MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

During CES 2015, Nest announced a number of new partnerships, including one with auto accessory maker Automatic. For those unfamiliar with Automatic, the company produces an easy-to-use OBD port accessory that plugs into a range of different vehicles to provide at-a-glance car information on the iPhone. Automatic's Connected Car Adapter is now capable of interfacing with the Nest Thermostat,...

Evernote today released a new iPhone and iPad app that adds scanning to its repertoire of available services. The new Evernote Scannable app debuted last year as a beta service and is now publicly available in the iOS App Store. Similar to competing scanning apps, Evernote Scannable includes an automatic scanning feature that allows users to scan a document simply by launching the app. Upon...

Earlier this week, mobile accessory manufacturer ibattz turned a few heads at the Consumer Electronics Show with a new external battery charger called the ASAP Fast Charge Power Bank that the company claims can fully charge an iPhone 6 from 0 to 100 percent in just 15 minutes. (See update at bottom of this article for correction.) Available in two sizes of 5,600 mAh and 11,200 mAh, the new...

Following on the heels of a recent announcement for its next-generation mobile security lock, security-focused accessory manufacturer Kensington also announced a new line of iPad cases for the iPad Air 2, called the -2">KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus. Building on Kensington's similarly-titled products for the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2, the X3 Plus features a larger 4,500 mAh battery inside of...

August, the company behind the popular August Smart Lock sold in Apple retail stores, today announced the upcoming launch of August Connect a new $50 bridge that will allow August Smart Lock to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. August Connect plugs into a power outlet inside the home of an August Smart Lock user and connects to their home wireless network and the Internet. This connection...

Today at CES, waterproof case maker LifeProof announced the fre Power, a waterproof battery case that provides 2,600 mAh of additional battery life. LifeProof fre is the original four-proof case, designed for maximum protection against water, drops, dust and snow. The sleek structure includes a built-in screen protector and full access to all device features and functions. fre Power not only...

Apple's CarPlay technology continues its expansion with both Kenwood and Pioneer announcing new CarPlay receivers at CES 2015. Kenwood and Pioneer's releases follow earlier CarPlay announcements from automobile manufacturer Volkswagen and car audio accessory maker Parrot. Following statements from early last year that it was "looking at" CarPlay, Kenwood today announced its first car audio...

Following on the heels of popular protective smartphone case manufacturer Otterbox announcing its new battery power case for the iPhone 6, both Mophie and Incipio have revealed new iterations of their popular cases for Apple's newest smartphones as well. Starting with Mophie, the company announced the Juice Pack Air and Juice Pack Plus for the iPhone 6 and the Juice Pack for the iPhone 6...

As a followup to its Swarovski Shine fitness tracker, Misfit today announced its new Bolt wirelessly-connected light bulb. Similar to the Philips Hue, the $50 Bolt light bulb allows users to adjust the light intensity and color of the bulb using an iOS device. The Bolt light bulb is powered by CREE LED technology, providing the equivalent of a standard 60-watt light bulb. It connects...

Apple's HomeKit technology is being featured heavily at CES this year, with the introduction of home automation products from Schlage, iDevices and Elgato previously making news. Joining that group with their own new HomeKit products are mobile accessory maker Incipio and home automation company Insteon. Moving beyond cases and chargers, Incipio has introduced its first home automation...

Fitbit today announced it has started selling the Surge and Charge HR, the company's latest activity trackers. Unveiled in October, the two wearables join the Charge and Flex in Fitbit's popular fitness band lineup. Fitbit Surge Advertised as a Fitness "Super Watch", the Surge includes a continuous heart rate monitor and an onboard GPS module for distance, route, and elevation tracking....

Setting up a "future home environment" at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino during this year's Consumer Electronics Show, technology company Energous Corporation demoed its newest product WattUp, a Bluetooth and radio frequency-enabled transmitter that uses the same radio bands as a Wi-Fi router to deliver "intelligent, scalable power" to charge everything from smartphones and tablets to wireless...

Biometric shirt manufacturer Hexoskin today announced its new line of smart shirts for kids and teenagers at CES 2015, allowing coaches and parents to track physical metrics in real-time through an iOS app. The Hexoskin Junior features built-in sensors inside of a lightweight, water-resistant shirt, with an optimized fit for regulation of moisture and heat. The sensors themselves can track...

Today at CES, Otterbox announced the iPhone 6 version of its Resurgence Power Case series. The case comes with 2,600 mAh of battery power and military-grade drop protection. The previous version of the Resurgence case featured a 2,000 mAh battery. Resurgence boasts 2,600 milliamp hours (mAh) of battery power, providing more than two-times the battery life of the iPhone 6. The two-piece snap...

Audio electronics company Shure today announced its new line of MOTIV digital microphones, which are intended to make it easy for users to record audio both at home on their computer and on their iOS devices. Portable plug-and-play no longer means sacrificing sound quality. From the brand trusted with music history’s greatest moments, MOTIV™ features intuitive controls, smart technology...

Car manufacturer Volkswagen today revealed that it would add support for CarPlay and Android Auto to its vehicles at the end of the year, bringing Apple's in-car experience to the popular car brand. It'll debut alongside VW's new in-car infotainment system, referred to as MIB II. Later this year, VW will introduce the second generation "modular infotainment platform" (MIB II) in the United...

Adonit today unveiled its new Jot Pro and Jot Mini styluses at CES 2015, which feature grip enhancements and new color options while carrying the same "Precision Disc" ball point design that allows for more precise writing and sketching as opposed to rubber tipped styluses. The new Jot Pro comes with a carrying clip and and an etched grip for enhanced comfort, along with an improved cushion...

Google today announced Google Cast for audio, a new music streaming technology in the vein of Chromecast that lets users stream sound from their smartphone, tablet, or Chrome-based web browser to Google Cast-ready speakers. The service uses pre-existing apps like Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Google Play Music, amongst a sizable list of others, to play a user's songs on a selection of speakers...