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Apple releases 4 animated emoji iOS 10 Messages sticker packs for beta testers: Classic Mac, Smileys, Hearts, Hands



One of iOS 10’s cool new features is the ability for developers to create sticker pack animated emojis for iMessage using the Messages API.   Apple is showing how it is done, so to speak…

Apple last night released 4 apps for iOS 10 beta testers, most of which will look familiar to Apple Watch users. The Classic Mac sticker packs, originally designed by Susan Kare in the 80s was included with iOS 10 but is now there if you’ve uninstalled and want to reinstall.  Here are the downloads for iOS 10 users:

I’m still torn on these. On one hand, I’m a little bit disturbed by what iMessages chat is starting to look like. On the other, I’m excited to see what developers create here.

iOS 10’s cool new features:

On Monday Apple unveiled the highly-anticipated software update for the iPhone and iPad. As expected, it’s a huge release that brings a bevy of new and exciting features to the table.

In the following video walkthrough, we take a look at 75 of the features and changes found in iOS 10. Some of the features covered are obvious changes, and some are more surprising.

Here is an itemized list of the features covered in the video. Not every change is included here, but I spent some extended time (30+ minutes!) commenting on the various points that I chose to highlight. Consider this more of a high-level commentary, with more detailed low-level posts and videos to follow.
Topics covered

My overall thoughts about iOS 10 are highly positive. There’s so much to cover and digest that there’s simply no way to touch on all of the features found in this massive update in a single video or post. That said, we will be covering additional iOS 10 content in a series of upcoming posts, similar to this one.

What’s your favorite new change or feature in iOS 10? Sound off in the comments with your thoughts and opinions.


ability for developers to create sticker pack animated emojis:
Apple releases new iTunes Connect features including updated iOS app, says app review times way down


Apple today released a new version of its iTunes Connect app for iOS during a demo of new features for the iTunes Connect developer portal at the company’s WWDC 2016 conference.

During its presentation, Apple noted that app review times “have gone way down” and offered a brief overview of changes it made to App Store policies. Apple recently completely revised guidelines to include easier to read language and an overall improved experience.

While showing off new iTunes Connect, Apple said that it’s “worked really hard to make that faster,” referring to a decrease in app review times that it said have recently “gone way down.” That echoes recent reports that developers had been seeing improved submission times and confirms Apple is indeed working on the issue and making progress in improving in that area.

An updated iOS iTunes Connect app released today during Apple’s presentation adds access to new stats for sales and proceeds. From within the Trends tab of the app, developers can now tap the small green and red icons to move between figures for units, sales, and proceeds (as pictured above).

Apple is also adding other new enhancements for developers in iTunes Connect, including improvements to its Analytics features with tracking of impressions for apps across the App Store and iOS. In addition, the service is adding simplification of screenshots for app listings as part of a new “Media Manager” feature alongside other tweaks to the UI on the web version of the service. Developers will also find a new section for uploading iMessage apps like sticker packs arriving in iOS 10 and new options for promo codes and changes to subscriptions as previously detailed.

You can download iTunes Connect for iOS, version 3.2.1, on the App Store now for iPhone and iPad.


iMessage:

Apple exec explains why the company has not brought iMessage to Android

 

Prior to WWDC, a report emerged claiming that Apple would at long last unveil iMessage for Android. Seeing how Apple had made its streaming music service available on Android, many found this report to be somewhat plausible. As you’re probably aware of by now, however, iMessage for Android was nowhere to be found at WWDC this week. Now, we’ve gotten a little bit of insight into Apple’s reasoning for not bringing its messaging service to Google’s smartphone platform…

Report claims iMessage for Android to be announced at WWDC 2016

According to a report from MacDailyNews, Apple will announce that iMessage is coming to Android at Monday’s upcoming WWDC 2016 keynote.

Such an announcement, which MacDailyNews claims to have obtained from “a source familiar with the company’s thinking,” would go a long way towards making it easier for users to shift between the two competing platforms. But what would be Apple’s motivation for doing this?


This week’s top stories: What to expect at WWDC 2016, iPhone 7 leaks, Apple’s Back to School deal & more

In this week’s top stories: iPhone 7 leaks, more on the rumored upcoming MacBook Pros with OLED touch bar, what’s in store for WWDC 2016, and much more.

Apple also launched its Back to School promo for 2016, and designer brand Coach started preparing for a launch of its Apple Watch bands next week. Head below for all of the handy links to these and our other top shared Apple stories this week.

Infamous patent troll VirnetX has formally asked a Texas court this week to order Apple to stop providing its FaceTime and iMessage features to customers. The request follows VirnetX’s victory in court earlier this year to the tune of $625 million, which the firm wants to see increased by $190 million or more, Law360 reports:

PieMessage open-source project brings iMessage to Android using your Mac as a server
A new open source project called PieMessage enables cross-platform iMessage support, allowing Android users to communicate using Apple’s iPhone messaging platform.

In the video below, we get a short look at the PieMessage app in action with a still unreleased prototype version of the app.

How-To: Backup and restore SMS and iMessages on a clean iOS install
Have you noticed that virtually every aspect of the personal information on our iPhones can be restored individually via iCloud? Things like photos, mail, contacts, calendars, Safari bookmarks, and notes can all be individually recovered on a fresh install of iOS.

The one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is text messages and iMessages. Sure, it’s possible to restore text messages if you’re willing to backup and restore the entire contents of your iPhone, but what if you wish to perform a fresh install of iOS and then restore messages?

Fortunately, backing up and restoring SMS texts and iMessages on an individual basis is possible, as long as you’re willing to take some time to follow our step-by-step guide.


Messages API:
How Siri works in iOS 10 for third-party apps: Rich integration with six kinds of application

 


Siri unlocks a new dimension of functionality in iOS 10, allowing third-party apps to integrate inline into the Siri voice assistant experience. Any developer integration expands utility of Siri dramatically but it’s important to note the limitations of the system Apple announced.

For iOS 10.0, the Siri API will only work with six kinds of application: ride booking (think Uber), messaging, Photo Search (find photos and videos in a particular app), payments (‘Send $100 to John with SquareCash’), VoIP Calling (e.g: Skype) and Workouts (for starting health and fitness activities)



OS X 10.11.4 is now available, Mac gains Live Photos on Messages + secure Notes & more; iTunes 12.3.3 out as well


Apple has officially released the OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan update through the Mac App Store. The software update is available for all Macs capable of running OS X 10.11. The Mac update delivers new features including Live Photo viewing and sharing through iMessage using the Messages app as well as secure password support for individual notes in the Notes app.


Johns Hopkins researchers find way to decrypt iMessage photos & videos; fixed in iOS 9.3


Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have found a vulnerability in iMessages that allowed them to decrypt both photos and videos sent via the service. Apple said that iOS 9 provided a partial fix – making the attack method more difficult – while it is fully fixed in iOS 9.3.

The Washington Post reports that the team advised Apple of the flaw, and will publish a paper as soon as iOS 9.3 has been officially released, expected for later today. The team has, however, explained in outline how their attack worked …