Today Google Calendar for both Android and iOS gains a handy new Reminders feature that works alongside the app’s to-dos feature.

With the Reminders feature, users will be able to keep track of to-do lists across Google platforms including Inbox, Google Keep, Google Now, and Calendar.

Here’s how the new reminders work:

You might already create calendar entries to remind you to call the doctor or pick up groceries on the way home. But while those entries come and go, Reminders stick with you over time so you can track them until they are actually done. If a Reminder isn’t completed, it will appear at the top of your Calendar the next day. And the next. When you do finally call the doctor or pick up those necessities, just swipe the Reminder away … and you’re onto the next to-do.

And since the reminders work across Google apps, you can create them from Inbox, Google Keep, Calendar, and even using Google Now voice commands: “Ok Google, remind me to buy birthday candles.”

The new Reminders feature for Calendar on Android and iOS is rolling out this week. Google says it will come to the web apps in the near future. The updated Google Calendar app for iOS also adds 3D Touch to create events or reminders.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: Google Calendar, inbox, keep ok google, Reminders, to-dos

Visit 9to5Mac to find more special coverage of Apps, Reminders, and inbox.

What do you think? Discuss “Google launches Reminders to bring to-dos into Calendar mobile apps” with our community.

The iPhone is an amazing device. It fits in a pocket, yet it’s an incredibly powerful computer that connects us to the world, entertains us wherever we go, and captures quality photos and videos.

However, some of the iPhone’s tricks are hidden until you connect it to specific accessories. Did you know, for example, that you can save energy on your Christmas lights using your iPhone? Or improve the quality of your sleep with an iPhone-connected sensor? Or turn your car into a giant Siri-controlled entertainment and communications system? These accessories range in price from affordable to expensive, making them perfect gifts for iPhone users who want to unlock new capabilities. Read on to discover these hidden features, as well as the accessories you should grab or put on your wish list to unlock them…

Siri and HomeKit

You may be familiar with Siri, the smart assistant built in to the iPhone, but did you know Siri can dim your lights, control your temperature, and turn off appliances? Using Apple-approved smart home accessories with a feature called HomeKit, you can enable Siri to do all this and more around your house.

One of HomeKit’s coolest early capabilities is wireless light control. Philips Hue White & Color Ambience Starter Kit ($192) includes three color-shifting 800 lumen LED bulbs, plus a HomeKit bridge that lets you tell Siri to “dim the lights to 50%,” “turn off the porch light,” or “set lamps to movie mode.” Once you have the Kit, you can add rooms with Hue White & Color Bulbs ($60), or less expensive Hue White Bulbs ($20) without color-changing features. For a bedroom, grab a Hue Dimmer Switch ($25) so you can still flip the lights on and off when you don’t want to bother Siri. And download the free OnSwitch app, which includes a simple iOS virtual light switch widget and Apple Watch app.

Want to tell Siri to turn on and off certain appliances? Connect an iHome Control SmartPlug iSP5 ($40) to add Siri, app control, and automation to any two- or three-prong plugged accessory around the house. This year the lights on my Christmas tree connect to one of these, adding a physical on/off switch to the ordinary Christmas lights. My tree also automatically turns on at 6 am, turns off at 11 pm, and can turn on or off anytime if I ask Siri. SmartPlug is also offered in discounted 2-packs ($75), 3-packs ($110), and 4-packs ($150) for placing more plugs in more places.

Ready to turn up the heat with Siri? The ecobee3 Smarter Wi-Fi Thermostat + Sensor ($249) lets you check, change, and control the temperature in your house using Siri. Optionally, you can buy a starter kit with two additional sensors ($325) for more accurate presence and temperature detection. If you just want to be able to ask Siri what the temperature is inside, Elgato Eve Room ($80) is a wireless indoor sensor that lets you do just that plus check humidity and air quality. Elgato Eve Weather ($50) is an outdoor sensor that lets Siri check your hyperlocal outdoor temperature and humidity level.

HomeKit works with Siri across different brands and manufacturers so you can actually create scenes that trigger multiple events. For example, you could tell Siri to “set movie night” to lower the lights, turn down the temperature, and power off the Christmas tree all in one command. See my colleague Benjamin’s HomeKit Gift Guide for more ideas in this area.

Health and HealthKit

Everyone’s iPhone with iOS 8 or later has a built-in app called Health that can show you steps walked and flights of stairs climbed, but there are a few accessories that you can buy to unlock other useful data points in the Health app. Apple’s app and third-party apps can optionally share this information with each other to build a better overall picture of your fitness and health through something called HealthKit.

