Microsoft Support & Discussions

Apple has re-launched the company's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for Apple Watch. The new HIG, part of the Apple Watch developer center, is now even easer to navigate. Sections are broken down into 5 major categories, each containing guidelines and suggestions for how to utilize different aspects of the watch during app development. The UI Elements section, for example, breaks down a ton of different guidelines and suggestions for ways to incorporate everything from images and labels, to switches and sliders in your app. Along the way, there are ample example photos to get you started. Also included in the relaunch are some new resources for developers to ta…

A few days ago boxer Manny Pacquiao was given a Samsung phone in an effort to get some of the attention from his fight to carry over to Samsung products. Pacquiao's Twitter account posted a picture of it, and included a Samsung hashtag in that and several subsequent tweets. Most of those tweets were posted from the Twitter website or from a "social management tool". Earlier today, after the fight, when Pacquiao posted another picture and thanked his fans for their support, it was tweeted by — you guessed it — Twitter for iPhone. There's a long history of this happening with Samsung, from Ellen Degeneres to Kate Upton to David Beckham, and it's not just Samsung. …

Apple has issued a new Digital Camera RAW Compatibility update for Mac today that adds support the image format for a slew of new cameras. The update clocks in at version 6.04 and adds RAW compatibility to OS X Yosemite for the following list of cameras: Canon EOS 5DS Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS Rebel T6i / 750D / Kiss X8i Canon EOS Rebel T6s / 760D / Kiss 8000D Fujifilm X-A2 Hasselblad CFV-50c Hasselblad H5D-50c Leica C (Typ 112) Nikon 1 S2 Nikon D7200 Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Panasonic LUMIX CM1 Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF7 Pentax MX-1 The update is necessary to add system-level RAW support from the above cameras when working in imaging applications…

App notifications buzzing your wrist when you don't want them to? Here's the fix! The Apple Watch has done a lot to reduce my notification panic, letting me filter out the noise I don't need to immediately hear about — Instagram notifications and emails from my favorite soup spot — from the information I do. But often times, I don't want to kill those notifications completely. I like scrolling through what I've missed on Facebook within the Watch's Notification Center, or what new card packs are available in Topps' Star Wars trading game. I just don't need to be prominently alerted to them. So how do you turn off sounds and haptic buzzes without disabling third-p…

The third-party Reserve Strap is gunning for the not-so-secret port on your Apple Watch. While originally intending to use inductive charging, third-party Apple Watch band Reserve Strap has been redesigned to utilize the hidden port inside one of the watch's strap grooves. That port can apparently be used for charging. From the Reserve Strap website: Our engineers have been able to independently confirm that the 6 pin diagnostic port underneath the Apple Watch case can be used for charging. The Reserve Strap will take advantage of this using a simple, retractable connector instead of the previous inductive charging cradle design. The port on the A…

Shield your iPhone 6 Plus's display from annoying fingerprints and scratches while preventing glare at the same time with these precision cut protectors from Ventev! Including two per package, these protectors are simple to apply and leave absolutely no sticky residue when removed. Continue reading...

Apple isn't the only company with Apple Watch bands. Here are some really cool third-party options. Apple has some of the most coveted, elegant, and just plain cool Apple Watch bands available, but they don't have a corner on the market. If a Milanese is out of your price range or the Leather Loop just really doesn't do it for you, maybe third-party manufacturers are where you should look. We've rounded up some favorites for you here. Casetify Back in the 1980s, there were few fashion brands as coveted as Swatch — which has maintained its bold, fashion-forward sensibility ever since. Casetify seeks to capture some of that Swatch magic with a variety of cu…

Digital Touch lets you send taps, sketches, and even your heartbeat to anyone else also using an Apple Watch. If you somehow miss, dismiss, or don't get the notification when a Digital Touch comes in, don't worry. Your Apple Watch saves them and will show when you have Digital Touches you haven't seen. Think of it like the indicator on an unread mail message, just for the Friend's interface. And they're easy to see... once you know where to look! How to tell who you have unseen Digital Touches from on Apple Watch Press the side button on your Apple Watch to bring up the Friends section. Look for a blue dot to indicate any unread digital touches. Use the Digita…

