Apple apologizes to developers for recent ‘damaged’ Mac App Store apps bug, fix coming in future OS X update

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Apple has emailed developers about the recent damaged apps bug affecting a sizeable proportion of the OS X user base with some getting repeated errors on app launch. Whilst a reboot should be enough to invalidate and reload the certificate cache for most people, there are some weird edge cases. Apple says that a permanent fix for the caching issue will be included in a future OS X software update.

The email is effectively Apple apologising to developers for the store platform problems, which caused many customers to understandably, but incorrectly, point blame at the app developers, not Apple.

The issue arose for several reasons, including the certificate expiration and a switch from SHA-1 to SHA-2 hashing. Older versions of OpenSSL in apps could not handle the SHA-2 format. Apple has reverted back to using a SHA-1 hash for the time being. Developers can check the Receipt Validation Guide to verify that they are handling the store verification process properly. If updates are required, Apple will accept any updates related to this problem as an expedited review.

You can see the full email below:

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Filed under: AAPL Company, Developers, iOS, iOS Devices

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Apple Pay to rollout to Dominos & Cinnabon locations beginning next year

Apple Pay iPhone 6

News concerning the expansion of Apple Pay has been coming at a rapid pace today. This morning, the service launched in Canada and expanded to Tesco Bank and TSB in the U.K. Then, Apple revealed that more than 100 new banks and credit unions in the United States now support its mobile payment solution. Now, Apple has announced that the service will soon be supported at Dominos and Cinnabon, two popular food chains in the United States.

The AP reports Cinnabon will begin adding Apple Pay to all of its U.S. locations next year, while Domino’s, the popular pizza chain, will support it by the end of 2015 in company-owned stores. This news follows the announcement earlier this year that Starbucks will begin a pilot program this year for supporting Apple Pay in its retail locations, with a full rollout taking place next year.

KFC is also expected to launch support for Apple in the Spring of 2016. Likewise, Chili’s is said to be installing iPads at tables in its restaurants to allow users to pay via Apple Pay directly from their seat.

Apple Pay has been expanding rather quickly over recent months. The service launched in Canada this morning and will launch in Australia later this week. These new countries follow the launch of Apple Pay in the U.K. a few months ago. Meanwhile, Tim Cook has proclaimed 2015 the “year of Apple Pay.” Some retailers, however, have questioned the uptake of the platform.

Filed under: Apple Pay Tagged: Apple, Apple pay, Cinnabon, Dominos

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Apple expands same-day delivery partnership w/ Postmates to New York

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After initially launching same-day delivery in partnership with Postmates earlier this year in San Francisco, Apple today has revealed that the capability is expanding to more locations. Users today have started noticing that same-day delivery from Apple’s online store and Apple Store app is now supported in New York.

First noticed by MacRumors, same-day delivery via courier is now available in most of Manhattan, with it promising 2-hour delivery in 37 of 43 tested ZIP codes. The capability is also available in northern neighborhoods like Inwood and Washington Heights with today’s expansion.

The option for “courier delivery” is available via both Apple’s online store and the Apple Store app. The option costs an additional flat-rate of $19. Apple guarantees that with courier delivery, the item will arrive same-day, within two-hours, as long as the order is placed during normal business hours (by 5PM local time).

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Today’s expansion to New York City seems to imply that Apple’s partnership with Postmates has been going smoothly so far. Apple’s support of Postmates delivery, however, is still extremely limited in comparison with the scope of Postmates’ wide availability with other retailers. Postmates is currently supported in more than 20 states around the U.S., so provided its partnership with Apple continues to run smoothly, there is definitely room for expansion on Apple’s end.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Store, online, order, Postmates, Shipping

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Apple’s WWDC app updated for iOS 9 with iPad Picture in Picture feature

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Apple is making it easier to catch up on session videos from WWDC while multitasking with iOS 9 on iPad. The official app for the annual developer conference has been updated to support iOS 9 today and more specifically work with the iPad’s new Picture in Picture feature.

