Apple issues refunds for iOS9 ad blocking app Peace

After gaining popularity and skyrocketing to the top of the iTunes charts, the Peace ad blocking app for iOS 9 was taken out of circulation by its developer Marco Arment. He didn’t like that it was the approach for blocking ads was “too blunt” and that all ads shouldn’t be treated the same. Initially, refunds for the pulled out app was done via request because developers can’t forcibly issue them. But now, Apple is moving forward with offering refunds for everyone. If you’ve bought the app, expect an email from Apple informing you of your refund. The processing should take a few days.

Source: Marco Arment | Via: The Next Web

Apple Music Festival venue gets ‘environmental makeover’

One of Apple’s goals is supposedly to “leave the world better than they found it.” That’s why even the venue they use for their annual Music Festival, London’s Roundhouse, has received an “environmental makeover.” According to Apple’s environmental head Lisa P. Jackson, “We’re making major upgrades to the lighting, plumbing, and HVAC systems; installing recycling and composting bins; arranging to turn used fryer oil into biofuel; buying renewable energy credits to cover the Roundhouse's September electricity use; and offering reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones.”

Apple says they expect that the changes they’ve made could reduce Roundhouse’s annual emissions by 60 tons. It’ll also save Roundhouse 60,000 gallons of water per year and divert over 1,600 kilograms of waste from landfills.

Source: MacRumors

Subscription service for books Oyster to close up shop

Oyster a.k.a. “the Netflix for books” has announced they’ll be closing up shop in the coming months. The subscription service for books debuted about two years ago and focused on improving mobile device reading technology. Users can continue using their accounts in the meantime or ask for a refund request from the company.

And while the service might be closing, it would seem we might not be seeing the last of them. According to a report from Re/code, some members of the Oyster team, including its CEO Eric Stromberg, have joined Google’s Play Books division. So, we won’t be surprised if some of the features and technologies they’ve developed might start showing up on Google’s Play Books app.

Source: Oyster | Via: The Next Web

watchOS 2 now available for download for existing Apple Watch users

Apple has finally released watchOS 2 for the Apple Watch. The second generation of the wearable's operating system brings much needed improvements including the ability to use native apps, faster interaction with iPhones and the ability for third-party apps to display information on the watch face as complications.

A Time Travel feature allows users to see future events and past headlines using the digital crown. watchOS 2 also includes new communication features such as the ability to respond quickly to Mail with dictation, Smart Replies or emoji, and Digital Touch enables more creativity with multiple sketch colors. Weighing in at 515 MB, the update takes over an hour to download on the iPhone 6 (via WiFi). Stay tuned for our first impressions once we get the new OS installed on our Apple Watch.

To update open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone> go to My Watch> General> click Software Update. It should take an hour to download (seriously, an hour) before you can proceed to installation.