Danie van der Merwe

Google's Gemini AI Chatbot Finally Has an iPhone App

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:32:54 +0100

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Google's Gemini AI Chatbot Finally Has an iPhone App

Billed as a way to converse with Google’s AI, it’s kind of like using speech-to-text, but without having to press a microphone icon before each question. Just say your questions out loud, and Gemini will respond to them in real time, incorporating context from your previous questions.

Exclusive to the iPhone app is some clever use of the Dynamic Island. While you’re talking to Gemini, you’ll see icons in the Dynamic island indicating that Live is still active and whether it’s listening to you.

So far I've been Gemini the most useful for decent answers to things, including helping out with getting various code snippets sorted out. But it is pretty good for most things you'd ask of any smart speaker.

I see it can also be used to report road conditions and issues in Waze, something which I need to try instead of doing the three button presses on the car dashboard.

See Google's Gemini AI Chatbot Finally Has an iPhone App

Google's Gemini AI chatbot is now available for iPhone, complete with Gemini Live capabilities. The app's release follows recent attempts from Google to greater integrate Gemini with the rest of its product stack.

#technology #AI #ios

technology AI iOS

Apple officially rolls out RCS for iPhone, but many carriers still don't support it

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:55:44 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Apple officially rolls out RCS for iPhone, but many carriers still don't support it

The linked article also contains a link to the Apple Support site, which shows what sort of services are live across the various networks around the world. As of today, 25 networks in the USA and Canada have RCS active for iPhones. In Africa, it is zero right now, but Vodacom in South Africa said they were busy with it.

Basically, each iPhone user's network must activate RCS for iPhones. Many already have RCS active for Android devices, but there is clearly some separate activation still required for iPhones.

See https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-officially-rolls-out-rcs-for-iphone-but-many-carriers-still-dont-support-it

#technology #RCS #iOS

technology RCS iOS

iOS 18 Notes App: All the New Features: Google Must do Better

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 14:16:05 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

iOS 18 Notes App: All the New Features: Google Must do Better

I only have an iPad left now from the Apple ecosystem, but after testing some of these features out, I must say that Google really needs to just try and catch up with their Notes app. Apple is definitely out-innovating Google here by a mile. Google has really neglected their Notes app quite badly.

Some of the new features I like most with the iOS Notes app are:
* Notes integrates with the Calculator app in ‌iOS 18‌ for a new feature called Maths Notes. Maths Notes is designed to let you solve equations, so you can do things like add up your monthly budget, calculate what people owe for a group trip, or split a restaurant bill.
* Maths Notes with the ‌Apple Pencil‌. Just write out equations by hand.
* All audio recordings that you capture with the Notes app are automatically transcribed in real-time.
* Transcription Summaries.
* If you have long notes with multiple headings, you can now collapse those headings.
* Highlight Colours (Google did release this, but it has not become usable across all my notes yet).
* Smart Script — The feature uses machine learning to recreate your own handwriting style to refine what you've written, making messy writing look neater.

See iOS 18 Notes App: All the New Features

With iOS 18, the Notes app is set to gain several new features. There aren't many updates to the overall design, but Notes has deeper...

#technology #iOS #notes

technology iOS notes

Apple Approves QEMU-Based PC Emulator App for iOS

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:56:54 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Apple Approves QEMU-Based PC Emulator App for iOS

UTM SE can emulate a variety of desktop operating systems and system architectures, including MS-DOS, Windows XP, and (of course) many Linux distributions—all without workarounds, jailbreaks, or side-loading .ipa files through Xcode.

This really would not be news at all for ANY other platform, but for Apple it is a big deal when they release a single notch of control to users (remember the alternative EU App Store?).

This may not be very fast, and right now will probably be used mostly for retro games like Doom. It is because of how Apple allows something to run on its platform, and why it can't run as a proper VM. Also, it's called an emulator, not a virtual machine.

The QEMU-based UTM SE works with iPhones and iPads running iOS 14.0 or later. And no, it won't be running Steam games.

See Apple Approves QEMU-Based PC Emulator App for iOS - OMG! Ubuntu

This weekend Apple officially approved the first PC emulator on the App Store, the open-source app UTM SE based on QEMU and entirely free to download (no

#technology #iOS

technology iOS

The Verge tested Aptoide, the first free iPhone app store alternative

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:29:48 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The popular alternative Android marketplace Aptoide just launched as a challenger to the Apple App Store in Europe. We’ve seen a trickle of stores launch since March when the Digital Markets Act (DMA) forced Apple to support third-party iOS app marketplaces — but nothing has so far managed to upset the balance of power and change the status quo.

I really don't think, or expect, alternative app stores to overtake the Google or Apple app stores. But they should offer some niche alternatives for many devs as well as users. So I'd think of them more as complimentary offerings.

So, what’s the key selling point? What’s Aptoide offering users that they can’t find on the App Store? Besides a currently stark list of “curated” games, one element Trezentos points to is the way Aptoide combines a freemium model with a rewards structure.

See We tested Aptoide, the first free iPhone app store alternative

All games are free to play.

