Apple set to break into the fitness and medical field with the iWatch and iOS 8

There’s little doubt Apple is working on a health and fitness device. The company has been hiring researchers from the medical sector, applying for patents and meeting with the FDA. The latest leak from 9to5 Mac adds more pieces to the puzzle with a new story that describes how Apple will ties together the iWatch, health tracking and iOS 8. Apple is allegedly working on a new app called Healthbook. The software will monitor your most important health statistics like steps taken, calories burned, weight lost and more. Besides the basic fitness information, the Healthbook app will also track vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate and other blood-related parameters like glucose levels. It may also will serve as a log book for medications and will alert you to when you need to take a pill via the reminders app. Healthbook allegedly will look like Apple’s Passbook app and will feature a series of cards for each health point that is being monitored. Though expected to debut in iOS 8, sources tell 9to5Mac that this feature could be removed before the operating system is finalized. iOS and its Healthbook app require data to be useful and that data will come from the iWatch. As a result, Apple’s iWatch will reportedly contain sensors for measuring hydration, heart rate, blood pressure and more. It’ll pair with the iPhone and send its data to the Healthbook app. With iOS 8 slated to ship this year, it’s likely the iWatch will also launch this year, too. If the hardware technology is not ready this year, it’s possible that Apple will open up the Healthbook app to third-party accessories or even existing medical hardware. iOS 8 will be similar to iOS 7 in design, but will feature minor improvements throughout the OS. Maps ay get the biggest boost as Apple has been focusing on that core technology following its rocky launch. Indoor mapping as well as transit directions could make their way into the app. It’ll be awhile before these rumors can be validated. Apple likely won’t unveil iOS 8 until June at WWDC 2014 and the iWatch could land in the fall when iOS 8 is released to the public. Continue reading →

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Candy Crush maker trolled by developers who are posting “candy” games

King, the company behind Candy Crush Saga, is being trolled by a group of game developers who are unhappy with the company’s decision to trademark the name “candy.” King announced earlier this week it was awarded a trademark for the word candy in the UK and is awaiting approval in the US. The Candy Jam website says the initiative is “a protest against both the system and those abusing it.” The group is asking game developers to make games using the name candy several times as well as SCROLL”, “MEMORY”, “SAGA”, “APPLE” AND “EDGE.” The group is keeping track of submitted games from now until February 3rd. CEO and Co-Founder Riccardo Zacconi says the company decided to apply for a trademark to protect it intellectual property and not gain ownership over the word candy. We are not trying to control the world’s use of the word “Candy;” having a trade mark doesn’t allow us to do that anyway. We’re just trying to prevent others from creating games that unfairly capitalise on our success. This move by Zacconi has been criticized by the developers of Stolen Goose. The game company claims King released a clone of its ScamperGhost game several years ago. Zacconi didn’t admit to stealing the game, but did say it “should never have published Pac-Avoid” and confirmed the game has been removed from its website. [Via Slate] Continue reading →

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Always Have an Ideal Look at Your iPad with the iSlider Stand [Deals Hub]

As great as the iPad is and as much as we love to use ours, they can be slightly inconvenient at times. You have to hold them at the right angle, regularly dedicated one hand solely to making sure the screen is facing you the way you want it to. This problem is solved for you when you have the iSlide stand. It’s on sale right now from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub. The iSlider features a design as portable and as sleek as the iPad itself. You’ll be happy to attach your tablet to this stand and enjoy it’s ease of use. Whether you prefer to orient your iPad in portrait or landscape mode, the iSlider can handle it. Plus, it offers adjustable viewing angles so you can always see the screen at the best angle. It’s stylish, functional, and a must have for all iPad users. You can get the iSlider stand on sale from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub for just $39.99. that’s a savings of 20% off the standard retail price. That’s a deal you shouldn’t pass up, so grab this offer today. Continue reading →

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Couria: Jailbreak Tweak adds Quick Reply and Quick Compose to Messages app and Whatsapp

Couria is a new jailbreak tweak that brings the popular quickly reply and quick compose feature to Messages app. After installing the tweak, you will be able to quickly reply to a new message without leaving the app you’re currently using by tapping on the banner notification for the message. It also allows you to compose a message from anywhere in iOS without the need to launch the Messages app by setting an action in the Activator app. The tweak aims to add quickly reply/compose feature to other popular apps as Whatsapp etc. by allowing users to install Couria extensions. You can also apply themes to the quick reply/compose window, though at the moment there are only two options. There is currently an extension for the Whatsapp app called Whatsapp for Couria that brings the quick reply/compose feature to the popular messaging app. We can expect similar extension for messages apps like Facebook Messenger etc. in the future. You can also set a passcode, so the feature is accessible only when you enter the passcode, which is useful if you’ve concerns about using it from the Lock screen. Check out the video walkthrough of the jailbreak tweak in action: Couria and the Whatsapp extension is available for free on Cydia. The tweak is still in beta, so expect it to be a little buggy. It didn’t work on my iPhone 5s. As always, let us know how it goes in the comments. Continue reading →

