On this week’s episode of AppStories, Federico provides an update on the progress he’s made on his iOS 13 review, and then we dig into how travel affects the apps and gear we use.
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Apple has released iOS 12.4 with improvements to Apple News, a new iPhone migration tool, support for the HomePod in Taiwan and Japan, and a fix for the security flaw in the Apple Watch’s Walkie-Talkie app.
With the release of version 12.4 of iOS, downloaded magazines in the My Magazines section of the News app are now available for reading online and offline. The catalog of publications in Apple News includes newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, which previously weren’t listed in the catalog. There’s also a new option to clear downloaded magazines from Apple News by selecting History → Clear → Clear All.
In addition to the changes to News, the update introduces an iPhone migration tool that allows users to wirelessly transfer data from an old to a new iPhone during the setup process, support for the HomePod in Taiwan and Japan, and a fix for the security flaw in the Walkie-Talkie Watch app.
It was widely anticipated that iOS 12.4 would introduce the Apple Card, the credit card the company announced in March, but based on early reports, it looks like users will have to wait a while longer before signing up for the card.
Over the weekend, podcast client Overcast launched a few new features in its latest update. Most notably, the app’s recommendation engine for suggesting new podcasts has been completely revamped and improved in a big way. Additionally, the recently added feature for sharing video clips of podcasts has an extended length limitation, and you can now set per-podcast settings for new parameters.
Atoms are the ideal everyday shoe designed for comfort and style with your feet in mind.
Not everyone’s feet are exactly the same size. In fact, 60% of people have one foot that’s a little bigger than the other, which is where Atoms sets itself apart. Atoms deliver an effortless fit by offering customers different sized shoes for their left and right feet. When you order, Atoms sends you three pairs in quarter-size increments, so you can pick the two shoes that fit your feet the best and return the others for free. It’s a concept so revolutionary that around 40,000 people signed up for the company’s waitlist before the shoes were publicly available.
Atoms are about more than just a perfect fit though. The Model 000 offers a simple, timeless design inspired by classic tennis shoes and careful attention to details that make them the perfect combination of form and function. The unisex design feature a proprietary foam midsole for cloud-like cushioning that’s resiliently comfortable day after day. The attention to detail extends to the stretch laces too, which were designed to stay tied and allow them to be slipped on and off easily. The shoes also feature a breathable upper with an antimicrobial copper lining that prevents odor.
With the $179 Model 000, Atoms has created a shoe that you not only can wear every day but one you’ll want to wear every day. It’s is available in three colorways (black/white, black/black, white/white), and there’s a special, limited-edition gray colorway for customers who already own a pair of Atoms.
So, visit atoms.com today to learn more about the Model 000, which is revolutionizing footwear, and order a pair for yourself.
Our thanks to Atoms for supporting MacStories this week.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 185 It’s a special kind of dilemma when an app is already one of the best in its category, yet it lives on a platform that requires constant improvement. Some apps in this predicament continue adding feature after feature in a way that ends up detracting from what users initially loved, while others pursue updates that may be less attention-grabbing, but they improve the core app in meaningful ways. Timepage, the iOS calendar app from Moleskine, has chosen the latter route with version 3.0, available today. There are no headline-grabbers here, but this latest update demonstrates that Moleskine has a strong understanding of how its app is used, and how to make it better. It introduces significant improvements to event creation, a new birthday functionality, additional calendar views, and a design tweak inspired by Timepage’s sister app, Actions, among other things.
On this week’s episode of Connected:
Federico has concerns about dummy units of the next iPhone. Stephen is troubled by the icon used for Software Update in macOS. Both of them receive a visit from a mystic being named Myke. Oh, and it’s World Emoji Day!
You can listen below (and find the show notes here).
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Mercury Intermedia, in a post on Medium, shares its extensive documentation of Apple Maps’ iconography over the years:
A few years ago we published a post examining the point of interest (POI) icons within Apple Maps titled More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Apple’s Spotlight Location Icons. POI icons have existed in Apple Maps since Google was the maps provider. But with iOS 6, Apple took full ownership of Maps and introduced a selectable, color-coded POI system with all new iconography.
We took particular notice of the icons included with iOS 8 when Apple began using larger versions of these icons at the system level as part of their new Spotlight search feature. Apple has continued to iterate on these icons and has made several additions and refinements. With iOS 10 for example, Apple redesigned the Maps app to use the larger POI icon set directly on the map itself. This post will examine how the system has grown and evolved over the past few years.
If you’re interested in design, iconography, or how these things have evolved over time in Apple Maps, the post is a fantastic resource and fun exploration of the little details that make a significant mark on user experience. For example, the article includes quotes from designer Scott Dunlap comparing Apple’s icon changes over the years and what purpose those tweaks served, as well as offering feedback for how Maps’ icon set could stand more improvement, particularly for greater clarity at small sizes.
Today on World Emoji Day, Adobe has shared the results of its recent survey of 1,000 US emoji users:
Among the emoji users surveyed, the overwhelming majority use emojis to lighten the mood of conversations (93%) and show support to people (91%). Aligned with this finding, emoji users’ top three favorite emojis are ???? (#1), ❤️ (#2), ???? (#3). Interestingly, a majority (81%) of emoji users believe that people who use emojis are friendlier and more approachable.
The survey included participants ages 16-73 who use emoji at least weekly. The full report is interesting to explore, as it lists favorite emoji by users’ gender and the region of the US they live in. Across all tracked demographics, the laughing emoji was most-used, but the differences in runner-ups are well worth checking out.
Yesterday Apple got a head start on World Emoji Day by sharing a preview of its new emoji coming in iOS 13 this fall. Though there aren’t any obvious standouts that seem destined to achieve high levels of use, my personal favorites so far include the sloth and yawning face.
