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SwiftKey's first iOS update helps you start typing faster
If you jumped at the chance to try the first wave of third-party iOS keyboards, you probably noticed that they're a little... rough around the edges. You may want to give at least one of them a second try, though. SwiftKey has just released the first update to its iOS input method, and it tackles some of the larger gripes that early adopters have noticed. The biggest deal is the improved load time, which should let you start typing faster; there are also fixes for some easy-to-reproduce crashes, like one that occurs when you backspace over emoji. Head over to the App Store if you're eager to iron out of some of SwiftKey's earliest wrinkles.
Easy capitalization using iOS 8's predictive typing
One of the features of iOS 8 that we weren't expecting to use on a day-to-day basis was predictive texting. Normally it's faster to just type out the words, but using predictive text -- especially with longer words -- is a simple joy we didn't know we needed until it was here. We've discovered a new little feature in the predictive texting function that some of you may find interesting: smart capitalization. Let's say that I forgot to capitalize the word "church" in the text below, and want to do that after the fact. To do this, I simply select the word in question by tapping it twice, tap the shift key, and select the proper spelling from the predictive typing menu. This replaces the normal cumbersome method to capitalize a word where you would need to hold down the cursor, move it until you can delete the first letter of the word, and then replace the letter with a capital letter you were looking for. Now say you want to make a word all upper case letters. The process of making a word all caps is just as simple as capitalizing only the first letter like I did earlier. Here, you simply tap shift twice once you've highlighted the word -- effectively activating the caps lock -- and predictive text offers up a number of fully-capitalized suggestions as a replacement. If you proofread and edit your texts after they're written, this trick could help you save some time in the long run. Enjoy.
Apple may bring back the Camera Roll to iOS 8
Sometimes it's all about the small things. With the release of iOS 8, Apple waved goodbye to its renowned Camera Roll, the hub where pictures and videos lived in previous versions of the operating system. Instead, the Cupertino company replaced it with a "Recently Added" section -- and let's just say some users weren't too happy about that. Fortunately, if you were one of the people disappointed by this, Apple appears to be having a change of heart. According to the site Product Reviews, which points to release notes of the most recent iOS 8 beta seeded to devs, the Camera Roll is back in its original spot, right where it once belonged. Of course, there's always a chance Apple could decide not to reverse course at the last minute, so don't get too, too excited. We won't know for sure until the next version, likely to be iOS 8.1, gets pushed out to the public; for now, you'll have to make due with what you have on your shiny new iPhones.
iOS 8's WiFi location privacy isn't as powerful as you might think
If you were hoping that iOS 8's ability to hide your device ID from nearby WiFi networks would render you invisible to nosy hotspot operators, you'll want to dial back your expectations a bit. AirTight Networks' Bhupinder Misra has found that Apple's hardware address randomization only kicks in under a very narrow set of circumstances. You not only have to put your device to sleep and turn off location services, you have to turn off cellular data as well -- in short, your iPhone has to become a paperweight. Even then, the masking only appears to work with iOS devices using at least an A7 processor, like the iPhone 5s.
Apple's (probably not broken this time) new iOS 8 update is ready
It's take two for Apple's first update to iOS 8. After the company released a version yesterday that cut off cellular connections and TouchID for the iPhone 6 family, there's a new one available now. According to an Apple spokesperson, less than 40,000 device were affected by yesterday's glitch -- a large number, but maybe not that big when sales of the new devices are already at 10 million and climbing. Version 8.0.2 also carries the fixes we were expecting yesterday which should get HealthKit apps going and fix some third-party keyboard issues, among other tweaks. We understand if you're not in a hurry to try this one out, but the update is available via iTunes or the software update option on your Apple device. If you're bravely rushing once more unto the breach, please let us know how it goes in the comments. Photos by Will Lipman.
Engadget Daily: Haven's barricade-style smart lock, Nissan's electric pickup truck and more!
Need to catch up on the last 24 hours of tech news? Read on for our daily highlights, including Nissan's EV pickup truck, a heavy-duty smart lock that can withstand a battering ram, the deal with Apple's iOS 8 bugs and more.
