iOS 8.2 beta 4 was released to developers a short while ago, and as well as streamlining the software ready for general end user release with the usual bug fixes and such, there are a couple of other new and noteworthy additions to the fold. The main attraction in this instance is added Apple Watch support, with a new feature deployed that’ll eventually permit Apple Watch owners to connect their iPhone with their wearable.
Apple has already rolled out the WatchKit SDK, which will be integral to the enrichment of the new platform, and with Apple Watch set to hit the market this Spring, the groundwork is already underway to ensure that iPhones are ready to sync with the smartwatch right out of the box.
Fluidity is something we’ve come to expect not only from iOS, but the entire Apple ecosystem and product line as a whole, and from these early indications revealed in iOS 8.2 beta 4, it seems pairing devices with Apple Watch will be typically painless and simple.
Within Bluetooth settings, there’s now a menu dedicated to pairing with Apple Watch, as discovered by 9to5Mac, and although developers won’t be able to do so since, well, Apple Watch is not yet out in the wild, the new menu does offer a snippet of how everything will come together when it does.
We’ve been hearing for quite some time that the Apple Watch will only sync with iPhones when the dedicated companion app is installed on all devices, but we’ve neither seen nor heard anything official on this matter as yet, but the Bluetooth settings panel also includes a command directing users "go to the Apple Watch app" if they wish to pair iPhone with Apple Watch.
So, it looks like there will certainly be an Apple Watch app, letting users refine and tweak the experience using their larger-screened iPhones, and although it’s possible that it will take the form of an App Store download, it’s also plausible that Apple will bundle the Apple Watch app at stock level for the free advertising that it brings to those who haven’t picked one up.
Will you be purchasing the forthcoming Apple Watch?
Remote desktop apps are not uncommon, particularly given the increasing display sizes of smartphones and tablets, and last year, Google introduced Chrome Remote Desktop for Android. The app, as you might imagine, enables Android users to connect to their PC or Mac remotely, and so far, has garnered rave reviews from users. Given the successful release for Android, the Big G has now opted to deliver the experience to those on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and we’ve got all of the details, as well as the download link of Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS under one roof.
Although it caters to both Windows and OS X, it does require the Chrome Remote Desktop app that can be found at the Chrome Web Store. Once you’ve installed it, you’ll be met with an access code that you’ll then need to punch into the app on your iOS device, and once both device and computer have been formally introduced, your remote desktop experience can commence.
Having used the Android edition, it’s safe to say that the iOS variant is just as impressive. It’s rare that a utility should function on both platforms flawlessly, with usually one of the two iterations letting the side down, but given that Google has gone to the trouble of building Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS in the first place, here’s to hoping that it’s decent for everyone out there.
We’ve had a little play around on it, and everything seems fairly slick, and if you like the idea of connecting to your main PC or Mac remotely, then be sure to give Chrome Remote Desktop a whirl.
Like any remote desktop experience, Chrome Remote Desktop is a great deal more fluid and functional on a tablet. The display better simulates a true desktop experience both size and aspect ratio, and so whilst you can use this app on your iPhone or iPod touch without too much incident, you’re going to be much more productive on a tablet; in this case, the iPad. (Download: Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS on the App Store)
Be sure to check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone and iPad.
iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbreak tweak developers have been ringing the new year in right, offering new and updated tweaks for use with the latest iOS 8 devices including iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPad Air and more. This week several of my favorite privacy and photo app and battery life tweaks were updated for iOS 8 and can be download from Cydia now. As usual I’ve highlighted my favorite or top tweaks of the week at the top of the article, while including short descriptions of all other new Cydia apps that were released during the week toward the bottom. Make sure to check them all out as you never know what goodies may be there. Happy Jailbreaking!
Best New iOS 8 - 8.1.2 Cydia Jailbreak Tweaks Released Jan. 1 – 8
This is an privacy related tweak that has been recently updated for compatibility with iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbroken iPhones. The tweak basically allows you to assign a secret gesture that will discreetly “lock” particular areas of you device. It can be a quick and easy way to keep people from snooping in places on your device you don’t want them to go. So, for example, maybe I want to allow my mom to scroll through photos of my kids, but I don’t want her to read my incoming texts or emails while she has my phone in her hands. I can activate panicLock with my chosen gesture (ex: swipe left across status bar), and then hand her my phone and she will be able to look at my photos, but notifications will be disabled, text messages and email inaccessible (These conditions would be pre-set in the settings). Then, when she was finished, I just swipe across the status bar again and panicLock is no longer active. I like the gesture aspect of this tweak because it is discreet and doesn’t require I put in a password or any other painstaking activity. The tweak is live now on the BigBoss repo on the Cydia jailbreak app store for just $0.99. You can download it, here.
MoreTimer by PoomSmart is a great new photo app timer extender, offering additional options for the iPhone photo timer.Cydia
This is a simple photography tweak but one I find very useful. With this tweak the photo app timer gets additional options. You can add up to 3 additional timer count down amounts while also allowing for burst mode while using the timer. You can also select a torch blinking style while using the timer. A great photo timer extender tweak, MoreTimer is available for free for all 8 – 8.1.2 jailbroken devices and ca be found on BigBoss in the Cydia jailbreak app store.Download it here.
