Android Wear App For iOS

If you ever wanted a smartwatch to pair with your iPhone, but didn't like the Apple Watch, good news! Today Google has announced that Android Wear, Google's smartwatch software, is available for iOS users!

Android Wear has similar features to the Apple Watch: You can answer and dismiss phone calls (that's not talk from your watch, just answer for your iPhone), view message notifications, other app notifications, set fitness goals and view daily or weekly progress reports, measure your heart rate, timely tips from Google Now, and your questions answered just by saying "Ok Google".

The downside to Android Wear (on iPhone); you can not install third-party apps to Android Wear. There are other features that the Apple Watch can do, that you can not do on a Android Wear watch, like answer a call and talk from your smartwatch, use Siri, and much more. And while you can see that notification of an iMessage, you can't reply or send a new message. Maybe on Google Hangouts? Who knows?!

While Google may be hoping that potential customers go for looks and first impressions, here's to hoping that people actually do a little research into the features, when deciding between a Apple Watch or Android Wear watch.

Another downside, at the moment, Android Wear for iOS is only official supported by the LG Watch Urbane. But Google says all future models including Asus, Huawei and Motorola smartwatches will be supported.

At the end of the day, if you own an iPhone and want a smartwatch, your best option is still to go with the Apple Watch. You'll have better features, all the third-party-apps, and it'll be designed for everything to work, to and from, your iPhone.

Android Wear (for iPhone) is compatible with the iPhone 5 and up, running iOS 8.2 and up. To pair your iPhone with a supported Android Wear smartwatch, you'll need to download the new Android Wear iOS app.

-> View Android Wear on the iTunes App Store.

Flipboard, the social network magazine app, temporarily stores downloaded images and other media files on your iPhone / iPad, which makes loading quicker. Apps in iOS usually handle space issues themselves and clear the cache files on a regular basics, however, there is also a way to manually do this.

1. Open the Flipboard app.

2. Tap your Account tab (the person silhouette).

3. Tap the Settings Gear button.

4. Tap 'Advanced'.

5. Tap 'Clear Content Cache'.

-> View Flipboard on the iTunes App Store. 

Facebook by default auto-plays the videos in your newsfeed. It can be annoying, and use data unnecessarily. If you have a limited data plan, you may definitely want to switch this off. Thankfully, there is a way to switch this 'feature' off.

How To Disable Facebook Auto-Playing Videos

1. Open the 'Facebook app'.

2. Tap the 'More' tab button.

3. Tap 'Settings'.

4. Tap 'Account Settings'.

5. Tap 'Videos and Photos'.

6. Now tap 'Autoplay' under the Video Settings heading.

7. Under 'Choose Your Own Autoplay Settings', select 'Never Play Videos Automatically'.

There is also another option If you do not want to choose to never automatically play. 'Smart Autoplay', will use Cellular and Wi-Fi data depending on certain criteria, like your country, mobile carrier, battery life, and data usage. Or, you can select to auto-play only when you are connected to Wi-Fi.

'Sage Solitaire' by Zach Gage, is a new kind of solitaire for your iPhone or iPad. It combines elements of the classic single player game with the combinations of Poker. Laid out in a grid like fashion, 'Sage Solitaire', has been made specifically to be played on your iOS smartphone or tablet device.

In three rows of three piles of cards, kind of like in Solitaire fashion more cards on the first pile and two on the last. However the way you deduct cards (for points) in 'Sage Solitaire' is a little different than the classic solitaire. This game uses a similar to Poker style 'Hand list' of combinations that you can make with the cards.

The highest card combination is a Straight Flush, for example; 2,3,4,5,6 of the same suit, worth 150 points, to the lowest, Pair (2,2) worth only 10 points. There's a couple of differences to the 'Hand List' from Poker, like there is no Two Pair, and you can make a 3 Card Straight.

Once you choose your best combination you then "cash in" the cards for points. If you can't make any combination, you can 'trash' a card, however you have a limit of how many trashes you can use. The only other catch, you must use cards from at least two different rows. The game keeps going and you keep making card combinations until you run out of cards, or you run out of possible moves.

'Sage Solitaire' is a great modern version, or upgrade, to the old solitaire classic. It's combines the elements of Poker and playing on your own, nicely. It's also a great quick game to play while you are waiting or just wanting to pass a little time. But be warned, if you start playing, you might not want to put the game down! Download, if you like games like Threes, Poker, and Solitaire.  