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IHS Suppli doubts 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a viable product

Rumors suggest Apple is working on a 12.9-inch iPad that’ll debut sometime later this year. While analysts like DisplaySearch are bullish on the idea of an iPad Pro, IHS’ director of tablet and monitor research Rhoda Alexander is not convinced Apple will adopt this form factor. Speaking to CNET, Alexander said that some manufacturers are playing around with different sizes, including 12.85-inches, for products that could be an iPad. Despite the possibility that Apple is working with some early prototypes, IHS Suppli is not factoring these panels into its forecasts. “We have not seen volume shipments yet of any panels,” she said. “We have to get a lot further down the line in terms of seeing really strong indicators from Apple that such a product exists, and we’re just not at that point.” Alexander also doubts Apple is creating a larger tablet for the education market or for businesses that are a looking for a hybrid tablet-laptop. “When this [rumored] product was first discussed, it was said that there were requests from the education market, which I think shows a lack of understanding about how that market works. Those products have to qualify over years. Most of the education market is still using the iPad 2.” DisplaySearch recently projected the possible debut of an iPad Pro sometimes this year. The company released its display forecast for 2014 and predicted Apple would be working on a large-sized tablet, an iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch screen and an iWatch. Continue reading →

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Zynga confirms its acquiring Clumsy Ninja developer NaturalMotion

Zynga’s books might not look as good as they did when the generating was generating cash hand-over-fist, but that isn’t stopping the company from spending some of its cash reserves to continue to build out its gaming empire. The company confirmed in its earnings report that it is acquiring gaming developer NaturalMotion. Zynga is paying $527 million in cash for NaturalMotion, which is the company’s largest acquisition to date. Zynga will be absorbing NaturalMotion’s 260 employees, while at the same time laying off 314 employees to keep its workforce near the 1800 mark. “Our goal from a content perspective is to create top hits that engage mainstream global audiences. Our winning aspiration is to be the industry leader by delivering more #1 games than any other competitor. To accelerate these efforts and build on our core growth strategy, I’m pleased to share the announcement that we have signed an agreement to acquire NaturalMotion, a leading mobile game and technology developer based in Oxford. NaturalMotion expands Zynga’s creative pipeline, accelerates our mobile growth, and brings next-generation technology and tools to Zynga that will fast-track our ability to deliver consumers more hit games. Bringing Zynga and NaturalMotion together is a bold step in the right direction at the right time. The NaturalMotion team is led by renowned technology innovators, including Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Torsten Reil and Vice President of Games Barclay Deeming. Over the last ten years, they have proven their ability to blend their breakthrough technologies like Euphoria, with high-fidelity animation to create delightful mobile hits. Their games CSR Racing in the Racing category and Clumsy Ninja in the People simulation category have both achieved top of the chart status. With NaturalMotion, we will – in total – have five top brands and capabilities in Farm, Casino, Words, Racing and People. Combining NaturalMotion’s strengths with Zynga’s ability to develop breakthrough social features while sustaining live games over time, offers us a huge opportunity to redefine the gaming industry and deliver consumers blockbuster entertainment experiences.” NaturalMotion was featured in Apple’s september 2012 keynote and was used to showcase the power of Apple’s A5 processor. It finally hit the App Store in November 2013 and made headlines as the first iOS title to include a video preview. Continue reading →

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Job listings suggest the iPod is still on Apple’s radar

The iPod may be declining, but it is apparently not dead. According to a report by 9to5Mac, the company is still hiring program managers and engineers within the iPod division. Far from shuttering its iPod operations, Apple recently added a variety of listings on its job boards for positions within the iPod division of the company. There are several openings for New Product Introduction Operations Program Managers in the iPod division. These individuals will work with OEMs, product teams and suppliers in order to secure a smooth iPod product launch. Other positions are on the engineering and development side of the production process. There’s an opening for an iPod Technical Program Manager, who “will partner closely with the Engineering during all phases of development to enable operational success in the mass production” and a Plastics Tooling Eng. Program Mgr, who will work on the iPod, iPhone and Mac. Continue reading →

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Yahoo acquires Incredible Labs and its virtual assistant Donna

