How to transfer any media file to your iOS device

How to transfer any media file to your iOS device

Using the Mac app Waltr you can transfer any type of video or music file to your iOS device without the need for a companion iOS app.

Sarah Tew/CNET

When the team behind the Mac app Waltr first contacted me with details of what the app was capable of, I was skeptical. The promise of Waltr is that the app makes it possible to transfer any type of video or audio file, regardless of its format, to your iOS device with playback of the file in Apple's Music and Video apps. As opposed to similar apps that require you to install a companion iOS app on your device, limiting access to the files within that app (and limiting access to features such as AirPlay in some cases).

Then I tried the app and my skepticism quickly disappeared.

Waltr comes from Softorino, the same team behind the OS X app iBetterCharge, which alerts you when your iOS device is in need of charging.

WaltrScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

After downloading the app, you'll be asked to disable iTune's automatic sync feature. Once that's done, you only need to connect your iOS device to your Mac via USB. From there, Waltr takes a drag-and-drop approach for transferring content to your iPhone or iPad.

After dropping a file, regardless of the format, into Waltr the app does some behind the scenes magic to make the file compatible with iOS and uploads it to your device. Josh Brown, marketing manager, at Softorino assures me the technique the company uses results in no quality loss.

Waltr transferring a file.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

I tested the app with a 608 MB MKV file. From start to finish, it took Waltr under 30-seconds to do its magic and transfer the file to the Videos app on my iOS device. Normally the conversion process alone for a file that size is roughly 4-minutes using an app like VidConvert.

You can transfer MKV, AVI and MP4 video files. When it comes to audio files, FLAC, AAC and WAV are just a few examples of what can be transferred. For a full list, visit Waltr's website.

Waltr is available as an online download for OS X 10.9 or newer with a free 14-day trial, after which the app prompts you to purchase a license for $29.99.

Windows users can sign up for a chance to take part in the beta of Waltr for Windows.

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iOS 8.2 may launch Monday with new health features

iOS 8.2 may launch Monday with new health features

Update to Apple's mobile OS will add and enhance certain health features as the company gets ready to share more about its Apple Watch on Monday, according to a report.

Apple could launch iOS 8.2 on Monday, when it's also hosting its Apple Watch event.Tim Stevens/CNET

Version 8.2 of Apple's iOS mobile operating system could launch as soon as Monday with new and improved health features in tow. That's the same day the company is expected to unveil more details on its Apple Watch.

The maker of the iPhone and iPad mobile gadgets was close to releasing iOS 8.2 to the public earlier, blog Boy Genius Report said on Thursday, but instead decided to push out one final build to employees and testers. The change log for that build reveals several new features and enhancements in the health department as well as a host of bug fixes, according to BGR.

The Apple Watch faces an increasingly competitive market already crowded with devices from other players. To entice a wide range of buyers, Apple designed its first wearable as both a smartwatch and a health and fitness monitor. So the health features baked into iOS 8 need to be solid if Apple hopes to capture the fitness crowd.

Based on the change log, the new and improved health features in iOS 8.2:

• add the ability to select the unit of measurement for body temperature, weight, height, distance and blood glucose,
• improve stability when dealing with large amounts of data,
• include the ability to add and visualize workout sessions from third-party apps,
• address an issue that may have prevented users from adding a photo in Medical ID,
• fix units for vitamins and minerals,
• fix an issue where health data wouldn't refresh after changes in data source order,
• fix an issue where some graphics showed no data values, and
• add a privacy setting that enables turning off tracking of steps, distance and flights climbed.

But iOS 8.2 is also designed as a bug squasher.

Life hasn't exactly been easy for Apple's iOS 8 since it launched last September. The initial version carried a few bugs that were supposed to be resolved a week later in iOS 8.0.1. But that edition came with even more bugs, prompting Apple to quickly pull it and launch 8.0.2. Since then Apple has rolled out versions 8.1, 8.1.2 and 8.1.3, all with some enhancements and bug fixes.

The bugs and multiple releases may account for the sluggish adoption of iOS 8, which has trailed that of its predecessor but is finally up to 75 percent of all devices that visited the App Store as of last Monday.

According to BGR, the bug fixes:

• address an issue in Maps that prevented navigating to some favorite locations,
• address an issue where the last word in a quick reply message wasn't autocorrected,
• fix an issue where duplicate iTunes purchased content could prevent iCloud restore from completing,
• resolve an issue where some music or playlists didn't sync from iTunes to the Music app,
• fix an issue where deleted audiobooks sometimes remained on the device,
• resolve an issue that could prevent call audio from routing to car speakers while using Siri Eyes Free,
• fix a Bluetooth calling issue where no audio is heard until the call is answered,
• fix a timezone issue where Calendar events appear in GMT,
• address an issue that caused certain events in a custom reoccurring meeting to drop from Exchange calendar,
• fix a certificate error that prevented configuring an Exchange account behind a third-party gateway,
• fix an issue that could cause an organizer's Exchange meeting notes to be overwritten, and
• resolve an issue that prevented some Calendar events from automatically showing as "busy" after accepting an invite.

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Apple Watch to nab over half the smartwatch market, researcher predicts

Apple Watch to nab over half the smartwatch market, researcher predicts

Apple's upcoming wearable is expected to ship more than 15 million units worldwide this year, according to Strategy Analytics

Apple Watch will lead the smartwatch market this year, according to Strategy Analytics.Apple

The highly anticipated Apple Watch will soon dominate the smartwatch market, says research firm Strategy Analytics.

Apple will ship 15.4 million Apple Watch units in 2015, giving the company 54.8 percent of the global smartwatch market. All other smartwatch makers combined will ship just 12.7 million units in 2015, according to the forecast. Strategy Analytics believes the Apple Watch will ignite the wearables space, saying total worldwide smartwatch shipments will jump 511 percent, from 4.6 million in 2014 to 28.1 million this year.

"The Apple Watch is the catalyst to ignite the global smartwatch market," Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston said in a statement Thursday. "Apple's famous brand, loyal fan base, deep retail presence and extensive apps ecosystem will ensure healthy uptake for its Watch."

The Apple Watch is expected to be the main attraction at a special event that Apple is hosting on Monday. At the event, which will kick off at 10 a.m. PT, Apple is expected to announce final details about the device, including pricing across all models and the date it will go on sale. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently let slip that the Apple Watch will ship in April, and recent reports suggest the company is on track to hit his target date.

Tune in to CNET's Apple event live show and blog at 9 a.m. PT on March 9.

The Strategy Analytics study comes as theMobile World Congress in Barcelona, a major trade show for the smartphone industry, winds down. The event played host to a wide range of smartwatch announcements. Notable phone makers including Huawei and LG unveiled their own smartwatches that are set to hit store shelves this year. And some analysts, including Strategy Analytics, believe that despite a blockbuster arrival, Apple might have some stiff competition down the road.

"Apple's first-generation Watch is not yet perfect," Mawston said. "For example, Apple's Watch hardware design is arguably less attractive than some rival models such as the Huawei Watch, battery life may not be as long as many traditional wristwatch owners are used to, and Apple's premium pricing may be challenging for mass-market consumers. Apple will need to upgrade tangibly its second-generation Watch to stay ahead of competitors later this year."

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