This may already be on your shopping list: any Apple Watch (from $349) features heart rate tracking and better step tracking, but not sleep tracking. For measuring how well you’re resting, how long you’re in bed and actually asleep, and viewing the data on your iPhone through the Health app, I recommend Beddit Sleep Tracker and Wellness Coach ($99, reg. $150). The sensor lays comfortably beneath your sheet and connects to the iPhone over Bluetooth to measure how well you’re sleeping and offer tips to sleep better.

Health can also track your weight, and adding a smart scale can make the process as easy as remembering to weigh yourself. Easy@Home Bluetooth Body Fat Digital Scale ($64, reg. $100) wirelessly connects to the iPhone to catch your weight when you weigh and adds the number to the Health app so you can view your changes over time. Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer (pictured, $60) is a 1-second accurate temperature reader that provides medical guidance using age, symptoms, and temperature; Kinsa Smart Thermometer ($20) is a more affordable and traditional option. Both connect to iPhones and use HealthKit to share the temperature with the Health app and optionally other health-related apps. iHealth BP7 Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor ($57, reg. $80) enables critical blood pressure readings that you can easily reference by hour, day, week, month, and year through Apple’s Health app.

Apps and CarPlay

While it’s never a good idea to fidget with a smartphone when operating a vehicle, iPhones have a special mode called CarPlay that optimizes the user interface for driving. Notifications that aren’t phone calls and text messages are silenced, and Siri voice controls access the iPhone’s UI, so you don’t need to use your eyes. Apps including Music, Maps, and Podcasts also can be displayed on a car’s larger in-dash screen for easy control with fewer distractions.

One way to unlock CarPlay is a new car with one of those giant bows on top. But there’s also a more affordable option: Pioneer AppRadio 4 ($428, reg. $600) is an aftermarket, 6″ touchscreen display that can be installed in most cars to replace existing entertainment systems, adding CarPlay for a fairly reasonable price. Alpine ILX-007 ($589, reg. $600) lacks Bluetooth and CD playback but still features AM/FM radio and features a larger, 7″ touchscreen display with CarPlay. If you want to gift the top of the line aftermarket solution, Pioneer 8100 NEX ($1083, reg. $1400) features a gorgeous 7″ touchscreen capacitive display with Bluetooth, CD/DVD playback, HD radio, GPS, and more. For the full CarPlay story, see my original review and iOS 9 revisit plus a running list of apps that work with it.

Everything Else

Still need gift buying ideas? See our other 9to5Mac Holiday Gift Guides including everything iPhone, iPad, Mac, photography, entertainment, audio, hot tech, stocking stuffers, and HomeKit, plus stay tuned for more editor picks this week and watch 9to5Toys for all the latest deals and more.

Filed under: Buying Guides, CarPlay, HomeKit, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple watch, CarPlay, Health, HealthKit, homekit, iOS, iPhone, Siri

For more information about iOS Devices, iPhone, and iOS continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “9to5Mac Holiday Gift Guide: Zac’s picks to unlock hidden iPhone features” with our community.

Today Apple’s iTunes Store is getting some exclusive content from The Beatles with the “1+” collection consisting of 50 restored videos.

The videos are a mix of promotional and music videos that the group released over the years together with some new audio and video commentary from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. You’ll also find a 124-page illustrated book with information accompanying the videos.

The press release notes that the videos have been completely remastered with new stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround audio mixes, while the video itself was taken from 35mm negatives scanned in 4K and digitally restored.

An 18-person team of film and video technicians and restoration artists was assembled by Apple Corps to undertake painstaking frame-by-frame cleaning, color-grading, digital enhancement and new edits that took months of dedicated, ’round-the-clock work to accomplish. The new audio mixes were produced from the original analogue tapes by the GRAMMY® winning team of Giles Martin with Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios. Jeff Lynne, the original producer of “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” remixed the audio for those two videos with engineer Steve Jay.

The 1+ video collection follows the “1” collection originally released on iTunes in 2011 featuring 27 of the group’s most popular singles.

Apple for a long time struggled to get The Beatles content onto its iTunes Store and later services like iTunes Radio after years of attempting to reach an agreement with the group’s record label Apple Corp. The two eventually reached a deal to get The Beatles catalogue for sale on the iTunes Store and streaming on iTunes Radio, but the content is not yet available on Apple’s recently launched Apple Music subscription streaming service. Last year Apple launched a dedicated channel for The Beatles on its Apple TV platform celebrating the 50th anniversary of the group’s first US television appearance.