Incredible Labs is recognized for its work on Donna, a virtual assistant that’s similar to Siri and Google Now. Launched in early 2013, the app acts as your private secretary, checking your calendar and alerting you to what needs to be done next. Given the increasing interest in the virtual assistant space, it’s not surprising that the company announced today that it is joining Yahoo.The news of the acquisition was confirmed in a short announcement on Incredible Lab’s website. The financial details surrounding the detail were not disclosed. Today, we are announcing that Incredible Labs has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Yahoo. We’re looking forward to the possibilities that will come from bringing the Donna vision—letting technology take care of you—to Yahoo. Upon closing, our team will be joining Yahoo and working with some incredibly talented people, or in the case of some of us, returning to a company we know and love. As part of the deal, Donna will be discontinued. Shortly after closing the deal, which is expected to happen soon, the Donna app will be pulled from the iOS App Store and the service will be shut down. The entire team, with the exception of co-founder Scott San Fillipo, will transition over to the Sunnyvale, California company. San Fillipo confirmed in a separate post on his personal blog that he will be pursuing a new venture. [Via TechCrunch] Continue reading →

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Nintendo has no plans to produce games for iOS

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke about the company’s future strategy during a briefing held in Osaka, Japan. Despite rumors to the contrary, Iwata confirmed the Nintendo would actively use smartphones to engage customers but the company has no plans to release its game titles on other platforms. iOS won’t be devoid of Nintendo content as the company will use mobile devices to promote its console games and “make connections with customers.” These service apps will be more than marketing tools, but Nintendo did not elaborate on the nature of these apps. The company also will license Nintendo game character rights to new partners. Details on the type of apps and Iwata confirmed that consoles are still the focus of the gaming company, even though it is struggling in that market. Iwata will stay focused on hardware and improve Nintendo’s marketing strategy, especially in the holiday shopping season. Nintendo today announced its quarterly earnings for the December quarter and reported an operating loss of 1.58 billion yen ($15.3 million). The company expects to end its 2013 fiscal year with a total operating loss of 35 billion yen ($355 million). [Via WSJ] Continue reading →

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IDC: Tablet sales remain strong, but growth is slowing

IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker for Q4 2013 show that growth in the tablet market is slowing as larger markets like the US reach saturation. Apple, though, still leads the way, beating out competitors Samsung, Amazon, ASUS and Lenovo in worldwide market share. Worldwide tablet shipments grew to 76.9 million units in Q4 2013, which is a 62.4% quarterly increase and 28.2% yearly increase. Though this growth is impressive, it is lower than the 87.1% growth rate reported in the same quarter last year. IDC views this drop as a sign that the tablet market is reaching saturation, especially in mature markets. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that markets such as the U.S. are reaching high levels of consumer saturation and while emerging markets continue to show strong growth this has not been enough to sustain the dramatic worldwide growth rates of years past,” said Tom Mainelli, Research Director, Tablets, at IDC. Apple led the way in tablet sales with the shipment of 26 million iPad units in Q4 2013. This translates to a 13.5% year-over-year increase. Apple’s worldwide market share for the quarter grew to 33.8%, up from the 29.7% recorded in Q3 2013. The Cupertino company beat out rival Samsung, which grabbed an 18.8% worldwide share. Rounding out the top five tablet makers were Amazon, ASUS and Lenovo with 7.6%, 5.1% and 4.4% market share, respectively. Continue reading →

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Apple may add iCloud Bookmarks to its iCloud website

A hiccup in Apple’s iCloud server hints that Apple may be adding bookmarks to its iCloud website interface. The above screenshot, captured by 9to5 Mac, appeared when users try to install the Chrome extension from the iCloud Control Panel for Windows. Though the page could be referring to the iCloud Bookmarks extension, this is unlikely as browser extensions are already available and would not need to be labeled as coming soon. It’s more likely that Apple is working on a way for users to view their iCloud bookmarks through Apple’s iCloud interface. This would allow users to view and possibly manage the bookmarks when they are away from their personal computer. Though Apple doesn’t err too often, the company is not infallible. In May 2012, a leak from Apple’s beta.icloud.com website showed the upcoming Notes and Reminders app. These were later introduced alongside iOS 6. Continue reading →

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Google may sell Motorola to Lenovo for $3 billion (Update: confirmed)

Lenovo and Google are reportedly close to signing a deal that’ll transfer ownership of handset maker Motorola to the Chinese technology company. News of the pending acquisition comes from China Daily and Reuters. According to sources, the deal will be worth between $2 and 3 billion and will be financed through a combination of cash, stock and deferred payments. It reportedly will include the handset operations as well as 10,000 patents owned by Motorola. The acquisition is expected to be publicly announced as early as Wednesday or Thursday. It’ll be a significant financial loss for Google as the company acquired Motorola in 2011 for $12.5 billion. Google sold Motorola’s cable set top box division to Arris for $2.3b and the subsequent sale of Motorola to Lenovo for $3 would leave Google with a $7.2 billion loss. Google may be cutting its quarterly losses by kicking Motorola to the curb so soon after acquiring the company. It was no secret that the handset maker was a money-losing subsidiary for the search giant. The latest quarterly earnings (Q3 2013) showing an operating loss of $248 million from the division, which is even greater than the $192 million loss reported in the year-ago quarter. Details on the Lenovo transaction and its effect on the company’s North American operations should be announced in the coming days. Update: Google confirmed the Lenovo acquisition in a press release on its investor’s website. Google will sell Motorola for $2.91 billion, including US$660 million in cash, US$750 million in Lenovo ordinary shares and US$1.5 billion to be paid in the form of a three-year promissory note. Google will keep most of Motorola’s patent portfolio. Lenovo will receive licenses to the these patents. It also will receive 2,000 patent assets, the Motorola brand and trademark portfolio. Continue reading →