That means you can start watching a session video on the WWDC app on your iPad, and minimize the video stream to a resizable window that floats over your Home screen and any other apps. WWDC for iOS supports both downloading videos for offline viewing as well as streaming videos within the app or PIP.

While WWDC only rolls around once a year, Apple announced a series of Apple TV-focused Tech Talks taking place around the world starting next month. Applicants hoping to attend these Tech Talks first starting being notified yesterday.

While the latest WWDC app adds PIP support, it does not support new Split View features for using two apps side by side. The update also runs native on new iPad Pro displays. The latest version of Apple’s WWDC app for iOS is available for free on the App Store.

Filed under: Apps, Developers, iOS

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Opinion: Blame early software for iPad Pro’s weak work ethic, size for its awkwardness at play

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Steve Jobs’ vision of a “post-PC” future really resonated with me. As a dedicated Mac and iPhone user, I was a day one fan of the original iPad, and have spent countless hours enjoying every full-sized iPad released since then. When the iPad mini came out, I happily shifted over to the smaller form factor until buying an iPhone 6 Plus, which pushed me back to full-sized iPads. Like many people, I wouldn’t want to give up my iPad, and would be thrilled if it could replace my laptop.

If any iPad had laptop replacement potential, the 12.9″ iPad Pro was it. So I was the first person in line at the local Apple Store to buy one, hoping that it would supplant either my iPad Air 2 or Retina MacBook Pro. But after a week of daily use, I’m convinced that the iPad Pro won’t replace anything, and am still trying to decide whether to keep or return it. Below, I’ll explain why…

As foreign and “unnecessary” as they were to some people, the iPad and iPad mini form factors instantly made sense to me, and it didn’t take long for either of them to fit into my daily life. The original iPad became my preferred reading, web browsing, and video playing device, relegating my iPhone to a lesser role as… well, a phone, pocket-sized music player, and portable game console. When the iPad mini came out, I started to use it for basically everything “fun” except phone calls, and I’ve continued doing that with the iPad Air 2. At this point, I use my iPad for every leisure activity, and my Macs for all my work activities.

The iPad Pro is positioned directly at the intersection of “work” and “play,” so in theory, it could replace both a iPad and a MacBook — Apple CEO Tim Cook has suggested that he’s done just that with his iPad Pro. I would have been pleased if it had replaced either my iPad Air 2 or my MacBook Pro. But it doesn’t feel like a better alternative to either of them. For the time being, the iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2 strike me as much better iPads for most people, and any MacBook at any price will deliver a better computing experience… unless something radically changes with the iPad Pro in 2016.

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What’s Good

To start with the positives, the iPad Pro is just what I expected based on early reports. It looks and feels almost exactly like a giant iPad Air, has a gorgeous screen that feels more compelling than a typical 13″ Retina display because you can get closer to it, and somehow emits a sense of potential. Just as iPads really aren’t “just big iPod touches,” the iPad Pro isn’t “just a big iPad.” Screen size matters. CPU and GPU power matter. The hidden USB 3 controller matters. With better software and accessories, the iPad Pro will probably feel like something “new.”

Right now, the iPad Pro is able to do something that’s really exciting to me: display magazines at full size. I subscribe to a handful of digital magazines, and have found them pretty easy to read on the 9.7″ iPads, but a hint too small on iPad minis. On the iPad Pro, they’re awesome — pages look full-sized, and consequently, more engrossing. They’ll look even better if magazine app developers update their apps to support the iPad Pro’s higher screen resolution. (The same “engrossing” effect also applies to movies and games when you get closer, though perhaps not safely so, to the screen.)

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Another widely overlooked positive will matter to some people: the iPad Pro’s Display Zoom feature, a setting that can be flipped on or off like the iPhone 6/6s/Plus, has the potential to be a game-changer for visually impaired users. For the first time in five years, the iPad’s icons (and text labels) have a way to physically grow in size, and not trivially: Display Zoom enlarges the entire 9.7″ iPad interface to fit the 12.9″ screen — a 33% jump that makes icons roughly four times the size of an adult fingertip, and more accessible to iOS users who have squinted at smaller displays.

