Google is working on a new messenger app that will make use of its artificial intelligence know-how and ‘chatbot’ technology to rival Facebook and others, reports the WSJ. The new service will hopefully improve on its current Hangouts and Messenger services.For its new service, Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., plans to integrate chatbots, software programs that answer questions inside a messaging app, the people familiar with the matter said. Users will be able to text friends or a chatbot, which will scour the Web and other sources for information to answer a question, those people said. It is unclear when Google will launch the service, or what it will be called. Also in doubt is whether the new approach will be more successful than the company’s prior efforts. Users typically join messaging services because they know other users; Google has struggled to create such network effects with both Hangouts and Messenger.A team has been working on the new service for a least a year, led by Google veteran Nick Fox, according to sources. Fox was named VP of Communications earlier this year.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Google is Working on a New Messenger App

China Mobile recently held an event where it may have accidentally leaked the rumored 4-inch iPhone model. China Mobile’s roadmap states the 4-inch iPhone would be released in April 2016 and cost approximately 3200 Chinese Yuan (or about $500). The 4-inch iPhone has been rumored for sometime now and with Apple’s reported March 2016 event, it is possible we would see the device revealed there.Today’s report from MyDrivers (via MacRumors) does refer to the 4-inch iPhone as the ‘iPhone 7c,’ but Apple is unlikely to use that name since the iPhone 7 has yet to launch. Previous reports have referred to Apple’s upcoming 4-inch iPhone as the ‘iPhone 6c’ and that remains a more likely name for the device. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: China Mobile Roadmap Claims 4-inch iPhone Coming in April 2016

Apple has stopped signing iOS 9.1.0 following the release of iOS 9.2.If you want to stay on iOS 9.1.0 or earlier take care that you do not accidentally update because you won’t be able to get back down. If you’re still on iOS 9.0.2 and you do update you will not be able to jailbreak your device.You may want to save the SHSH Blobs off your device if you haven’t already.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Stops Signing iOS 9.1, Downgrades and Restores No Longer Possible

VLC has released an update to its app that brings split screen multitasking for iPad, Touch ID and watchOS 2 support.VLC for Mobile is a port of the free VLC media player to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.It can play all your movies, shows and music in most formats directly without conversion.It allows file synchronization with Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, Box, iCloud Drive, iTunes, direct downloads and through WiFi sharing as well as streaming from SMB, FTP, UPnP/DLNA media servers and the web.What’s New In This Version:? Dropped support for iOS 6.1. VLC requires iOS 7.0 now? Added support for SMB file sharing? Re-wrote Apple Watch extension for watchOS 2? Media stored in folders on remote servers is now played as a list? Reworked networking UI? Added support for system-wide search “CoreSpotlight”? Added improved UI support for Right-to-Left languages? Added support for the split-screen appearance in iOS 9? Added support for Touch ID to unlock app? Added option to configure playback continuation? Added option to configure gestures? Added support for music albums with more than 1 disk? Display chapter duration in playback UI? Recently played network stream URL are now shared across all devices? Stored login information is now shared across all devices? Cloud login credentials are now shared across all devicesShare Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: VLC Media Player App Gets Split Screen Multitasking, Touch ID, WatchOS 2 Support

App Santa is back with savings of up to 80% on award-winning apps from independent developers through December 26th. Here’s a list of the apps for sale…Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: App Santa Returns With Up to 80% Off Popular Apps

Apple has submitted a written statement in opposition of the UK’s proposed Investigatory Powers Bill. The bill would force companies including Apple to keep an encryption key to services such as iMessage and FaceTime.As we’ve mentioned before, establishing a backdoor for the “good guys” would also create a backdoor for the “bad guys”.Here’s Apple’s argument against the bill…Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Submits Written Statement Opposing the UK's Proposed Investigatory Powers Bill

Senator Tom Cotton (R- Arkansas) has issued a response to Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments on encryption during a 60 Minutes special last night. The Senator believes that Apple should be forced to design to a backdoor into its messaging system to allow for lawful searches.”Apple is a distinctive company that has improved the lives of millions of Americans. But Tim Cook omitted critical facts about data encryption on 60 Minutes last night. He claimed that Apple does not comply with lawful subpoenas because it cannot. While it may be true that Apple doesn’t have access to encrypted data, that’s only because it designed its messaging service that way. As a society, we don’t allow phone companies to design their systems to avoid lawful, court-ordered searches. If we apply a different legal standard to companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook, we can expect them to become the preferred messaging services of child pornographers, drug traffickers, and terrorists alike–which neither these companies nor law enforcement want. Our society needs to address this urgent challenge now before more lives are lost or shattered.”Cotton appears not to understand that a backdoor into a system is a backdoor for anyone, not just law enforcement. It will be found and used without a court-ordered search.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Arkansas Senator Says Apple Should Design Backdoor Into iMessage

If your MacBook battery life is draining quickly, check to make sure you didn’t leave an iTunes Store page open, warns Kirk McElhearn.The MacWorld writer noticed that the iTunes Store uses an enormous amount of CPU to simply display a front page, and rotate graphics in the carousel at the top of the page.McElhearn posted screenshots of his laptop with the iTunes Store open and playing a song at 18% CPU use, compared to just playing the song at 5% CPU use.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Leaving the iTunes Store Open on Your MacBook Kills Your Battery Life

Astropad, an app that turns your iPad into a graphics tablet, has been updated with support for the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.Astropad transforms your iPad into a professional graphics tablet for your Mac. Use your iPad to draw directly into Photoshop and any other Mac creative tools you know & love. Finally, you can use your iPad as a drawing tablet for your favorite Mac tools including: Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Corel Painter, Manga Studio, Pixelmator, Mischief and any other Mac app you like! Whether you are a professional digital artist or a hobbyist, Astropad offers the most powerful way to draw on your Mac using your iPad.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Astropad Gains Support for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil [Video]