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Apple lawyer Ted Olson says creating unlock tool would lead to an ‘Orwellian’ society [Video]
Following the revelation that Apple’s top lawyer Bruce Sewell will testify before Congress this coming week over encryption, another attorney for the company has sat down with CNN to discuss the ongoing case. In the interview, current Apple lawyer and former United States solicitor general Ted Olson discussed how what the government is asking Apple to do is “limitless.”
Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Encryption, FBI, legal, Ted Olson
Appeals court overturns Apple’s $120M victory in quick links patent case with Samsung
An appeals court on Friday overturned a ruling that would have forced Samsung to pay $120 million in damages to Apple for patent infringement, reports Reuters. In this specific case, one of several patent battles between the two companies, Apple claimed that Samsung infringed on its “quick links” patent.
Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, court, legal, patents, Samsung
Extensify: a simple and easy-to-use tweak store for non-jailbroken iPhones [Video]
Extensify is a highly anticipated app release from developers Majd Alfhaily and Kevin Ko that’s been in the works for quite some time. This weekend it will finally be launched as a part of a limited rollout.
Extensify is best described as a tweak store that allows you to change the properties of App Store apps. Unlike tweaks that require your iPhone to be jailbroken, Extensify works without needing a jailbreak. This is made possible by Apple’s decision to allow users to sideload iOS apps. Have a look at our hands-on video walkthrough inside for more details. (more…)
Filed under: iOS Tagged: Cydia, Cydia tweak, Instagram, jailbreak, jailbreak tweak, sideloading, Snapchat
We Documented Our Company’s Mistakes Every Week for a Year. Here’s What We Learned.
This post originally appeared on HubSpot’s Agency Post. To read more content like this, subscribe to Agency Post.
Every Friday, our team comes together for a weekly reflections meeting. It’s our “touchy-feely-kumbaya” moment where everyone has an opportunity to open up and share what’s on their mind.
Primarily, we try to focus on three things: what went well, what didn’t go so well, and what we learned. We then document those lessons, and once-a-year, we review the key themes. It’s surprising– and a bit embarrassing — how often issues we discussed in March are repeated in August and again in November, but it’s all part of the learning process.
This year, a few interesting themes emerged that I thought would be valuable for others to review. Here are some of the most important lessons we learned in 2015.
1) Outline project unknowns as much as knowns.
It’s very easy to find yourself putting together a beautiful project scope or proposal that painstakingly details every requirement the client has mentioned during your sales calls. The problem is, once the project kicks off, you’re going to find yourself dealing with many, many things the client did not explicitly state. Image purchasing, content implementation, hosting fees, etc., are all aspects of any web project not typically top-of-mind for the client. Be sure your contracts and documentation tackle as many of these project unknowns as possible. Include language that provides a means of factoring in cost/time when these little surprises sneak up, as they always do.
2) Transition from managing a sales pipeline to a relationship pipeline.
The idea of a sales pipeline is to track opportunities across various stages in your sales process, each with their own weighted likelihood of turning into an actual deal. Having a sales pipeline helps you determine where to invest time and energy in opportunities. The problem, however, is that most sales pipelines only look at a 30-to-90-day window. With this narrow of a view, it’s far too easy to cast “slower” opportunities to the side.
We found that focusing on building relationships with companies that could be great clients, even if they’re a year away from that, is far more valuable than ignoring every prospect who doesn’t meet the perfect profile for your sales pipeline. You shouldn’t expel that much energy on these prospects, but you should set reminders to connect periodically, invite them to relevant events, and send them useful content. This can lead to huge returns beyond this month or even quarter.
3) Help define success for your customer.
The reason most potential customers are speaking with you is because you’ve demonstrated a capacity for solving their problem. Embrace this truth, and control the vision for working with your customers. Focusing on identifying and addressing their needs is critical to a successful sale, but don’t let them dictate all the terms of engagement.
You’ve done this “thing” far more times than they have, and it’s important that you explain what will make a project successful. If timelines are unrealistic or certain content or systems need to be finalized before you can start a project, be sure to communicate this to the client. It’s far better, and far more profitable, to set clear “rules for success” with a potential client and hold them to those boundaries.
4) Don’t overlook easy money.