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Apple releases iOS 7.0.5 for some iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c models

Apple has just released iOS 7.0.5 software update. According to the release notes, iOS 7.05 update corrects networking provisioning for some iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c models sold in China. The update appears to be available only for some iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c models that are sold in China, Europe and Asia Pacific compatible with China’s networks. Apple had released iOS 7.0.4 on November 14, 2013. Jailbreakers should avoid upgrading to iOS 7.0.5 until further notice. MuscleNerd of evad3rs has also issued the warning to stay away: If you're in China then you're probably not reading this tweet. But in case you are, avoid today's China-only 7.0.5 iOS update for 5s/5c. — MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd) January 29, 2014 Developing … [Via MacRumors] Continue reading →

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MultitaskingGestures adds Zephyr-like cool multitasking gestures to iOS 7 [Jailbreak Tweak]

MultitaskingGestures is an awesome new jailbreak tweak for iOS 7. As the name suggests it adds some cool multitasking gestures to iOS 7. It’s kind of like Zephyr, the popular tweak that also added multitasking gestures, but hasn’t been updated for iOS 7. After installing MultitaskingGestures, you will be able to do the following: It allows you to switch between apps by swiping from the left or right of the screen. If you’re worried that this takes over the iOS 7 gesture that allows you to go back to the previous page, then don’t worry. All you need to do is tap and hold, and then swipe from the left or right of the screen to go back to the previous page or go to the next page. It also allows you to close app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Since it takes over the iOS 7 gesture to access the Control Center, the developer has moved Control Center in Notification Center as a new tab. It replaces the “Missed” notification tab. The tweak also adds three-finger gestures. So you can close an app by pinching with three-fingers. You can also access the app switcher by swiping up with three-fingers. It also comes with a Settings page that allows you to customize the tweak based on your preference. Here’s a video walkthrough of the tweak in action: Please don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel MultitaskingGestures has been developed by HamzaSood. It is available on Cydia for $1.5. The tweak is currently not compatible with iPads. If Zephyr was one of your favorite tweaks in iOS 6, then MultitaskingGestures is a must-have as it seems highly unlikely that chpwn will update Zephyr. As always, let me know what you think of the tweak in the comments below. Continue reading →

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Rumor: Internal strife slows Apple’s iOS in the Car development

A report in The Information suggests Apple’s iOS in the Car initiative is facing a delay due to internal strife at the company. Even as Tim Cook called the project “very important” following its WWDC unveiling, sources claim iOS in the Car faced an uncertain feature as Apple executives “didn’t quite know what to do” with the initiative.Since that initial unveiling, iOS in the Car has fallen off the radar with little to no public support from the automotive industry. A partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari has not been successful and other manufacturers like Honda are embracing Apple’s Siri Eyes Free technology instead. The recently leaked screenshots and demo video are the only evidence to date that shows the project is under development. While Apple fumbles, rival Google is readying its own in-car infotainment system based on Android. The company announced at CES 2014 that is was partnering with high-profile manufacturers such as Audi, Hyundai, Honda, and General Motors. [Via AppleInsider] Continue reading →

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Tim Cook: Innovation is deeply embedded into Apple

We recently celebrated one of Apple’s greatest innovations, the Mac. Apple followed the Mac with the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad — three products that defined the categories into which they were introduced. With these successes in their coffers, many are wondering if there is any room left for innovation at Apple. Though many are doubtful, Tim Cook is not. The CEO addressed Apple’s ability to innovate saying: “I would just say, innovation is deeply embedded in everybody here, and there’s so much of the world that is full of very complex products. We have zero issue coming up with things we want to do. We must focus on the very few that deserve all our energy. We’ve always done that and we continue to do that.” Looking a Apple’s recent product pipeline, this innovation is evident in the Touch ID in the iPhone 5s and the overall design and execution of the Mac Pro. Though Tim Cook refused to discuss upcoming products during the earnings conference call, we can look at the rumor mill for a potential glimpse into the future. Apple is rumored to be working on a wearable device, which is an area Tim Cook has previously said is “”ripe for exploration.” Apple is allegedly designing a device that goes beyond a smartphone companion and includes extras like biometric sensors to expand the utility of the device. This is likely Apple’s next big push in the consumer device category. Apple is also innovating in industrial areas like Sapphire production. The company is building a plant in Arizona along with GT Advanced that’ll produce sapphire for use in its devices. Sapphire may be used as a lens cover for a camera or a rugged display material for a future iPhone. In a recent ABC news interview, Tim Cook confirmed the company was producing sapphire, but did not comment of the consumer applications of the material. Continue reading →

