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1Password log-ins are coming to third-party iOS apps
The popular log-in repository 1Password is about to get a lot more useful on iOS devices. AgileBits has revealed an extension for using the add-on in third-party iOS apps -- if the developer chooses to build in support. Thanks to the enhanced security measures taken by Apple's pending mobile OS update, the option can be included and doesn't require you to go elsewhere in order to sort your passwords in standalone apps. Of course, this is in addition to 1Password's own built-in browser that currently included and Touch ID is leveraged to access the secured vault of username credentials. 1Password for iOS is a $18 purchase, and we're not holding our breath for similar functionality to arrive on the Android version anytime soon (although on Android LastPass has a similar feature for logging into apps). While you wait for your favorite software to opt in, there's a handy demo in GIF after the break.
1Password for Windows now lets you manage accounts from your browser
AgileBits isn't done sprucing up 1Password just because it released a much-needed Android upgrade; it's also showing some love to the Windows version of its secure account manager. The just-launched 1Password 4 for Windows catches up on features in a big way, including the browser extension previously seen only on the Mac. You're now just a shortcut away from fetching credentials or generating an extra-complex password. The revamp also brings WiFi syncing, multiple vaults and a service that warns you when hackers compromise a site.
1Password for Android can now be your only account manager
For the longest time, AgileBits' 1Password for Android was just a pale shadow of its desktop and iOS counterparts. Besides the ancient interface, you couldn't add anything -- if you signed up for a service, you had to turn on another device just to put the new account behind 1Password's secure walls. As of today, though, the app has caught up. The redesigned 1Password 4 for Android has both a modern interface and true independence; you can add passwords, credit cards and other sensitive info without touching any other hardware. Data syncs like it does on other platforms (including to folders, if you dislike the cloud), and there's a built-in browser if you want to log in as quickly as possible.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for April 22, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
1Password's iOS and Mac apps get better sync and edit features
If you use 1Password, you might be worried about the security of your private data, what with all the talk about Heartbleed. Fortunately, the software's developer, AgileBits, says 1Password isn't affected by the OpenSSL exploit, but some of the sites you visit probably are. That's why the company built a service called Watchtower, which allows you to check the vulnerability of sites you frequent. Even still, users will be happy to know that both the password manager's Mac and iOS applications just received a whopper of an update, bringing a bevy of bug fixes, UI tweaks and notable improvements for each platform. Oh, and they're on sale until Friday for $24.99 and $8.99 respectively.
1Password 4.5 for iOS gains features, slims down
Ask any member of the TUAW team what they use to keep track of the swarm of passwords they are confronted with on a typical day, and they're likely to say 1Password. AgileBits today announced a major update to the iOS version of the app, which is available for free to current users. 1Password 4.5 will be on sale at half-price -- US$8.99 -- for those who don't already own it, through Friday, April 25. What's new in the password manager? To start with, the app has a shiny new iOS 7 look and feel, complete with a new icon. But that's just the icing on the cake. Under that gooey frosting is: A 34 percent smaller app footprint, saving 8.6 megabytes of space Faster syncing Search available all the time at the top of the Categories tab and each main category AirDrop support for sharing items Support for multiple vaults once they're configured in 1Password for Mac A new Demo Vault replacing the venerable Demo Mode A redesigned user setup process, as well as an improved upgrade process from 1Password 3 for iOS Support for custom item images (must be added via 1Password 4 for Mac) Tags added in Mac version sync with iOS Improvements and bug fixes in Wi-Fi Sync Support for multiple Dropbox accounts Enhancements were made to the built-in 1Browser to allow for easier logins, faster checkouts, and online form auto-fill much in the way 1Password mini works on the Mac. And speaking of the Mac, 1Password 4.3 for Mac was also released today with a variety of improvements.