If your agency thrives on large project-based deals, it’s tempting to always go after the “whale” and ignore the “fish” along the way. If every new deal is six-figures, why wouldn’t you put your time and energy into those opportunities? However, when you focus 100% of your time on these big wins, you often sacrifice opportunities for “easy money.”
Support retainers, appropriate technology recommendations that have a referral kickback, and one-day workshops are all value-added services you could offer existing clients. These relationships are already established so they don’t require the same effort as a new deal. Sure, the check isn’t as substantial, but if you build in a practice of upselling across all of your clients, you could see an impressive uptick in account size.
5) Focus on solving problems, not just implementing solutions.
It’s not uncommon to find that your team is obsessed with how to implement a specific solution within a project. Whether it stems from client interest or internal interest, once you’re fixated on making something work, it’s hard to take a step back. Taking a step back, however, is often the only way to avoid blowing the budget on a project. This step back should not be focused on re-evaluating the solution, rather re-evaluating the problem. Ask both yourself and the client what the exact problem is that you’re trying to solve and the impact of not solving it. Sometimes the solution is simply doing nothing.
6) Don’t view account management and project management as the same role.
Many larger agencies already have this baked into their operations, but this was a big lesson for us to learn this past year. Although they can sometimes be tackled by the same person, the responsibilities associated with account management are not the same as those associated with project management. Account managers need to focus on defending the client’s needs at all times while project managers need to focus on defending the agency’s needs at all times. This sort of conflict is healthy as it ensures both sides are properly represented in the creative process.
In addition, the very metrics each role should be focused on are considerably different. Account managers are accountable for growing their book-of-business with clients while project managers are accountable for expanding the profitability of the relationship. These are two very different mindsets, and two very different roles.
7) Always be selling.
Once that initial contract is inked, it’s tempting to pop the champagne and call it a day. Closing a deal does not mean that the sales function is over. A client who accepts a contract simply means she believes in your plan for solving her problem; it does not guarantee that she believes in your execution of that plan. Every person involved in the project needs to realize the importance of continuing to sell ideas and solutions to identified problems. Every new deliverable is a new first impression.
8) Realize the difference between makers and managers.
There is a big difference between “makers” and “managers” within an agency. Makers are responsible for creating deliverables and executing the plan for a client. Managers are responsible for setting that plan and ensuring resources are appropriately allocated to enable execution. Many agencies depend on their team members to play both a maker and manager role. Effectiveness as a maker requires long, uninterrupted time where execution can take place. Effectiveness as a manager requires continued communication and performance analysis to ensure the plan is on track. Treat team members differently depending on the role they play and their responsibilities, and respect the differing work needs of each type within the structure of your agency.
9) Work in time blocks.
Most tasks will take as long as you allow them to. And complicating this problem is that in most agencies, we’re inundated with so many tasks from so many different accounts that things are constantly done right before they’re due. Working in a reactive pattern, where tasks are constantly being shuffled around based on the latest fire or ASAP request, only perpetuates inadvertent procrastination. Take control of your workload by carving out distinct blocks of time to tackle projects, and set the end of that block as your hard deadline.
10) Repeat everything. Repeat everything.
Repetition is a key ingredient for success as an agency. This includes repetition in communication, resources, and process. Repetition in communication ensures everyone is on the same page and that expectations are met. Repeat those expectations, and repeat the plan for meeting them. Repetition in resources ensures you have a game plan should someone go on vacation, get sick, or quit a project. Having redundant roles is an important safety net for any project. Finally, repetition in process ensures that you create repeatable results and start building efficiency into your delivery. The more your processes repeat, the more likely they can be automated, leading to tremendous gains in efficiency and profitability.
11) Manage against scope or timeline, not both.
Bumps come up in a project. Unexpected requests or roadblocks are inevitable. Budget is often that hardest thing to revisit in a project, so consider whether scope or timeline needs to be re-evaluated as problems emerge. If timing is critical, scale back on what needs to be accomplished within a specific timeframe. If completeness is key, push out your launch date. If the client can’t choose between the two, bring up money again.
12) Negotiate constantly, but wisely.