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Starwood hotels implementing smartphone-assisted check-in service

Guests arriving at the Aloft Hotel in Manhattan or Silicon Valley will soon have a new way of checking into their hotel room. Instead of going to the front desk, guests can stroll right into their room, using their smartphone as as a room key.Guests who enter a participating hotel will receive a message on their iPhone via the hotel’s app. Bluetooth technology will allow the guests to tap or twist the phone to unlock the door to their room. The new technology will be installed at two hotels that are part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. One hotel in Harlem, NY and one in Cupertino, CA will be part of the pilot program. The technology will work with the iPhone 4s or newer. Starwood’s CEO Frits van Paasschen believes “this will become the new standard for how people will want to enter a hotel,” but not everyone is convinced. Robert Habeeb, president of the First Hospitality Group, says his hotels have dabbled with automatic check-in methods, but none have been successful because people actually enjoy the check-in. The hotel front desk is a bit a like a bartender,” Mr. Habeeb says. “It can be an interaction people enjoy.” Starwood is not deterred by the naysayers and plans to roll out the technology in all its 123 properties by the end of the year. [Via WSJ] Continue reading →

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CEO Tim Cook hints at Touch ID integration with mobile payment system

Apple CEO Tim Cook said during Apple’s earnings conference call that the company has an interest in Touch ID-assisted mobile payments. These comments come hot on the heels of an earlier report from the Wall Street Journal that suggests Apple is actively working on a mobile payment system.Speaking candidly during Apple’s earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook talked about mobile payments, saying it was an area that intrigued the company, especially in regards to Touch ID. “The mobile payments area in general is one that we’ve been intrigued with and that was one of the thoughts behind the Touch ID. But we’re not limiting ourselves just to that.” This comment follows a WSJ report from earlier this week that claims Apple is preparing to launch a mobile payment system. The company is talking to industry leaders about mobile payment processing and allegedly has assigned retail executive Jennifer Bailey to head up this project. A recent patent application also details how iBeacons could be used to wirelessly process payments in retail locations. Continue reading →

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Apple updates its report on government requests following DOJ settlement

Apple released an updated statement on National Security and Law enforcement orders following a settlement with the Department of Justice that allows for increased transparency by tech companies. Apple and other technology companies like Google and Microsoft have been pushing the government to relax reporting rules that barred them from talking about information requests. The DOJ announced today that it had reached a deal with technology companies that would allow them to disclose detailed information about the number and kinds of inquiries it receives from government and law enforcement agencies. The biggest change involves NSA requests, which were previously kept secret from the public. Now companies can acknowledge how many NSA and FISA requests they receive and how many they complied with by law. In response to this change, Apple released an updated statement on National Security and Law enforcement orders that confirms the company received 249 requests via National Security Letters and FISA court orders. This is a very small percentage of the hundreds of millions iTunes accounts that are registered with Apple. In a statement released to the public, Apple confirms its commitment to transparency: “Apple has always believed that our customers have the right to understand how their personal information is being handled. We applaud the Administration for taking this important step toward greater transparency, and we thank the Justice Department for considering Apple’s point of view as it reached this decision. Our business does not rely on collecting large amounts of personal data about our customers, which is reflected in the figures we are releasing under the new transparency rules. We look forward to working with the White House working group led by John Podesta, focusing on big data and the future of privacy. We believe it’s one of the most important issues facing our industry and our society today.” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a recent ABC News interview that he would push the White House and Congress for even more transparency about information requests from government and law enforcement agencies. “Transparency would help put everything in perspective,” said Cook. Continue reading →

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ScreenshotShareSheet: Jailbreak Tweak makes it very easy to share screenshots