Apple explains how to fix its busted iOS 8 update, new one coming soon
Went ahead and downloaded the newest, freshest version of iOS for that new iPhone 6? Then immediately regret doing so? Apple's released a statement saying that users who have lost carrier service or Touch ID functionality should reinstall the initial version of iOS 8, until version 8.0.2 is ready to go. The company says this will take a few more days. We've got the full statement after the break. Update (9/25): That was quick! The new update is already out, find out more information here.
HealthKit apps clear to return following iOS 8 update, but major issues arise (update)
When iOS 8 arrived last week, Apple was quick to pull HealthKit-friendly apps from its App Store due to a major bug. An update for the new mobile software has arrived though, and it fixes the issue to make the fitness and wellness selections available once more. The folks in Cupertino promised a solution by the end of the month, and kept that word, delivering a new version in under a week. iOS 8.0.1 also mends third-party keyboard issues, Reachability (one-handed mode) woes, problems with apps accessing the Photo Library and a smattering of other bugs. We've nabbed the update on devices here at Engadget HQ, so if you've yet to be alerted to the download, it should be on its way shortly. However, we're seeing reports that folks (especially iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users) are having new issues with cell service and Touch ID upon installing the latest version. We've reached out to Apple for more info on these problems and we'll be sure to report back as soon as we know more, but for now, you may want to sit tight.
Your iPhone inherently trusts many sites, including the government's
As a matter of course, virtually all the internet-capable hardware you use supports trusted certificates, or proofs that secure data connections (such as those for apps and websites) should be legitimate. Have you ever wondered exactly how much faith your gadgets place in others, however? Thanks to Karl Kornel, we now have a good sense of how iOS 8 devices fare -- and apparently, they trust a lot of organizations. Apple's latest mobile software has no less than 222 certificates that greenlight data sharing. Most of these are from companies you'd expect to oversee security on iPads and iPhones, including Symantec's various brands (35 certificates) and Apple itself (five). However, there are also quite a few governments that also get iOS' all-clear in certain circumstances, including China, Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey and the US.
Google Chrome plugs into iOS 8 app extensions
Enjoy how Chrome and other apps share data back and forth on Android? Now you can get that feeling on iOS, since Google has updated Chrome to take advantage of the app extensions supported by iOS 8. That doesn't mean you'll be able to install any of Chrome's desktop extensions -- it just means links can be shared directly to any other apps on your iDevice, as long as they also support the feature. The update is rocking "iOS 8 compatibility" but no tweaks for the extra size of the iPhone 6 family have appeared yet.
MapMyFitness for iPhone lets you see all your activity in one place
The best thing about iOS 8 isn't continuity texting or a liberated keyboard -- it's that it'll give you rock hard abs. Which is exactly what you need if you're going to pull off any of Under Armour's skin-tight clothing. The sports brand wants to help you along with that, and has just updated its suite of apps (the popular MapMy... franchise it bought) to include unified activity tracking. This means if you have compatible hardware (like Jawbone's UP, or a Withings Pulse) or an iPhone with an M7/M8 chip in it, you can fold all your activity data into the one MapMyFitness app. This also means you won't get dupes any more if you were already tracking with the app and a tracker separately. Already working on those biceps by lifting your fancy new iPhone 6 Plus? Good, because the apps have also been given a digital nip and tuck to look extra buff on the new larger displays.
Pebble now displays emojis and lets you dismiss alerts from your watch
Do you hate emojis? Too bad, because they're everywhere: they've even arrived on Pebble and Pebble Steel via the smartwatches' latest firmware. The software upgrade allows emoticons to show up on Pebble's monochrome screen -- sure, they're not yellow or animated, but they're better than those blank boxes that typically take their place. More importantly for Apple users, though, this firmware brings iOS 8 compatibility and a really neat notification management feature to their watches. Now, when they dismiss an alert from their Pebbles, it also disappears from their phones' notification centers. (Hey, Android users, the company says it's working on a version for your devices, as well!) Other than these, the firmware also enables the watch's built-in compass and adds a fun Domo-kun watchface to your collection.
