Tag Archives: iOS 8

What the Tech?! Handoff

Leave a reply
Apple Handoff — I'll take the next leg on this one

Quick Summary

  • Yapp explains Apple Handoff and why it matters in the broader mobile tech ecosystem.
  • The post gives readers a quick, simple overview of a useful Apple feature.
  • Readers who want approachable consumer tech explainers will benefit most from this article.

Handoff, n;

This feature from Apple syncs your iOS devices and allows you to work seamlessly between them all. If you’re working on something on your computer but have to run, you can easily switch to your phone and pick up where you left off. This works whether you’re writing an email or browsing the news.

Handoff comes in conjunction with other continuity updates, like those that let you answer calls and texts on your Mac. These all require iOS 8 on your phone or tablet and OS X Yosemite on your Mac. With Handoff, when your devices are within Bluetooth range and recognize one another over a WiFi network, you’ll be alerted on the device you’re working on that you can switch over to the connected device nearby. The list of compatible apps is limited — and almost entirely from Apple — including Mail, iCal, Messages, Maps, Safari, and Keynote, among a few others.

The feature works fully with iPhone 5 or later, new iPads (Airs and Minis), and the newest iPod touch when connected to MacBooks, Mac Pros, Mac mini’s and iMacs. Once Handoff is enabled in settings, Bluetooth is on on all devices, and their connected to the same WiFi network, the multitasking can begin.

3 Highlights from Apple’s Announcement Event

Leave a reply

Quick Summary

  • Yapp recaps three key highlights from Apple’s announcement event in a quick, readable format.
  • The post gives readers a simple summary of major takeaways from a big tech moment.
  • Readers who want a short tech event recap will benefit most from this article.

In case you missed the Internet exploding earlier (or, if you were watching Apple’s live stream of the event), Apple introduced a slew of new products today at a hyped event in Cupertino, Calif. The team unveiled new phones, the rumored watch, and more. Here are the highlights you need to know for this afternoon’s watercooler talk.
 

What the Tech?! iOS 8

Leave a reply

Quick Summary

  • Yapp explains iOS 8 and highlights why Apple’s update mattered in the mobile world.
  • The post gives readers a simple overview of a major mobile operating system release.
  • Readers curious about Apple software updates and mobile trends will benefit most from this article.

184427552

iOS 8, n;

Apple’s newest operating system, which features a variety of competitive new features. The upgrade was unveiled after much speculation at Monday’s keynote presentation during the Worldwide Developers Conference, an annual event that Apple sponsors to showcase developer technologies. At last year’s conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook and team unveiled iOS 7, which was an extreme design upheaval. iOS 8 is less about design changes and more about competitive functionality updates.

We wrote about 5 of our favorite features just after the keynote yesterday, but there are a ton of cool things on the way. Along with new apps and app bundles like Home Kit (which gathers all of your smart-controlled gadget apps) and HealthKit (which measures all of your health and fitness stats across apps), iOS 8 is introducing a lot of interconnectivity. Apps will be able to communicate with one another better for seamless movement between them using extensions. So, when you take a picture, you can then open up an editing app in your camera roll and edit the photo there.

Apple is also introducing widgets (easily accessible apps within your notification center) and third-party keyboard integrations, meaning iOS users can now indulge in Swype and other gesture-based keyboards. Many of the iOS 8 updates have opened up the system to more customization and personalization, taking a big jab at the Android systems that are known for that flexibility.

iOS 8 is now working in beta, and will be released to the public in the fall. Are you excited to upgrade?

Read more about the new features in iOS 8 and all that was announced at yesterday’s keynote at The Verge’s live blog.

5 App Updates You’ll Love from iOS 8

Leave a reply

Quick Summary

  • Yapp shares five app-related updates tied to iOS 8 that users should know about.
  • The post helps readers understand practical changes that affect how apps work and feel on Apple devices.
  • iPhone users and app-focused readers will benefit most from this roundup.
WWDC-2014-Grid-61-1024x576
If you missed Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference on Monday morning, we can catch you up to date.
 
Here are our favorite app updates from the conference, presented by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook from WWDC.

Continue reading →

What the Tech?! Healthkit

Leave a reply

Quick Summary

  • Yapp explains Healthbook and why health-focused mobile tools were drawing attention.
  • The post gives readers a quick overview of a trend at the intersection of mobile tech and wellness.
  • Readers interested in health tech and Apple-related innovation will benefit most from this article.

UPDATE: Apple just announced Healthkit (not Healthbook, as was rumored) as part of it’s iOS 8 update. Check out more updates on iOS 8 on our blog!


Healthbook

Healthkit, n;

A feature of the upcoming iOS 8 that can measure and keep track of a variety of health information. Healthkit — previously codenamed Healthbook  — is a native iOS app that works with all of the built in sensors to give you a full report of your health. It is the flagship feature of the iOS 8 release, which might be released at the company’s WWDC developer conference next month.

The app will be able to track blood pressure, hydration levels, heart rate and potentially glucose levels to provide a comprehensive health check-in for times between doctor check-ups. Each function is represented by a card which can be customized and organized depending on what’s important to you. While there are tons of apps out there that you can use to measure what you eat, how much activity you get, and your general health, Healthkit will be able to store all of those things in one place.

One of the coolest features of Healthkit that hasn’t saturated the health app market yet is the ability to measure blood sugar, oxygen and (it is rumored) alcohol levels. Millions of people live with Type 1 and 2 diabetes, and Apple’s jump into the glucose-monitoring market could provide a much more streamlined and simple way to keep track of blood sugar levels.

Along with a lot of cool health trackers, Healthkit will also have an emergency card where you can set all of your pertinent information, store emergency contacts, and set alerts for medications. In the future, the Healthkitproject could sync with other wearables, like the rumored iWatch, and will probably connect to already established health apps so that none of your history is lost.