Adobe's Lightroom for iPad makes a brief appearance, Google acquires a Nest, and other news from Jan. 12-18
With so much news and so many stories flying around every day, we here at TUAW thought it might be good to offer a quick "executive summary" of some of the most important news events from the past week. How do we measure the criteria for this round-up? Well, it's a work in progress, but the basic formula goes like this: "No rumors, no speculation, just news. If someone had been cut off from the Internet all week and came back today, what would be the stories you'd want to make sure they knew about? Or, to put it another way: what are the news stories from this past week that I'm likely to still care about in another week?" Obviously there's a certain amount of subjectivity in picking any kind of list like this, so we'll leave the comments open for awhile, in case you would like to suggest some bit of news we left off. Adobe's Lightroom for iPad briefly surfaces It looks like Adobe's Lightroom is making the leap to the iPad. 9to5Mac briefly spotted a listing for the software, with a subscription price of $99 a year, briefly on Adobe's site. When they inquired about it, Adobe pulled the link. With the release on the horizon, maybe there's hope that Apple will eventually do the same thing with Aperture. Adobe demonstrated a prototype for it in 2013. 9to5Mac says the software will sync with the desktop version of Lightroom. Apple's Anti-Trust Ebookcase The saga of Apple's anti-trust ruling in the eBook case continues to make the news. Apple sought the removal of court-appointed antitrust monitor claiming a litany of unnecessary expenses and inconveniences, but this week the judge ordered Apple and antitrust monitor to play nice. The whole thing still smells funny to many of us. Salon described it as Amazon's bogus anti-Apple crusade which didn't have the negative consequences anti-trust suits are meant to avoid. Dropbox down, but not hacked Dropbox experienced a rare bit of out downtime this week. Some well-timed pranksters tried to claim they had hacked the site, but Dropbox explains they had brought it on themselves. They outlined the problems in a post-mortem. Your Dropbox data was never at risk, but if it had been, the fine folks at Agile remind you that your Master Password is your defense from Dropbox breaches, real and imagined. Google bought Nest to the disappointment of the entire Internet Google bought Nest this week, which seemingly disappointed the entire Internet, and flooded Twitter with thousands of variations of approximately three jokes about a future update requiring a Google+ account to change your temperature. The Verge explained Why is everyone disappointed by Google buying Nest? in case you need someone to explain it to you. But my favorite response of the week was Joy Of Tech showing how Google/Nest had finally "disrupted" the market. Software Updates of Note The OmniGroup released OmniOutliner for Mac version 4. It requires OS X 10.9, and can be purchased either from the Mac App Store or directly from OmniGroup. You can download a demo from OmniGroup's website. (As always, I recommend purchasing directly from developers unless you must have iCloud. Developers can give you upgrade pricing, which Apple seems not to want to offer.) The Pro version is $100 ($50 upgrade) and the standard version is $50 ($25 upgrade). They also offer educational pricing. If you have any interest in making eBooks, you should check out Vellum which tackles the difficult process of making eBooks which are compatible with the Kindle, Nook, and iBooks. You can download and try the app for free. You only pay when you want to generate the actual files. This week they announced unlimited eBooks can be made for $300, or you can make 10 for $150, or 1 for $50. The unlimited version includes all future updates to the app. Some deals you don't want to miss There are no shortages of deals around. You can find them at http://deals.tuaw.com/ or by following our daily deals, but I did want to make sure that I made special mention of two: Save 50% in Take Control's Post-Holiday Ebook Sale: "Through 25 January 2014, you can add any number of our ebooks to your Take Control library for 50 percent off. All books are DRM-free and available in PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket (Kindle) formats, so you can read wherever, whenever, and on whatever device you like." Get the all new Box for iPhone and iPad + 50GB free (Active Jan 15 - Feb 15, 2014). See the support page for nuts and bolts.
