Google Assistant is now officially on iOS

At the Google I/O developer conference, the company made it official that Google Assistant is now on iOS. But with API restrictions, it can’t be interchangeable with Siri. Instead, it comes as a separate app, which you can put as a widget on your screen. It can do the usual stuff like send iMessages, play a song on your Spotify app (not on Apple Music), look up your schedule on Google Calendar, and check something in another language, among other things. But with the abovementioned restrictions, it can’t set alarms. The app does have a drawer icon of sorts that shows you what it can do for you. Google Assistant on iOS is first launching in the US. 

Source: CNBC + The Verge 

Apple now makes it easier to stream rented movies across different devices

Apple is employing a “rent once, watch anywhere” approach to movie rentals in the iTunes Store. The latest iTunes 12.6 update for the desktop will no longer restrict you to watch a movie you rented on the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or PC you rented it on. This feature will be available to work on devices with iOS 10.3 or tvOS 10.2. These haven’t been officially released to the public yet but with this update, we won’t be surprised if the rollout is soon.

Source: The Verge

Apple tests out ‘Find My AirPods’ feature on iOS

Now it’s becoming clear why Apple banned a certain app built to help find its wireless earbuds. Apple is building the feature into iOS. The latest beta version of the mobile operating system now has the “Find My AirPods” feature. It’ll help you locate the misplaced AirPods in a few ways: it’ll either ping them via Bluetooth, within a range of around five to 10 feet, to a device connected to the same iCloud account the AirPods are registered; or show you a map where the AirPods were last connected via Bluetooth; or the app can make the AirPods play a sound. If you’re using the beta version of iOS, you should have access to this feature and hopefully won’t ever lose your AirPods again.

Source: Quartz

iOS 10.3 rumoured to get a new ‘Theatre Mode’

A new feature will supposedly make its way to the upcoming release of iOS 10.3 (codenamed Erie). According to leaker Sonny Dickson, a new “Theatre Mode” will be introduced alongside a popcorn-shaped Control Center icon. Dickson claims this function might be an enhanced version of Dark Mode. And perhaps it could even be a modified version of “Do Not Disturb.” The latest version of iOS is expected to come out in two weeks so we’ll have to wait until then to see what this rumoured feature is all about.

iOS 10.3 to feature a new Theatre mode - will include a new popcorn-shaped Control Center icon.

— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) December 30, 2016

 

Source: 9to5Mac