Few days back, I told you about a must-have jailbreak tweak to manage screenshots called Clipshot. A new jailbreak tweak called ScreenshotShareSheet has been released that makes it very easy to share a screenshot. As the name implies, the tweak makes it very easy to share a screenshot to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter etc, or attach it to a message, as it displays the share menu as you can see below when you take a screenshot. Please note that unlike Clipshot, the screenshot will still be saved to your device’s camera roll. You can also enable the “Open in” toggle available in the Settings app, that allows you to open the screenshot in apps such as Dropbox, iFile etc that offer you a lot more options. You can also prevent screenshots from being uploaded to Photo Stream by enabling the “Screenshots in Photo Stream” toggle (Settings > ScreenshotShareSheet). Check out the video walkthrough of the jailbreak tweak to get an idea of how it works: If you’re someone who takes a lot of screenshots to share them with your friends and family, then you’ll find this tweak quite useful. The thing that I really like about the tweak is that, unlike ClipShot, it feels like a native part of iOS. ScreenShareSheet is available on Cydia for $0.99. Let me know what you think of the tweak in the comments. Continue reading →

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Weekend news roundup: All the best Apple news from last week

As we close out one week and kick off another, let’s take a moment to look back at the attention-grabbing headlines from the past seven days. Some of the news you may recall, some may be new to you, but all of the topics below are worthy of a mention. Apple reportedly inks deal with LG for 1.5 inch flexible OLED displays for iWatch Apple has reportedly inked a deal with LG for 1.52 inch flexible OLED displays to be used in the company’s much-rumored iWatch. The rumor comes from Korean site DDaily, which published and then pulled the report soon after. Leaked screenshots show how iOS in the Car’s interface looks like iOS in the Car is an upcoming iOS feature, which lets you access your Maps, messages, and other services on your car’s touchscreen console, so that you won’t have to take your eyes off the wheel. iOS 7.1 beta 4 may have patched evasi0n7 Jailbreak Ever since Apple seeded iOS 7.1 beta 4 to developers yesterday, jailbreakers have been eager to find out if it patches the vulnerabilities in the evasi0n7 jailbreak. US court finds Samsung guilty of infringing an Apple patent, also invalidates a Samsung patent A second patent infringement lawsuit involving rivals Apple and Samsung begins on March 31st this year, and ahead of this trial, Judge Lucy Koh has invalidated a Samsung patent relating to multimedia sync. Belgian Retailer listing suggests new Mac mini coming in February In the past couple of years, Apple has updated several products in the Mac lineup, but hasn’t given much attention to the Mac mini, which was last updated in October 2012. Apple to issue update that’ll fix the white screen of death Apple has told Mashable that the white screen of death reported by some iPhone owners running iOS 7 will be fixed in an upcoming update. Reports about this glitch started appearing in Apple forums shortly after the release of iOS 7. Popular Android Keyboard SwiftKey coming to iPhone as a Note-taking app One of the features that I really like about Android is the ability to install feature rich third-party keyboard like SwiftKey, Swype etc. Apple will launch iPhone 6 with 4.5-inch and 5-inch screen this year: WSJ We’ve heard several rumors about the iPhone 6 coming in a bigger size, with two variants, and today the WSJ has supported these claims with its own report that says Apple will introduce two iPhone models this year. New Apple TV with Apps & Game Store and Bluetooth Controller support coming soon After seemingly being ignored for nearly two years, the Apple TV is rumored to finally be updated by March this year, with a “revamped OS” that’ll be able to run its own apps and games rather than relying on iPhones and iPads via AirPlay. Apple executives talk about 30 years of the Mac and its future The Mac celebrates it 30th anniversary tomorrow. To honor this milestone, Jason Snell of Macworld sat down with Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller, Vice President of Software Technology Bud Tribble, and Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi to talk about the Mac and its future. Apple testing iPhones with Sapphire Glass Display One of the main reasons for iPhone warranty claims is cracked and broken screens. With the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, Apple addressed part of the problem by replacing the glass back casing with anodized aluminum with inlays along the top and bottom made of ceramic glass (on the white and silver model) or pigmented glass (on the black and slate model). WSJ: Apple prepping mobile payment service Apple is building the infrastructure for a mobile payment service, claims the Wall Street Journal. Executives such as Eddy Cue, Apple’s VP of Internet Services, have been meeting with other industry leaders to discuss the possibility of Apple processing mobile payments for physical goods and services. Watch Newly Discovered Video of Steve Jobs unveiling the First Mac back in 1984 Steve Jobs famously demonstrated the Macintosh for the first time at Apple’s annual shareholders meeting at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California. Continue reading →

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Go Paperless in 2014 with the Portable Doxie Go Scanner [Deals Hub]

It’s 2014. Isn’t it about time you go paperless? There’s no need to keep stacks and stacks of paper around when you can store it all on your computer, keeping it safe and even easier to sort through. Stop trying to cram more receipts and reports into the same drawer and pick up Doxie Go instead. It’s available on sale right now from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub. The Doxie Go will take all of your loose ends and unkept piles of paper and turn it into neatly organized, searchable database in a secure digital drawer. Whether you’re scanning bills and receipts or recipes and photos, the Doxie Go can handle it. The best part is there’s no computer required as you scan, so you can take the Doxie Go with you and keep up to 600 pages stored on its built-in memory or add an SD Card or USB drive for even more storage space on the fly. You can get the Doxie Go on sale from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub for just $149. That’s a 25% savings off the retail price. It’s a great deal for a device that will save you time and space, so grab this offer today. Continue reading →