These are a few of my favorite things - 2013 Edition
As 2013 comes to an end, here are a list of my favorite Mac apps that I used over the past year. Now there are a few important things to remember: you'll notice that many of these are not "new" apps because, well, I don't care when the apps were made nearly as much as I care if they're good and I find them useful. Instead, this is a list of the apps that I used or enjoyed the most in 2013, and expect to keep using in the future. All prices listed are in US Dollars, rounded off to the nearest whole dollar (because we all know that 99¢ is just a marketing way of saying $1, right?). If there is no price listed, then the app/utility is free, although most gratefully accept donations. Favorite New App of 2013 Bartender ($15) is the app I never knew I wanted until it existed, and now I never want to use a Mac without it installed. Bartender lets you hide apps on your menu bar, as well as organize the ones you want to remain visible. You can even use it to hide built-in OS X menu bar icons such as Notification Center and Spotlight. I even use Bartender on my Dell UltraSharp 29" Ultrawide monitor which is essentially one monitor as wide as two monitors. Favorite App of 2013 Keyboard Maestro ($36) is my favorite "non-new" app of 2013. Version 6 came out in 2013 and the app is continually improved. The more I learn about Keyboard Maestro, the more I'm impressed with it. I have written about it a lot and posted several macros on Github. I've even done some one-on-one consulting and training. Even after all that, I'm still learning new tricks that it can do. (Peter Lewis, Keyboard Maestro's developer, commented that he's still impressed to see what users come up with to do with his own app!) Keyboard Maestro's cost may seem high in a world where software is often reduced to "fart-app pricing" but it does the work of several apps. It can launch applications, move and click the mouse, execute scripts, insert (static or dynamic/variable) text, manipulate windows, control menus, create/move/copy/rename/delete/trash files, control iTunes, capture images, control iTunes, send notifications, and more. Keyboard Maestro comes with a 30-day trial which is enough time to overcome the initial learning curve and start making it work for you. The developer is very responsive to questions and support requests, and there many others using Keyboard Maestro too, so you're likely to find more tips in the year ahead if you read their sites too. More Automation on the Mac Keyboard Maestro is only the tip of the automation iceberg. TextExpander ($35) and Hazel ($28) both continued to be essential tools in 2013. In case you're not familiar with them: TextExpander inserts text (or images, or runs scripts) on demand when you type a shortcut, and Hazel automatically responds to changes in files and folders. TextExpander is great if you find yourself needing to re-type the same thing over and over. I use it to insert frequently referred-to links, create templates for shell scripts or MultiMarkdown documents, and mail signatures. You can even "nest" snippets within other snippets. A Mac without TextExpander feels broken. Hazel can do so many things I don't know where to start, but here's one set of recipes I use more than any other. All of these are actions taken on files added to my ~/Downloads/ folder: If there is a new archived file (.zip, .tar.gz, etc) then unarchive it and store the original file in ~/Downloads/Archives/ (in case I want to copy it to another Mac). If a new .app file is found, move it to /Applications/ and replace any older version If a new text file is found (.txt, .md, .mmd, etc) is found, move it to ~/Dropbox/txt/ If another kind of document (.pdf, .docx, etc) is found, move it to ~/Dropbox/Documents/ If an image is found, move it to ~/Dropbox/Photos/ (where another Hazel rule then sorts them by date) There are lots of other possibilities, those are just a few to get you started. Hazel is one of those tools that works in the background doing tedious things so you don't have to. It will even keep your Trash from getting taking up space with old files or oversized files. Read more at TUAW All Hazel articles All TextExpander articles Most Taken-For-Granted App I Couldn't Live Without Dropbox. Good lord, I don't even want to think about using a Mac without Dropbox. Unless you have been literally living in a cave, you must have heard about Dropbox by now, right? If so, here's a summary: it's a magic folder which syncs to all of your computers (Mac, Windows, even Linux) which you can access on your iOS devices, and even on their website (unlike iCloud documents). It is supported by tons of iOS devices which use it for document sharing and more. You get 2 GB for free, and up to 500 GB for $500/year. All accounts come with 30 days of versioning so you can go back to previous versions of documents. Other Dropbox articles to check out: Get an extra 1 GB of Dropbox storage by syncing it to Mailbox Keep Dropbox.app up-to-date when the magic fails Finding Dropbox 'conflicted copy' files automatically All Dropbox articles on TUAW This Is Getting Really Long, I'm Going to Have to Summarize a Few of These: Sorry for the bulleted list. These are great apps, but they are either better-known or more easily explained (I hope!). This was the year I switched to Alfred ($0 for most features, $28 for "Powerpack" extensions, or a little over $50 for lifetime updates) from LaunchBar ($35). LaunchBar is still a great app, I just wanted to be able to use some of the workflow features in Alfred. Alfred, LaunchBar, and Keyboard Maestro all have clipboard functionality built-in, but if you want an app just for saving multiple clipboards, get Flycut. Even has Dropbox sync. MailMate ($50) definitely deserves its own review, and I suspect I'll be using it even more in 2014, but 2013 saw