Given that it’s the end of 2017, it’s time for TechnicalCafe’s annual “Favorite Apps” post! As usual, I’ve used a variety of apps throughout the course of the year, with many coming in handy or being used every single day. Whether it’s keeping up with what family and friends are doing or taking some quick notes, my phone is probably one of, if not the most used device that I own, with much of this utility owed to the apps that are installed on it.

Below, in no particular order, you’ll find a list of some of my “favorite” apps from 2017. It’s likely that some of these apps appeared in previous versions of this post, simply due to how often they’re used and how helpful they may be.

Tweetbot

Tweetbot, by TapBots, is a third-party Twitter client that has a clean and easy-to-use user experience, while also offering a variety of gesture-based controls. For example, if you’re in the main timeline and swipe a tweet to the side, you can view replies and other information about it. Swiping the other way will bring you straight to a reply screen, where you can then write and send your own reply.

With an easy to use navigation and a clean and modern looking UI, I would recommend Tweetbot to anyone who’s looking for a no-nonsense way to view, write, and manage their tweets and Twitter profile. For those who use a Mac computer, Tweetbots also offers a downloadable client, as well.

SnapChat

SnapChat likely needs no introduction, and is an app that I use pretty much every day. With a great deal of friends and family members using the service to send quick photos and videos of what’s going on in their day, it’s fun to open the app and see what everyone’s up to. With the ability to dress up snaps with text, stickers, and filters, it can be a lot of fun to try and craft a creative photo or video and share it with friends and family.

Instagram

Like with SnapChat, Instagram is an app that I use daily in order to keep up with what family, friends, and others are up to. For those that aren’t on the service, Instagram enables users to post photos and videos, with others being able to comment on them. Additionally, Instagram also enables users to post SnapChat-like stories so that users can see small updates throughout the day that do not appear in the regular feed or on the poster’s profile.

Evernote

Ever since I (momentarily) switched to an Android phone in 2014, Evernote has been my go-to app for taking and storing the majority of my notes on the go. Whether it’s a list of items to pack for a trip or a photo of something that I’d like to remember, Evernote has support for it.

One feature that I particularly like about Evernote is that, in addition to being a mobile app, the service is also available as both a downloadable desktop app and a web app. This can be especially useful for when I’d like to write a more “complicated” or “drawn-out” note or if I’m just using my computer and don’t want to pull out my phone to remember something.

One drawback to the free version of Evernote (which is what I currently use), however, is that the service limits users to being signed in to a maximum of two devices at a time (not including the web app). So, if you have the Evernote app installed on an iPhone, Mac, and an iPad, for example, you’ll have to pick which of the two you’d like to keep signed in, unless you either purchase a premium subscription or log in via the web app instead.

1Password

With all of the websites and services that are available today, it’s virtually impossible to remember what passwords you chose for each service, especially if they’re comprised of a variety of different characters (upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols). This is where 1Password comes in – it provides a password-protected vault for users to store their passwords and other sensitive data in. What’s more is that all of the data stored within 1Password is encrypted, so even if someone were to get ahold of your backup, they still wouldn’t be able to determine what was stored in it.

Using 1Password is easy, and users can even choose to unlock their vaults using a fingerprint or FaceID, should they wish to do so. Then, finding a password (or other information about an account, etc.) is as simple as typing in the name of the website or service or simply scrolling through a list to see the available options.

Calendars 5

As a Google Calendar user, Calendars 5 has been my go-to calendar app for a few years now. I like how the app supports natural language processing, enabling users to add events to their calendars by simply typing them in “regular” language. For example, you could simply type “Meeting tomorrow from 1-2 PM” and the app would know to add an event to your calendar for the next day from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. This prevents users from having to manually select start and end times for events, making it quick and easy to add them to a calendar.

What’s more is that Calendars 5 supports several different calendar views, with the “Month” view being one that I tend to use pretty frequently. I find it to be useful to have a view that shows every event or appointment throughout the month in one view, and Calendars 5 seemed to be one of the few apps that offered this at the time that I first downloaded it. (Google Calendar, which I also have installed on my phone, does now offer this view, too.)

While Calendars 5 is somewhat expensive for an app ($6.99), I find it to be a great app for managing one’s calendar and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new calendar app.

