Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus during an Apple event.
Apple could have a hand in helping researchers learn more about your DNA.
The company is reportedly planning to work with scientists to collect DNA for genetic research, as a part of itsResearchKit platform.
As outlined in MIT Technology Review's report, Apple has two studies planned (one with the University of California, San Francisco, and the other with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York) that would allow the partners to collect or test DNA via an iPhone app.
"The data would be maintained by scientists in a computing cloud, but certain findings could appear directly on consumers’ iPhones as well," the report said, citing sources close to the matter. "Eventually, it’s even possible consumers might swipe to share 'my genes' as easily as they do their location."
Apple Vice President of Operations, Jeff Williams, discusses ResearchKit during an Apple event.
Apple announced ResearchKit in March, which collects data from patients via the iPhone, and is said to be a secure portal. People with certain conditions can opt in to participate in various clinical studies and surveys (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) that can be evaluated and analyzed by medical researchers. The goal is to ultimately improve patients' health and the ability to care for them.
While ResearchKit initially launched with five app partners which collected data on conditions such as Parkinson's Disease and asthma, it opened up the platform to developers and more researchers last month.
Now, DNA-focused studies would allow researchers to examine how genetics are influencing certain medical conditions.For example, the UCSF study will look at contributing factors to premature births by combining gene tests of pregnant women with other data collected via their iPhones. Participants would have to take a spit test and return the kit to an Apple-approved lab, which will likely be at UCSF and Mount Sinai, the report said.
Rather than focus on a person's full genome, the studies will narrow in on about 100 or less genes that are known to be associated with particular diseases, it added.
While Apple declined to comment on the report, it's clear that Apple wants to be more than just a little involved in the medical world.
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In a time when nearly everyone, regardless of income, seems to have a smartphone, the ACLU has come up with something that could help during your next encounter with an overzealous law enforcement officer: an instant reporting app.
Mobile Justice CA was created by the Southern California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union as a way to "keep law enforcement accountable and protect your rights."
Available for iOS and for Android, the free app allows users to instantly record and send a video of a police encounter to the ACLU.
Additionally, the app also allows you to turn on GPS tracking so that you can be notified if anyone else using the app near your location reports an incident. In light of recent demonstrations against police brutality, the app could be seen as essential equipment for some engaging in peaceful protests.
The app also includes a list of U.S. rights, giving the user an additional tool in potentially touchy situations involving police encounters, as well as free speech and student rights demonstrations.
It comes on the heels of recent high-profile police brutality cases that used bystander videos to show what really happened, such as the death of Walter Scoot in South Carolina, which resulted in the responsible officer being charged with murder.
That such an app is even necessary may itself serve as a commentary on U.S. law enforcement policies, which are still evolving every day. But, in the meantime, the ACLU's app is one tech-powered answer to the many questions swirling around recent, politically charged events in the U.S.
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This April 28, 2015 photo shows a man walking past a Microsoft sign set up for the Microsoft BUILD conference at Moscone Center in San Francisco.
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Microsoft announced on Wednesday a move that will allow iOS and Android developers to port apps directly into its new Windows universal app platform.
The company detailed two new software development kits on stage at Microsoft's Build developer conference in San Francisco. Developers can "reuse" Java and C++ code for Windows. Meanwhile, iOS developers can "reuse" Objective C code to build for Windows devices.
This means Microsoft users will eventually be able to run Android apps on Windows 10 phones, tablets and PC computers. It will cast a wide net to non-Windows developers as a part of an effort to bring more apps over to the platform.
Microsoft noted that app company King has already used the new capabilities to bring Candy Crush Sage to the Windows Phone.
The overall goal, of course, is for Microsoft to ramp up the app ecosystem so it can become a bigger player in the crowded smartphone market.
"Windows phones will include an Android subsystem," said Microsoft's Terry Myerson, noting how Windows phones will run tweaked Android apps.
It's big news for Windows fans too; the bottom line: they'll soon be able to use Android and iOS-based apps like Candy Crush on their Windows devices. One of the biggest disadvantages Windows device owners have dealt with is the limited number of native apps available on the platform. Now, users can lean on Android apps to fill out what they're looking for.
Although Microsoft didn't go into detail about how everything will work, more information will likely trickle out of the conference sessions on Thursday.
It's also unclear how the news will be perceived in the Windows developer community. Ahead of the announcement, tech blog Thurrott called the potential of the concept "a slap in the face."
"This sends the message that they have wasted their time and that it’s time to move on to a more successful platform since, after all, the apps you create for Android will now work on Android and Windows/Windows Phone," the article says.