Google makes it easier than ever to switch from Android to iPhone More people than ever are switching from Android to iPhone, be it for the new, big screens, the terrific industrial design, the focus on security and privacy, the great apps, or any of a dozen other reasons. We've been getting a lot of feedback, however, from people who want to make the switch but are worried that it might be too much work — or are especially concerned over the stress involved in finding new apps and services to replace the ones they've been using on Android. Luckily, that's not the case, thanks to Google! That's because Google treats the iPhone as a first-class citizen and makes sure…

Over the past few months, we’ve been talking in detail about our company’s three core ambitions: Create more personal computing. Reinvent productivity and business processes. Build the intelligent cloud. Now, as we kick off our first Ignite conference, we focus on what those ambitions mean for a critically important customer base: IT professionals. It’s no secret that IT pros have one of the hardest jobs in the tech industry. In today’s mobile-first, cloud-first world, they are responsible for navigating the tensions between public and private cloud, widespread devices and traditional management, and balancing data access with data protection. Every IT pro faces the…

Animation can make an interface look slick and sleek but it can also make it hard for some people to use. If you suffer from vertigo or any form of motion sickness and watching things slide and zoom around on your Apple Watch is causing you distress, don't worry. You can switch transitions to fades and otherwise reduce the amount of motion right in the accessibility settings. How to reduce motion on the Apple Watch How to reduce motion using the Apple Watch app for iPhone How to reduce motion on the Apple Watch Launch the Settings app from your Apple Watch Home screen. Tap on General. Tap on Accessibility. Tap on Reduce Motion. Toggle Reduce Motion…

The Apple Watch includes new and novel health and fitness features that can help motivate you and keep you on track. Out of the box your Apple Watch can count your calories and steps, track your workouts, and even monitor your heart rate. Whether your goal is losing weight, gaining cardio, monitoring your health for medical reasons, or to live a better life, the Apple Watch and its built-in Activity, Workout, and Health apps can help you do just that. Apple Watch and activity tracking: 5 things you need to know How to set a calorie goal with Activity for Apple Watch How to view activity levels on Apple Watch How to add the Activity app to your Apple Watch's cloc…

The durable silicone of the Amzer skin absorbs any shock your iPhone 6 Plus may receive from any accidental drops or bumps, keeping it just like new. The smoothness provides a sure and lasting grip, minimizing slides on flat surfaces. Choose your favorite color and save 67% Continue reading...

For some, Apple Watch text will be big enough, just not strong enough for easy reading. One of the accessibility options the Apple Watch provide is for bold text, or a stronger typeface with thicker strokes to make characters and words even more legible. You still get a fair amount of text on screen, the text just stands out a little more from the screen. Note: Apple Watch needs to restart to apple bold text. It's a system-wide change and due to the way Watch OS works, it can only properly be applied on startup. And yes, that's the same as the iPhone and bold text on iOS. How to turn on bold text on your Apple Watch Launch the Apple Watch app from your iPhone…

The Apple Watch display is full color — but it doesn't have to be. If full color is a detriment rather than benefit to your visual accessibility, you can easily toggle it off. It's one of the fastest changes you can make on the Apple Watch and, best of all, it's system-wide. So, once you've enabled it, it's enabled everywhere. How to on grayscale mode on your Apple Watch Launch the Apple Watch app from your iPhone Home screen. Tap General. Tap Accessibility. Toggle Grayscale to ON. To return to full color, repeat the same steps but toggle Grayscale to OFF. [custom:applewatch} Continue reading...

Force Touch on the Apple Watch is almost like a secondary (right) mouse click on the Mac or Windows. When you press firmly on the screen of the Apple Watch it will blur out and one to four additional options will appear on top of it. It's not the number of options that matter, it's the utility. They can't be vital, otherwise burying them under Force Touch makes them undiscoverable. Yet they have to be important, otherwise they're just adding clutter and complexity to the interface and shouldn't be there. That leaves useful, which is what Force Touch options really are. Eventually you'll find them all, but in the meantime, here's a handy cheat sheet to get you starte…