YouTube

As someone who consumes a great deal of their video content from YouTube, this app definitely deserves a place on my “Favorite Apps” list. In fact, my wife and I have “cut the cord” (we never really had it in our house together to begin with) and don’t have cable, so we tend to watch a lot of web-based content including what’s available on Netflix, HBO Go, YouTube, etc. Given that I follow several “vloggers” and “how-to” channels on YouTube, I’m often using the app to see what new content is available.

What’s more is that we can push YouTube videos to either our ChromeCast (also by Google) or to the Apple TV and watch it on a bigger screen, if we want to, and can use the app to control what we’re watching.

Dark Sky

For those that like to keep an eye on the weather, Dark Sky is a full-featured weather app that provides a great deal of information as to what Mother Nature is doing. The app even includes an hour-by-hour breakdown (via a neat graphic) of what a day will look like, making it easy to plan activities or just see when it might rain or snow.

Also included in the app is a 7-day forecast, the ability to add and view weather for multiple locations, as well as the option to view maps that have weather radar and temperature information overlaid on top of them.

While Apple’s native “Weather” app gets the job done just fine, I’d recommend Dark Sky to those who may be looking for more detailed information about the weather.

AnyList

AnyList is a great app that enables users to create a variety of lists, like shopping lists, to-do lists, and more. What’s more is that users can add information and notes to list items and can easily drag-and-drop to move the items into different categories.

Perhaps the most useful feature of AnyList, at least for my wife and I, is the ability to share lists with other users. We personally use the app as our grocery list and are notified (via push notification) each time the other person updates the list. While there are a bunch of other list or to-do apps out there that have a sharing functionality, AnyList is easy to use, has a great set of features, is free, and just gets the job done.

For anyone looking for a list app, I’d definitely recommend that they check out AnyList, especially if you’re looking to share and manage your lists with others.

Reminders

While many people often replace native iOS apps for a variety of reasons, I’ve been using the default Reminders app for a while now and think it works pretty well for what I need in such an app.

Given that the app is integrated with Siri (as are most native iOS apps), it’s easy to simply dictate a reminder using my Apple Watch or iPhone. For example, if I’m driving or am out and about and want to remember to pick up some milk on the way home, all I have to do is say “Hey Siri, add a reminder to get milk today at 5:30 PM” and it is added.

The fact that the app automatically syncs with my other Apple devices is also very useful and makes it easy to see what reminders whether I’m using my phone or am sitting at my computer.

Users can create multiple lists and can even share lists with others, provided they have an Apple ID.

And there you have it – the TechnicalCafe.com 2017 “Favorite App” list! Though I’ve used many other apps over the course of the year, the ones chosen above stuck out to me as the ones that I’ve either used the most often or found the most useful throughout the course of the past year.

If you’re interested in seeing what apps were chosen in previous years, please feel free to check out the “Favorite Apps” posts from 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, and 2010 (yes, unfortunately, we did miss 2012…sorry…).

Thank you to everyone who read the TechnicalCafe blog, watched videos and tutorials on the TechnicalCafe YouTube channel, and to those who took the time to comment or reach out via email, I greatly appreciate it!

I hope that everyone has a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!

– Jamie

Earlier today, Apple held their WWDC 2017 keynote, where they announced a few new products, as well as several updates to existing ones.

iOS 11

The newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 11, was announced at today’s event, which offers a variety of new features and adds some new functionality.

Specific the the iPad, iOS 11 will feature a new Files app, which will enable users to view all of their files in one central location. Additionally, users will be able to view files that are in other apps, on other iOS devices, on iCloud, and on services like Dropbox.

The iPad will also be receiving a new dock with iOS 11, which will be available from any screen – similar to the way the dock works on macOS. Users can bring up the dock by swiping on their screen, and can then launch and switch between apps using this new feature. This leads to improved multitasking capabilities, with users being able to open a second app from the dock.

Multitasking on the iPad is also improved with iOS 11, with users being able to open a second app from the new dock. Multiple apps can be viewed simultaneously in either “Slide Over” or “Split View”. Users will also be able to drag-and-drop files from one app to another.

With iOS 11, users will be able to use Apple Pay from within the Messages app, which can be used to send and receive money from friends and family members. Once a user has received money via Apple Pay, it is stored as Apple Pay Cash, and can be sent to others, used with Apple Pay, or transferred to one’s bank account.

Live Photos will also be receiving an update, with users being able to turn them into loops and “bounces” – or to create a long exposure effect. The camera also includes a variety of filters, as well as new compression technology that enables one to take photos that are half the size as before.

