So with NewsSnacker, on an iOS device, go to Settings and then scroll down to Pebble near the bottom.  Click on Pebble and then look for Developer mode.  Turn this on.   Now you can load apps directly.   So with NewsSnacker, ( Download NewsSnacker here ) and it will ask what application you want to use to upload it.  Select Pebble and it should install the app.  And that’s it!

Enjoy!

Photo taken from kimberlyk1018’s eBay listing

View original story here.

IMAGE: CHRISTINA ASCANI/MASHABLE

View the original story here.

Where To? 7.0: iPhone local search app completely redesigned – at launch 33% off!

Where To?, the long-standing, popular local search app gets a large update. The user interface was completely rewritten and optimized for iOS 7 and 8. It is a paid update: existing users benefit from a 14 day introductory period and may get the new app for $1.99 instead of $2.99.

The app determines the location via GPS and lets the user choose from more than 2,200 search queries in more than 700 categories. In an instant the app lists all matches nearby. The results are visualized on a map or in a list sorted by distance.

First, the circular selection menu aids in selecting the main category for the search. Then, the user can drill down to the desired category with just a few taps. For each result the app offers a data sheet with detailed information. It displays the address and phone number and – if known – the business hours, the dinner menus, the homepage as well as user ratings and reviews.

Where To? 7.0 – What’s new
A lot has been changed in the new Where To? app. The user interface in Where To? 7.0 has been completely restructured and redesigned not only for the current iOS 7 but also with the upcoming iOS 8 in mind.

The extensive work requires a paid update. That means: Existing users need to purchase the new app again. For existing users and early birds an introductory period of two weeks is offered. In this time frame the app is available for $1.99 (instead of $2.99).

The new features in summary:

• Details: The details page is now seamlessly integrated with the map. That means the map is now always visible, at least in part.
• Separation of Reviews and Photos: Now there are three tabs on details pages: “Details”, “Reviews” and “Photos”. It’s not required to open a sub page anymore. The new photos browser gives more room to the photos with larger thumbnails.
• New list view: In list views, single items can be swiped to the left to display contextual buttons. Categories and place results can be marked as favorites. For place results directions can now be opened more quickly.
• BMW ConnectedDrive: Where To? now also works together with BMW along with Mercedes-Benz and Audi. The place information can now be sent to BMW ConnectedDrive to transfer it easily to the BMW dashboard. The cumbersome manual adding of destinations in the onboard navigation system is gone.
• Pebble smart watch: Where To? is compatible with Pebble smart watches. The free Where To? companion app for Pebble must be installed. Then the watch displays the direction and distance to the destination. The iPhone can be kept in the pocket while going to the destination.
• New sharing option: Found places could always be shared via text message, Facebook, Twitter or email. When sharing via email the address is now attached as a Vcard to easily import it. If the recipient also has an iPhone destinations can now be sent using AirDrop as well.

Ortwin Gentz of app developer FutureTap: “We worked long and hard on version 7. We’re especially proud of the various sophisticated animations, for instance when dealing with the new category wheel. It all adds up to a more fluid and pleasing user experience.”

Source: Apple Inc.

This has been a rough few days for Apple.  A ‘goto fail’ hole appeared in the OS that lets people defect a security server key which lets them do .. well not sure.  From a quick read of the code, seems like if you can get a false handshake to work then depending on the package you could redirect emails, sms messages, perhaps redirect the auth process and make the user buy something from the store?  Not sure, but here is the code.

static OSStatus SSLVerifySignedServerKeyExchange(SSLContext *ctx, bool isRsa, SSLBuffer signedParams, uint8_t *signature, UInt16 signatureLen) { OSStatus err; … if ((err = SSLHashSHA1.update(&hashCtx, &serverRandom)) != 0) goto fail; if ((err = SSLHashSHA1.update(&hashCtx, &signedParams)) != 0) goto fail; goto fail; if ((err = SSLHashSHA1.final(&hashCtx, &hashOut)) != 0) goto fail; … fail: SSLFreeBuffer(&signedHashes); SSLFreeBuffer(&hashCtx); return err; }

However, Apple has said they released a fix, so if you are swinging an Apple device, you may want to path up quickly.

To the surprise of my friends I went with Galaxy since my wife wanted a new phone as well and she has been used to the same UI since I gave her my Samsung BADA phone.  (which was a REALLY sweet phone BTW).  I looked at the Note but thought it was too big, I even thought the Galaxy was big, but decided to give it try.

Fast forward a few months and now when I look at the iphone, it feels like a small toy to me. I also did not what I thought I would do when I got the Samsung.  I have not rooted the phone!  I had no reason to.  Everything I want to do I can do.  Change how it looks?  No problem.  Try out cutting edge apps?  All good.  And the most important point, I can use my Pebble!  One of the most frustrating things was how poorly the iphone worked with the Pebble.  Really annoying.  However it works pretty well (not perfectly) but well with the Android.  In fact, there is an app called Pebble Tasker that allows you to create little custom ‘actions’ that does not require programming experience. Very cool.

The other thing I have noticed, most of my programmer and first adopter friends have bailed on the iPhone and moved to Android.  When I ask them, I get the same answer as for why I left. And to my surprise, everyone across the board said they were a bit concerned about the screen size, but very quickly they find that they cannot go back to the small iPhone.

