Review: iDevices ‘Socket’ adds HomeKit support & iPhone app control to any lightbulb
Pokémon Go on iOS update addresses account log-in process, crashing issues, more
Pokémon GO has just received an update on iOS that will hopefully address some of the biggest complaints it has received in the past week. Today’s update puts a focus on improving the account process for users including fixing the Google full account access scope issue. Users should also no longer have to re-enter their credentials after they’ve been forcefully logged out, and the some issues with crashes should be resolved as well. Full release notes can be read after the jump.
Filed under: Apple
9to5Toys Lunch Break: Bose SoundSport headphones $50, Sandisk Flash Drives 40% off, iPad Air 2 from $300, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Prime Day best ever Bose deals: SoundSport in ears: $50, SoundTrue for Apple: $100 Prime shipped
Prime Day: Amazon is taking up to 40% off a trove SanDisk flash drives, SSDs, memory cards and more
Apple iPad Air 2 Tablet w/ Retina Display $100 off: 16GB $300, 64GB $400, plus more options
Today Only! Prime Day Deals:
Tech:
- Samsung’s best-selling 28″ 4K Ultra HD Monitor: $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
- Print photos from your phone in under a min w/ the Polaroid ZIP for $89 shipped (Orig. $130)
- Get a Google ASUS OnHub Dual Band AC1900 wireless router: $130 shipped
- iOttie’s latest smartphone mounts for iPhone, Android are 25% off today, priced from $15
- Panasonic’s eneloop battery Power Pack gets a Prime Day discount: $44 (20% savings)
- A 4GB ASUS C200MA Chromebook for $140 new? It must be Prime Day
- Prime Day Save 25-40% on Huawei: Nexus 6P 64GB: $404, Stainless Watch starting at $176
- Prime Day: Moto X Pure 32GB w/ 21MP cam and QuadHD display: $250 shipped today
- Smartphone Accessories: Bestek mini 1000mAh Power Bank $5 Prime shipped (Reg. $8), more
- Your Prime Day GoPro: HERO Session with Remote, 32GB MicroSD, and Carrying Case: $200
- Daily Deals: 2-Pack of ReVIVE Surge Protector and 2-Port USB Adapters $15
Amazon Devices:
- Amazon’s Fire TV streaming media players are each receiving Prime Day discounts from $25
- Prime Day: Amazon offers deep discounts on two of its smart speakers – Echo $130, Tap $100
- Prime Day brings huge discounts on Amazon’s Kindle/Fire tablets, prices start at $33
Home:
- TP-LINK Wi-Fi Smart Plug monitors energy use and has Alexa control for $30 (25% savings)
- Philips Hue 2nd Gen Starter Kit lets you control your LED lights w/ Siri: $125 shipped (Reg. $200)
- Stainless steel Contigo travel mugs to $16 shipped for Prime Day (Orig. $25)
- Stop vacuuming like an animal: iRobot Roomba Robot is just $250 ($130 off)
- Amazon up to 50% off: Oral-B Bluetooth toothbrush $90, Crest Whitestrips $30, more
- Home Improvement: Drill sets: $110+, Electric Mowers $250, 210 Piece Tool set $75, more
- Amazon offers the 6-qt KitchenAid Stand Mixer at special Prime Day pricing: $249 shipped
Games:
- Xbox One 3-game bundles w/ 2 controllers, $50 Amazon GC $279 shipped (up to $460+ value)
- Games/Apps: Doom from $30, Far Cry Primal from $25, New 3DS XL $175, iOS freebies, more
- The Exploding Kittens card game is only $15 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
Gift Cards/Other:
- Don’t miss this Prime Day deal! Nab a free $10 Amazon credit w/ the purchase of a $50 gift card
- Amazon Prime Day toys: Google Cardboard Viewmaster VR pack: $13, more
- Going to sign up for Comcast? You should get a Prime Day exclusive $400 Amazon gift card
- Amazon Warehouse offers extra 20% off for Prime members on open-box/pre-owned goods
- Save up to 60% on running shoes from Adidas, New Balance, ASICS
- Prime members can grab a LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for just $15 shipped today (Reg. $20+)
Prime Day! Get the Philips Hue White Starter Kit (2nd gen) w/ HomeKit for $60 (Reg. $80) wp.me/p1xTlR-TDj https://t.co/CvSQRV9b5W
—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 12, 2016
App Store Free App of the Week: LOOPIMAL music making app goes free for the first time (Reg. $3)
Grab the best Mac app from 2015 Affinity Photo for $40 (Reg. $50)
Apple offering free download of sketching app Procreate via Apple Store app
One of the best sniper titles on the App Store just went 50% off: Hitman Sniper $1 (Reg. $2)
Roundup: Always have a Lightning cable nearby with one of these handy keychains
Choosing the best mic for your Mac, iPad and iPhone without breaking the bank
Cable management can be frustrating, here’s a few simple (and inexpensive) products I use to keep it under control
Short Lightning cables are more useful than you’d think, here are the best MFi options
Apple’s Thunderbolt Display is dead: These are the best 4K & 5K displays for Mac
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
Anker surprises w/ new discounts on iPhone cases, USB chargers & more in advance of Prime Day
UE MEGABOOM waterproof, 20-hr Bluetooth Speaker refurb black: $169 shipped (Orig. $300)
Here’s a stainless steel Apple Watch band in Silver or Space Gray for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $26)
Filed under: Apple
PSA: In iOS 10 beta, anyone can reply to your iMessages from the lock screen
At least in the current beta seed, the iOS 10 lock screen has a bit of a loophole due to the new expanded notification system that developers and public beta users should be aware of. In short: anyone can view and reply to iMessages or text messages from the lock screen without entering the device passcode or authenticating with Touch ID. This security issue persists even while the ‘Reply With Message’ setting is disabled and applies to other apps like Twitter as well.