me start to move away from Gmail, especially Gmail.com which was redesigned but did not get better. If you use email, you owe it to yourself to checkout MailMate. OmniDiskSweeper ($0) remains my go-to app for finding out what is using all of my hard drive space. I'm still using version 1 of Skitch ($0) whenever I need to quickly take a screenshot then annotate and/or share it. Skitch version 2 has gotten better since its initial atrocious release but "saving" a Skitch in version 2 goes to Evernote instead of just staying locally, and I have no desire, need, or interest in saving Skitch to Evernote. Soulver ($12) is the first 'calculator' that I have really enjoyed using. I've never been great at math, I can't do a lot of calculations in my head. Using a regular calculator always left me frustrated, and half the time I wasn't sure that I had done the calculations properly. With Soulver, I understand regular real-life math a lot better than I ever have. That isn't to say that it doesn't have a lot of powerful options which are useful to people who are good at math. It does. But if you've never struggled with math, you can't understand what it means to have something like this. The word "empowering" has been overused to the extreme, but here it fits, at least for me. I bought the separate iPad and iPhone versions without hesitation or complaint, but I am glad to see that Soulver for iOS is now a universal app (currently on sale for $2). Need to turn a bunch of CDs or audio files into an audiobook? Audiobook Builder ($5). It will not only 'chapterize' it for you, it will also let you easily add cover art using any image file. Want to make sure your Mac doesn't turn itself off for a certain amount of time? Try Caffeine. GIF Brewery ($5) easily takes a video clip and turns it into a GIF. Use your Mac's keyboard for any iOS device (or any other Bluetooth capable device, including another Mac) using Type2Phone ($5). Growl ($4) still does a few tricks that OS X's notifications don't. Use PCKeyboardHack and KeyRemap4MacBook to make a hyper key. If you want to edit, create, or learn about launchd, get LaunchControl ($10, free unlimited demo). Hugely useful. Need to cut up an audio file, maybe to make an iPhone ringtone, or maybe just to trim it for some other reason? Fission - Fast & Lossless Audio Editing. I still haven't learned git but thanks to GitHub for Mac I've been able to fake my way along. If you use a calendar, get Fantastical ($10) for quick "natural language" entry menu bar access, and get BusyCal ($50, 30-day trial) for a better Mac calendar. Print from iOS to your Mac with Printopia ($20). You can save the file as a PDFs (or JPG or PNG if that's what the file was originally), or send them to any printer connected to your Mac. Default Folder X ($35, 30-day trial) lets you quickly jump to favorite folders, or assign specific folders as the 'default' for certain apps. This is another one of those tools that: a) feels like it should be built-in to OS X, b) when I use a Mac without this installed, it feels broken. Trying to monitor your Mac's bandwidth usage and prevent apps from covertly connecting to the Internet? Little Snitch ($35) is the tattletale little brother than those apps wish had never been born. SlimBatteryMonitor is a better battery monitor that OS X's own; MagiCal lets you easily create a menu bar clock that shows the time and/or date exactly as you want it; FreeSpace Tab shows available hard drive space in the menu bar; and I've stopped using all three in favor of iStat Menus ($16, 14-day trial) which also knocked OS X's Activity Monitor off my Dock. Of course I use VLC for most of my video-watching, including Blu-Ray discs thanks to MakeMKV ($0 for some features, $50 for Blu-Ray features, although they are free during beta see here for more info which is also what I use for ripping Blu-Ray and DVDs, almost exclusively via Batch Rip Actions for Automator which are capital-A Awesome if you are ripping lots of DVD/Blu-Ray discs. When I'm done I clean everything up using Name Mangler to get the filenames right and then I can watch my collection in the Plex Media Server. Last but not least I use Mountain ($2) to mount and unmount drives from the menu bar, Flashmount (see previous coverage) to quickly mount DMGs. and DiskWarrior ($100) to check and repair my disks. (By the way, DiskWarrior might be the most expensive piece of software on this list, but it's worth every penny. Get it to help fix little problems before they become big problems.) Looking Ahead Wow. That's a lot of great software. Here are a few apps that I'm keeping an eye on because I suspect they will be on next year's list: Shortcat (currently $16 during beta, planned $24 after): "Keep your hands on the keyboard and boost your productivity! Shortcat is a keyboard tool for Mac OS X that lets you "click" buttons and control your apps with a few keystrokes. Think of it as Spotlight for the user interface." let.ter ($4): "The tiny Markdown powered app just for writing emails." I've been using a send-only email app for 2.5 years now, but I like what I see so far in Letter. Recently released and still lacking some essential features such as multiple account support (which is planned for the nearish future), but I bet this eventually replaces what I've been using. Vellum is the new app that I'm most excited about. Anyone who has tried to make ebooks knows that it's a pain because each device has its own... "quirks." Serenity Caldwell likens making ebooks today to making websites in the late '90s when web standards didn't really exist or weren't implemented by the companies that made web browsers. Vellum bills itself as the tool to help you overcome the madness by letting you import a .docx file and export properly formatted books for iBooks, Kindle, and Nook. This is the next app on my "to test" list and I can't wait.
