Apple's services are not immune to outages. And today a range of services are experiencing outages and issues, according to Apple itself.
Apple confirms iMessage, App Store, and other services experiencing outages and issues [Updated: Fixed]
iMessage
Apple has added FaceTime and iMessage frameworks to Apple TV and HomePod amid new smart speaker rumors
Earlier today, there was a report circling that said Apple is developing new HomePod smart speakers. And not just a replacement for the original HomePod that Apple has discontinued. No, these devices will reportedly feature screens and cameras in some capacity.
MsgSwap makes it easier to share Photo Library media in Apple’s Messages app
One of my biggest pet peeves when using Apple’s Messages app to send Photos to contacts via iMessage or MMS is that you have to jump through hoops just to open the Photo Library picker.
Users will either tap on the Camera shortcut and then launch their Photo Library from the ensuing Camera viewfinder interface, or they’ll tap on the App Store button to view installed iMessage extensions and visit the Photo Library via the dedicated Photos button.
Keep prying eyes away from your missed notifications with LeaveMeOff Pro
It’s not uncommon for nosy onlookers to peer at your phone screen from over your shoulder as you enjoy a text message-based conversation with one of your friends or loved ones. Albeit creepy, such is life.
Apple’s iOS mobile operating system takes this fact into account, offering a handy feature in the Messages app’s notification settings that can hide message contents from your Lock Screen’s notification banners under various circumstances. But if that’s still not enough privacy for you, then a newly released jailbreak tweak dubbed LeaveMeOff Pro by iOS developer Plat-Ykor could be worth checking out.
Instagram is working on a fix for link previews in iMessage
If you use Instagram and share links in iMessage, you may have noticed an issue with previews. It's been a problem for a bit of time now, but the social network says a fix is in the works.
This tweak can convert text to sPoNgEcAsE with the tap of a button
Texting fanatics know that there’s more than one way to get your point across. In addition to simply typing out short strings of text or adding a high volume of Emojis after a statement, one might use different text effects to help convey a message with a specific type of tone.
One common example that has gained substantial traction recently is something called sPoNgEcAsE, which as you can see for yourself, inverts the case of every other letter in a word or sentence to provide a sarcastic mocking tone to anything it gets applied to.
iMessage, iCloud Calendar, Find My, and many other services experiencing an outage
Apple's iCloud service is currently experiencing a widespread outage, with many users potentially impacted.
WebMessage lets jailbreakers send SMS and iMessages via almost any computer
If, like so many others, your primary methods of communication comprise of iMessage and SMS via your iPhone, then you might take a particular liking to a newly released jailbreak tweak and computer application combination dubbed WebMessage by iOS developer sgtaziz.
WebMessage effectively turns your iPhone into a messaging server on demand, and by installing a special client on your computer, you can read and respond to both iMessage and SMS conversations via your computer even if it’s not a Mac.
Beeper messaging app offers iMessage on Android, Windows and Linux
A new piece of software, dubbed Beeper, collates as many as 15 chat apps into one interface, with iMessage functionality on Android, Windows and Linux offered via a workaround.
MShut subtracts muted conversations from the Messages app’s badge count
A feature of the Messages app that I find absolutely indispensable is the ability to mute individual conversations that I don’t feel like responding to or receiving notifications from. This lets me continue receiving messages and responding to those I want while not being pestered by those that I’ve muted.
As great as this feature is, I’ve found that that missed messages from muted conversations still count against the Messages app’s notification badge count. This means that even if you’re trying to ignore someone in particular, the Messages still serves you with unwanted badge notifications for that specific conversation — and worse — bunches those missed notifications with others from the conversations you actually care about.
Apple’s facing issues with macOS Software Update, Apple Pay, Apple Card, and other services
If you've been experiencing issues with things like Apple Pay, or even upgrading to macOS Big Sur, you aren't alone.
Sunset makes it easier for jailbreakers to get in touch with friends & family
When you’re in the mood to get in touch with a friend or family member, you’d generally just launch the Contacts app, find that person, and then tap only our preferred method of contact to reach them — be it text, phone, or email. But it’s 2020, and by now, someone’s got to be saying that it’s ludicrous that one would need to close the app they’re in and launch the Contacts app just to get in touch with someone else.
Those who feel the way we’ve just described are likely to enjoy a newly released jailbreak tweak called Sunset by iOS developer SouthernGirlWhoCode, as it replaces the idea of a Contacts app with a Contacts card that can be summoned from just about anywhere in iOS with one of several different gestures.