'Sage Solitaire' is free to download and comes with one free mode, which by the way, is great even just on it's own. The full version unlocks (for $2.99USD) two more modes (Double Deck & Fifteens Mode), GameCenter leaderboards, statistics, wallpapers and card backs, and different themes.

-> 'Sage Solitaire' is a FREE download for iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad) devices, from the iTunes App Store. 

Now, back to trying to beat my highest score!

Sage Solitaire - Game Trailer:

 Sage Solitaire from zach gage on Vimeo.

Mark your calendar, the rumors got this one right! Apple has just sent out the invites for a Media Event on Wednesday September 9th at 10 a.m PDT, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, in San Francisco, California.

The image that came with the invite, writes, "Hey, Siri, give us a hint."  And, if you ask Siri to give you a hint, you may just get some fun answers.

Apple is expected to announce at the Media Event on September 9th, the new iPhone 6S, and has also been rumored to announce other new products, like new iPad's, (possibly a iPad Pro), and even an upgrade to the Apple TV.

The Keynote will be streamed live by Apple at 10 a.m. PDT, on September 9th.

Included in the new Pac-Man 'Crossy Road' update is some new mystery characters, who aren't much of a mystery. They are The Ghost characters from PAC-MAN; Pinky, Blinky, Inky, and Clyde.

These characters cannot to bought, or unlocked through the prize machine. Instead, like the other mystery characters, you must unlock them through certain tasks.

You'll need to use PAC-MAN and the Pac-Chicken to unlock these Ghost characters. These two characters are free in-app purchases.

Now the reason you're probably here: How to unlock these Ghost characters in Crossy Road!

Pinky: The easiest to unlock; Play as Pac-Chicken, find and eat a Cherry. Then when you lose, Pinky will be unlocked.

Blinky: This one will take a bit of luck; Play as Pac-Chicken, then get hit by Pac-Man who acts as a Police car and randomly speeds down the road.

Clyde: This one requires a bit of skill; Play as Pac-Man and eat 7 Ghosts from using only one power pellet.

Inky: There's a lot of misinformation on the web about Inky, as no-one has been 100% sure how they unlocked him. The way I unlocked Inky was simply by eating pellets. I am not sure of the number, but it seems high. Could be anywhere from 300+. Does not need to be in one go. The time I actually unlocked Inky, all I did was eat a few pellets, nothing else special. I don't believe there is anything more to it than that.

To celebrate the release of the new game, �PAC-MAN 256�, �Crossy Road - Endless Arcade Hopper� By HIPSTER WHALE has been updated today for iOS, with a new PAC-MAN mode!

�PAC-MAN comes to CROSSY ROAD as a completely free update. Don't forget to download PAC-MAN 256 by BANDAI NAMCO, Hipster Whale and 3 Sprockets. Available now.� 

The new PAC-MAN mode is a free in-app purchase.

The new mode sees PAC-MAN trying to cross the street with the Ghosts as the vehicles on the road. And of course the Glitch is there too!

The PAC-MAN mode is really cool, the best mode �Crossy Road� has offered yet. The level looks like a mix between PAC-MAN and something out of the movie TRON.

Check your App Store for the new �Crossy Road� update, now! And check out my previous quick review on �Pac-Man 256�, here.

> Download �Crossy Road� for free from the iTunes App Store.  

Frequent flyers! Send your name on the next #JourneytoMars flight aboard @NASAInSight http://t.co/ccFqevWgtp pic.twitter.com/eAJsPik6nn

� Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) August 18, 2015

Wanna send your name to Mars? NASA are inviting people from all around to world to submit their names, which will be etched onto a silicon microchip and will travel to Mars next year aboard NASA�s InSight Mars Lander.

"By participating in this opportunity to send your name aboard InSight to the Red Planet, you're showing that you're part of that journey and the future of space exploration." - NASA Press Release.

To submit your name and to get your �boarding pass�, go to: http://go.usa.gov/3Aj3G Submissions deadline is September 8th 2015.

The Mars InSight Lander is scheduled to blast off in February 2016 and reach Mars seven months later.

'Crossy Road' developers, Hipster Whale, has teamed up with BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment to make a new game, 'Pac-Man 256', a endless maze game.

'Pac-Man 256' is inspired by the level 256 in the original game, which due to bad code, glitches.

'Pac-Man 256' borrows a lot of similarities from the 'Crossy Road' game. Including similar graphics, coin system, sounds, and interface.

In this new reinvented and imagined game, 'Pac-Man 256', features an endless maze, 15 power-ups; including: Laser, Tornado, Freeze, Giant, and more. And, The Glitch, that distorts the maze behind you, forcing you to keep moving forward.