AgileBits teases 1Password 4 for OS X
AgileBits has released teaser images and details for the next iteration of its wildly popular 1Password password management software for OS X, as noted by Macworld. 1Password 4 is set to be released this fall (following its release on iOS last December). 1Password 4 will be the first major release to the OS X client since 2009, and with it, users will see a complete redesign and re-engineering of the software. For starters, 1Password 4 is written in native Cocoa, which promises speed improvements and complete compatibility with all the latest OS X services offerings. Getting into the features, 1Password 4 will support multiple logins at the same site, add the ability to mark frequently used items as favorites and support new items like driver's licenses and reward cards. A number of sharing and security options have been added as well. Now users can share specific items between the Mac and iOS app by sending them over encrypted email or iMessage. Users can also sort items by password strength or the last time the user changed the password. This gives them insights into how secure their password security measures are. There's no word yet on how much 1Password 4 will cost, but anyone who has bought 1Password 3 through AgileBits' website since January 1, 2013 or at any time via the Mac App Store will get the next version for free. 1Password 3 can currently be purchased for US$49.99.
Dropbox API changes spell sync troubles for older 1Password iOS versions
Dropbox announced some time ago that it would be retiring its original sync API, and it is being officially put out to pasture on September 1 to introduce a new, more secure version. This is good news for a lot of users, but people still using apps that were built on that older API will likely find those apps won't work as expected after the September 1 cut off. This includes the older v3 version of 1Password for the iPhone/iPad and 1Password Pro for iOS. While the password manager will still work in other respects, Dropbox-powered sync won't function. These apps were pulled from the iTunes store last year to make way for 1Password version 4, which means there is no mechanism to release an update for them, but there are still plenty of people using those previous versions. For those who depend on Dropbox sync and haven't yet rolled forward to v4, 1Password developer AgileBits has announced they will be running a limited-time sale on 1Password 4 for iOS, starting at 8 AM Pacific time on August 8, and ending on August 16. The app will sell for US$7.99, more than half off its current price. You can read their explanation of the whole situation over at their blog. While those who have stuck with the older version of 1P are certainly entitled to use it as long as they can, it's nice to see a developer taking steps to help out syncing users who are caught in an API squeeze.
Apple fixes 'spam hole' issue affecting legitimate messages
Recently, TUAW received several emails from users who were attempting to send developers logs for troubleshooting purposes. Those emails, all sent via iCloud email addresses (.mac, .icloud, .me) would vanish before arriving at their destination. Some companies quickly created workarounds so that users seeking assistance could sneak the attachments around what appeared to be a "black hole" devouring emails with extreme prejudice. An email anonymously sent to TUAW from a reader indicates that Apple has stated they are making adjustments on their end and believe the issue has been resolved.
