O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: messages

  • Apple unveils iOS 7 at WWDC

    Make no mistake about it, iOS 7 is en route.

    And it looks a whole lot different than what you’re used to.

    Per AppleInsider, Apple on Monday took the wraps off a drastically redesigned iOS 7 that marks a new direction for the company’s mobile operating system.

    Virtually everything about the look and feel of iOS has changed with version 7, including a refined typography, all new icons, and a dynamic color scheme. The new operating system was spearheaded by Apple’s lead designer Jony Ive, and engineering head Craig Federighi.


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    “iOS 7: The biggest change to iOS since the iPhone,” Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook declared.

    As you move an iPhone in your hand, a new parallax feature will actually move the wallpaper in the background, allowing users to “see behind” the icons on their home screen.

    All of the built-in applications have been completely rebuilt with a new look, including Messages, Calendar, and even the phone application.

    In a demonstration of the new weather application, Federighi showed how dynamic weather effects are shown in the background, giving a visual representation of the current conditions.

    A new gesture allows for easier one-handed use, letting users swipe from the left side of the screen to go back. Folders have also been expanded to allow multiple pages and hold more applications.

    An updated Notification Center is slightly transparent, removing its previous textured appearance. Notification Center is also available from the lock screen as well, without the need to unlock the device.

    In addition to an all-new look, iOS 7 is also a major feature release, he said. Among those features is Control Center, which allows quick access to settings like Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, and even a built-in flashlight. Control Center is available from anywhere, including the lock screen.

    Multitasking has also been enhanced “for all apps with great battery life,” Federighi said. iOS 7 notices users’ pattern of use, giving applications background cycles based on how often users access them.

    Swiping between open applications is now a full-screen affair, offering users a larger preview of the application as it is currently open.

    An updated Safari for iOS 7 has a new full-screen mode that allows users to focus on content. A smart search field also has one-tap access to favorite websites, along with a new tabbed interface. Users are also no longer limited to just 8 tabs.

    New AirDrop functionality will allow users to quickly share content with friends nearby with peer-to-peer Wi-Fi. AirDrop will be supported on the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch.

    “No need to wander around the room bumping your phone with others,” Federighi joked.

    An updated Camera application comes with built-in filters, while enhancements to the Photos application allow individual pictures to be organized into “moments.” Photos are automatically organized based on data such as where and when they were captured.

    Users can even zoom out to a year-by-year view. Enhanced by the Retina display, users can “scrub” through their yearly photos to narrow down what they’re looking for. And new Shared Photo Streams also allow group sharing of photos and video via iCloud.

    Additional features include the following:
    – A new Find My iPhone Activation Lock feature that requires your Apple ID and password before you can turn off Find My iPhone, erase data or re-activate a device after it’s been remotely erased.

    – Night Mode in Maps that responds to ambient light when you use it in the dark.

    – FaceTime audio for high quality calls over a data network.

    – Notification sync, so when you dismiss a notification on one device it is dismissed on all of your devices.

    – Phone, FaceTime and Messages blocking to prevent specific people from being able to contact you.

    – Tencent Weibo support for users in China, a Chinese-English bilingual dictionary, and improved Chinese input including handwriting recognition for multiple Chinese characters.

    – The ability for businesses to more efficiently deploy and manage iPhones and iPads;

    – Enhanced in-car integration, bringing an Apple designed experience into the car for the first time.

    Apple has released an iOS 7 beta to its developer community (available at developer.apple.com).

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Rumor: OS X 10.9 to arrive with additional power-user features, iOS elements

    The feature rumors about OS X 10.9 have begun.

    Per 9to5Mac, the upcoming operating system, which is internally codenamed “Cabernet,” will focus on various “power-user” enhancements and take core features from iOS, according to sources. Unlike operating system updates such as OS X Leopard and OS X Lion, OS X 10.9 will likely not be an overhauled approach to how the operating system feels and functions.


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    The new operating system is purported to include major enhancements to the Finder application such as tags and tabbed browsing modes. Those additions are notable as many pro-users have relied on third-party solutions and hacks to enable these features. Additionally, the new operating system will include a new Safari web browser with a redesigned backend for improved page loading, speed, and efficiency…

    Third-party TotalFinder tool:
    The ability to keep a different “Space” or full-screen app open on a different monitor (in multiple monitor setups) is another important power-user feature coming in 10.9. This feature was forecasted by Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi last year.

    In October, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi became involved in an e-mail exchange in which a user complained about the lack of proper multi-monitor support in OS X Mountain Lion. The Apple executive said that Apple is “absolutely aware of [its] customers’ passion on this topic,” according to the e-mail exchange.

    OS X 10.9 will also apparently see some user-interface changes, but the changes will not be drastic ones.

    The upcoming operating system is said to incorporate some level of Siri functionality, but it is unclear if full Siri-support is still in the cards for OS X 10.9 or if the functionality will be glued to future hardware updates (for instance, iPhone 4 versus iPhone 4S). The shake-up at the top of Apple’s overall software group shifted around multiple iOS and OS X projects, so anything on the roadmap prior to this shakeup could have been altered, according to a person familiar with the situation.

    OS X Mountain Lion added many app-based features from iOS, such as Messages, Notes/Reminders, Game Center, and AirPlay, but the additions in OS X 10.9 from iOS will focus more on system fundamentals. According to one source, Apple has been testing a new multi-tasking system for OS X that is similar to the quick-app-switcher function on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. The multitasking feature will be functional for applications in the background, according to this person. Additionally, Apple could use app-pausing technologies from iOS to pause background application processes in OS X. This is significant as full performance could be given to foreground apps, which could help optimize battery life on Apple’s notebook computers. It is unclear if this feature will make the cut for 10.9′s public release.