Remember this: You’re negotiating throughout the entire lifespan of a project. You’re negotiating for extra resources, reduced scope, quicker turnarounds, etc. As in any negotiation, the key to success is knowing all of the terms of which you’re negotiating. It’s far easier to get what you need from a client and still make them happy if you give them something they want. When faced with a significant problem in the project, ensure you understand what’s really important to the client and what’s really important to your agency. Oftentimes, negotiating over different terms and bringing awareness to that is all it takes for everyone to walk away happy.
13) Have a process, but know that the process will change.
Technology, experience, resources, and many other factors will lead to evolutions in your processes over time. You’ll add new deliverables, cut out unnecessary steps, and automate some of your workload. But this sort of benefit only works when you have a process that you’re currently using. You can only measure improvement or evaluate efficiency if you have a benchmark. If you have a process for how your projects are delivered and how your agency is run, you can track and improve things going forward.
14) Build in padding for inaccurate project estimates.
It seems no matter how many times we’ve done a project, something always comes up that affects our original project estimate. Perhaps it’s a desire to continue improving our processes or “one-upping” our last project, but things inevitably take longer than expected. Understand this, embrace this, and add padding to be conservative. Extra time and extra money provides room to over-deliver for your clients and make them even happier with the project’s outcome.
15) Remember that contractors are not employees.
In a world of specialization and the need for ever-changing scale, it’s likely that your agency depends on some sort of contract-based labor force. They provide the natural capacity necessary to take on larger projects or unknown technologies. For this very reason, contractors can be one of your greatest assets.
However, remember that they are not employees and should not be treated as such. Employment and tax regulation aside, professional freelancers and contractors have chosen that profession for many of the benefits that come with it: unlimited vacation, remote working, schedule independence, etc. It’s foolish to expect that contractors will make the same sacrifices or meet the same demands as an employee. As such, it’s critical that you establish clear expectations on the “softer side of your relationship in addition to the scope, time, and budget requirements you’re bound to discuss. Agree on communication schedules, deadline management, and anything else that might cause a problem for a project down-the-line.
16) Show, don’t tell.
As agency folk, we’re participants in the “idea economy.” We’re paid for coming up with and executing ideas that will solve our clients’ problems. Clients are our lifeblood, and they command respect in the creative process. However, we cannot assume that the ideas in our minds are the same as those perceived by our clients. Hypothetical pitches and explanations might get people excited, but it doesn’t lead to consensus around expectations.
Don’t be afraid to introduce working deliverables into your process solely to serve as a means of crystallizing ideas into a form that has boundaries. Even a napkin sketch will give a client a better sense for your vision than flowery language over a bourbon-fueled dinner. If the client is excited about an idea, she should be excited to spend 5% of the total time/money to sketch out the parameters of that idea before committing to it fully.
17) Promote others first.
Imagine going to a party where the guy in the corner is constantly shouting about all of the awesome things he’s done. It won’t take long for you to excuse yourself from the table. The same goes for your marketing efforts. If all of your marketing is focused on promoting how “awesome” your agency is, how long will it take for your audience to leave? Focus your marketing on educating and sharing the success of others before your own. It builds trust and credibility. It also builds community as those you promote will promote your work in turn.
18) Do less marketing to do better marketing.
It’s easy to start the year with a huge list of marketing activities your agency will pursue to expand your footprint: blogging, events, emails, advertisements, podcast, sponsorships, etc. It all sounds great on paper, but such a diffused strategy is more likely to lead to a bunch of smaller failures than one or two major successes. Figure out what channels resonate with your target clients, align these with your voice/skillsets, and determine how you can maximize the impact with the limited resources you have at your disposal. Double-down on those few things, and ignore everything else.
19) Find the source of the stress.
Agency life is fueled by deadlines and tight budgets. No one has ever claimed it’s a stress-free business. But letting this stress affect us leads to poor performance, which leads to more stress. When you find yourself feeling as though every project is going wrong, the problem is unlikely that everything sucks.
Take a step back, and identify what the real source of stress is. Then, create an action plan for dealing with it. Is it personal? Did you lose a deal? Is a client being pushy? Not resolving the major stressor in your life will impact other responsibilities on your plate. Tackle the real source of stress, and everything else might just be a bit easier.
20) Celebrate your accomplishments.