The news comes nearly a year afterBlackBerry teamed up with Amazon to bring Android apps like Netflix, Candy Crush and Pinterest to BlackBerry 10.
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Travel companies that have already announced additional app functionality for the Apple Watch include major airlines and hotels, as well as general booking sites, travel guide companies and transit apps.
If you are getting your Apple Watch on Friday (or in the coming months), here are the apps that want to change how you travel.
Providing directions is a key feature of the watch, but Apple Maps will do more than that: Hotel reviews from TripAdvisor and Booking.com are baked into the mapping app.
CityMapper is focused on public transit, providing the fastest routes to your destination based on Google Maps data. Once you arrive, the watch will tap your wrist to make sure you know you've reached your destination.
The app notes your location, providing step-by-step instructions for catching the nearest bus or train. For options with published schedules, the app lists the next three arrivals.
The travel resource's watch app includes traveler reviews, ratings and photos of hotels, restaurants and attractions, cramming as much travel information as possible onto your wrist.
By swiping, users can view nearby points of interest based on location and time of day. For example, if you swipe rround lunchtime, you may see the highest-rated restaurant in the vicinity.
"It's all about location," Adam Medros, TripAdvisor's senior vice president of global product, told Mashable. "You're talking about increasingly knowing exactly where a user is, and even starting to know more context about time of day, weather, things like that that will help us make smarter and smarter recommendations based on what the user has already told us."
Medros said the goal with watch recommendations is to unobtrusively recommend to travelers the information they want, when they want it.
"It's a very personal device," he said. "There's potential for it to give me bits of information and bits of advice, to point me in a direction or to recognize things like it's 11 a.m. on a Wednesday, it might [know] I'm looking for coffee."
Priceline.com's app will show four popular nearby hotel options for same-day booking, offering discounts from published rates. The deals link to the iPhone app, which can be used to complete the reservation.
IMAGE: PRICELINE
The app also provides a view of existing itineraries, including flight, hotel and rental car details. If you need directions to one of the items on your itinerary, the app will link to Apple Maps.
The focus is on travel coming up in the next two days.
“Travelers with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are a large and growing percentage of priceline.com’s customer base, particularly among last minute travelers,” Priceline.com's chief product officer, John Caine, said in a statement. The app "makes it that much easier and faster for travelers to access significant savings on the go.”
Expedia's app includes upcoming trip itineraries, with both flight and hotel information. Flight info includes gates, terminals and departure and arrival times.
For hotels, you can get check-in and check-out times, ratings, locations, addresses and phone numbers."
The Orbitz app takes advantage of the "Glances" feature on the watch, putting itinerary information a swipe or two away, beginning 24 hours before the start of the trip.
Orbitz Rewards members will also be able to view their balance from the watch.
Notifications from the watch can include day-of travel updates on flight delays, gate changes and cancellations, as well as details like the number of the baggage claim carousel at the arrival airport. Notifications can also include deals and promotions.
The Booking Now app enables booking directly from the Apple Watch, letting you choose from nearby hotels matched to your personal preferences (based on the site's previously collected data).
You can book your selected hotel, manage "key aspects" of your reservation, and check the room number and length of stay using the watch.
The app will be the "first and only travel app to enable users to book a stay directly from their watch, and in just one touch," according to Booking.com.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts lets you walk straight through the lobby, head to your room and unlock the door — without ever talking to a hotel clerk or even removing anything from your wallet.
The app will also provide you with directions to your hotel, check in, allow you to see reservation details and view your Starpoints balance.
Popular last-minute booking app HotelTonight will offer its hand-picked selection of hotels on the watch. Booking on the smartphone app was easy; booking on the Apple Watch is easier.
IMAGE: HOTELTONIGHT
In addition to same-day booking, HotelTonight also offers a look at prices for the next week.
The Hotels.com app will provide details about upcoming itineraries on the watch (including directions). It also books deals for hotels in your current location.
Airlines
Many airlines are making their apps compatible with the Apple Watch, so you can get notifications about your upcoming itineraries and any problems or delays. Some airlines, like American, are also adding a check-in feature to the watch.
The airlines that will have apps on the watch include:
As soon as the Uber app is opened on the Apple Watch, you'll see an estimate for how long it will take for a car to reach you. From there, you can request the car and track its location on the map as it heads your way.
Hailo will also have an Apple Watch app, which will allow for calling a car and show how long it will take to reach you.