Tweetbot for iOS adds in-line Flickr and Vine viewing
Whatever the platform, Tapbots' Tweetbot is known for supporting in-line content viewing that doesn't always appear in other Twitter clients -- it's a survivor of the Instagram-Twitter fallout, for example. With the launch of version 2.7 updates for iOS, the app may have microblog media well and truly covered. The upgrade adds easy Flickr viewing, to accommodate Instagram exiles, as well as quick peeks at Vine's 6-second video loops. Third-party app integration likewise expands its boundaries: links can now open in either 1Password or Chrome, instead of Safari. Both the iPad and iPhone releases are live today, so hit the relevant links to see the imagery you might have been missing. [In-photo image credit: Steve Kovach, Vine]
Safari-to-1Password search bookmarklet for iOS
1Password on iOS is the best way I've found to manage secure passwords, but the 4.0 version did not make it easy to search for passwords straight from Safari, iCab or another browser (well, not Chrome, which doesn't support bookmarklets). The recent 4.1 release added several bug-fixes and added two URL schemes: Added support for ophttp:// and ophttps:// URLs. To open 1Password from Mobile Safari, simply type "op" in front of the address. Added support for onepassword://search/search_text to open 1Password and perform search. Unfortunately, opening 1Password's browser from Safari (or iCab) isn't really what I want. I want to be able to use iCab and retrieve login information from 1Password. Generally what I want to do is search 1Password for the current domain, but it's not an exact science. For example, if I'm at "www.instapaper.com" I might want to search for "instapaper.com" or just "instapaper". I could have just thrown up an empty prompt, but I didn't want to type any more than I had to, and I still think it's easier to delete what is not necessary than type what is necessary. What I needed was a compromise. Instead of an empty prompt or just automatically searching for current domain, I decided to combine them, and put up a prompt showing the current domain information pre-filled, but editable. It works like this: 1) Tap the bookmarklet and JavaScript prompt will appear with the current domain name pre-filled in the editable area: 2) If you're happy with what's in the prompt area, just tap 'OK' (But in my example I'm going to assume I want to search for 'instapaper' instead of 'www.instapaper.com') 3) Once you have the search term you want, tap 'OK' and Safari will ask you to confirm if you want to open this in 1Password: After you tap 'Open', 1Password will open (prompting for your Master Password if necessary), and then search for the term. Voilà! You can find my bookmarklet at Github. (Again, please note that I don't know JavaScript very well, so I've pieced this together from other examples. If you can make suggestions on how to improve it, please do, either here or at Github.) Update 2013-02-11: Thanks to Duane Toler for suggesting an improvement in the comments below. I have updated the Gist so you will get his corrected version, which will search for the root domain (i.e. 'google.com' rather than 'www.google.com'). Note that the version in the comments has a mismatched quote, but the Github version does not. Remember, you'll need version 4.1 of 1Password on iOS for this to work. Other 1Password for iOS articles you might be interested in: 1) ios-browser-pw-integration: This is proof of concept code that shows how an iOS password management app (like 1Password) could use URL schemes and JavaScript bookmarklets to communicate with mobile Safari and Chrome to make it easier for users to fill in login forms on websites. 2) MacStories has some more information on using the new search terms, including a bookmarklet to open the current page from Safari in 1Password's internal browser.
1Password 4 for iOS offers new interface, favorites, more
AgileBits has updated 1Password for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to version 4 with many super new changes. It's got a beautiful new look and very handy features such as favorites, a built-in tabbed browser, a brand-new setup process and even a "demo mode" for showing off to friends without presenting all of your data. I've spent a few days with 1Password 4 and am happy to report my findings. Looks As they say in Hollywood, 1Password has had some work done. The whole UI has had a major facelift, and it looks good. Right off the bat you'll notice that the lock screen is new. Enter your master password, and you're brought the favorites screen. The icons in the bottom toolbar have changed, too. In the old version they were: Logins Accounts Notes Passwords More In 1Password 4, you've got: Favorites Categories Folders Settings Browser Tap any one to jump right to it. Icons used in the settings and categories screens are clear and descriptive while notes, logins, passwords and software information are also