You’ve won awards, generated millions of dollars in value for your clients, and created jobs that give people the opportunity to pursue their creative passions. Running an agency can be overwhelming, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Do not let the challenges of running the business overshadow the successes along the way. Take time to step back and celebrate wins individually and as a team. Reflect on how much has been accomplished during just one year, and use that to fuel your work going forward.
Facebook Launches Canvas: This Week in Social Media
Welcome to our weekly edition of what’s hot in social media news. To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention. What’s New This Week Facebook Launches Canvas: Facebook Canvas offers “a new post-click, full-screen, immersive mobile ad experience on Facebook that loads […]
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How to Use Facebook Canvas: What Marketers Need to Know
Have you heard of Facebook’s new mobile ad experience, Facebook Canvas? Want to learn how to create Facebook Canvas ads? Facebook Canvas lets marketers combine images, video, text, and call-to-action buttons in a single, fully immersive mobile ad experience. In this article you’ll discover how to create a Facebook Canvas ad. Inspiration for Your First […]
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KGI: New 4-inch iPhone to cost between $400-$500, feature 12 megapixel camera, 50% price drop for iPhone 5s
In a research note for investors, KGI Securities has posted some interesting claims about the new 4 inch ‘iPhone SE’ coming from Apple in March, as reported by 9to5Mac. The iPhone SE is expected to be very similar to the iPhone 5s in appearance with slightly curved edges, but feature the latest processor internals, an A9 chip just like the iPhone 6s as well as Apple Pay and Live Photos.
KGI claims the phone will also feature a 12 megapixel camera, matching the latest iPhones in megapixels. KGI also believes the new 4 inch iPhone to sell between $400-$500 range. This would be a significantly cheaper phone than the current lineup: the year-old iPhone 6 starts at $549 …
Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, iOS, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5se, iPhone SE, KGI, smaller iPhone
San Bernardino police chief takes sides in Apple’s encryption battle with the FBI
If you’re keeping score at home, add San Bernardino’s police chief as the latest to take sides in the ongoing battle between Apple and the FBI. Jarrod Burguan, the local police chief, joined NPR to share his views on the current FBI and Apple privacy battle. In the interview, Burguan admits that there is “a good chance that there is nothing of any value on the phone”, but believes there is the possibility that “maybe there was some information on there that would lead to a larger plot or larger network.”
Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, FBI, iOS, iPads, iPhone, Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino
Review: Hyper’s $69 stainless steel Apple Watch bands in silver & space black
There are now a ton of third-party Apple Watch bands on the market of varying quality, but at $69, this alternative to Apple’s pricey stainless steel link band from Hyper is worth a closer look.
The bands are made out of the same 316L stainless steel that Apple uses, and nothing about them indicates why there would be an almost $400 gap between these and Apple’s.
Filed under: Apple Watch, Reviews Tagged: 316L, Apple watch, Hyper, Hyperlink, Stainless steel, watch band
Photos show Apple preparing to build store inside new World Trade Center hub
While Apple has not yet officially announced that it will open up a store in the World Trade Center’s new transportation hub in New York City, there have been reports that such a store has been in the plans for the past two years. Today, a source who has been inside of the yet-to-be-opened Oculus shopping section of the hub has sent us photo evidence that Apple is preparing to open up a store in the shopping area. Above is a photo from this week showing the space for the store, but formal construction has not yet begun, according to the source.
Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Store, Crossgates, mall, Manhattan, New York, New York City, Oculus, store, World Trade Center
Tim Cook says it’ll be ‘Christmas Eve for a while’ when asked about Apple Car during shareholders meeting
Tim Cook and company lead Apple’s annual shareholders meeting of 2016 this morning, and as usual there were some interesting questions and answers between those in attendance. Like last year, Apple’s rumored electric vehicle project came up, only the Apple CEO didn’t automatically defer to CarPlay this go around. Diversity and Apple’s ongoing battle with the FBI over encryption were also topics of discussion at the Cupertino meeting at Apple HQ.
Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Car, diversity, investors, shareholders meeting, Tim Cook
9to5Toys Lunch Break: 12-inch MacBook from $950, Fitbit Flex $60, Sol Bluetooth Earbuds $70, 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:
Apple’s 12-inch MacBook now $300 off: 256GB $1,000, 512GB $1,300 + extra $50 savings w/ .edu email
Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $720 shipped (Reg. $899)
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $800 shipped (Reg. $999)
Apple Mac Pro 12-core Xeon/64GB/1TB: $8,799 shipped (Reg. $9,599), more
Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB (newest model): $900 shipped (Reg. $1,099) wp.me/p1xTlR-NXa https://t.co/GkibCGyfAv
—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) February 25, 2016
Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity & Sleep Wristband in multiple colors: $60 shipped (Reg. $100)
Hit the gym in style w/ Sol Republic’s Shadow Bluetooth Earbuds: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
App Store Free App of the Week: HoPiKo speed-run platformer goes free for the first time ($2 value)
The highly rated iOS Lotogram photo apps go free for the first time in a year: Reflex, Framatic, Splitter, more
The Walking Dead: Michonne is now available for iOS, Android and consoles
Explore Renaissance Italy in the new Assassin’s Creed Identity action RPG for iOS
All Access is the new one stop app for DC Comics/Film/TV news and more
LD West’s gun holster-style iPhone case & wallet combo: $20 off, deals from $109 shipped
Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Amazon Gold Box: Save 30% on Kindle Accessories – Premium Magnetic Earbuds $12.50, cases, more
- Amazon Gold Box: highly-rated double hammock for $48 (Reg. $60)
- Daily Deals: Unlocked Nexus 6 32GB (Refurb) $230, Toshiba 1TB Portable Drive $50, more
- Games/Apps: Disney Infinity Star Wars $67, freebies, more
- Pokémon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS confirmed for holiday 2016
- Brit Awards 2016 performances are now available to download/stream for free
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
DJI Phantom 3 Standard Drone w/ 2.7K HD Camera: $439 shipped (Reg. $500+), more
Show off and charge your Apple Watch + iPhone w/ this aluminum dock for just $23 Prime shipped (Reg. $39), more
- Free Xbox Live Gold Games for March: Borderlands, Lords of the Fallen, more
- Free PS Plus Games for March: Broforce, Galak-Z, Super Stardust HD, more
- Explore Renaissance Italy in the new Assassin’s Creed Identity action RPG for iOS
- Samsung 850 EVO 2.5-inch SSD: 500GB $140 (Reg. $150+), 1TB $271 (Reg. $295+), more
- Save $2 on your next trip to Jamba Juice with this coupon
- Athletic Apparel: Nike extra 20% off clearance, Reebok Outlet 50% off
- Hisense 55-inch 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV w/ 3 HDMI inputs: $370 (Orig. $548)
- 12 classic Pixar films in HD for $15 ea, Mad Max: Fury Road & The Martian $10 ea
- Gift Cards up to 20% off: CVS, Domino’s, Jiffy Lube, many more
- Rolo Travel Bag keeps you looking good on the road: $45 (Orig. $61)
- Have someone from Amazon take care of that honey-do list and get a free $30 gift card
- MFi Apple-Certified Lightning cables: 10-foot for $11, 3-foot for $6, more
- Bluetooth Speakers w/ Prime shipping: Aukey $20 (Reg. $30), more
- Headphones: Sennheiser HD429S Over-Ears $30 (Reg. $45+), more
- Carriers & retailers roll out major pre-order bonuses for Samsung’s Galaxy S7
- D-Link Powerline Starter Kit $40 (Reg. $60), TP-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug $20
- DashCam Recorder and Camera offers motion-triggered recording: $27 (Orig: $95)
- Keep your Wi-Fi running w/ this APC battery backup: $20 (Orig. $60)
- Storage: SanDisk 512GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive $120 (Reg. $145+), more
- Save $50 on Huawei Watches for iOS/Android, prices start at $300
- Bluetooth Speakers: Bem Boom Box $40 (Reg. $80), Sylvania Rugged $12 (Reg. $20)
- Amazon Fire TV 4K Streaming Media Player: $85 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Try out Google Express with this $40 credit for $15 (62% savings)
- Nike+ Fuelband SE Fitness Tracker for $38 (Orig. $150, CA Tax only)
- Upgrade your audio w/ Logi’s 2.1-Ch. Speaker System: $100 (Reg. $125+)
- Grow fresh herbs/veggies year round: Miracle-Gro AeroGarden $45 Prime shipped
- Outfit your GoPro HERO4 with this 7-piece accessory bundle for $19 (Reg. $25)
- Enjoy a free download of Black Beauty as a Kindle eBook with Audible narration (Reg. up to $7)
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