Bonus apps
Since wearables come with us everywhere, almost anything on the watch could be considered a "travel" app. Here are some other apps that aren't necessarily travel-focused, but will help travelers get where they're going — and enjoy the journey.
The translator app from InterContinental Hotels Group, provides on-demand translation "virtually anywhere in the world."
"By speaking directly into the watch, or selecting from a range of pre-loaded common phrases, travelers will be able to translate from English into 13 different languages, in real-time," IHG said in a statement. "Translations will appear instantly on the screen of the device in the chosen language, giving users the chance to read the word or phrase, with the help of phonetic spelling."
BONUS: Apple Watch Commercial Reveals Time Travel Feature
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Apple CEO Tim Cook shows off the Facebook app for the Apple Watch in March.
Back in March, Apple gave the world a close look at its first wearable, weeks before the device officially debuted in stores.
Developers worked quickly to equip the Apple Watch with everything from an official Twitter app, to an eBay app and even a Chipotle app, but one app seemingly previewed on stage during the March event remains missing: Facebook.
At the time, Apple prominently displayed the social network working on the Apple Watch.
"You can connect to social media," CEOTim Cook said, as a large image of a Facebook logo-emblazoned notification flashed on the display behind him. The screenshot of the Apple Watch Facebook notification showed an example of a photo-tag notification, and an option to dismiss it. The screenshot looked like an app, but it wasn't. It turns out that it was just a notification screen pushed from the iPhone's existing Facebook app.
Adding to the confusion, both apps mentioned in the same presentation screens as Facebook — ESPN and CNN — have dedicated apps currently available in the Apple Watch app store. But more than a month later, as consumers are finally getting their handson the watch, Facebook's app is nowhere to be found.
"We’re excited for the launch of the Apple Watch," a Facebook spokesperson told Mashable when asked about the app. "We have nothing to announce today, but we’re always evaluating new platforms to build the best Facebook experience for people."
The missing app did not go unnoticed by new Apple Watch owners, who tweeted their surprise at the device's lack of Facebook functionality.
where is the Facebook app for the #AppleWatch and why can't I create a new tweet? #frustrated
Some may speculate that the omission is due to industry politics, but the fact that Facebook's own Instagram app is already available in the Apple Watch store should eliminate these concerns. And despite the odd app omission, based on the prominent placement of Facebook in the March presentation, it's likely that a Facebook app is still in the works.
Additional reporting by Karissa Bell
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The LG G Watch was one of the first Google Android Wear devices.
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Google's smartwatch platform Android Wear received its biggest software update to date on Monday as a part of a greater move to take on the Apple Watch.
And the update is a good one: there's more customization (new watch faces and bands), Wi-Fi support, hand gestures and an awesome feature that lets you draw emoji to send to friends.
While the news may not be revolutionary, it shows that Google is actively trying to improve the platform, which has received mixed reviews. Considering the Apple Watch will be shipping in a few days, now is the time for Google to ramp up its software.
While some Android Wear models have previously offered built-in GPS and offline music support so you could leave your phone at home while out for a run, the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity means you'll be able to get notifications and send messages even if your phone is out of range.
IMAGE: GOOGLE
The always-on display is a strong feature, too — you won't have to tap or shake your wrist to see what time it is or to re-visit an app. The update includes more gestures: By flicking your wrist outward, the software will advance the cards (weather, calendar and so on) in the stream — a flick inward reveals the previous cards.
While the battery life could potentially take a hit with its always-on display, the Wi-Fi capabilities may help cut down on drainage.
IMAGE: GOOGLE
But perhaps the most fun new feature is the ability to draw an emoji and send it to friends via SMS, Hangouts and messaging apps. Use-case scenario: you're running late; draw a frowny face with tears to let your friend know how sorry you are, and Android Wear converts the drawing into the appropriate emoji.
IMAGE: GOOGLE
The LG Watch Urbane, which goes on sale Friday, will be the first device to get the over-the-air update. Other Android Wear watches will get the update "soon," the company said.
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Siri is an artificial intelligence program built into the iPhone and newer iOS devices. Siri is a powerful time management and productivity tool. Understanding this tool will dramatically improve your daily efficiency and memory.
Getting started with Siri
1. In order to access Siri, your iPhone has to be on but it does not have to be unlocked. Simply hold the “Home Circle” at the bottom of your iPhone for two seconds and you will hear two little delightful beeps. You will see a microphone image appear on the screen and just to the left of the microphone is a tiny question mark inside a circle.
2. Tap the question mark to immediately view examples of the wide variety of tips and time-saving shortcuts included in the current functionality of Siri.