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WSJ: Apple prepping mobile payment service

Apple is building the infrastructure for a mobile payment service, claims the Wall Street Journal. Executives such as Eddy Cue, Apple’s VP of Internet Services, have been meeting with other industry leaders to discuss the possibility of Apple processing mobile payments for physical goods and services.People with knowledge of the situation claim the company has moved executive Jennifer Bailey from her position in Apple’s online storefront to a new role that’ll oversee the development of a payment business. Apple allegedly spoke to five other executives in the payment industry before selecting Bailey for this role. “Apple is absolutely the sleeping giant in the payments world,” said Denee Carrington, analyst at Forrester Research. “They have the capability; they just haven’t tied it all together.” A recent Apple patent application reveals how Apple may enable a mobile payment service using its iBeacon technology. In this method, the phone would initiate a secure connection via Bluetooth or NFC to a point-of-service terminal that’ll process the payment. On the phone side of the equation, Apple has overs 400 million iTunes accounts that are tied to credit cards with one click payment authorization. Apple also has Passbook, an app that stores your discount coupons, boarding passes, movie tickets, and more. Apple has allowed Passbook to languish in iOS 7. Instead of a sign that it is sun setting this app, perhaps Apple is keeping Passbook waiting in the wings, while it builds something even better out of it. Apple has refused to comment on this Wall Street Journal report. Continue reading →

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Tim Cook comments on the NSA in ABC News interview

ABC News is scheduled to air its interview with Tim Cook tonight on World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer. To generate interest in the segment, ABC has been releasing teaser clips that give us a quick glimpse into the content of the talk. Earlier today, ABC showcased Cook talking about secrecy, sapphire and the iWatch. Now, a second segment addresses concerns about the NSA and its spying on the American people. In the short clip, Cook reiterates Apple’s earlier statements that claim the company does not provide a back door to the NSA. He again petitions the government to be more transparent so Apple can be forthcoming with its customers. Here is is a transcript of the 4-second clip: Muir: “What is your biggest concern — with the surveillance program here in this country?” Cook: “I’ve been pushing very, very hard to open the books and be totally transparent. Much of what has been said isn’t true; there is no back door. The government doesn’t have access to our servers. They would have to cart us out in a box for that. And that just will not happen. We feel that — strongly about it. But I do want to be transparent, because I think transparency would help put everything in perspective.” David Muir: “Do you think Americans, Tim, would be more at ease if you could tell them more?” Cook: “I do.” The entire interview will air tonight at 6:30PM EST on “World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer.” See more US News from ABC|World News Continue reading →

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Nest’s Tony Fadell: We’re interested, but it’s up to Apple if they want to continue working with us

Nest always had strong ties to Apple. The CEO of the startup company was a former Apple executive, and its products were sold on Apple’s website and its store’s retail shelves. Now that Google owns the company, Nest’s future relationship with Apple is up in the air. Speaking to Bloomberg, Nest CEO Tony Fadell talked about Google’s acquisition of the company. When was asked about the acquisition’s effect on the company’s future with Apple, Fadell said he would like it to continue, but noted that, ultimately, Nest’s presence in Apple’s retail chain is a decision Apple has to make. “We want to make sure that we offer those things to them (Apple customers), and it’s for Apple to figure out whether or not they want to continue.” Fadell said he considered Apple to be a “valued partner” and still had good relationships with former colleagues who wished him following the acquisition announcement. Google paid $3.2 billion for Nest earlier this month in a surprising acquisition. Apple has not commented on the deal, but executive CEO Phil Schiller indirectly let his feelings be known by unfollowing both the company and CEO Fadell. Despite Schiller’s actions, Google continues to carry Nest’s products in its retail pipeline. How long this retail relationship will stay in place remains to be seen. [Via AppleInsider] Continue reading →

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ABC News to air Tim Cook interview on the Mac’s 30th Anniversary

ABC News will air an interview with Tim Cook on tomorrow evenings edition of World News with Diane Sawyer. This television interview is part of a publicity campaign by Apple executives to promote the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Mac.The interview between Tim Cook and ABC News Anchor David Mui will air tomorrow at 6:30PM, and a teaser will be shown on Good Morning America for the early birds. Interview details were not released, but ABC did say Cook will be reflecting on 30 years of the Mac and what is next for the company. Based on Tim’s performance in earlier interviews, we do not expect any major spoilers. This isn’t the first television for the Apple CEO. Cook also appeared on Rock Center with Brian Williams in 2012. [Via 9to5 Mac] Continue reading →