Other tweaks to the iPad Pro are welcome, but not huge from my perspective. It has faster processing than prior iPads, clearer and more powerful speakers than a 13″ MacBook Pro, and new screen technology to support a regrettably expensive and hard-to-find stylus. In practice, none of these things have made much of a difference to me in daily use, though I might feel somewhat differently if the Apple Pencil was actually available for purchase.

What’s Not Good

Even though I’ve been actively trying to find a place for the iPad Pro in my daily life, it’s been very difficult. I can’t really use it for work because of the basic way iOS handles complex and multiple apps — both necessities for productivity. And I’ve found it awkward to use for fun because of its large size.

Sloppy text formatting
Giant white spaces
Unnaturally wide columns
An entire screen full of gray

My biggest gripes with the iPad Pro are largely software-related, and all traceable to iOS 9. Apple did a truly half-assed job of readying iOS for the iPad Pro, leaving core apps sloppily formatted for the 12.9″ screen — uncharacteristically, there’s plenty of wasted space, poor text formatting, and an overall lack of design cohesiveness. Given that this is a “Pro” product, that it’s clearly been in the works for years, and that the underlying OS is now 9 (public) generations old, the overall user experience feels shockingly unpolished. (I’ll put aside issues with iOS 9’s split-screen multitasking, which deserves partial credit just for working at all, even though OS X does a much better job of using the same or less screen space.)

iPad Air 2 running Instagram at 2X
iPad Pro running Instagram at 2x
iPad Pro running Instagram at 1x

Similarly, most third-party iPad apps, including really important ones, currently run as upscaled 9.7″ iPad versions on the iPad Pro. In addition to revealing pixels in “Retina” apps, this creates obvious inconsistencies between text and graphic elements from app to app. Apps like Facebook and Reeder — mainstays on my iPad Air 2 — merely look “too big” on the iPad Pro, without settings to fix the issues, while other key third-party apps such as Twitter and Instagram appear to have never been thoughtfully reformatted for any iPad screen. Most apps will eventually be fixed for the iPad Pro, but what usage paradigm will UI designers consider “normal” for this tablet when picking font and graphic sizes: the three-foot screen distance of a laptop on a desk, or the two-foot distance of a tablet in a lap?

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One particularly sore point is the iPad Pro typing experience. I like the 9.7″ iPad’s keyboard and love the 7.9″ iPad mini keyboard, but the iPad Pro’s on-screen keyboards are fatiguing. They’re big — a challenge when you’re trying to support the 12.9″ tablet — and bizarrely have half-height delete/backspace and number keys, which are easy to accidentally miss. Every time I type on the Pro’s screen, I wish for a physical keyboard instead. But the iPad Pro keyboard accessories I’ve tested are sort of iffy, and I’m reasonably convinced after using Logitech’s Create (reviewed here) that heavy keyboard cases aren’t well-suited to the iPad Pro. Zagg’s Messenger Universal (reviewed here) is more affordable and lighter, but a better alternative is needed.

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The iPad Pro doesn’t fare much better as a non-work device, because it can’t slip effortlessly into any of the situations where the iPad Air or iPad Air 2 feel perfect for leisure use. Apart from reading magazines, which still feels a little weird given the Pro’s huge chassis, I’ve found the 12.9″ tablet too big for pretty much everything else. As shown in the photo above, it hangs off the edge of my nightstand when I set it up to play videos, feels precariously large when I walk with it from room to room, and all but demands to be supported with two legs, a bed, or a stand. I’ve had to force myself to keep using it instead of the iPad Air 2. Two of my colleagues have described it the iPad Pro as a “giant Netflix machine” or “the best entertainment iPad yet,” which I don’t discount, but wouldn’t spend $799 or more to purchase.