#technology #iOS #appstore

technology iOS appstore

‘Secret’ iPhone feature lets you easily sign online documents for free, with no scanning, printing, or app installing

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:21:24 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

In the age of digital communication, needing to sign important documents online has become increasingly common, but it’s not necessarily the easiest process.

For an iPhone you can just use the standard Photos app to open it, hit Edit, click the Markup button, and add signature. Useful that you can also move it around.

I see on my Samsung Galaxy phone I can similarly use the Samsung Notes app and just a PDF with the S Pen. The selection tool will also allow me to select and move that signature around or resize it.

Both phones will allow you to sign, or complete, a document offline and no 3rd party apps needed.

See 'Secret' iPhone feature lets you easily sign online documents for free, with no scanning or printing

Needing to sign important documents online is increasingly common and iPhone users have access to a feature that makes this much easier.

#technology #signature #iOS

technology iOS signature

Free app Actions adds nearly 150 features to Apple Shortcuts

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:28:28 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Highlights include many tools for converting units, a bunch of system integrations for checking things like whether a particular Bluetooth device or wifi device is connected, and a bunch of features for working with images and lists. The application works for both mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad, as well as Macs. A few of the actions only work on one or the other but the vast majority work on all devices.

To get started, simply install the application and create a new shortcut. The best way to get a feel for the new abilities is to go to Shortcuts, create a new shortcut, and browse the actions by app. You'll find everything under "Shortcuts".

See Use This App to Add Nearly 150 Features to Apple Shortcuts

The free application Actions lets you add nearly 150 actions to Apple Shortcuts, including system integrations for checking things like whether a particular Bluetooth device or wifi device is connected, and a bunch of features for working with images and lists. The application works for the iPhone, iPad, and Macs.

#technology #iOS #shortcuts

technology iOS shortcuts

How to fake eye contact on Apple FaceTime: You're probably using it already, as it should default to On

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 22:21:48 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

It’s important when having a conversation with someone over a video chat app like FaceTime to maintain good eye contact. With phones like the iPhone 14, we tend to look at the person’s face on the phone screen, which seems natural to us. But in actuality, this appears to the other person as though you’re looking slightly down. It would look more natural to peer at the actual camera lens, though that feels awkward to do. This is where a neat iPhone feature comes in to help you fake it. And you’ve likely already been using the feature without knowing it, ever since you set up FaceTime.

This should actually be present on all video chat apps, but even to the extent of you looking sideways at other stuff. Hopefully it does spread to all other such apps. I can listen while I do other stuff, and it just makes the other person feel better by seeing me looking at them (that is, if they are looking at me in the first place!).

See How to fake eye contact on FaceTime

#technology #iOS #Facetime

When on a video call, you look at the screen, which can appear as though you're looking down. The Eye Contact feature in FaceTime corrects this.

technology Facetime iOS

Explore the World of Custom iPhone Widgets: A Widgy widget goes a long way in making your iPhone feel special

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 16:54:32 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

You’ve probably seen iPhone Home Screens that just look cool, sporting dynamic text, fun images, and custom icons...but even with iOS 16's new Lock Screen editor, there’s no way to use Apple’s built-in tools to make them. For that, you’ll need to look outward.

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to turn a boring iPhone Home Screen into something interesting and fun, without getting into the whole “Home Screen aesthetic” thing. All you need is a custom widget app like Widgy.

You can create your own graphical widget from scratch using the app’s Photoshop-like editor, but that’s pretty time-consuming. Instead, you can use the power of internet community to shortcut your way around a beautiful Home Screen. The app has an explore page where you can import any widget you like; and what’s even better is that there’s a thriving community on Reddit where users share links and codes to their own widget creations, so you can borrow from those before you. Setting things up can be a bit tricky, but see more on how to set about this at the link below.

See Explore the World of Custom iPhone Widgets

#technology #iOS #widgets #iPhone #Widgy

A Widgy widget goes a long way in making your iPhone feel special.

technology iPhone iOS widgets Widgy

Apple is reportedly preparing to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone in the EU: It will be a ground shifting change for Apple (or not)

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:28:09 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Apple is planning to let users install alternative app stores on iOS, according to a report from Bloomberg. The shift would be a remarkable change from the company, which has famously only allowed iPhone and iPad users to download apps from the App Store.

The plans are reportedly being spurred on by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is meant to enact “rules for digital gatekeepers to ensure open markets” when its restrictions become a requirement in 2024, according to a press release.

For me, when Apple started 'allowing' copy-and-paste, 3rd party keyboards, and widgets, these were all big moments. They actually had me changing back to an iPhone for a while.

So it will be very interesting to see how Apple manages these 3rd party app stores. It certainly will NOT be like Android where you can just use any 3rd party app store. But I love (not) that bit about them possibly charging a fee of their own for apps installed from 3rd party app stores. I'd think that defeats the purpose of having a 3rd party app store.

I'll bet we'll all be asking in a year's time, 'but what was the point of having 3rd party app stores?'.

See Apple is reportedly preparing to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone

#technology #EU #apple #appstore #ios