Does this mean iPhone needs to explore a larger screen?  Yes the iPhone 5 is taller, but it does not really provide a better experience because the limited screen width is still a handicap. I know I cannot go back, and my friends say they cannot go back.  This could be the beginning signs that Apple needs to respond.

I liked the Pebble but it never really worked right.  Was hearing there were apps that could address many of the issues but I had to upgrade.  So I upgraded to 6.1.3 (no choice) then performed a tethered jailbreak.  Kind of a pain, but it worked.  However, the problems persisted.  The iPhone would still lose connection to the Pebble, I would not get all my notifications, and names never showed up when people called me, only numbers.  I was getting pretty sick of this so I upgraded to 7.0 hoping that would help.  It did,  but only a bit.  However, now my phone was becoming so slow, I could barely use it.  At the time, there was no way to go back to 6.1.3.  That was the last straw.  I was done with the iPhone.

But I have been thinking of bailing for awhile now anyway lest you think it was just about a watch.  I have been watching cooler and cooler Android devices coming out and nothing new from Apple.  I was getting annoyed that I had to work twice as hard to do basic customizing that Android basically allowed out of the box. My Girlfriend had a Samsung and it took better pictures and the few times I used it, I thought the UI was actually better.  The big thing that really bothered me is that Apple was always trying to force me to update to the latest version and never go back.  And there was always this game of cat and mouse with jailbreak.  I should not have to work this hard to customize things on my phone.

Once iOS7 came out it was clear they were playing catch up with the Android OS. So why was I holding on?  I can get an Android device with a bigger screen, cheaper price and do everything the iPhone can do and more. And so, with my trusty iPhone 4 no longer usable as it once was, I got a Samsung S3.  (it was on sale)

My first impressions was ‘Oh God Why?’  I had to start over with everything; all my accounts, installing my normal suite of apps, and learning a new way to do everything.  However, after a little more then a week, I fond that I was doing things faster on the Samsung then I could on the iphone. I’m still getting used to the keyboard, but swipe has won me over. I’m still getting used to the larger screen and the phone being more slippery, but that will be addressed once I get a good case

This make total sense.  Its not actuate enough to replace good old fashion measuring to be sure something is going to fix, but now you can look at colors, shapes and get an idea of how something will or will not fix. To make this really take off, they need to demo this in every IKEA across the nation.

Next step?  Step by step instructions on how to put those thing together.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNzTasuYEw

Now this is not the greatest thing in the world if you get LOTS of email.  You may want to set up filters or something so junk or not so important emails go into folders.  Or you may want to set up a new Gmail account and then create rules to only send important emails to this new account.

Anyway, update your apps. Its sweet.

Before I bought my Pebble through kick starter a year ago, got my watch last week, I asked my self the same question.  I knew it was only a matter of time before Apple came out with an iWatch, although at the time, I figure it would take a year, so already they are taking longer then I expected, but I asked myself a few questions, then decided to get the Pebble.

First are you a total Apple fan boy or do you see the day you will have a non iOS phone?

This was the tipping point question for me.  I have had iphone’s since the very first iPhone 1. However, I have also owned a few Android devices.  The early devices felt not fully baked, and thus I would return to my iPhone.  However, Im 50/50 on getting the iPhone 5+.  A part of me is tired of having to always re jailbreak my phone every time I need to update.  Right now I’m on 6.1.3 because there were 3 apps I could not run on my 5.x version.  I’m most likely not going to jailbreak it because iOS7 is just around the corner and I’m sure a jailbreak is being worked on.

Are you cool with paying around $300 for an iWatch vs. $150 for a pebble?

This is a tough question because I’m pretty sure the iWatch will have voice, color, touch screen and more memory and power then the Pebble.  But do you need it?  My use case for the Pebble is pretty simple.  I want alerts and simple controls to manage running apps on the phone.  HOWEVER, I really do want voice.  And here is where I would say, wait and pay the extra money.  Or if you have the money, just get both. Which leads me to the next question….

How patient are you?  You can get a Pebble now (in theory) who knows when the iWatch will be out.

Like I said, I though the iWatch would be out this summer or fall.  So far, no hints that we will see it in 2013.  Now when I first bought the Pebble, I though I would have it 6 months ago, thus having a working smart watch for a year before having an iWatch.  If you buy a Pebble, that still may be the case. If you have the cash and just like playing with toys, get it.

Is the Pebble ready for Prime time?

For iOS people, no, its not.  It was suppose to be, but its not.  Right now my pebble has limited value to me.  I do like that (most of the time) I see who is calling me. I especially like getting my text on the watch.  Short of that, there is not much value for me. However, once the bluetooth issues are sorted out, as well as a few more apps coming out, that might change.   The Pebble is far cooler on an Android device.  However, if you jailbreak your phone, the Pebble become a bit more useful.

Will I look like a dork wearing this?

In short yes.  But you will look like a dork with the iWatch too, so whats the difference?  Actually, waring the Pebble right now while its still new and rare is OK.  Truth be told, I do not like wearing watching.  I actually loop mine around my belt loop on my pants.  I find this is just as accessible and I do not feel so geeky.

So there you go.  Ask yourself these same questions and based on your answers, you know if you should buy now or wait. If anyone else has other points that should be considered, let me know.