I was unfamiliar with the full functionality of this iPhone feature. Once you hold down the home circle key and you tap on the question mark at the bottom left of the image shown above, your iPhone will walk you through the images shown throughout this article.
Siri has thousands of practical uses.
The following screen shots are from my personal iPhone 5s. Let me give you a guided tour of how I have used Siri in just the last seven days.
Send Messages
The capability to speak a text message via Siri has boosted my efficiency exponentially. No more typing and retyping. Instead I can say:
Text John Arnold (if you pause, Siri will politely ask, what would you like to text John Arnold? If you don’t pause, your message just continues): “Will you resend me the link to your last webinar”
Text Mom: “Mom I will call you back in 30 minutes”
Reply to Teresa Beck: “We will meet you at the restaurant at 12:15″
Send a message to Susan: “So proud of Bowen’s three point shot”
Text Mary Ann: “Thanks for picking me up at 4:30. Is that 4:30 Central Standard Time or 4:30 MAG time?” (My friend MAG runs 15 minutes late–she functions in her own time zone. MAG’s very last text message to me was “MAG time plus I am running 15 minutes later than that!)
Adding and Changing Calendar Events
This Siri feature is #2 on my iPhone most loved capabilities. The abilities are remarkable. This is just a partial list of how I use the calendaring functionality Siri offers:
“Siri, what is on my calendar today?”
“Move my 9:30 am meeting to 10 am”
“Schedule a call with Michele at 9:30 am today”
“Meet with Ellen at noon to discuss new book concept”
“Set up a meeting with Bridget in the conference room at 2 pm
“Cancel my 2:30 pm appointment”
“What is on my calendar for this Friday afternoon?”
I love being able to tell my phone the time and date of a meeting, event or appointment, and have it instantly put on my calendar. And, if I have an overlapping conflict, Siri will let me know that as well.
Maps and Navigation
I am one of those women who understands left and right, but not north, south, east and west. Every few days I push the round home button on my iPhone and say:
“How far is it from Jonesboro, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee?”
“Give me directions to my house”
“How far am I from the next turn?
“What is my ETA?
“What is Abby’s address?”
“What are the walking directions to Gina’s Restaurant?”
Reminders
Using Siri to set reminders is the feature I use the most. Your short-term memory is like a dry erase white board. Ideas, thoughts and tasks will briefly creep into your conscious awareness, but if you don’t have access to an immediate place to capture that idea, it will be gone forever. The best part of the reminder functionality is that you can request the exact date and time you would like Sire to remind you to complete a task.
“Remind me to pick up the milk at 5:30 pm today”
“Remind me to write the budget proposal at 10:00 am tomorrow”
“Remind me to take my car into the shop next Thursday at 7:30 am”
“Remind me to write James a thank you note”
Email, Alarms and Other Clock Uses
Siri is efficient for emailing your friends and asking about specific emails you have received, but I would be careful about sending verbal emails to people you don’t know well. Siri sometimes misinterprets your words. However, I love the alarms and other clock uses. At the touch of a button I can tell Siri:
“Wake me up at 7:45 tomorrow morning”
“Set alarm to leave for lunch at 11:35 am”
“What is the date for next Tuesday?”
“Set the timer for 15 minutes” (this is great for baking cookies)
Web, Notes and Questions
With the search the web feature and questions you can find out almost anything. Periodically Siri might say, “Hhhmmm, let me check the web for that” or “I am unable to retrieve information at this time”. You might ask:
“What is the address of the nearest gas station?”
“Who won the baseball world series in 1964?”
“What movies are playing at the Malco Theater in Jonesboro, Arkansas?”
“Why should I buy a hybrid car?
Notes allow you to store information that is less time sensitive, but you still want a place to capture that information for retrieval at a later time. You might say:
“Note that Abby wears a size 7 shoe”
“Note that Ann’s favorite color is turquoise”
“Note that Heather is allergic to shellfish”
You can even add individual note to a specific note:
“Note that we use the 12 oz package of noodles to my grocery note”
Siri is a powerful time management and productivity tool. Everyone relies on time management and reminder tools to function more efficiently in life.
With Siri you can begin to rely less on:
notepads
the back of envelopes
sticky notes
the palm of your hand
paper calendars
formal written to-do lists
calling your own voice mail
emailing yourself
even putting rubber bands around your wrists
Fun Siri facts
Siri is a limited intelligence personal assistant
Siri uses a natural user language interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of web services
The name “Siri” is Norwegian, and means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory.” It comes from the intended name for the original developer’s first child.
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