Sound off! What are your favorite features in iOS 8?
iOS 8 is finally here, and it's bringing a slew of new features. It's faster, more secure, and in a lot of ways, more like Android. Out of all the new bells and whistles what are your favorite new additions? Head over to the forums and let the community know what you're digging most about iOS 8. When you're done there don't forget to write your own review! We'll be rounding up the best of the best in an upcoming post. Photos by Will Lipman.
These iOS 8 keyboards will free you from typing tyranny
iOS 8 is finally live for public consumption, which means it's time for all those third-party keyboards to make their App Store debut. Yep, at long last, devotees of Apple's mobile platform can swap out that boring ol' default keyboard for something different -- a neat trick Android users have enjoyed for some time now. Still, it's better late than never, and already there are a slew of alternative keyboards for iOS 8 clamoring for your attention. Here's just a few we think are worth checking out.
Engadget Daily: iPhone 6 and 6 Plus review, the future of virtual payments and more!
Did you hear? iOS 8 is ripe for the picking, and lucky for you, we've already taken it for a test drive. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours, including our iPhone 6 and 6 Plus review, everything you need to know about virtual payments, and more!
Tim Cook lays out Apple's security policies as iOS 8 arrives
Whatever you think of Apple's commitment to its user's security as of say... two weeks ago, CEO Tim Cook seems to be following up on his promise to bring more clarity to the company's efforts. Tonight he posted a letter to Apple customers on the company's website, launching a new section focused solely on "Apple's commitment to your privacy." There you'll find information information on how to use tools like two-factor authentication, recognize security threats and info on picking a strong password. Also included is the publicly available data on government requests and a little chest thumping on what Apple says it does to protect users that other companies (they mean Google) might not. [Image credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]
Mint on iPhone can now use your fingerprint to keep banking info safe
You're going to see a lot of apps taking advantage of iOS 8's expanded Touch ID support in the near future, but one of the bigger improvements is already here. Mint has updated its iOS app to let you use your fingerprint to sign in rather than rely on a passcode. While it's a simple step, it means that you can quickly check all your finances on an iPhone 5s, 6 or 6 Plus without compromising security -- you can thwart data thieves with a tough-to-crack code that you'll rarely have to enter yourself. There's no doubt that this safeguard will spread to other financial titles in short order, but it's good to see that an app many use daily is already locked down tight.
Apple releases statement on iOS 8 HealthKit issues
Apple has released a statement regarding today's issues with their new HealthKit framework, which was released today alongside iOS 8. The company began pulling apps today from the App Store that sync with the HealthKit framework, leading users to wonder what exactly is going on. Now we have an idea. The statement was emailed to Tim Bradshaw of the Financial Times. "We discovered a bug that prevents us from making HealthKit apps available on iOS 8 today. We're working quickly to have the bug fixed in a software update and have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month." We will update you with more information as it becomes available.
The iOS 8 Health app: What can you do with it today?
Note: At the time of this post Apple has acknowledged issues with HealthKit have delayed numerous third-party health apps. One of the big announcements out of WWDC 2014 was the iOS 8 Health app and the entire HealthKit framework. The framework is designed to allow third-party app and hardware vendors feed activity and health data into the Health app, which can then -- at some undetermined future time -- be used to communicate that information to your health care providers. Well, iOS 8 is available and the Health app is too, but there's not a lot you can actually do with it right now. Let's take a quick look at the app and how you can use it today. Health has four buttons at the bottom of the screen that demarcate the functionality of the app. First is Dashboard, which will be the repository for information on weight, activity, standing time, stairs climbed, and whatever else can be tracked by your fitness monitor or Apple Watch. The Dashboard is going to be awfully lonely until third parties actually get to add data to the Health Data repository, the second button on the app. One look at Health Data shows you all of the areas that are currently under consideration for storage on your iPhone -- body measurements (fat percentage, BMI, height, lean body mass, weight), fitness (active calories, cycling distance, flights climbed, NikeFuel, resting calories, steps, walking + running distance), "me" (birthdate, biological sex, and blood type), nutrition (biotin, caffeine, calcium, carbohydrates, chloride, chromium, copper, dietary calories, dietary cholesterol, fiber, folate... this