Tag: Messages »

More new iOS 8 features are rolling out of the WWDC conference today in the Bay Area. Messages, touted by the Apple execs on stage as being THE most used iOS app of all time, is getting some cool new changes.

Users will be able to record voice messages by holding down on the mic icon, swiping up, recording their message, then swiping back down when finished. These audio clips will get dropped right into the ongoing conversation. Video clips can be recorded and shared in similar fashion, turning boring old text messaging into a richer audiovisual experience.

To save on storage space on the device, these messages will typically self-destruct after about 2 minutes, sort of like a supercharged Snapchat. However, this is optional and users can change the timer or turn it off altogether.

Apple shocked the world today by announcing a brand-new operating system for desktop devices, less than a year after the launch of OS X Lion. Codenamed Mountain Lion, the latest update further blurs the line between home computers and tablets, bringing a host of features that make your MacBook or iMac run more like an iPad. Here's a rundown of some of the major additions and how they work.

Messages - Built to replace the current iChat system, the Messages app seamlessly integrates with iMessage, allowing users to chat across platforms. If you're at work but want to get a message out to a loved one's iPhone all you have to do is pop into Messages and start typing. The service is free and supports text, photos and even high-def video sharing.

Reminders - Create and organize tasks and to-do lists on your computer, then push them out to all your devices via iCloud. Need to run a bunch of errands this weekend? Reminders has you covered.

Notification Center - Another iOS concept ported over to the Mac, Notification Center groups all your alerts in one place to easily view and/or dismiss at your convenience. No more alerts popping up all over the screen, now things are contained to one place off to the side, minimizing interruption.

Game Center - You know it, you love it, it's here. Any questions?

For those who can't get enough, Apple has also released the following video showcasing all the cool new features present in OS X Mountain Lion:

While no price has yet been announced Apple expects to launch Mountain Lion this summer. Furthermore, developers can sign up for access right now and begin tinkering with this new, iOS inspired operating system. Apple has long been the company most devoted to making the desktop and mobile experience as analogous as possible, and things seem to be going to a whole new level with Mountain Lion. In the immortal words of Philip J. Fry, "Shut up and take my money!"

Email n' Walk is exactly that. How many times do you type on the go... walking to your next meeting while simultaneously trying to type on your phone and watch where you are going. I think a huge number of us have, heck I'd be willing to make up a statistic on the spot, let's assume 78.4% of us have tried it at some point. Well, what this app essentially does is, where there normally is a white background to your email as you compose them, there is now a screen that takes the image from your inbuilt camera to show you where you are walking.

Having precious little time between classes, I tend to walk and email often. I have had colleagues over the years with interesting definitions of funny who scare me because I never watch where I am going. Well now they can't scare me because I can finally see in front of me. I can almost liken this app to a spy tool. You can be staring at the phone in front of you 'concentrating' and yet actually be watching what is going on in the outside world. The developers do warn you on iTunes that they "...can not be responsible for your stupidity..." and advise against walking in traffic, which is always good advice.

You use the app by clicking the icon which launches a simple screen to compose your email. In this screen, all you have to do is enter text into the subject field and then your message. The frustrating thing here is that there is no return key as it is replaced with the send button. This can sometimes be a bit irritating if you use the return key often, because you will habitually hit it a few times writing some emails. Anyway, once your email is composed you hit send, which launches you straight into the email client so you can now choose who you are sending it to. From there, you just send it as usual.

The developer may possibly want to consider if it would be possible to have the entire screen as the camera area. The keyboard still obscures half the screen, but this is probably an Apple limitation. Other than that, I like the idea of this app a lot, there really is so much potential. Now that I have seen 'the future' I want this concept implemented more! I tweet a fair bit and would love for one of the twitter programs I use to implement this feature.

Don't get me wrong, the concept is still in it's early phase, so there is plenty of work to do to make it really fantastic, but just think about the potential. I'm really excited about this and I can't wait to see it implemented into other programs.

I have shown this app to a number of people and almost all of them have exclaimed "No Way!" when using it, as well as walking away with my iPhone. For the price, the app is definitely worth buying. It may be that with further updates they will inflate the price due to added usefulness, so I would advise you lovely readers to grab this one while its only $0.99. Have fun showing this one off to your friends.