The new version keeps all the similarities of the original games, like the iconic maze (now on a slant), the white pellets, cherries, and fruits, Pac-Man himself, and also the old frustration of trying to outmaneuver The Ghosts!

As the game is free to play, users are given Credits to play, that recharge overtime. Users can also purchase more credits through in-app purchases - using real money. There is also the option to buy unlimited credits. And there is also a 'free play' mode that doesn't include the new power-ups.

The game also features Coins, that users earn by playing or by watching advertisements. Coins in the game are used to upgrade your power-ups.

'Pac-Man 256' is now available to download for free on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.  

Want to know when a certain Twitter user posts a new tweet? It's really simple to set up. And just to clarify, this will not alert you every time anyone you follow updates, that'd be really annoying! You'll only receive a notification when the people you choose, tweet.

To get a notified when a particular Twitter user updates, on your iOS device (iPhone, or iPad):

1. Go to the persons profile in the Twitter application that you want the notification from.

2. Tap the Settings gear button. 

3. Now tap Turn on notifications. 

4. Confirm if asked. 

To switch off the alerts, go back to their profile, tap the settings button and the option to switch off the notifications will be there. 

If you liked this tip, follow @AppsReviewed1 on Twitter! 

One thing that I never understood with a Mac laptop is why they still make you (by default) have to physically press down and click on the trackpad. The good news is, if you like, you can set a Mac�s trackpad to tap to click!

Enable Tap To Click on OS X 

1. Open System Preferences.

2. Click Trackpad.

3. On the Point & Click tab, check on the option, Tap to click.

Another option you may want to switch on now, is the ability to drag open windows around, without having to click down on the trackpad. All you�ll have to do is use three fingers to drag.

4. On the same option screen, check on the option Three finger drag.

Material Design was announced back in June of 2014, and is Google's latest visual design language. It aims to provide good design with innovation that gives users a unified experience across platforms.

Google has slowly been implementing Material Design to all their products. We seen changes most notably on Android Lollipop, Google Now, recently to the YouTube app (iOS update coming soon), Google's Inbox mail app, Google Drive and Google Docs, and the Chrome web browser on iOS and Android.

Now work has also begun to implement the Material Design look and feel to the Google Chrome web browser. While at the moment the changes are still very minimal, users and developers who want to check out and follow the changes can do so on the Developer Google Chrome Canary channel.

Note, Google Chrome Canary, is a developer build and is not recommended for use by the general public, and definitely not for everyday use. Only install, if you are familiar with very beta software and understand the risks.

Chrome Canary on Windows 7

To check out the changes in-progress to add Material Design on Google Chrome, type: Chrome://flags into your address/search bar. Then search for Material Design and look for "Material design in the browser's top Chrome". There will be a drop down with a few options; Non-material (standard), Material, and Material Hybrid (a mix of the two).

The biggest changes so far are on the Chrome OS version, with some new flatter buttons, but even on Windows 7 you can see small changes like extra spacing around the navigation buttons.

Remember, this is a work in progress, so expect a lot more to change in the future. Nothing here is anywhere near final.

At the moment, it seems the Material Design changes for Google Chrome are being worked on for Windows, Chrome OS, and Linux. But, I'd expect changes to Mac OS X as well, sometime in the future.

In iOS 8, Apple added some new features called Continuity and Handoff that allows the users to leave off on one device and pick up where you left off, on another. Part of these features is the ability to answer iPhone calls on other iOS devices, like your iPad or Mac.  

Having all your Apple devices ringing at the same time can be useful, like if you're on your iPad and your iPhone is in another room - but it can also be overwhelming, especially when all the devices are next to you. 

If you decide you do not want your iPad or Mac to ring when your iPhone gets a call, follow these steps to disable the feature:

How To Stop Your iPad and Mac Ringing When You Get A Call on Your iPhone

iPad

1. Open the Settings app. 

2. Select FaceTime. 

3. On the option, iPhone Cellular Calls, switch the toggle to OFF. 

Mac

1. Open the FaceTime app. 

2. From the Menu Bar, click FaceTime, then Preferences.  

3. On the option, iPhone Cellular Calls, un-tick (or make sure it's not ticked) the selection box.   

LastPass is a great and useful password manager. It protects all your complicated login info (and more) behind one master password - which of course allows you to have hard to guess, complex, and different passwords for all the sites you use (and other things).