Keep It Or Ditch It?

Because I write for 9to5Mac, I’ll probably wind up keeping the iPad Pro despite the issues above — but I don’t think my decisions are typical. I’ve been so satisfied with my iPad Air 2 that I probably wouldn’t have bought the iPad Pro in the first place, and if I had, I would almost certainly have returned it after finding that it wasn’t a better substitute for either my iPad or MacBook. Right now, it occupies the particularly uneasy space between those two devices — a space that very few “pro” Mac users would even say exists. For this group, it’s going to take time, better software, and probably a new stand/dock of some sort before the iPad Pro really lives up to its name. To be clear, I’m optimistic that the software will improve over the next year, and that someone (maybe Apple, maybe not) will figure out the right iPad Pro keyboard-dock-stand combination.

But there’s another audience that Apple appears to be targeting with the 12.9″ iPad — non-Pro PC users who have a desktop machine and an iPhone but not a laptop or a tablet. When Tim Cook asks “why would you buy a PC any more?,” this is exactly the customer he’s speaking to — someone who sees a $799 tablet as a better choice than a new PC laptop. The original iPad destroyed the market for netbooks; it’s possible that the iPad Pro could eat away at the market for budget Windows notebooks. If that happens, the iPad Pro will enjoy great success no matter what professionals think about it.

More From This Author

Check out more of my editorials, How-To guides and reviews for 9to5Mac here! In recent months, I published details new iPad Pro owners should know about, a holiday gift guide for Apple photographers, and a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users.

 

Filed under: iOS Devices, Opinion Tagged: iPad, iPad Pro

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Apple promoting popular apps and games on new Apple TV with short clips [Videos]

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Apple is highlighting the new Apple TV App Store and the many games and entertainment services on it with a new series of short video clips. Each 15 second video starts with the same Apple TV graphic, then promotes a popular game or video service app on the new Apple TV with some gameplay or a demo, and ends with the same multicolor graphic. So far these clips promote Netflix, HBO NOW, Asphalt 8, Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition: Star Wars, and Crossy Road. You can view each one below:





Filed under: Apple TV Tagged: App Store, Apple TV

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16GB iPhone users rejoice: New Google Photos feature lets you easily free up storage on iOS

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Google is adding some new space-saving features to its Photos app on both the web and iOS. A new feature rolling out to the web client starting Wednesday will give the option to downgrade photos previous backed up in full resolution to the compressed mode in order to save space. And on iOS, there’s a new “Free up space” button being added to the settings menu that deletes already backed up photos…

One of the things that makes the photo service so popular is the ability to back up an unlimited amount of photos in a “High quality” mode where photos over 16 megapixels are compressed. For most, this option suffices for sharing and storing photos. There is also an “Original quality” mode that allows for photo uploads in full resolution, but this counts against your Google Drive storage. If you need to free up some space, you can now convert these to the “High quality” storage option by going into Settings and clicking ‘Recover Storage’.

As for iOS, users who upload photos in original quality may already be familiar with an option to bulk delete device copies when their storage nears full. Now, everyone that gets close to maxing out their phone’s memory will see this Assistant card pop up. The update is rolling out now on Android and coming soon to iOS as well.

Filed under: Apps, iOS Tagged: google+ photos, photo backup, Storage

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OS X El Capitan 10.11.2 beta 4 hits the Mac App Store

MacBook OS X El Capitan

Apple is continuing to develop the upcoming OS X El Capitan 10.11.2 update, and today released the latest test version. OS X El Capitan Update Developer Beta 4 is now available in the Mac App Store. Check the Updates tab to download, install, and restart your Mac if you’re testing the latest beta version. 

While previous versions haven’t included any notable user facing changes, Apple has asked that testers focus on graphics, Mail, Wi-Fi, Calendar, USB, Notes, Photos, Spotlight, and networking in previous versions. When used with iOS 9.2 beta, the El Capitan beta supports Wi-Fi Calling with AT&T’s NumberSync feature as well. The first OS X 10.11.2 beta appeared in late October.