Marshall’s first Bluetooth headphones tout impressive battery life alongside a retro design
- Mighty is the Spotify-compatible iPod Shuffle we’ve been waiting for
- The Cicret Bracelet puts a smartphone display on your arm with full touchscreen functionality
- Faraday’s latest eBikes hit Kickstarter with a minimalist step-through design
- SanDisk announces faster USB-C flash drives and microSD cards at Mobile World Conference
- Garmin’s latest fitness trackers: can automatically identify your activities
- Canon adds three new Wi-Fi cameras to its mid-range lineup
- Pad & Quill’s new wooden iPhone 6/s/Plus cases use kevlar for added strength
- The original Rayman game is now available for download on the App Store
- The Coleco Chameleon retro gaming console is sure to appeal to any Millennial
- NERF’s Fall 2016 line includes battery-powered 70MPH blasters, Alien designs, more
- PSA: Fallout 4 gets 3DLC packs – get your Season Pass now before it jumps up in price
- Final Fantasy IX is now available for download on iOS/Android
Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 12-inch MacBook, 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Best Buy, Daily Deals, fitbit flex, free apps, Gold Box, Magnetic Earbuds, Shadow Bluetooth Earbuds, sol republic, video games
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Apple likely to drop the ‘5’, call new 4-inch model the ‘iPhone SE’
In January, we reported that Apple is preparing a new 4-inch iPhone that is essentially 2013’s iPhone 5s with upgraded internals. At the time, we heard that Apple would call the device the “iPhone 5se” based on it being both an enhanced and “special edition” version of the iPhone 5s. Now, we are hearing that Apple appears to be going all in on the special edition factor: sources say that Apple has decided to drop the “5” from the device’s name and simply call it the “iPhone SE.” This will mark the first iPhone upgrade without a number in its name and would logically remove it from a yearly update cycle.
Based on Apple reinvigorating the 4-inch iPhone screen size at a time where the market is mostly moving toward larger smartphone screens, it would make sense for Apple to position this device as simply the “SE.” Sources say that the dropping of the “5” from the name also simplifies the iPhone lineup as bringing back an iPhone “5” variant amid the iPhone “6” lifecycle could potentially confuse customers. The iPhone SE will replace the existing iPhone 5s and will take its price points.
The iPhone SE will look identical to the iPhone 5s except for slightly curved edges around the sides. It will feature an A9 processor for faster performance, an M9 chip for fitness tracking and always-on “Hey Siri” support, the ability to take Live Photos, an upgraded 8-megapixel camera system, an NFC chip for Apple Pay, and Apple’s latest WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular hardware. Sources say it will come in 16GB and 64GB capacities and add the Rose Gold color option from the iPhone 6s.
Apple plans to hold on event on March 15th, and if it sticks to that plan, release the new iPhone SE as soon as March 18th. Apple is also preparing a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, not an iPad Air 3, with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil support. Additionally, several new Apple Watch band options, including a new line of “high-quality’ nylon straps are in the cards for the event. These Apple Watch enhancements will be the last until the Apple Watch redesign is launched as soon as September.
Image via Karl Conrad
Filed under: iOS Devices
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How-To: Make Gmail the default mail app in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on Mac
I’ve never been a fan of the stock Mail app in OS X, so I generally find myself relying on Gmail inside of Chrome for all of my email needs. In fact, I don’t have any email accounts configured inside of the stock Mail app at all. With this in mind, I always get frustrated when I inadvertently click a mailto link inside of a browser window. Doing so forces the Mail app, which is set as the default mail client in OS X, to open without purpose.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could configure Gmail to play the role of the default mail client inside your browser of choice? In this video tutorial, I’ll show you how easy it is to configure Chrome, Safari, and even Firefox to use Gmail as the default mail client.
Note: You will need to be logged in to Gmail in your browser of choice to take advantage of these methods.
