Ever wished you could force the App Store to reload? Well, you can! Not seeing new apps? Updates that just won’t go away? While the App Store isn’t technically a web page, sometimes it feels like you just want to force it to clear the cache, reload, and make absolutely sure you have the latest, greatest, most up-to-date information available. Well, Apple built in a mechanism to do just that. It was simply a well-kept secret… until now! @steipete (that forces the App Store to clear its cache and reload everything)— zachary drayer ✌ (@zadr) December 29, 2015 How to clear the App Store cache and refresh your content Launch the App Store app from your iPhone or iPad Home screen. Tap ten times on any of the tab buttons at the bottom (Featured, Top Charts, Explore, Search, Updates) That’s it. The App Store app will purge its cache and reload everything fresh and updated. You can do it any time you think you’re not seeing the latest content, but there’s no need to overuse it. …

On The Talk Show, John Gruber and I spent some time discussing the new Siri Remote for Apple TV. The current design is useful but confusing. It’s almost impossible to tell which side is up and the buttons aren’t as intuitive as they could be. So, I took I put together mock up of some of the possible changes we felt could improve it. 1. Rebrand the MENU button MENU is the only text used on the controller, which makes it stick out. It also improperly describes the button’s function. Unlike the iPod, from which its derived, clicking MENU doesn’t bring up a menu. It moves the system back through the navigation hierarchy. On iOS devices, this button is labels with a back chevron. On TV controller, that might be confused with content controls for ”skip back” or ”rewind”, so I went with an upward chevron. It feels consistent, visually matches the experience, and also hints which end of the Siri Remote is up. (Apple has spent years dissuading designers from using the ”hamburger” glyph…

Starting in January, Apple will be hosting workshops at Apple Retail Stores around the world focused on honing artistic skills with Apple devices. For instance, stores will hold hands-on sessions aimed at improving your iPhone photography, teaching you how to use a number of apps and accessories to capture great images. From CNET: ”We’ll help you try out various accessories and techniques — like long exposure for light trails, using Time-lapse to show progression, or getting up close with nature using a macro lens,” Apple said in a statement. ”Then, we’ll explore artistic ways to adjust and edit your photos, so you can create a work of art, find your style, or just improve your skills.” Another set of sessions will focus on the iPad, offering instruction on sketching, drawing, and painting. The workshops are an outgrowth of Apple’s ”Start something new” campaign, which showcases artistic work created on Apple devices. They will be held at every Apple Store, and you can check…

Perfect for syncing music, movies and more to your computer or charging with any USB wall/car adapter, this Apple Lightning cable measures 3ft in length and features a USB port at the opposite end. Save 35% today and grab one while they’re on the cheap. …

If you’re looking for a deal to put a new SSD in your computer, you won’t want to miss out on Amazon’s deal on a Transcend 512GB drive. Priced at just $111 with free shipping, you can save big on this solid state drive. Whether you are looking to move to your first SSD, or pick up a larger capacity drive for yourself, this is a great deal. If 512GB doesn’t happen to be the right size, you can pick one up as small as 128GB for $50, or as large as 1TB for $245. We don’t know how long this deal will last, so if you are interested be sure to act quickly. $111 at Amazon …

Apple has settled with Italian authorities over an unpaid tax dispute after the company was investigated for suspected fraud. Apple will pay €318 million over its alleged failure to declare earnings between 2008 and 2013 in Italy. According to confirmed local reports, Apple should be paying up to €880 million for the aforementioned period, but the tax authorities in Italy have agreed to close the case for just €318 million. This news comes after CEO Tim Cook branded attacks on Apple’s alleged tax avoidance as being ”political crap,” stating that Apple pays as much tax as is required by law. While this may be true for multinationals who have come under constant fire for not paying enough tax on earnings, it’s a rather immoral stance for Apple who strives in being a people-focused company. The payment made by Apple will not save three local executives who will be subject to continued investigation. Source: The Guardian …

It’s time to put away that mince pie and those bottles of mulled wine as we wait for 2016 to greet us all, but not everyone will be welcoming the new year with a working iPhone. That’s according to a new complaint over how iOS 9 is reported to significantly impact the performance of the iPhone 4s. Unfortunately for those affected, they’re unable to downgrade from iOS 9 due to Apple security. More than 100 iPhone 4s owners have asserted that the update has led to a negative experience on their smartphone to the point where it’s simply unusable for daily use. Delayed launch times for apps, slower response on the touchscreen, as well as sluggish performance overall plague said owners. Then you have the reported freezing and crashes. Not fun times for anyone. It’s claimed that Apple knows all too well about iOS 9 and how the update makes the iPhone 4s simply not fit for use by owners and forcing them to either endure aforementioned issues or fork out on an upgrade. Plaintiffs are now s…