An upgraded App Store is another update that will come with iOS 11, and will featured a refactored tab listing, which includes “Today”, “Games”, “Apps”, “Updates”, and “Search”.

The Messages app will also be updated, making it easier to access stickers, emojis, and games right from within a text message. All the user has to do in order to access the aforementioned things is swipe across the redesigned app drawer.

Siri will also be receiving an update, which includes the ability to ask for a translation, improved abilities when it comes to music, the ability to learn about which news topics you’re interested in, suggestions when you’re typing, as well as suggested searches in Safari.

The Control Center is another area of iOS that will be receiving an update in the newest version of the OS, with the ability to customize it to feature the “things you do most”.

Apple Maps also receives some improvements in iOS 11, including indoor maps and lane guidance while driving.

The new QuickType keyboard allows users to more easily type with one hand, and can be enabled by holding the emoji key and selecting the “One-Handed Typing” option.

Another new feature of iOS 11 is Automatic Setup, which allows users to quickly import settings and other information from an existing device, including another iPhone or Mac. This is done in a manner similar to how one would pair an Apple Watch with their iPhone, by positioning an image in front of the camera of another Apple device.

iPad Pro

Apple announced a new version of the iPad Pro, featuring 10.5 inch Retina display with a resolution of 2224 x 1668 pixels. This version will replace the previous 9.7 inch model. The upgraded Retina display in the new iPad Pro supports a 120Hz refresh rate (2x the standard LCD refresh rate), making things look smoother and allowing for a more responsive experience.

Both iPad Pro models (10.5 and 12.9 inch) will include Apple’s 64-bit A10X Fusion chip, with an embedded M10 coprocessor, which is 30% percent faster than the chip in the previous version of the device.

Additionally, the device will see an upgraded camera – the same 12 MP camera that is used in the iPhone 7. As such, the iPad Pro will be able to record 4K video at 30 frames per second. The device also features a 7 MP FaceTime HD camera, capable of recording 1080p HD video.

iMac

The iMac lineup also received some upgrades, with an improved Retina display, a new Radeon Pro 500 graphics card and seventh-generation Intel processors.

The iMac will also feature a Fusion Drive (standard on all 27-inch iMac models, optional on the 21.5-inch model), which stores frequently used apps and files on flash storage, while keeping other files on a high-capacity hard drive.

Along with the hardware updates, VR will be coming to the iMac, with users being able to edit 360-video in apps like Final Cut Pro.

The iMac will also come with two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, allowing for quick data transfer, as well as four USB 3 ports so that users can connect multiple accessories and devices simultaneously.

iMac Pro

The iMac line will now feature a new device – the iMac Pro.

This new version of the iMac will have a 27-inch 5K Retina display, which contains 14.7 million pixels and supports one billion colors.

The computer features up to 18 processor cores (users can opt for an 8, 10, or 18 core Xeon processor) and will also include a Radeon Pro Vega graphics card. Additionally, the device can hold up to 128 GB of RAM and up to a 4 TB SSD. The machine will also include four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and 10 Gb Ethernet.

Unlike previous versions of the iMac, the iMac Pro will come in space gray, with the option to get space gray accessories, including the Magic Keyboard (with numeric keypad), Magic Mouse 2, and the Magic Trackpad 2.

MacBook and MacBook Pro

The MacBook and MacBook Pro lineups will also be seeing some updates, with improved performance due to new seventh-generation Intel Core processors (Core m3, i5, and i7).

macOS High Sierra

Updates to Apple’s desktop operating system, macOS, were also announced during today’s keynote, with updates including the introduction of the Apple File System, HEVC (H.265) video compression, Metal 2 graphics, virtual reality, improvements to various Apple apps (including Photos, Safari, Mail, Siri, FaceTime, Messages, Notes, etc.), and the ability to choose an iCloud plan for the whole family (plans include either 200 GB or 2 TB of storage).

WatchOS 4

The newest version of watchOS was also announced – watchOS 4.

This new version of the Apple Watch’s operating system will feature improved Activity and Workout apps, as well as an improved music experience. Like with iOS, the Apple Watch will be receiving improvements to Siri functionality and will also feature a new Siri complication.

Additionally, watchOS 4 will include some new watch faces, including a Siri watch face, a Kaleidoscope face, and a Toy Story watch face that can display Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie.