Here’s the full list of what’s included in the new “1+” collection available on the iTunes Store now.

The Beatles 1+ 
1. Love Me Do
2. From Me To You
3. She Loves You
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
5. Can’t Buy Me Love
6. A Hard Day’s Night
7. I Feel Fine
8. Eight Days a Week
9. Ticket To Ride
10. Help!
11. Yesterday
12. Day Tripper
13. We Can Work It Out
14. Paperback Writer
15. Yellow Submarine
16. Eleanor Rigby
17. Penny Lane
18. All You Need Is Love
19. Hello, Goodbye
20. Lady Madonna
21. Hey Jude
22. Get Back
23. The Ballad of John and Yoko
24. Something
25. Come Together
26. Let It Be
27. The Long and Winding Road
28. Twist & Shout
29. Baby It’s You
30. Words Of Love
31. Please Please Me
32. I Feel Fine
33. Day Tripper *
34. Day Tripper *
35. We Can Work It Out *
36. Paperback Writer *
37. Rain *
38. Rain *
39. Strawberry Fields Forever
40. Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
41. A Day In The Life
42. Hello, Goodbye *
43. Hello, Goodbye *
44. Hey Bulldog
45. Hey Jude *
46. Revolution
47. Get Back *
48. Don’t Let Me Down
49. Free As A Bird
50. Real Love

VIDEO EXTRAS
Paul McCartney audio commentary
     Penny Lane
Hello, Goodbye
Hey Jude
Strawberry Fields Forever
Ringo Starr filmed introductions
Penny Lane
Hello, Goodbye
Hey Jude
Get Back
Strawberry Fields Forever

Filed under: iOS Tagged: 1, Apple, collection, iTunes, music videos, The Beatles, video

Continue reading more about Apple, iOS, and iTunes at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “The Beatles ‘1+’ collection w/ 50 restored videos now available exclusively on iTunes” with our community.

Last week Apple’s open sourcing of Swift naturally saw the spotlight thrown over Apple’s open source pages. This included a paragraph that claimed Apple was “the first major computer company to make Open Source a key part of its strategy”. Unsurprisingly, this riled some members of the developer community as being disingenuous and untrue.

So Apple has since changed the text to retract the rather outlandish statement with something a bit more muted. Although this statement is technically qualitative and open to many interpretations, Apple isn’t exactly known for its open source contributions. The page now reads as follows:

‘Open source software is at the heart of Apple platforms and developer tools, and Apple continues to contribute and release significant quantities of open source code’.

The claim has been posted on Apple’s site for some time, but received fresh attention last week following the Swift release.

Whether Apple was right or wrong in what is said is actually hard to ascertain. It is true that Apple has maintained open source releases of UNIX all the way back to OS X 10.10 and now manages a host of open source projects including Bonjour, ResearchKit and perhaps most famously WebKit. However, Apple is not the best open source citizen in any of these cases. Apple is slow to release source code in many instances and often holds back code for a big ‘dump’ once the software has shipped, often weeks or months later. Case in point: Apple has not yet released the open-source elements for OS X 10.11 which was released in September.

These kind of ‘code bombs’ are frowned upon as being bad practice for open source, which is part of the reason people rejected Apple’s ‘open source first’ messaging so strongly. Open source advocates want public codebases to be more community oriented, with daily commits being published as the project progresses.

This is exactly how Swift is governed; WebKit is now on this path too although it wasn’t initially. Nowadays, LLVM, WebKit and (looking ahead) Swift mean that Apple is spearheading open source development in a big way. The written claim mentioned Apple’s historic approach to open source however, where the record is not as concrete.

Regardless of subject matter, claims about being the ‘first’ of anything are going to be controversial without sufficient evidence. The open source scene is so widespread and distributed that Apple’s best option was to change the phrasing, even if they believed it to be true themselves, to quell the criticism.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Developers, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: Apple Open Source, Open source, Swift

Visit 9to5Mac to find more special coverage of AAPL Company, iOS Devices, and Tech Industry.

What do you think? Discuss “Apple retracts comment that it was first major open source company after criticism” with our community.

Apple has had a busy year for product launches. In addition to the Apple Watch going on sale as a whole new product category, there wsa the 12-inch MacBook and iPad Pro, each representing quite a radical new take on an existing product category.

But Apple also made some notable improvements to existing lines. The iMac got a 4K and 5K display; the Retina MacBook Pro got Force Touch; and the Apple TV got opened up to a whole new range of software.

We also saw a new iPad mini which was essentially a smaller iPad Air 2, and a refreshed MacBook Air with Broadwell CPU and faster graphics.

