Improving MFi Controller Support on iOS→

Craig Grannell, writing on how Apple could make MFi controller-enabled games more user friendly on iOS:

That’s assuming anyone could find a compatible game in the first place, because Apple oddly broadly ignored controllers in the iTunes Store. You’d think the company would at least flag controller support on game pages (something it does on Apple TV), and also automate an App Store page listing compatible games. Instead, it’s left to third-party sites like Afterpad to pick up the slack, which is baffling.

Today, the MFi ecosystem is fairly mature, with a reasonable range of controllers. (My personal recommendation is the Nimbus, unless you’re desperate for a form-hugging option, in which case grab a Gamevice, in the knowledge it may not fit the next device you buy.) But Apple needs to do more to help.

It is baffling that the iOS App Store still doesn’t display controller support or offer a filter to show games with MFi controller integration. It seems like they’re not taking them too seriously.

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Record Your Mind with Thoughtful

Tim Cook, during his discussion of privacy at Apple’s latest media event, called the iPhone an “extension of ourselves.” As one might imagine, such a claim is based around the amount of our personal information we put into our phones: credit card information, personal thoughts, and other sensitive data we wouldn’t want others to have access to.

Thoughtful, a self-described “thought tracker,” is the epitome of that extension. It’s an app that, for the sake of self-improvement, you’ll put personal thoughts into – and, through some helpful features, will attempt to promote better habits.

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Introducing Club MacStories Web Archive, Ongoing Development, Workflow Corner, and Reader Home Screens

When we launched Club MacStories in September, it was my goal to build a sustainable addition to MacStories with extras our readers would find worth paying for.

In the past seven months, the success of Club MacStories has exceeded my most optimistic expectations, and I’m thrilled to announce more great additions that our members will be able to enjoy on a weekly basis.

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See the World With Streets 3

I almost didn’t get this review finished. While I should have been writing, I found myself wandering the globe with the help of Streets 3, a browser for Google Street View from FutureTap. I started at a remote church on the coast of Iceland, stumbled into a pub in London, and then made stops in Kings Park in Perth, El Calafate, Argentina, and finally, Plaza Navona in Rome. From the remotest location to the biggest cities, Streets’ panoramas were gorgeously detailed and easy to navigate.

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Macminicolo Merging with MacStadium→

Brian Stucki, writing on the Macminicolo blog, has some big news today:

In short, I’ve decided to sell ownership of Macminicolo and merge it with another company. I will stay on as President of Macminicolo and also serve as a Vice President of the parent company, MacStadium.

Now, I could just announce this with no explanation and be done with it . I could also write one of those generic acquisition posts focused on sunsets and brands and blah. Instead, I’ll be forthright and real like I’ve always tried to be with customers.

Macminicolo is the Mac mini hosting company in the Apple community, and this move feels right to me.

MacStories is hosted on Macminicolo (and has been for several years now). Moving to a dedicated mini has been one of the best decisions we’ve made in seven years of MacStories, and I’m excited to see what MacStadium brings to the table. I wish them all the best.

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Slack on Release Notes→

Anna Pickard, writing on the Slack blog, describes how Slack approaches writing release notes for their apps. In the modern App Store, Slack is one of the few companies that publishes good release notes – informative, just the right amount of funny, and detailed.

If you want to produce something that people will want to read, it’s only polite to make it enjoyable to read it. So in release notes — as in everything else we do — a large love for language, and a little humor, go a long way. Once you’ve gone that long way, it’s tempting to go further still, but we try and remind ourselves to hold back.

(Compare and contrast: the people who write release notes for Medium.)

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Connected: Pokédex of iMacs→

Myke is back, and has a surprise for Stephen and Federico. After they recover, the trio talk about the current state of home automation and the iMac’s place in the world.

Come for the title, stay for the surprise topic (which I wasn’t expecting either). You can listen here.

Sponsored by:

  • Braintree: Code for easy online payments.
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Starz Comes to iOS and Apple TV

According to BusinessWire, Starz launched a new streaming service today that is available on iOS devices and Apple TV. The service is noteworthy because like HBO NOW, it is a standalone offering that does not require a cable subscription, though existing cable subscribers can use the service too. The Hollywood Reporter adds that on iOS:

The app allows up to four users to watch simultaneously and offers virtually unlimited downloads, a first for a premium cable channel app. Existing Starz subscribers can authenticate and view Starz programming through the app as well.

On Apple TV, Starz supports universal search with the Siri Remote.

Starz features more than 2400 items each month, including original series like Outlander, and movies from Disney and Sony, which will include Star Wars: The Force Awakens later this year. A Starz streaming subscription costs $8.99 per month.