Before hand, you could use LastPass on desktop computers for free, but if you wanted to sync that data to a smartphone, you'd need to upgrade to LastPass Premium for $12 per year.

Today, LastPass has announced a new free way to use the service - for new members. Now, you can have LastPass free on any one type of device (Desktop, Mobile, or Tablet) and sync to any of the same - for free.

We want to ensure that LastPass is accessible for all users, including mobile-only users who need help managing their passwords and apps. Wherever you get started, you can use LastPass on that device, and any others of the same device type � desktops, smartphones, or tablets � for free!

Confused? It's actually simple. Say you sign up on Desktop. You can now sync across any Desktop computers and use LastPass for free. Or you pick Mobile (like a iPhone), then you can sync with any other mobile device, but not Desktop or Tablet. Third option, you choose Tablet (like an iPad), you can sync with any other tablet, but not Mobile or Desktop. Get it? Hope so.

If you then want to sync with other devices like mobile and desktop (or all three) you'd need to sign up to LastPass Premium. There is also a free 14-day trial of LastPass Premium.

You may ask, why is this useful? I don't have more than one mobile to sync with? That may be true - however in the past - you could not use LastPass on mobiles or tablet devices for free. Now, if you use say, only a mobile and don't need your data on one of the other two options, you can - for free!

>> You can read more about the new LastPass Free option on their blog. 

Part two of my best essential apps for Apple Watch picks. View Part 1 here.

1Password 

By AgileBits Inc.

1Password is a great, if not the best, password manager. It keeps all your passwords secure and protected by one master password. On the Apple Watch, you can select certain logins that you want quick access to.

Hooks - Alerts and Notifications for Everything
By Oleg Kozynenko
If you like notifications, then you should download Hooks! With Hooks you can get alerts sent to you on a wide range of topics that you can customize. For example you can be notified about topics like: Sports, Music concerts, TV Shows, Lottery Numbers, AMBER alerts, Earthquakes, Stocks, Social Media, Weather, and a lot more.

Coyomi - Monthly Calendar
By Flask LLP
Frustrated that you can only see one month in Calendar on the Apple Watch? Coyomi understands and is a calendar for your Apple Watch and Today Widget on your iPhone. There's a heap of colors to choose from, and on Apple Watch you can view up to 12 months.

eBay
By eBay Inc.
eBay on your Apple Watch gives you access to Activity, items you're Watching, Buying, Selling, and your revenue. And of course has Notifications to keep you up-to-date.

XE Currency

By XE.com Inc.

Not everyone probably checks what their money is worth to other countries on a regular (probably even a weekly) basis. But if you're one the people who do or need to, XE Currency has you covered and makes it easy to do so, even on your Apple Watch.  

Shazam

By Shazam Entertainment Ltd.

Shazam, the music identifying app that works like magic, is a bit disappointing at the moment on the Apple Watch, because it actually still listens through your iPhone. But this might change with watchOS 2, which will give more abilities to apps, like access to the microphone. WatchOS 2 is coming sometime this Spring. 

If you liked this list, remember to share! And if you have any other Apple Watch app suggestions, let us know in the comments! 

You have an Apple Watch, congrats! Now, what apps should you put on your new smartwatch? The Apple Watch can be very useful for thing like notifications of messages, emails, calls, etc... but what else can be useful - you may be asking... Well, here is my list of the most useful apps for the Apple Watch!

Twitter

By Twitter, Inc.

Twitter on a small screen like the Apple Watch is not a ideal experience, but you can still view your timeline, mentions, notifications, you can retweet, favorite, and more. If you use Twitter, I still recommend installing the app on the Apple Watch. 

Instagram

By Instagram, Inc.

Instagram is that social network where people share their selfies and pictures of the food they're eating. Okay, looking at photos on a small Apple Watch screen is not a great experience - but you can. You can also like photos and give a quick reply and see your activity feed.

PCalc Lite - The Best Free Calculator

By TLA Systems Ltd.

PCalc Lite is the "powerful choice for scientists, engineers, students, programmers". It also makes a nice Apple Watch calculator. It's simple and easy to use, with a nice layout. It also contains a tip calculator.

Evernote

By Evernote

Want to take and read notes on your Apple Watch? Oops, Apple didn't make a Notes app for the watch. Never mind! Evernote is a great notes app that syncs through all your devices. On Apple Watch with Evernote you can; dictate notes, read recent notes, dictate searches, set reminders and get notifications.  