HomePod

Perhaps one of the most interesting announcements as this year’s WWDC keynote is Apple’s new HomePod – a speaker that features Apple Music and Siri functionality.

Apple’s new HomePod features seven speakers, allowing for 360 degree sound playback, and also features a six-microphone array. The device also includes an Apple A8 chip, which will act as the “brains” behind the device.

The HomePod will be able to sense where it is in the room, and will be able to adjust its acoustics accordingly. Should a second HomePod get added to a room, the two devices will be able to automatically detect and balance each other.

If there are HomePods in multiple rooms, they can communicate with each other using the new AirPlay 2, allowing users to play the same music throughout all of the rooms where the devices are present.

The top of the HomePod can be tapped to play, pause, or adjust the volume of the music that you’re listening to, and also lights up to show when Siri is listening.

Like other devices in this market, the HomePod can also be used as an assistant, with the ability to use Siri to find the answer to a question, set a timer, get news, weather, traffic, and other information, and to control the various devices that one might have within their home.

For more information about the announcements that were made at Apple’s WWDC keynote address today, please feel free to check out the WWDC17 Keynote Address page on the Apple website.

If you’ve been to Google.com today, you may have noticed that there’s a blurb accompanied by a link toward the bottom of the homepage for a Google’s newest “product” – Google Gnome!

The blurb, which says “The smart yard you never knew you always wanted is here. Introducing Google Gnome“, takes users to a product detail page on the Google Store, which has a video (below) and some additional information about the product.

Toward the bottom of the page, users will also see that there are various accessories – many of which paying homage to actual products or pop-culture references, that can be had for one’s Google Gnome, including “Raign Gear”, “The Abominable Gnomeman”, “H2GnOme”, “My Lil’ Gnomey”, “Gnest”, and “Happy Camper”.

Following that, however, there is an advertisement for Google Home, which will take users to the product detail page for an actual Google product, which can be purchased for $129.

And, if you look closely, the very last line of text before the Google Store footer says: “Google Gnomes are real, but only in our hearts — for now. Happy April Fools’!”

Another well-done April Fools’ Day prank by Google.

It’ll be interesting to see what sorts of April Fools Day pranks other tech companies will be doing today, as well, so remember to keep an eye out when visiting your favorite websites! Happy April Fools’ Day, all!

This past Wednesday, at their 2017 Unpacked Event, Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, their new flagship Android phones. The new devices include an updated look from last year’s Galaxy models and some new and interesting features.

Given this announcement, lets take a look at some of the specs of these new devices:

Display

Source: Samsung.com

The first thing that stands out is that the new Galaxy phones will feature what Samsung is calling the “Infinity Display”, which is an end-to-end screen that wraps around the edges of the phone. This is similar to the current Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, which also features a curved glass display.

The display on the Galaxy S8 is a 5.8 inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display, with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 (at 570 ppi), while the display on the larger Galaxy S8+ model is a 6.2″ Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 (at 529 ppi).

Camera

The rear camera on both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ is a dual pixel 12 MP camera, with optical image stabilization and a F1.7 aperture. The front facing camera has an 8 MP sensor, also with an F1.7 aperture. Both cameras allow for video digital image stabilization and HDR, as well as for selective focus, which enables users to achieve the Bokeh effect (focused subject with a blurred background).

As for video, both devices can shoot 4K video at 30 FPS, 1080p at 30 or 60 FPS, and 720p at 30 FPS. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though there’s any optical zoom, but there is the option to use up to 8x digital zoom, if one so chooses.

Processor

Depending on one’s country and cell service provider, the phone’s processor could be either an Octa-core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10nm processor or an Octa-core (2.35GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10nm processor.

Memory

Both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will come with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. While this doesn’t seem like a lot, especially when compared to some other devices (like the iPhone, which has up to 256 GB of internal storage), the phones do have MicroSD card slots, which allow for up to 256 GB of expandable storage.

Operating System

These devices should be shipping with Android 7.0 (Nougat), which is the latest major version of the operating system (though, technically Android 7.1.1 is the latest release at the time of this writing).

Audio

Unlike the latest iPhone models, the new Galaxy devices will come with a headphone jack, with a pair of earphones included with the device.

Colors

According to Samsung’s website, the new Galaxy S8 and S8+ will come in five colors, which include midnight black, orchid gray, coral blue, arctic silver, and maple gold.

For more information regarding the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, please check out Samsung’s website (where this information was sourced from).