This means that anyone can reply to messages if you are running the iOS 10 developer or public beta. Occasionally, the phone will correctly ask for passcode input, but in the majority of cases in our testing iOS 10 allowed us to reply freely without fingerprint or passcode. To try this out for yourself, follow the steps after the jump …
Filed under: Apple
Report: Apple considering local repair center in Russia following customer lawsuit over broken iPhone screen
According to The Moscow Times, Apple is planning to open a central center for iOS device repair in Russia after a lawsuit argued Apple does not sufficiently supports its products in the country. Dmitry Petrov raised a lawsuit last year that Apple chain stores and service companies were not equipped to deal with screen repair problems, having refused a device replacement or paying for an outside company to perform the repair.
Filed under: Apple
Developer uncovers early Dark Mode appearance for some system apps on macOS Sierra
It appears Apple may be working to expand the Dark Mode feature for macOS. Introduced with Yosemite, OS X Dark Mode changes the appearance of just the Dock and menubar to a black translucent style rather than white/silver.
A developer/hacker on Twitter has seemingly found a way to activate a more comprehensive dark appearance for some system apps such as Safari or System Preferences, as pictured. It’s unclear what method or technique the developer is using to activate this and there’s no indication that this headed to public release anytime soon.
Filed under: Apple
iPhone 7 Plus highlighted in latest leaks, shows Smart Connector included on 5.5 inch model
Following our clearest look yet at the 4.7 inch phone yesterday, this morning photos of the larger 5.5 inch ‘iPhone 7 Plus’ have purportedly appeared on Weibo. Some sources have described the 5.5 inch model as a separate SKU, an ‘iPhone 7 Pro’ as it were, although whether this will come to pass is unclear. These latest iPhone 7 photos once again show a very similar design to the iPhone 6s Plus … with the interesting addition of a Smart Connector, visible at the bottom of the device on the back side.
There have also been rumors of a flush capacitive Home Button in the cards for iPhone 7. Although the quality of these photos are not very clear, it does appear that the Home Button design has been tweaked. More details after the jump …
Filed under: Apple
Apple donates $1 million to aid rescue and reconstruction in China following mass flooding
Via USA Today, Apple has become the first US company to donate to China aid efforts following the mass flooding and rainfall in the region since June. The natural disaster has affected over 30 million people in 500 cities; 164 people have been killed in the tragedy.
Although a million dollar donation pales in contrast to Apple’s total business, the donation will significantly help relief efforts in China and Apple is the only American company to offer financial support so far. Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the catastrophe on Chinese social media site Weibo.
Filed under: Apple
Here are the winners of the 9th annual iPhone Photography Awards
The annual iPhone Photography Awards have recognized the top images taken with an iPhone as well as the top iPhone photographers for the last 9 years, and now this year’s winners have been unveiled. This year, “thousands” of images were submitted from photographers across 139 countries, but the grand price went to Chinese photographer Siyuan Niu for an image he called “Man and the Eagle.”
Filed under: Apple
Niantic says Pokémon Go having full Google account access is an error, fix incoming
Earlier today, it was reported that Pokémon Go was gaining full access to many users’ Google accounts. Google itself says that applications with “full account access can see and modify nearly all information in your Google Account.” Niantic, however, has now issued a statement confirming that Pokémon Go having full account access is a mistake.
Filed under: Apple