Safari Uploader 8 is a great new Cydia jailbreak tweak for iOS 8 iPhone, iPads and iPods which allows user to upload any kind of file to SafariCydia
This is a new iOS 8 compatible jailbreak tweak that is basically exactly what it sounds like – a tweak that allows for uploading files to Safari. This allows users to upload any kind of file – not just photos and videos. While simple, this tweak can be extremely useful. It is available for all iPhones or iPads running and iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbreak. The tweak is free and available now in the Cydia jailbreak app store on the BigBoss repo. Download it here.
BattSaver is an iOS 5 - iOS 8 compatible jailbreak tweak that helps to manage battery life on your iPhone with customizations and data.Cydia
This tweak was a big favorite of iOS 7 jailbreak users because of the powerful way it allows users to control their battery usage and extend the battery life of their device. The tweak has been around since iOS 5 but has now been updated for compatibility with the iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbreak. For those who are unaware of the tweak, here are some of the features, as described by the creator.
"The only tweak that can double your battery life, BattSaver is:
- Clever: automatically switches off battery-draining components when unused
- Efficient: up to 2 times battery life and more!
- Wise: extends battery life time by reducing number of charge cycles
- Clear: includes monitoring views to check battery state in real-time.
- Intuitive: with pull-to-refresh feature
This tweak is live on Cydia jailbreak app store in the BigBoss repo for $3.99. Download BattSaver here.
Discreetify is a new iOS 8 privacy related tweak that allows users to change notification's text when certain keywords are found.Cydia
So this is an interesting new iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbreak tweak. I haven’t found a particular reason for which I find it useful but wanted to feature it because of the novelty. With this tweak users can actually have notifications scanned or filtered for key words and have the notification text modified to match those words. For example, say that anytime a text or email or other notification came through with a month or day in it, that I had the notification read “schedule appt.” or “time intensive.” If I were working at the time, this might be a useful feature. Another example of course, could be privacy. Perhaps there are texts with certain – ahem - “keywords” that we don’t want others nearby to see. You could set a filter and when texts come through with those words, instead you could have a notification that says “call your mother!” At any rate, this tweak is free and available now in the BigBoss repo for all iPhones running an iOS 8 -8.1.2 jailbreak.
Photo Organizer is a popular photo app organizing tweak for iPhone users running an iOS 7 or 8 jailbreakCydia
So Photo Organizer was one of my favorite tweak on iOS 7 and now it has been updated for iOS 8 – 8.1.2 jailbreaks. The tweak is compatible with both iPhone and iPad and includes features such as:
· Import albums without iTunes by copying them to /var/mobile/Media/DCIM (no limit on albums you can import)
· Move photos out of the Camera Roll without deleting them
· Reorder photos in the Camera Roll by drag-and-drop or copy-and-paste
· Sort photos in any album by name, size, or date
· Select ranges of photos by tapping with two fingers
· Select and deselect all photos in an album with one tap
· Reorder the album list and rename the Camera Roll
Photo Organizer 8 runs inside the stock Photos app and does not install any Springboard icons. There are no options to configure. The tweak is just $2.99 on the Cydia jailbreak app store via the BigBoss repo. Download Photo Organizer 8 here.
More iOS 8 – 8.1.2 Cydia Jailbreak Tweaks Released January 1 – 8, 2015
AutoAirPlay by Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh – this jailbreak tweak is an Activator plugin that causes our device to connect to the first AirPlay speaker or device it can find. (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
Locus by dantesieg – this tweak allows you to enable Location Services per-app (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
Clap by fl00d – this tweak allows you to clap you hands to find your phone ($0.99, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
SimpleSwitcher by N104 – adds a number of simple mods for the app switcher such as invisible or transparent app snapshots, it an remove app icons, labels and more (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
meme by a4twerks – This tweak removes the blur from the iOS 8 Spotlight (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
Circulate by Josh Doctors – This tweak offers themed dynamic clock icons with concentric circles or rising bars. ($0.99, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
ColorFill by Josh Doctors - this tweak Colors the Reachability view space based on the dominant colors of the current screen (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2
NotiHax by a4twerks – This jailbreak tweak allows you to disable Notification Banners on iPhone and iPad, but not sounds (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
curtainChecker by Simon Selg - VoiceOver enhancements for blind jailbreakers. This tweaks will remind you if you left your Screen Curtain off. (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
reachabilityUnlocked by Ruslan Ardashev – this tweak allows users to Customize Reachability's duration, number of taps, and more (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
Notification Killer by Merlin – This tweak allows you to long press on the Notification Center’s “Today” or “Notification” buttons to clear all notifications. (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
QuickSiri by Skumar Space – this tweak allows you to set customized phrases for activating Siri (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)t
OnlineNotify by F0u4d – this tweak will send you a notification when a particular contact(s) comes online. ($1.99, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
Copic For CallBar by IArrays – this tweak adds contact photos in CallBar ($0.99, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
SubtleLock (iOS 8) by Michael Poole – this tweak slims clock and slider on lockscreen, allowing more room for notifications ($0.99, BigBoss, iOS 6, 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
Actual Battery by pw5a29 – this tweak shows actual battery percentage by remaining mah and available capacity. (Free, Modmyi, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
SlipDownToKill 8 by tushaoye – this tweak allows you to slide down to kill background apps in app switcher (Free, BigBoss, iOS 8 – 8.1.2)
CameraModes by PoomSmart – this tweak allows users to enable or disable specific camera modes (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
NoPhotoGestures by PoomSmart - Disable zooming gestures of photos grid. (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
NoSquare by PoomSmart - Disable square (1:1) mode of camera. (Free, BigBoss, iOS 7 and 8 – 8.1.2)