easily identified by their familiar icons. Everything is legible, clear and immediately understandable. Good work to AgileBit's visual and interaction design teams. %Gallery-173286% Use For many, 1Password is a mission-critical utility, including myself. I use it to store all sorts of super important information such as passwords, serial numbers, registration info, identities and more. I take it seriously, and it's clear that the folks at AglieBits understand that. Some evidence of this is the greatly improved browser. With the previous version of 1Password, the browser experience was sub-par. I'd come to a site that requires a password in mobile Safari, jump to 1Password, copy my credentials, jump back to mobile Safari and past them in. With version 4 I'm happy to stay in the app's browser. It's faster than its predecessor and, best of all, makes it super easy to enter your saved credentials. To get started, swipe the browser tab on the far right of the bottom toolbar. Next, enter a URL and off you go. To enter your saved information, tap the key icon to reveal a slip. Tap the appropriate credentials and you're in. Super easy. You also can open several tabs if you need to jump between pages. This works in a manner similar to mobile Safari, so there's nothing new to learn. Favorites is another one of my favorite features. Previously, I'd have to scroll around until I found the credentials I was looking, for example PayPal or Hulu Plus. Now, I can star them as favorites, and they're available as soon as I enter the master password. Those who use the app a lot and store many passwords will see how wonderfully convenient this is. It's also possible to group your passwords, notes, etc. into folders and categories. Again, this makes things easier to find. But the other feature that gets me all bubbly inside is demo mode. To enter demo mode, first enable it in the advanced settings tab. Then, log back into the app with "demo" as the master password. Now the app displays a full set of demo data. Your real data is hidden. What's the purpose of this? On one hand, I used it to take the screenshots in the gallery above. It's also great for showing the app off to family, friends or coworkers. It also lets you get an idea of how certain features work. You're free to play around and experiment without risking your important information. There are other niceties. Swipe across any item to reveal the new action bar. Trash, favorite or smart copy right then and there. Sync options include Dropbox, iTunes file sharing and, finally, iCloud. Plus, 1Password 4 lets you view attachments, just like the desktop version. Conclusion There's a lot to like in this utility. It feels like a whole new app. It looks and performs better than it has. For those who seriously depend on it (like me), that's very good news. 1Password 4 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is available in the App Store now for a special introductory price of $7.99 (it's full price will be $17.99). Yes, it's a separate purchase, but definitely worth it.
AgileBits teases 1Password 4
AgileBits has teased the release of 1Password 4 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (see video below). I've been playing with a beta for a while and I'm eager to share it with you. There are lots of compelling changes. Look for our review when it finally launches. In the meantime, this brief blog post from AgileBits will hold you over.
1Password 4 simplifies security
If you're a digital security junkie -- and you really should be -- you're probably already familiar with developer AgileBits and its 1Password app. With versions available for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, the app is one of the more popular all-in-one security options for users who need to store everything from software keys to credit card numbers. The latest version, 1Password 4, is approaching launch, and iMore went hands-on with the unreleased app to get a closer look. Unlike the current version of 1Password for iPhone and iPad, 1Password 4 simplifies the login process, requiring just one master password in order to browse your digital secrets. Things like logins, credit card info, random passwords, bank accounts, and software keys are organized into categories, and often-used items can be tagged as favorites so you see them right away. You can also organize items into folders based on any criteria you want, and add custom names accordingly. And if you're having a hard time finding something you added previously, there's a handy search function built right in. Cloud storage devotees will be pleased to know that the new app includes iCloud and Dropbox support, and both can now be used simultaneously. AgileBits hasn't yet announced a release date for its revamped security suite, but given how far along the app appears to be, we'd expect it sooner rather than later.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Help! I bought my dad an iPad!