How to make Gmail the default mail app in Safari
Sadly, setting up Safari to open mailto links in Gmail isn’t as straightforward as it is for browsers like Chrome and Firefox.
With Safari, you’ll need to harness the power of a third-party mailto extension. The good news is that I’ve vetted this extension, checked out its code, and have verified that it’s legit and contains nothing malicious. You can download the extension here. Not only does this extension work for Gmail, but it also works for other popular web-based email services.
Once the mailto extension is downloaded, double click it to add it to Safari. Click Trust when asked in order to successfully install the extension.
After installation, click the Options check box to open the Options page for the mailto extension. From there, click the Gmail radio button to set Gmail as the default handler for mailto links clicked within Safari.
Before you can start using the mail extension, however, you’ll need to quit and restart Safari. Once you do, clicking email links should open a new composition window inside of Gmail directly in the browser.
How to make Gmail the default mail app in Chrome
Making Gmail the default mail app in Google Chrome is actually pretty straightforward. When you open Gmail in Chrome, you should see a handler button located on the right side of the address bar. Click the button to address Gmail’s request to make email links open directly inside of Gmail while using Chrome.
To fulfill the request, click the Allow radio button and click Done. Once you do, you can begin opening mailto links directly inside Chrome.
If you ever need to manage the handlers you have configured in Chrome, just go to chrome://settings/handlers/ to view setup options.
How to make Gmail the default mail app in Firefox
Like Chrome, setting up mailto links to open Gmail while using Firefox is super-easy. Open Firefox’s preferences, and click the Applications tab on the sidebar. Find mailto under Content Type, and use the drop down box to select Gmail. After that, just close the preferences page, and you can start opening email links directly inside of Gmail while using Firefox.
If you’re a big fan of using Gmail on the web, then you owe it to yourself to establish Gmail as your default mail app in your browser of choice. It’s not often that I click on mailto links, but I always find it so frustrating when I see the stock Mail app bouncing in my Dock after accidentally clicking one. Not only will this save you a little bit of time, but it might save you from a gray hair or two in the process.
Filed under:
How-To, iOS Devices, Mac Tagged: Browser extension, Chrome, default apps, Firefox, Gmail, Google Chrome, how to, Mail app, Safari, tutorial
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Apple makes interesting security hire as it compares FBI request to forcing pharma firm to make lethal drugs
TechCrunch spotted an interesting security hire by Apple: the developer behind Edward Snowden’s recommended secure chat app is joining Apple as an intern.
Frederic Jacobs, a Switzerland-based developer who worked to develop secure messaging app Signal […] announced today that he is joining the Cupertino-based company this summer to work in its CoreOS security team.
As the site notes, Signal passed every security test when put through its paces by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and you can’t really get a better endorsement than the fact that Snowden trusts it.
Apple is also ramping up its incredibly strong language in arguing its position against the FBI …
After Tim Cook said that creating the special code the FBI wanted would amount to the “software equivalent of cancer,” Gizmodo noted the analogy Apple used in its motion to vacate the court order.
Under the same legal theories advocated by the government here, the government could argue that it should be permitted to force citizens to do all manner of things “necessary” to assist it in enforcing the laws, like compelling a pharmaceutical company against its will to produce drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection in furtherance of a lawfully issued death warrant.
As we noted yesterday, Apple also cleverly refers to the code the FBI would like it to write as ‘GovtOS.’ Apple may not yet have persuaded the public (unlike 9to5Mac readers), but I’d have to say it’s winning the war of words.
You can catch up on anything you missed in our full coverage of the case to date.
- U.S. judge orders Apple to help FBI access data on San Bernardino gunman’s iPhone 5c
- Apple publishes letter responding to FBI iPhone unlock demand: ‘an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers’
- Google CEO Pichai appears to side with Apple in series of vague tweets on FBI encryption battle
- Security firm shows how Apple could bypass iPhone security to comply with FBI request
- Opinion: How likely is Apple to succeed in resisting the FBI court order?