    Apple will also likely announce Xcode 5.0 later this year. Apple’s new version of its developer app suite is said to be redesigned and include improved application testing tools. Perhaps hinting at this is Apple’s own WWDC press release:

    “Our developers have had the most prolific and profitable year ever, and we’re excited to show them the latest advances in software technologies and developer tools to help them create innovative new apps. We can’t wait to get new versions of iOS and OS X into their hands at WWDC.”

    Apple’s last two operating systems shipped in the summer, which suggests it is likely that 10.9 will also see a summer release. OS X 10.9 was originally scheduled to be previewed earlier this year, but Apple decided to introduce the operating system alongside iOS 7 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference. Recent rumors have indicated that Apple moved resources away from OS X 10.9 development in order to focus on iOS 7. This likely contributed to Apple moving back the next OS X’s debut.

    As previously noted, the operating system seems to have already been fairly widely distributed inside Apple, based on views to the 9to5Mac web site with computers running OS X 10.9.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Trojan.SMSSend.3666 goes into the wild, poses as Mac OS X software

    You should listen to your more paranoid relatives around the holiday dinner table when they say that there’ll always be someone trying to run a scam on someone else.

    Just because they’re paranoid doesn’t make them wrong.

    Per CNET, Russian security firm Dr. Web has uncovered another malware attempt on OS X systems that tries to exploit users with SMS fraud.

    The new malware is a Trojan horse, dubbed “Trojan.SMSSend.3666,” and is part of a family of Trojan malware for Windows and other platforms that have affected Windows users for years.

    As with all Trojans, these pose as legitimate programs that are made available for download from a number of underground Web sites, with this current one for OS X appearing to be an installer for a program called VKMusic 4, a utility whose legitimate version is used for communication between machines on a European social network called VK.

    During its installation, the malware triggers an SMS fraud routine where it asks users to enter cell phone numbers, then sends them SMS messages to confirm, which then subscribes the users to a scam that charges high fees for junk messages being sent to their phones.

    Unlike recent malware targeted at OS X, this one is not a Java-based attempt to hack the system and install dropper programs that open backdoor access to the system. This one is built as a Mach-O binary that uses the OS X native runtime; however, this change does not alter the threat level significantly. Since the malware is distributed through underground means and requires specific user interaction both to install, and then subsequently and knowingly provide private information, it is a relatively minimal threat.

    However, despite its slight impact, it does add yet another instance to the relatively short list of malware for OS X as compared to those for Windows and other platforms.

    As with other recent malware for OS X, this one appears to be built specifically to fool those that use the European VK social network, as opposed to being a more widespread attempt, as was seen with the “MacDefender” malware.

    Apple’s current XProtect malware definitions have not yet been updated to identify this new scourge, but as it gets analyzed and identified by security firms, the definitions will spread out for various anti-malware utilities. However, overall the main security tips emphasized by this development are to first check where any installer for your system came from, and then be cautious about giving out personal information including phone numbers and addresses. This is especially true for any installer you downloaded from a site that is not directly from the developer itself.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Apple releases iBooks 3.0.2 update

    Never knock a good update.

    Late Wednesday, Apple released version 3.0.2 of its iBooks update for its iOS reader program.

    The new version, a 41 megabyte download, offers the following fixes and changes:

    – See all your iBookstore purchases in iCloud – on your bookshelf with iOS 6.

    – Scroll vertically through your books using the new Scroll Theme.

    – Receive free content updates to purchased book (new chapters, etc.)

    – Look up definitions for words under the German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese languages under iOS 6.

    – Share thoughts about your favorite books via Facebook, Twitter, Messages or Mail.

    – Resolves a crash wherein the iBooks app may unexpectedly quit in iOS 6.

    iBooks 3.0.2 requires a compatible iOS device and iOS 5.0 or later to install and run.

  • Apple releases OS X 10.8.2 Update for 13″ Macbook Pro with Retina Display, late 2012 21.5″ iMac and Mac mini models

    Where new hardware is released, the software updates will follow.

    Per AppleInsider, only one day following the announcement of new iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac mini models, Apple on Wednesday released an OS X Mountain Lion update built specifically for those devices.

    While the download is called OS X 10.8.2, just like the most recent update to Apple’s current operating system for all other Macs, Wednesday’s release is “for 13″ Macbook Pro with Retina Display, 21.5″ iMac (Late 2012)Mac mini (Late 2012).”

    A quick look at the release notes doesn’t yield much in the way of new information, possibly pointing to issues the new 2012 units are facing with some features in 10.8.2. Of note is the update’s compatibility with the 21.5-inch iMac, a model that has yet to be released, though the no mention was made of the 27-inch version.

    The update, a 654 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:

    Facebook:
    – Single sign on for Facebook.
    – Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos.
    – Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts.
    – Facebook notifications in Notification Center.

    Game Center:
    – Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages.
    – Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations.
    – Facebook Like button for games.
    – Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement.

    Other new features:
    – Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010).
    – iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac.
    – From Safari and Mail on your Mac you can add passes to Passbook on your iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6.
    – New shared Reminders lists.
    – FaceTime now receives calls sent to your phone number.
    – New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them.
    – Dictation now supports Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian.
    – The Dictionary application now includes a French definition dictionary.
    – Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts.

    This update also includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, including the following fixes:
    – An option to discard the changes in the original document when choosing Save As.
    – Unsent drafts are opened automatically when launching Mail.
    – Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from anyone
    – URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification Center
    – Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being used
    – SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in Safari
    – New preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages
    – Graphics performance and reliability enhancements
    – USB 3.0 reliability enhancements

    As always, the update can be located and installed via the Mac App Store or OS X’s built-in Software Update feature.