Dear Aunt TUAW, I wish I had never given my Dad that iPad. When he and my Mom were going on a driving trip, I asked if he wanted 3G service. He says "Sure", so I set it up. Now he's complaining about shelling out $30 a month to AT&T, so I'm telling him to cancel the service. Except he doesn't know what his password is and I think he's putting in the wrong email address (HE ONLY HAS TWO). And he doesn't read my emails explaining all this. I thought about installing 1Password, but my dad would forget that the application is on the iPad (or his Mac for that matter). Is there a way to do LogMeIn sessions to an iPad (controlling the iPad)? Without jailbreaking? Auntie needs to write an app: "Control Dad's/Mom's iPad." Help! Your loving nephew, Peter Dear Peter, In this world, there are things you can control (what's for dinner, what to watch on Netflix, what to wear for that hot date) and things you cannot (your dad, your cat, and your dad's iPad). This is, as you have probably already guessed, a human and not a technological problem. If you can, try calling instead of emailing. You might want to plan a trip out to visit your Dad (and fix up his iPad in person) or surrender to the knowledge that even if you call, the chances are slim that he will follow your directions or listen to your advice. There are things in life that cannot be fixed with technology. Unfortunately, Apple does not (yet) offer any remote administration tools for iPad. Their configuration tools for on-site administration provide a way to mass-configure large groups of iPads and iPhones, but there's no Apple Remote Desktop-like tool available for iOS devices. One of the members of Auntie's bridge club suggested using a combination of Skype, Reflector, mirroring and screen sharing to walk him through the problem, but if dear old Dad is having issues getting other things working, it's unlikely that he'd be able to get this setup without assistance. Your options might expand with jailbreaking and VNC, but it sounds like you've ruled that out completely. Do Auntie's other nieces and nephews have advice for Peter? Jump into the comments and share your thoughts. Hugs, Auntie T.
Sonos, 1Password apps receive Retina updates
A couple of well-known apps have received updates today providing all of the Retina display love that you've been waiting for. 1Password for Mac and the Sonos Controller apps for iPhone and iPad now have bazillions of more pixels for your viewing pleasure. Over at AgileBits, ex-TUAWer David Chartier noted that "Our valiant designer, Dan Peterson, just got done hand-crafting over three and a half million new pixels just for you, owners of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display. And boy is his paint brush tired! ba-dum" The update to 1Password 3.9.6 for Mac is free for Mac App Store customers, while those who purchased the app via the website get a free upgrade to 1Password 3.8.20 for Mac (go to 1Password > Check for Updates). Next, if you have a Sonos wireless HiFi system, you'll be happy to know that the Sonos Controller apps for iPhone and iPad have high-resolution graphics designed for Retina display devices. Sonos also noted that they've added the ability to use the hard volume buttons on your favorite iOS device to control your Sonos system volume.
Norton introduces a password manager, Identity Safe (updated)
Norton, better known for its antivirus software, is attempting to take on AgileBits' 1Password with the release of Identity Safe, a password manager for the Mac. Like 1Password, it takes over the task of remembering passwords and generating new ones, keeping the information stored in the cloud. Norton is trying to lure in new customers by offering Identity Safe for free until October 1. There are versions of Identity Safe available for Mac and iOS. However, unlike 1Password which stands on its own, the iOS app is dependent on having the Mac version of Identity Safe installed. A review for the iOS app has criticized Norton for not making Identity Safe compatible with other Norton software that has password security built in. Update: Despite advertising that a Mac version of Identity Safe is available, including links on Norton's site, the download link states that Mac OS is not supported at this time ... even though it's required to utilize the iOS version of Identity Safe. Update (4/24): Norton has informed TUAW that the Mac version of Identity Safe is now available for download.
A very handy 1Password tip
I can't vouch for everyone out there, but at least amongst the blogging tribe here at TUAW, 1Password (from Agile Bits) is an indispensable piece of utility software. Now former TUAW blogger and current Evernote expert Brett Kelly has documented a cool 1Password tip that I'd like to pass along. Brett notes that he didn't come up with the idea for this tip; he heard it on an episode of the Back to Work podcast and just wrote it up for easier consumption. So, what's this handy tip? Well, it's a way of creating a browser bookmark that will not only open a commonly used website, but also "automatically fire up 1Password and fill in the login for you." That makes it possible to make one little click on your bookmark bar and get logged into a website in seconds. Whenever I can, I like to donate whole blood to a local blood center, so I decided to make logging onto their website for scheduling a donation a one-click proposition. To do this, I launched 1Password on my Mac and looked at the list of all of my logins that are stored in the app. Next, I positioned the 1Password window next to the browser. I had already captured the login information in 1Password previously, which included my email address, birthday, and a password. I dragged the login "button" in 1Password up to my browser's bookmark bar as shown below, and dropped it on the bookmark bar. Now, with a click of the bookmark the page for the blood center is loaded and I'm automatically logged in, ready to set up my next appointment. It's a lot like magic! To quote Brett, "I was a huge fan of 1Password before I learned about this little trick. Now I wish I could physically hug it." Me too, Brett.
