Pixelmator for iPhone→

With a universal update, Pixelmator has been released on the iPhone today. I took Pixelmator for a spin last year when it launched on the iPad, and, while I don’t need all the features of this app, I’ve been using it regularly to create simple image compositions and edit screenshots for the site.

On the iPhone, the Pixelmator team went with some interesting choices. The app feels a bit constrained on the smaller screen but you can still access all the tools from the iPad version. I like how you can view layers with a swipe on the left edge of the screen, and I appreciate the effort they put into rearranging menus when you switch to landscape (I tried the app on an iPhone 6 Plus – make sure to check out the Tools menu in landscape). As you can see in the screenshots above, I’m going to use the app until I figure out a way to automate Apple Watch screenshot generation with Pythonista or Workflow.

Pixelmator is one of the most impressive mobile adaptations of a powerful desktop app – and now you can use it on an iPhone too. $4.99 on the App Store.

Permalink

Bugshot Relaunches as Pinpoint

I was a fan of Marco Arment’s Bugshot when it launched in 2013. As someone who takes screenshots for app reviews on a daily basis, any tool that can help me annotate and edit those screenshots quickly is welcome. Evernote hasn’t been paying much attention to Skitch over the past couple of years, and even after they introduced iOS 8 support two months ago, they did so with unstable extensions that I still can’t use reliably.

This is why I’m thrilled to see that Bugshot has been relaunched as Pinpoint by Lickability, makers of longtime MacStories favorite Quotebook.

Read more

Apple’s Jeff Williams on Native Apple Watch Apps→

July Clover, reporting for MacRumors on Apple’s Jeff Williams’ appearance at the Code conference earlier today:

On the topic of Apple Watch apps, Williams says third-party apps will get better when developers are able to release native apps and when access to native sensors is permitted. He gave an example of what a native Apple Watch app might do, suggesting an app like Strava will be more full featured as it would have direct access to sensors.

The native Apple Watch app SDK will be previewed at WWDC, according to Williams, suggesting full featured Apple Watch apps that can access health sensors, the Digital Crown, and more, will be available when iOS 9 is released to the public in the fall.

As assumed by many, the Watch SDK will give developers access to sensors. After trying the Watch for the past two weeks, it’s obvious that the only useful fitness app for me is Apple’s Workout because it’s the only one to use the heart rate sensor.

Eight years from now, I wonder if we’ll remember WatchKit as a very sweet solution, too.

(I love Steve’s comment on the “really complex update process”. It didn’t turn out to be that complex after all.)

Permalink

The Evolution of Apple’s Digital Hub→

For nearly a decade, iLife was the heart and soul of the Mac. The original Apple Stores were laid out into sections revolving around music and photography. Third-party digital cameras and camcorders graced official Apple product photography, and the Mac slowly became the go-to machine for creatives of all talent levels.

Writing at iMore, Stephen Hackett remembers Apple’s Digital Hub strategy. Looking back at all this, it’s amazing to recall how much stuff we used to have that’s been replaced by a phone with a bunch of apps. I’m glad that I got to witness this change.

Permalink

Google Bringing App Indexing to iOS→

From the Google blog:

We’ve been helping users discover relevant content from Android apps in Google search results for a while now. Starting today, we’re bringing App Indexing to iOS apps as well. This means users on both Android and iOS will be able to open mobile app content straight from Google Search.

App Indexing is Google’s effort to bridge the gap between mobile search results (where they make money) and native apps (where they don’t make money – unless the developer uses Google ads) by deep-linking web content to specific sections in apps. The technology has been available on Android for a while, and it’s rolling out with a “limited released” to initial partners on iOS in the coming apps.

While I doubt that Google will ever be able to implement the install-continue experience with Google Play and search results found on Android, App Indexing on iOS is interesting. I wonder if the company will show demos of this at the I/O keynote tomorrow.

Permalink

Apple Updates WWDC App with Apple Watch Version, WWDC 2015 Schedule

With an update released today on the App Store, Apple has refreshed its WWDC app for iOS with the schedule for the upcoming WWDC 2015, improved audio playback, and an Apple Watch version.

The app (now at version 3.0 and sporting a purple icon), includes a preliminary list of scheduled events and sessions such as the opening keynote on Monday, June 8, at 10 AM and the Apple Design Awards, which this year will celebrate the excellence in Apple Watch apps in addition to iOS and Mac software.

On Apple Watch, the WWDC app will let you browse sessions, labs, and favorites, with the ability to view events and access information right from your wrist.

The updated WWDC app is available on the App Store. WWDC 2015 is kicking off on June 8 and runs through June 12; as usual, Apple is expected to unveil the next major versions of iOS and OS X at its annual developers conference.