Find Near Me for iPhone

By XLabz Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

If you're in a city that you're not familiar with, it can be hard to find things that you may be looking for; like a ATM, Bus station, or maybe something like a Cafe or Bar. Find Near Me can help you out by showing you whats nearby. 

Clear � Tasks, Reminders & To-Do Lists

By Realmac Software
With Clear you can make to-do lists, set reminders, and set tasks. It also makes a great digital shopping list - and checking off the items from your wrist while shopping, is kinda fun.   

>> Continue To Part 2

Have any other suggestions? What Apple Watch apps do you use on a regular basis? Let us know in the comments! 

Black/Gold iPhone and iPad Mock-up.

Space-Gray / Black, White / Silver, and White / Gold - those are the color options for the latest iPhone and iPad's. But there might be one more color option that Apple should add: Black and Gold.

The Gold colored iPhone's and iPad's have turned out to be a popular item. But some don't like that white glass front. The black screen looks better in my opinion, as it really makes the other colors and the content on the screen pop a lot more. So wouldn't it be nice to have the rich looking gold and the black glass front? (Have a look at the quickly made mockup above, for an idea of how it would look).

Apple has now even added the three color options to their latest MacBook. And the Gold MacBook has the black keys and black glass on the screen - so would it make sense to have a Black and Gold iPhone and iPad? Would you prefer the black and gold color option?

Have your say and vote in the poll below!

It's almost that time of year again - the time when your brand new iPhone 6, that you could of sworn you just bought recently - is about to become outdated, by a brand new iPhone!

It's the iPhone 6S, as we are guessing it'll be called (because Apple has stuck to that naming trend for the past 6 years). So when will it be announced? According to a report on BuzzFeed News, their sources are telling them that Apple intends to hold a special event on the week of September 7th, with Wednesday the 9th actually being the announcement date.

Apple in the past have announced the new iPhone's on a Tuesday or Wednesday in early to mid-September. Last year, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was also announced on September 9th.

As usual, it's likely that pre-orders will be on the Friday after the announcement and then you'll be able to get your hands on the new iPhone 6S a week and a half, later.

While the announcement date is not confirmed yet, it's likely Apple will announce the new iPhone 6S, around that date.

You can read the full report over at: BuzzFeed News.

Facebook Mentions is the app for the famous, celebrities, or the verified. If you are not a actor, musician, or other popular famous figure with a verified Facebook page, stop reading now - as this app isn't for you!

Okay now that's it's only the important reading; you might of already heard of Facebook Mentions, as isn't a new app. It's been around since July 2014. It's only available on iOS, but that's ok - you're probably rich, so you should own an iPhone.

Anyway, a newly added feature to Facebook Mentions app, aims to rival other popular live streaming apps. Facebook Mentions is to be the 'Periscope' of the famous (like you). It will be your own little elite app.

The app gives only verified page users a way to live stream and chat with fans, see what topics are trending, share content across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, all with just the one app, and more...

In Facebook's own words:

"Mentions is a better way for actors, musicians and other influencers to stay in touch with their fans and the people and things they care about on Facebook."

And what about those regular people - the mere commoners? Where will they go to live stream to their small little audience? They will have to settle for either of the other popular live streaming apps like; Periscope or Meerkat.

Now popular person - go download the Facebook Mentions app - and live stream to your many fans!

-> View Facebook Mentions on the iTunes App Store.

Periscope is a great live video streaming app for iOS and Android (and on the web if you're just watching), developed by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein - and later purchased by Twitter. 

On Periscope, users can stream live video to their followers, or watch the live streaming video from the people they follow. And to make sure you know when someone you follow is on - the app will send you a notification when they go live. Which is a great and handy feature. 

However, maybe you don't want to know when everyone you follow is live on Periscope. Maybe they live stream a few too many times a day, or you just don't want to watch the live stream. Or whatever the reason. It doesn't necessarily matter if you don't watch live, other than not being able to comment, because videos can be watched for 24 hours after - unless the broadcaster chooses otherwise.  

Thanks to a recent update to the Periscope app, you can now mute the alert when a certain broadcaster you follow, goes live.  It's really simple to do. All you need to do is go the users profile page.

1. Tap the last button on the right (the one the people), to go to the "People" section. 

2. Then tap to go to your profile (the silhouette in the circle on the top right corner). 

3. Tap "Following". 

4. Choose the user you want to mute. 

5. Then tap the bell icon with the line running through it, so it's highlighted in color. (Like in the image above). 

If you ever want to un-mute that user, just tap that bell icon again so the button goes back to white. 

-> Click to view Periscope on the iTunes App Store.