list goes on forever), lab results (everything from Blood Alchohol Content to Peripheral Perfusion Index), sleep (interesting, since it's unknown if the Apple Watch is usable as a sleep monitor), and the ever-popular vital signs (blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate). Once you've entered data into any one of those hundreds of categories, you can view the numbers for the day, week, month or year. The third button is Sources, which identifies those apps or devices with associated apps that have actually requested permission to update your data. Finally, the one item that you can actually use right now is Medical ID. This can be a very useful tool for loved ones or emergency responders to use in case of a sudden illness or accident, as they do not need to know your device passcode or use your bloody fingertip on a Touch ID Home button to see the information. Instead, they can punch the Home button, swipe to the right to bring up the passcode screen, then tap Emergency. This function used to do one thing -- let others use your phone to call 911 in an emergency situation. Now there's a tiny red "Medical ID" link in the corner that can be tapped. I entered information into this that I feel comfortable having strangers look at in case of an emergency. This includes my blood type, whether or not I'm an organ donor, my weight, my height, existing medical conditions, allergies and reactions, medications I'm on, and emergency contact information. If you don't want that information to show up when your device is locked -- in other words, you don't want to give first responders a hand in saving your life -- you can tap a Show When Locked button to turn it off of the default. As someone who does a lot of traveling, I am personally looking forward to being able to carry more health data along with me wherever I may go. The Health app is here, let's just hope that developers start taking advantage of it.
iOS 8 brings new 3rd party keyboards and Swype is one of the coolest
Users of iOS 8 no longer have to be happy with just the default Apple keyboard. Developers are now allowed to create keyboards with features Apple that doesn't provide, and we'll see a catalog of new keyboards now that iOS 8 is out. Dave Caolo reviewed one earlier today, so the flood of keyboards is starting to appear already. Today I'm going to take a look at Swype. Now, Android phones have had alternative keyboards for a long time, so Apple is playing a bit of catch-up here. Some established keyboard creators have already had plenty of experience in the world of Android and are now moving to the iOS platform. First off, why do you need a new keyboard? It's certainly not a requirement, but let's see what is on offer with Swype. The app was released today at a special price of US $0.99, has been on Android for 5 years and has been eagerly awaited by many iOS users. It's among the most popular and for good reason. You can use Swype like the standard Apple keyboard, tapping out words letter by letter, or you can swipe your fingers across the keyboard without lifting them (hence the name "Swype".) The software figures out what you are swiping and the word appears. The keyboard can also learn from experience, and start offering intelligent suggestions. You can also add words to Swype's dictionary and even create shortcuts. Punctuation can be gesture-based, and a standard set of marks and corresponding gestures is built in. The keyboard also offers next word predictions, and support for several languages including English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages coming soon. It should be noted that Apple's default iOS 8 keyboard now offers a feature called QuickType that also offers predictive typing. Keyboards also look better than ever, as Swype allows you to choose from any of 5 different themes to customize the keyboard. I think the dark themes are really attractive, and make the white letters and numbers easier to see than the standard Apple keyboard colors. "The keyboard is perhaps the most used feature on a phone, so it has to be intuitive, fast, and of course, it has to deliver incredibly high accuracy," said Aaron Sheedy, vice president of mobile solutions for the Mobile Division of Nuance. So how does it all work? Very well, actually. I've been playing with an advance copy for a few days and when you first use the Swype keyboard it can be a bit bewildering. There are some keys you won't recognize, but once you get started and explore how to use them they'll become familiar quickly. Swype comes with an app that installs the keyboard and also offers tutorials and tips. Of course, you can use Swype just like the regular Apple keyboard, but the unique features of Swype are sure to tempt you. One thing missing is the little key with the microphone icon that allows you to dictate text. Apple doesn't allow third parties to use that extension, a policy I hope will change. I think once you get used to Swype, it may be hard to go for you to go back to the Apple keyboard. Swype is now one of many keyboard options for iOS users, and we'll keep an eye on what's out there to help you choose what's right for you. Swype comes from Nuance, the folks that bring us the Dragon family of speech recognition apps. They also developed the technology behind Siri with Apple.