Additionally, Apple launched five new peripherals – the Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2, Magic Mouse 2 – and we have a separate poll for those.

So it’s time to ask you to name your Apple Product of the Year and Apple Peripheral of the Year … 

You can only choose one product and one peripheral, which may prove tricky for some! First, the main event:

And then the peripherals:

Please do share the reasons for your choices in the comments – and if it was a close-run thing for you, let us know which were the products you found it hard to choose between.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Apple TV, Apple Watch, iOS Devices, Mac Tagged: Apple TV, Apple watch, iMac, iPhone, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Visit 9to5Mac to find more special coverage of AAPL Company, iOS Devices, and iPhone.

What do you think? Discuss “Poll: Help us choose the award winner for Apple Product of the Year 2015!” with our community.

Twelve South is probably best known for its extremely cute BookBook cases for MacBooks, for iPads and even for iPhones. But it offers a range of other products, including the ParcSlope MacBook stand released earlier this year. Designed for those who don’t want a full desktop docking system but want to raise both keyboard and screen to a more comfortable angle, the device is now seeing a new application: as a stand for the iPad Pro …

It’s a very simple, all-in-one unit. Essentially a single piece of aluminum, bent twice, and with rubber coatings where both the front and back of your device rests on it. It’s sized so that it works for anything from an 11-inch MacBook Air upward.

Although created before the iPad Pro was even confirmed, it could be made for the device, even allowing room to rest the Apple Pencil at the top.

When used with a MacBook, it holds the machine at quite a steep angle (18 degrees), which is necessary if it’s to lift the screen to any meaningful degree.

This does mean the keyboard is sloped rather a lot. When I first tried it, it felt very strange, but I have to say I did very quickly get used to it.

I’m unusual in that I don’t actually like a raised monitor. Indeed, when it came to having a desk made for my office, I actually had a cutout put in so I could drop the level of the monitor down to just above desk level.

But most people do prefer a raised screen, and the ParcSlope is a simple way to achieve it. It also keeps devices cooler by allowing air to circulate underneath. So if you’re looking for a simple way to lift a MacBook to a more ergonomic height on your desk, or want to lift an iPad Pro to the kind of angle many hold a sketchpad, the ParcSlope may well be for you.

The Twelve South ParcSlope costs $49.99. BookBook cases start at $39.98 for iPhones, $59.75 for iPads and $79.95 for MacBooks.

Filed under: Reviews Tagged: iPad Pro, iPad Pro stand, MacBook stand, Twelve South, Twelve South ParcSlope, Twelve South ParcSlope review

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of Reviews, iPad Pro, and Twelve South.

What do you think? Discuss “Mini Review: Twelve South’s ParcSlope gives your iPad Pro or any MacBook a little lift” with our community.

Apple cancelled a talk scheduled to be held yesterday at its Tokyo Ginza retail store after a handwritten bomb threat was received, reports Public Slate. The store was closed for an hour while police searched for explosives, but nothing was found.

The event was to feature guest, Isao Yukisada, a Japanese film director. The director was scheduled to speak at 2 p.m.

It’s not known why the event was targeted.

The store previously made the news when it opened its doors early to allow queuing iPhone customers in before an approaching typhoon hit.

Via CoM

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Retail Store, Apple Store, Apple Store Tokyo, Bomb threat, Japan, Tokyo

Continue reading more about AAPL Company, Apple Store, and Japan at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Bomb scare closes Tokyo Apple Store as handwritten note demands talk be cancelled” with our community.

In an interview to promote Apple’s Hour of Code workshops for kids aged 6 and up, SVP of software engineering Craig Federighi has told the BBC that introducing young children to programming is so important because programming is “the next level of literacy.”

“These devices are so much a part of our lives, we have a computer in some form wherever we go, that the ability to create in that medium is as fundamental as the ability to write,” he said […]

He says programming should be seen as a “language and a way of thinking”. And while many young people have a great facility in using devices, he says being able to programme them is the “next level of literacy”.

Federighi, who first began to experiment with code when he was ten years old, said that Apple also wanted to dispel one of the myths of life as a software engineer … 

He said that the geeky image of poorly-dressed programmers in a very solitary occupation was out-dated.

People sometimes have a view of programming that is something solitary and very technical. But programming is among the most creative, expressive and social careers.

It’s an incredibly creative medium, not unlike music, and there’s a tremendous cross-over between people who programme and musicians.

Federighi rejected an OECD claim that the use of technology in education offered no discernable benefit.

There’s no question in my mind of the value in technology in fuelling young minds.