Alphabet Homepage (abc.xyz)

Recently, in a blog post dated August 10, 2015, Google made an announcement, explaining that the company would be reorganizing into a new company called Alphabet, which will be a sort of holding company for other, smaller, companies.

Google, of course, will be the largest of the companies run by Alphabet, albeit it was said that Google will be “slimmed down”, with companies that are not related to Google’s main search product being put under Alphabet, instead. Examples of this would be Google’s health research and products, such as Calico, which is focused on longevity and not search. Other companies include Google’s X Lab, Google Ventures, and YouTube, among others.

Alphabet will be run by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as the CEO and President, respectively. Each company under the Alphabet umbrella will also have their own CEO, with Sundar Pichai being chosen as Google’s new CEO.

Additionally, Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly traded entity, with all shares of Google being automatically converted into Alphabet Inc. shares, with all of the same rights. Despite the reorganization, Google’s two share classes will still be traded on NASDAQ as GOOGL and GOOG.

While this is an interesting change, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about seeing any major changes in the Google services that we use, and they way they work or are offered to customers. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future, and what companies Alphabet will be able to grow and what they will be able to do with these companies.

For more information about this reorganization of Google into Alphabet Inc., you should check out the Official Google Blog or the Alphabet (abc.xyz) website.

What do you think about the reorganization of Google into a the new company, Alphabet Inc.? Please feel free to post your comments and questions in the “Comments” section below!

Earlier today, Apple held their annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote in San Francisco, CA, where various updates to Apple product lines and software were announced, in addition to the announcements of a variety of new features.

Among the announcements were an update to OS X, to a new version called El Capitan, the next iteration of Apple’s iOS, iOS 9, Apple’s next version of their watch operating system, watchOS 2, as well as a new music service, called Apple Music.

Given that there was so much information, this blog post won’t focus on the information itself, but rather, will be a sort of aggregator of information and resources where you can find more information about the announcements at WWDC15.

WWDC15 Keynote Address

The WWDC15 Keynote address, which was broadcast live on the Apple website from San Francisco, can be viewed at the link below. (At the time of this post, the replay video is yet available.) Additionally, highlights from the Keynote address are also available in the form of text and photo-based posts.

http://www.apple.com/live/2015-june-event/

OS X El Capitan

Information regarding the newest version of Apple’s computer operating system, OS X El Capitan, which will be released this Fall, can be viewed at the link below, which is to a preview page on the Apple website.

http://www.apple.com/osx/elcapitan-preview/

iOS 9

The newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 9 will include some exciting new features, including multitasking, a new News app, additional APIs, and more. For more information regarding all of the new features and what not that will be included in iOS 9, there is a preview page on the Apple website, which is linked below.

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios9-preview/

watchOS 2

The Apple Watch’s operating system will also be receiving an update this Fall, with the announcement of watchOS 2, which will include additional watch faces to choose from, customizable watch face complications, faster and more powerful apps, and more. More information about watchOS 2 can be found at the link below, also to a preview page on the Apple website.

http://www.apple.com/watchos-2-preview/

Apple Music

Apple Music, another new service announced at WWDC15, will provide a variety of new features and services related to how users listen to and share music, as well as how music artists and creators connect with fans. Beats 1 is a new radio station, with people like Zane Lowe, Julie Adenuga, and Ebro Darden behind it, that was announced.

Membership to Apple Music will start at $9.99 per month for an individual, and $14.99 per month for up to a 6 person family, giving them “access to the full Apple Music library, expert recommendations, our take on the best new music, and unlimited skips on our radio stations.”

More information regarding Apple Music, which will become available on June 30, 2015, can be found at the Apple Music website, which is linked below.

http://www.apple.com/music/membership/

Additional News and Resources

In addition to the preview pages offered by Apple, there are other sources of information regarding today’s WWDC15 updates, including live video coverage by TWiT.tv and Chris Pirillo of LockerGnome, as well as coverage by MacRumors.com and TechCrunch.com, as well as Twitter coverage by Marques Brownlee of the MKBHD YouTube Channel and Michael Kukielka of the DetroitBORG YouTube channel.

TechnicalCafe also provided some coverage during the Keynote, on the TechnicalCafe Twitter account, as well as on my personal Twitter account (@Jamiemcg).

Thank you for reading this post, and if you have any more information or resources that you would like to see added, please feel free to leave a comment below!