $6000 clams in today’s money. That’s a lot of clams, guys).

 

It was also a very solid 17 pounds. Egads.

 

This is the first thing people saw on screen when they saw the Mac or the first time:

 

Hello, I’m Macintosh. It sure is great to get out of that bag.

Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, I’d like to share with you a maxim I thought of the first time I met an IBM mainframe: NEVER TRUST A COMPUTER YOU CAN’T LIFT!

Obviously, I can talk, but right now I’d like to sit back and listen. So, it is with considerable pride that I introduce a man who’s been like a father to me… STEVE JOBS.

 

Pretty cool/creepy!

 

Here’s the 1984 Super Bowl ad that Apple invested in and debuted days before the Macintosh was unveiled:

 

 

After the Macintosh, Apple introduced a bunch of iterations, from the Macintosh II, to the PowerBook, the iBook, to where we are no, with the current Mac lineup including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, ‌iMac‌, iMac Pro, Mac mini, and Mac Pro.

 

Maybe this Super Bowl we’ll see an ad for another industry changing device! You know, when the 49ers win. When that happens.

 

 

 

Looking ahead to 2020 iPhones

Rumor has it that Apple plans to release FIVE new iPhone models in 2020! Likely starting with an iPhone SE 2 type model with a 4.7-inch LCD display in the first half of the year, and then followed by 4 more models in the second half.

 

The rumored iPhone SE 2 will probably resemble the iPhone 8, but faster, with a 4.7-inch display with bezels and a Touch ID home button.

 

The second lot of models are predicted to all be higher-end all-OLED models consisting of 5.4-inch, two 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch sizes which will support 5G with a Qualcomm X55 modem.

 

So:

 

A 4.7-inch iPhone SE 2 with LCD display, single-lens rear camera, and no 5G support, a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 with OLED display, dual-lens rear camera, and 5G support, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 with OLED display, dual-lens rear camera, and 5G support, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro with OLED display, triple-lens rear camera, and 5G support and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max with OLED display, triple-lens rear camera, and 5G support.

 

Phew.

 

There are also rumors that one of these later models will not have a Lightning connector and will instead offer a “completely wireless experience,”.

 

Sound exciting? And exhausting? Little bit of both?

 

 

Black Friday deals to look out for!

 

It’s that time of year! Turkey Time! And savings time! All the times! See below for some early Black Friday deals that are available right now!! Go get ’em!

 

Apps:

 

Pixelmator Photo for iPad: free until Wednesday, November 27

 

Affinity Photo: 30% off until Tuesday, December 3

 

Affinity Designer: 30% off until Tuesday, December 3

 

Hydra: $2.99, down from $4.99, through Monday, December 2

 

Paprika Recipe Manager 3: $2.99, down from $4.99, through the end of November

 

Desktop: 

 

Adobe is offering a subscription to all 20+ of its Creative Cloud desktop and mobile apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and XD, for $29.99 per month. After one year, the regular price of $52.99 per month applies.

 

Devices:

 

Grab yourself a shiny new Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular – 38mm – Sport Band – Aluminum Case -Silver/White from Walmart. Now $199.00, down from $379.00

 

Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa built in, Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, includes the Alexa Voice Remote is on sale from Amazon for $24.99, down from, $49.99, with free delivery with Prime.

 

Get a Google – Smart Light Starter Kit with Google Assistant from Best Buy for just $29.99, down from $55.00, with free shipping.

 

Get the latest model of Apple AirPods with Charging Case for only $139, down from $159

 

A Ring Video Doorbell 2 with Echo Show 5 (Charcoal) will now cost you just $139, down from $288.39 with Prime free delivery from Amazon. 

 

And get your Holiday party pumping with the Bose SoundTouch 300 Wireless Streaming Soundbar from Walmart, for only  $399.00, was $699.00 with free 2 day delivery!

 

 

Happy Holidays!