If your Apple Watch doesn't seem to be properly tracking your steps or exercise, here's an easy way to calibrate it. I'm loving my Apple Watch Sport so far, but I've had some minor problems getting it to properly track my daily movement and exercise goals. If you're having this problem too, you're in luck: Thanks to a helpful Twitter commenter, I found this great document from Apple Support on calibrating your Watch to more accurately track your Workouts and Activity. How to calibrate your Watch for better Workout and Activity tracking Find a place that's (relatively) flat and offers decent GPS reception. (I just walked a long loop around my neighborhood.) Make…

iCloud lets you sync and store all the data that's important to you, from photos and documents to calendars and contacts. Apple's online storage service, iCloud includes a wide range of features like iCloud Drive for your files, iCloud Photo Library for your pictures and videos, iTunes in the Cloud for your music and movies, iCloud mail for your communications, and even Find my iPhone to track down missing devices. It makes sure everything you have on your iPhone is also available on your iPad and Mac, and even your Apple TV and Apple Watch. Best of all, if you have an Apple ID (including an iTunes account), you have iCloud. Here's how to get the most out of it! …

Add texture and grip to your iPhone 6 using this durable hard case and holster combo from Azmer. The hard case features a built-in kickstand on the back for convenient viewing and the included holster can be rotated 180-degrees for optimal comfort. Take your pick of black or white Continue reading...

Zoom increases the magnification of the Apple Watch interface, making it bigger for those who need to see it more easily. To better aid those who need greater visual accessibility, Zoom lets you set a default magnification level for the Apple Watch but also adjust it dynamically. For those with visual impairments or partial blindness, it can make what are otherwise small, hard to see screen elements bigger and easier to see. How to enable Zoom on the Apple Watch How to enable Zoom using the Apple Watch app for iPhone How to control Zoom on your Apple Watch How to enable Zoom on the Apple Watch Launch the Settings app from your Apple Watch Home screen. Tap…

VoiceOver literally talks you through the Apple Watch interface, making the visuals accessible to those who need audio. Part of Apple's suite of accessibility features, VoiceOver will speak the names of icons and apps, buttons and sliders — of everything that needs identifying and can be interacted with on your Apple Watch. For those with visual impairments or blindness, it can not only make technology usable, it can be life changing. How to enable VoiceOver on the Apple Watch How to enable VoiceOver using the Apple Watch app for iPhone How to customize VoiceOver using the Apple Watch app for iPhone How to control VoiceOver on your Apple Watch How to enable V…

It's impossible to argue that Samsung didn't change course and make the Galaxy S6 seem as close to an iPhone as possible. They tried to match the look and feel, even if they couldn't match the fit and finish, and now it looks — and sounds — like they're trying to match the same visuals — and voices — of the advertising as well. This is how Apple highlighted the Apple Watch materials back in March: And this is Samsung's latest video, uploaded today: If you look at Samsung's design legacy over the years, it should come as no surprise. Nor should the massive replication errors in hardware, software, and now British accents. (Which, sadly, they can't seem to alig…

The Apple Watch doesn't track activity the same way your everyday fitness tracker does, and that has caused some general confusion. Instead of counting steps or calories, the Apple Watch focuses more on your overall health and well-being. This difference has left some Apple Watch owners baffled at their standing desks when a notification comes through that it's time to stand; others aren't sure why workouts they log in other App Store apps don't show up as a workout in the Activity app. And these are all logical questions. If you own an Apple Watch and find yourself somewhat perplexed by some of the fitness tracking aspects, follow along and we'll try and help clear…

Tweetbot for iPhone has hit version 3.6, bringing support for Twitter's new tweet quotation feature. The quote tweet feature now present in Tweetbot lets you quote another tweet in your own message without eating heavily into your character limit. This ability has already made its way to Twitter's mobile apps, along with TweetDeck for Mac. Check out the list below for the full set of changes in Tweetbot 3.6: Support for Twitter's new "Quote Tweet" format Various bug fixes You can grab Tweetbot 3.6 from the App Store now. $4.99 - Download Now Continue reading...

NBC's Saturday Night Live app has been updated with full iPad support, along with new emoji, and more. The SNL app, which originally launched in February, is now fully optimized for iPads. The app has also added support for new emoji characters, as well as full AirPlay support. Check out all of the improvements in the list below: More emojis! You asked for more current and classic characters and icons - and we've got 'em, including Church Lady, Mr. Bill and Van Down by the River. We noticed that several older clips were squeezed during playback and other clips were stretched. We've fixed all of them. The app is now optimized for most iPads (iOS 8 and above…