OS X 10.11.2 follows the last point update to El Capitan, which included over 150 new emoji characters as well as fixes for Microsoft Office on the Mac.

We’ll update with any notable changes spotted in the latest OS X beta.

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Filed under: Developers, Mac Tagged: OS X, OS X 10.11.2, os x el capitan

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Alleged photo of official Apple Watch dock packaging hits the web

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A new photo (below) purported to show the packaging for Apple’s first Apple Watch charging dock have surfaced, indicating that the company may be preparing to launch that product.

The photo shows two of the watch dock boxes side-by-side, comparing the front and back of the package. The dock appears to be circular with a round cutout in the middle for the magnetic charging cable to show through, giving it a look not unlike a CD from the top.

On the back of the packaging is a set of illustrations showing how to use the dock. The first image shows a watch laid across the dock with the magnetic charging connector on the back on the circular cutout.

The second image is a bit less clear, but seems to show the watch on its side in “nightstand mode,” though how the watch manages to charge in this position is unclear. One possible solution is that the charging connector on the dock can be flipped up to a vertical position.

When Apple might release the magnetic charging dock is currently unknown. According to a sticker on the box, and assuming these images are real, it will retail for $89.99.

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Filed under: Apple Watch Tagged: Apple watch, magnetic charging dock

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: SanDisk 32GB WiFi Drive $30, Black Friday Media Streamers, View-Master VR bundle $35, more

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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.

Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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SanDisk Connect 32GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS/Android: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

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Best of Black Friday – Streaming Media Players: Apple TV 64GB $180, Roku SE $20, 2-Pack Chromecast (2nd gen) $50, more

Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, Samsung 55-inch Smart $580 (Reg. $1,200), more

Best of Black Friday – iPads, Tablets and e-readers: iPad Air 2 from $360, Amazon Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more

Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more

Best of Black Friday – wearables: Fitbit Flex $59/Charge $90/more, $100 off Apple Watch, Android smartwatches, more

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View-Master Virtual Reality Bonus Bundle: Starter Pack PLUS “Destinations” Experience Pack $35 shipped (Orig. $45)

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Apple Watch sale at Best Buy, $50 off across the board, starting at $299 shipped (Open box $278)

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20% off iTunes Gift Cards: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20

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Giveaway: mophie juice pack reserve battery case for iPhone 6/s (multiple winners)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Games/Apps: Star Wars Battlefront $50 or Battlefront PS4 bundle $330, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate $50, iOS freebies, more

BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:

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Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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Enjoy music anywhere in your home w/ the SONOS PLAY:1 Starter Set for $349 shipped ($400 value)

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App Store Free App of the Week: PDF Expert 5 goes free for the first time ($10 value)

Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($10 value)

Hitman Sniper for iOS hits its lowest price yet: $2 (Reg. $5)

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T-Mobile is discounting iPhone 6s/Plus by $100 when bought on an installment plan or outright

Huge savings on pre-owned Apple Watches, deals from as low as $261 shipped

Apple iPod Touch 5th gen 16-64GB sizes, multiple colors: $149-$199 shipped

Apple Magic Mouse 2 (open-box): $68 shipped (Reg. $80)

Apple iPad Mini 2, space gray or silver: $199 shipped ($70 off)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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Mass Fidelity tries to solve virtual stereo sound with its new Core wireless speaker

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What Watch uses Bluetooth connectivity to tab the memorable moments of your life

 

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon Gold Box, Amazon Prime, Apple Black Friday, Apple watch, Best Black Friday deals, Black Friday, coupon code, Cyber Monday, Daily Deals, Deals, free shipping, itunes gift cards, New Toy of the Day, SanDisk, SanDisk Connect, Streaming Media Players, Toys, View Master, Virtual reality, Wi-Fi Flash Drive

For more information about Tips and Tricks, Apple watch, and 9to5Toys continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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