App Extensions, Third-Party Touch ID Access Demoed With iOS 8 1Password Beta

AgileBits recently launched an iOS 8 version of 1Password for beta testers, which includes support for Touch ID and app extensions, two new developer features introduced with iOS 8.



With the update, 1Password beta testers are now able to use Touch ID to unlock the app's main password, which then allows the app to supply passwords directly to Safari using extensions. The entire process has been demoed in a two Vine videos from Gabriel Nevado (via MacGeneration ), who accesses his 1Password content using Touch ID and is then able to enter a password from the app directly in Safari using the Share sheet.






Accessing 1Password on an iOS device with iOS 7 requires users to enter a master password each time the app is opened, and while the app has a built-in browser, it is not possible for the app to input passwords in Safari automatically. With iOS 8's new APIs, apps like 1Password are able to provide a much simpler user experience.





1Password beta notes image via Dave Teare


Earlier this month, MacStories shared an in-depth look at app extensions, which allow third-party apps to share services with other apps. The feature also lets developers create widgets for the Notification Center and it allows for custom system-wide keyboards for the first time. Touch ID integration for third-party developers is also one of the 4,000 new APIs Apple introduced with iOS 8.



The iOS 8 1Password update is only available to beta testers at the current point in time, but will likely be released to the public following the official launch of iOS 8, which is expected this fall.

Apple Rolling Out Two-Step Verification to Further Secure iCloud.com

Last May, Apple launched two-step verification in Canada, part of a second wave of launch countries to gain access to the added security feature.

Now, it appears Apple is rolling out the security feature to iCloud.com, as spotted by an AppleInsider reader:

With the new implementation, shown in the screenshot above, Apple is expanding its two-step authentication security feature beyond Apple ID management and iCloud-connected features to the iCloud.com Web app suite. Prior to the change, iCloud.com was accessible via a simple password.

Once two-step verification is enabled, all iCloud.com web apps except for Find my iPhone will require a verification code to be accessed.

We logged into iCloud.com with our Canadian Apple ID and were unable to see prompts to enable two-step verification as of writing. The delay is probably because we’re Canadian, eh?

Let us know if this is popping up for you on iCloud.com.

Apple Rolling Out Two-Step Verification to Further Secure iCloud.com is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Apple to Announce Q3 2014 Earnings on July 22

Apple updated its investor relations page today to note that it will announce its earnings for the third fiscal quarter (second calendar quarter) of 2014 on Tuesday, July 22. The earnings release typically occurs just after 4:30 PM Eastern Time following the close of regular stock trading, and the conference call is scheduled to follow at 5:00 PM Eastern / 2:00 PM Pacific.





MacRumors will provide running coverage of the earnings release and conference call.



The release will provide a look at sales of the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini during their third quarter of availability, as well as iPhone 5s and 5c sales through the first half of 2014. Apple reported iPhone sales of 37.4 million during the second quarter of 2014, along with 19.5 million iPads and just under four million Macs.



Apple is said to have many projects on the horizon, including the iWatch, the iPhone 6, a revamped Apple TV and a 12-inch Retina MacBook Air, but the new products are unlikely to be discussed during the call.



In its fiscal second-quarter earnings call, Apple guided expected revenue of $33.5 to $35.5 billion and gross margin between 36 and 37 percent.

Apple Expanding Two-Step Verification to iCloud.com

Apple appears to be testing its two-factor authentication system on some iCloud.com accounts, asking for a verification code before allowing users with two-factor verification enabled to access various iCloud.com apps.



First noticed by AppleInsider , the two-factor verification system for iCloud.com requires users to enter a verification code sent via SMS or to a trusted iOS device before the iCloud.com versions of Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote can be used.





Previously, accessing these apps only required an Apple ID password, but now "Find My iPhone" is the only app that remains accessible without a two-factor verification code.



Originally implemented back in March of 2013, two-factor verification is an opt-in system designed to increase Apple ID account security by requiring identity verification before allowing users to make account changes or purchase content on new devices. It replaces standard security questions with a security code delivered to a "trusted" device.



At this time, it is unknown if Apple is simply testing the feature with some users or working on a wider rollout for all iCloud.com users with two-factor verification enabled.

Apple to Launch Annual 'Back to School' Promotion Tomorrow

Apple is gearing up to begin its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and other countries on Tuesday, July 1, offering iTunes Store/App Store gift cards to students that purchase a Mac, iPad, or iPhone.



According to a source who spoke to MacRumors, Apple's 2014 Back to School promotion will be similar to the 2013 promotion, providing students with a $100 App Store gift card for the purchase of a new Mac or a $50 App Store gift card with the purchase of an iPad or iPhone.




2013 Back to School Retail Display


In the past, all iPhones, iPads, and Macs have been eligible for the promotion, with the exception of the Mac mini. The 2013 promotion was available in the following countries, with varying gift card amounts, and the 2014 promotion is likely to be similar: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.



Apple is expected to decorate its retail stores with new window displays overnight, adjusting signage and other aspects of store layouts, and Apple has indeed scheduled an overnight refresh of its store visuals tonight, as reported by 9to5Mac earlier this month.



Apple's Back to School promotion is held at different times throughout the year in different countries to correspond to various educational calendars, but the summer program is typically the company's largest as it encompasses the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Possible 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Front Panel Compared to iPhone 5s

As we creep closer to the fall release date of the iPhone 6, component leaks are becoming more frequent. While we originally saw the alleged front panel of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 back in April, 9to5Mac has shared additional photos of the component.



Depicted in both black and white, the front panel in the photos features a slight gloss and somewhat tapered edges, lending credence to both rumors and mockups that have suggested the iPhone 6 will have rounded iPod touch-style corners.





The two front panels in the photos appear to have varying locations for the device's front camera, and it is unknown why there is a difference between the parts. The white front panel camera hole appears to be centered above the earpiece as it is in the iPhone 5s, with a sensor to the left, but the black front panel's front-facing camera hole is to the left of the earpiece as it was in the iPhone 4.



The front panel was also compared to the front panel of the iPhone 5s, showing the size differences between the two devices.





In addition to these photos of the 4.7-inch iPhone's front panel, we have also seen images that depict manufacturing molds, backlight panels, and rear shells, but the latter component may not be from the actual iPhone 6 as a new rumor from Japanese site Nikkei has suggested the finished device may not have the thick antenna breaks that have been depicted on mockups thus far.



Though only the 4.7-inch iPhone front panel has been seen, Apple is expected to be releasing the iPhone 6 in a larger 5.5-inch size as well. It is unknown at this point if the larger iPhone 6 will be released at the same time, as there have been some conflicting reports on its potential launch due to production issues. The most recent rumors indicate a simultaneous release, however.



Both versions of Apple's iPhone 6 are expected to be thinner and lighter than the existing iPhone 5s, with an A8 processor and various camera improvements. Rumors have suggested the larger iPhone will be positioned as the premium version, offering features like optical image stabilization, a higher storage capacity, and a $100 price increase over the 4.7-inch version.