Like any other tool, if you simply throw it in the classroom, and don’t consider how best to take advantage of that tool, and you try the old ways with a new piece of technology on the desk, it’s no panacea.

But the potential of the technology when well applied is phenomenal.

Apple was keen, he said, to use its retail stores more extensively for training and education.

Photo: An Hour of Code workshop in a Shanghai Apple Store last year

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Retail Store, Apple Store, craig federighi, Hour of Code, Hour of Code workshops, Programming, software development

Visit 9to5Mac to find more special coverage of AAPL Company, Apple Store, and Apple Retail Store.

What do you think? Discuss “Craig Federighi promotes Hour of Code workshops, saying programming is “the next level of literacy”” with our community.

As promised by Eddy Cue earlier in the year, Apple has now raised the limits on iTunes Match and Apple Music library for matched songs from 25,000 to 100,000 songs.

Cue had previously announced on Twitter that Apple was aiming for 100k for iOS 9 and just in time for the holidays, that promise has been fulfilled. This means users with larger music libraries can now enjoy the benefits of matching songs in the iTunes Cloud to make them available on all their devices. Matching songs gives another option for people who cannot afford the more expensive 64 GB and 128 GB iPhone models by offloading local music storage to the cloud.

It is not unusual for home music collections to surpass 25,000 songs so the initial limits were unfeasible for many users. Most, but admittedly not all, libraries should fall in the 100k quota however. iCloud Music Library access is available through either Apple Music or iTunes Match. Both services offer the same match/upload music locker feature, with Apple Music building on top of that a full streaming subscription service for $9.99 a month.

Apple is bolstering its Apple Music service significantly in the last few months of the year. It rolled out Apple Music for Android in November and has announced support for Sonos home speaker systems beginning December 15th. The full rollout for Apple Music + Sonos will launch in 2016.

Thanks Stephanie for the heads up.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Apple Music, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: Apple Music, iOS, itunes limits

Continue reading more about AAPL Company, iOS Devices, and Tech Industry at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Apple raises iTunes Match iCloud Music Library limit to 100k songs, up from 25k” with our community.

Inexpensive basic earphones are very common, but not all of them actually deliver in terms of sound and build quality. The BSX Basix earphones actually offer reasonably high quality audio performance for their cost. Continue reading for the quick review (plus rules for the giveaway) …

In the box there are the earphones, storage pouch, clothing clip and an additional 2 different sized ear tips for a total of three different sizes: small, medium and large.

The earphones are constructed out of aluminum, giving them a shiny appearance and makes them feel tough and durable. They are extremely light weight at 1.6 ounces, despite being constructed out of aluminum.

The Basix have 8mm drivers which deliver deep bass and has clear, crisp timbre. Mid range sound is very balanced. They are noise isolating and do a great job at blocking out the background noise, and out beats Beats in ear headphones in audio performance for the price. While I was testing them, running at the gym on the treadmill, I had to take them completely out of my ears in order to catch up with friends. Once I put them back in immediately could not hear anything in the background.

The Basix fit me nicely and felt very light on my ears. While working out they did stay in my ears, without me having to fidget with. Usually when I run I use Bluetooth headphones and have my iPod nano strapped onto my arm, so I’m not use to dealing with long headphone cords. Occasionally, somehow I got my arms tangled in the cords while running and instead of completely yanking the earphones out of my ear or yanking the earphones and ear tips out separately, the ear tips stayed securely in my ears with the headphones popping out, indicating how secure and snug they fit. (Yes, I’ve learned my lesson: use the clothing clip).

Even though the cable doesn’t have the remote and mic on it, the cable is sleek. It consists of a dual-flat cable, which prevents them from tangling. With many earphones in the past, I’ve always experienced tangled cables. It was always frustrating and time-consuming trying to untangle them, or sometimes the cables broke due to being tangled, which prevented me from using them.

The benefits of the BSX Basix include noise isolating, with deep bass and balanced mid range, tangle free cords and featherlight weight. If you are looking for in-ear headphones under $40 price range, I recommend the BSX Basix. Normally $39.00, street prices currently go as low as  $14.96 with three colors options available: white/red, black/red, and black/white. Bonus: share this article on Twitter over the next 48 hours to enter our giveaway for US readers; be sure to follow @9to5Mac to be notified if you win.

Filed under: Reviews Tagged: BSX Audio Basix, earphones, giveaway, review

For more information about Reviews, review, and giveaway continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Quick Review + Giveaway: BSX Audio Basix earphones go beyond basic” with our community.