- Should Apple comply with FBI request to bypass San Bernardino gunman’s iPhone? [Poll]
- Civil rights groups and tech companies express support for Apple’s stand against the FBI
- Opinion: Why an iPhone master key is better than a backdoor, but still too dangerous
- Petition urges White House to support Apple in blocking government access to locked iPhones
- Senate Intelligence Committee considering bill to penalize companies refusing to decrypt user device
- Report: Apple to get more time to formally respond to government’s request for access to locked iPhone
- Apple/FBI fight looks destined to go all the way to the Supreme Court as more background is revealed
- Department of Justice files motion to force Apple to comply with FBI iPhone backdoor request
- Apple implies FBI screwup: iPhone Apple ID password changed in govt possession, backdoor unnecessary
- FBI explains why it changed Apple ID password in iPhone unlock case, retrieved iCloud backups up to October 19 but wants more
- San Bernardino victims divided on iPhone issue as FBI claims not trying to set a precedent
- Apple/FBI: Tim Cook sends memo to employees, wants government to drop All Writs Act demands, posts customer FAQ
- Edward Snowden describes how the FBI could physically extract passcode from iPhone chip without Apple’s help
- Mark Zuckerberg sides w/ Apple in encryption battle as poll suggests public supports FBI
- Report says DOJ seeking data from ‘about’ 12 other iPhones as Bill Gates sides with FBI
- Report: Apple to argue that encryption battle with FBI should be decided by Congress
- Bloomberg: Apple will argue that the digital signature it uses to validate code is protected as free speech
- Tim Cook says tool to unlock iPhone is the ‘software equivalent of cancer’ in new interview
- Apple working on stronger iCloud backup encryption and iPhone security to counter FBI unlock requests
- Apple’s top lawyer Bruce Sewell to testify before Congress over encryption next week
- Apple officially responds to court request to comply with FBI in San Bernardino iPhone case
- Report: Google, Twitter, Facebook, & Microsoft to file court motions officially supporting Apple in FBI fight
- FBI director admits under oath that iPhone case would set a precedent; public & Republican candidates still on FBI side
Photo: The Verge
Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, Encryption, FBI, Signal
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Facebook’s live video broadcast rolling out to 30+ more countries “in the coming weeks”
Facebook has announced that the Periscope-style live video broadcast feature it launched in the U.S. last month will be rolling out to more than 30 new countries “in the coming weeks” – though it hasn’t revealed which ones. The feature also made its way across to U.S. Android devices today.
Last month, we announced that we planned to start bringing the ability to broadcast live to countries around the world, and now people in more than 30 countries can share live video via iOS. We’ll continue to roll this out to more people as well as Pages in countries around the world in the coming weeks …
Facebook often adds features without a formal update to the app. The best way to trigger a check for new features is to restart the app. At the time of writing, it hadn’t yet hit my app in the UK.
To share live video, simply tap “What’s on your mind?” at the top of News Feed and select the Live Video icon. You can write a quick description and select the audience before going live.
Once you end the live broadcast, the video will remain on your timeline as a recorded one – which you can of course delete if desired.
Filed under: Apps Tagged: Facebook, Facebook features, Facebook live video, Periscope
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5 Things that a CIO Should Never Accept in the IT Department
5 Things that a CIO Should Never Accept in the IT Department
By Jim Anderson
CIOs need to make sure that their IT department is a smoothly running machine. There are many different things that they can do in order to make sure that this happens. Hiring the right employees is a great way to start. Taking […]
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Report: Apple Pay arriving in France this year, but with a slow-burn roll-out over 3-5 months
French site LesEchos (via iPhon.fr) is reporting that Apple Pay will be launching in France by the end of the year, but with a gradual rollout starting with a handful of major banks. It is expected to take 3-5 months between initial launch and the service being widely available in the country, with a pilot launch possibly in place by September.
Negotiations with banks are said to be proceeding slowly, with Apple’s cut of the transaction fee the main stumbling block. On a typical transaction, the banks would receive only 9 cents, and the standard Apple Pay deal applied in the U.S. would see Apple receiving 5 cents of this.
There is, however, hope that the issue can be resolved …
French banks are pointing to a precedent set in China, where Apple is believed to have agreed to halve its share of the standard 0.15% it charges U.S. banks. Fees were also an issue in negotiations leading up to the UK launch last summer, though terms were not disclosed.
Filed under: iOS Devices
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