Microsoft Bringing Cortana to iPhone Later This Year→

In a blog post today, Microsoft announced a ‘Phone Companion’ app built into Windows 10 (which is coming out this summer) to easily transfer content (like documents and photos) to Android and iOS devices.

They also revealed that Cortana, the company’s voice assistant, will be released on iPhone “later this year”.

The Cortana app can do most of the things Cortana does on your PC or on a Windows phone. You can have Cortana remind you to pick up milk the next time you’re at the grocery store, and then your phone will wake up and buzz with the reminder. You’ll be able to track a flight using Cortana on both your phone and your PC, and get the updates on the device that you’re on so you don’t miss anything. Everything in Cortana’s Notebook will show up across all your devices and any changes you make on one device will be reflected when you use Cortana on any of your other devices. The Cortana companion app will help you complete tasks you begin on your PC wherever you are, on your phone.

Microsoft already notes that, due to limitations on iOS and Android, they won’t be able to port features such as launching apps and voice activation with “Hey Cortana”. Like other big companies, Microsoft has built a solid ecosystem of apps on the App Store, and it’ll be interesting to see how limited Cortana will be as an iPhone app and how it’ll compare to future versions of Siri and Google Now.

Permalink

Napkin: Say It With a Picture, Skip the 1,000 Words [Sponsor]

Sometimes explaining something with an email or instant message is frustrating and slow. Miscommunication costs time and money. Use Napkin for OS X to effortlessly create an image that makes your point crystal clear and avoid all that confusion.

Start by importing images or screenshots to your Napkin canvas. Sketch and type to create tasteful annotations such as arrows, shapes and text. Highlight a specific detail in an image by magnifying it with Napkin’s unique call-outs. When you are done creating, share your result quickly with the sharing menu or a simple drag and drop export from the toolbar.

Napkin is designed to be easy to learn and efficient to use. The innovative user interface dispenses with the need for complicated tools and lets you just scribble directly on the canvas to create annotations and markup. Napkin gets out of your way and lets you express your thoughts with ease.

Designers, product managers, software developers, photographers, journalists, and educators have all found that Napkin makes their work easier. Creating an accurate bug report was never easier. Clear and concise design feedback is now a breeze. If you’ve ever needed to show someone the steps to do something on their computer you will appreciate how quick Napkin makes that task. Annotated images created in Napkin add a touch of class and clarity to lecture notes and presentations.

The new 1.5 release includes many features that make Napkin even more valuable. Napkin can now crop images directly in the app – no need to work with another tool to get rid of the excess. When you need to cover up a sensitive portion of an image, the new pixelate and blur redaction styles look great and keep your privacy intact. Napkin is also right at home on Yosemite, with an updated user interface and style.

Napkin is available on the Mac App Store for Macs running Yosemite or Mavericks. You can learn all about Napkin and see several videos of how Napkin can help you at aged-and-distilled.com.

Our thanks to Napkin for sponsoring MacStories this week.

Jony Ive Promoted to ‘Chief Design Officer’→

Until now, Ive’s job title has been Senior Vice President of Design. But I can reveal that he has just been promoted and is now Apple’s Chief Design Officer. It is therefore an especially exciting time for him.

Inside the fabled design studio (cloths over the long tables hiding the exciting new prototypes from prying eyes like mine) Jony has two people with him. They too have been promoted as part of Ive’s new role.

In a profile at The Telegraph, Stephen Fry reveals Jony Ive’s new role at Apple. Richard Howarth and Alan Dye (both profiled by Wired and The New Yorker earlier this year in their Apple Watch coverage) will report to Jony Ive and become VPs of Industrial Design and Human Interface, respectively. According to an internal memo published by 9to5Mac, the change will be effective starting July 1.

Later in the profile, Stephen Fry asked Ive about his new role:

When I catch up with Ive alone, I ask him why he has seemingly relinquished the two departments that had been so successfully under his control. “Well, I’m still in charge of both,” he says, “I am called Chief Design Officer. Having Alan and Richard in place frees me up from some of the administrative and management work which isn’t … which isn’t …”

“Which isn’t what you were put on this planet to do?”

“Exactly. Those two are as good as it gets. Richard was lead on the iPhone from the start. He saw it all the way through from prototypes to the first model we released. Alan has a genius for human interface design. So much of the Apple Watch’s operating system came from him. With those two in place I can …”

Ive is currently overseeing the design of future Apple retail stores and Apple Campus 2 on top of his existing duties in the Industrial Design and Human Interface groups. It’ll be interesting to see what this leadership change will mean for Ive’s participation in new Apple products going forward and if the role of Marc Newson (who joined Apple last year) will be altered as well.

Permalink