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Apple seeds OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 beta 3 and Safari 6.1.2 Seed 2 to developers

Apple today made OS X 10.9.2 beta 3 and Safari 6.1.2 Seed 2 available for developers to download. Apple is quick on this beta 3 version of Mavericks releasing it one week after it made beta 2 available for developers.Safari 6.1.2 Seed 2 is available for developers running Lion and Mountain Lion. The release notes ask developers to concentrate on Accessibility, AutoFill, Dragging Tabs Between Monitors, General Website Compatibility, Printing and Emailing from Reader, and Extension Compatibility. In this latest OS X beta release, Apple is again asking developers to focus on Mail, Messages, Graphics Drivers and VoiceOver. It is not yet known whether Apple bundled any new features in today’s build which is labeled 13C44. Developers can download these latest beta versions using Software Update in the Mac App Store or by downloading them directly from Apple’s developer portal. [Via AppleInsider] Continue reading →

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Former Foxconn employees charged in bribery case

Three former Foxconn employees were charged today in Taiwan with accepting bribes from supply chain partners. According to the Wall Street Journal, prosecutors detained a former general manager and released three former employees on bail. Client companies like Apple were not caught up in the arrests as they were not involved in the alleged bribery.The former employees were accused of accepting bribes from supply chain partners after an internal audit uncovered their illegal activity. Foxconn alerted the police and turned the employees over to the authorities. Though disappointing, this practice is fairly common in Asia’s electronics manufacturing industry. Competition among companies for million dollar contracts is fierce, and companies will do anything to secure an advantage over their competition. Apple was embroiled in its own kickbacks scandal in 2011, when a global supply manager was caught accepting at least $1 million in alleged bribes from suppliers. Apple-contracted Pegatron was one of the companies that allegedly paid money to secure Apple orders. Continue reading →

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NoteCreator: Jailbreak Tweak lets you create Notes from anywhere in iOS

NoteCreator is a nifty little jailbreak for iOS 7 that lets you create notes from anywhere in iOS. If you’re someone who uses the Notes app to remember things, for your shopping lists etc., then you’re going to find this very useful. NoteCreator lets you create notes with an Activator action, so you can create notes from anywhere in iOS. When you invoke the Activator action, it opens a popup, similar to Share sheet for tweets and Facebook posts. After you type the note and hit save, it gets saved in the Notes app. You can do all this without exiting the app you’re using, which makes it extremely convenient. You can select which account you want to save the notes to, by tapping on Default in the bottom right corner of the popup. NoteCreator also comes with the following configuration options: Title Field on Top: You enable this toggle if you want the tile field for the note. Auto Trigger Keyboard: It will automatically display the keyboard so you can immediately start typing. Save on Cancel: The note will be saved even if you hit cancel. You can checkout the video of the tweak in action below: Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel NoteCreator by JPTweaks is available on Cydia for free. So install the tweak, and let us know how it goes in the comments. Continue reading →

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Keep Your iPhone Safe and Stylish with the i5 Leverage [Deals Hub]

The worst part about putting a case on your iPhone is that it hides the look of the device. It’s a shame to keep something so sleek covered up, but it’s necessary to protect the phone from damage. You don’t have to worry about that when you have the i5 Leverage Protection Bundle, an iPone 5/5S case that keep the phone fashionable while protecting it. It’s available on sale in the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub. The i5 Leverage case for the iPhone 5/5S isn’t just another protective case that wraps around your phone. It looks great, with a metal clasp locking system and smooth shape. It’s also extremely convenient for additional usage thanks to replaceable backplates. You can keep your cards safe in your iPhone case or hook your headphones around so they don’t tangle in your pocket. You can get the i5 Leverage Protection Bundle on sale from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub for just $39.99. That’s a savings of 42% off the retail price. It’s a great deal for a good looking and helpful case, so grab this offer today. Continue reading →

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Analyst claims iPhone 6 finalized with 4.8-inch display, 802.11ac

Apple is making progress on the iPhone 6 and allegedly has decided on several key features for its next flagship phone, says a report in AppleInsider. Checks into the supply chain suggest the iPhone will get a larger screen and an updated WiFi radio.In a note to investors, analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company claims the next iPhone will have a 4.8-inch display. This falls in line with earlier rumors that hint at a larger iPhone with a display size in the range of 4.7- to 5.5-inches. Apple likely won’t go much larger than 5-inches as that size pushes the boundaries of what form factor is comfortable for using with one hand. The new iPhone 6 may also ship with 802.11ac. Other products in Apple’s hardware lineup, including the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, now support this new WiFi standard. The iPhone 5s is limited to 802.11n connections, so it only makes sense that Apple would update its smartphone to be compatible with its other WiFi products. One the software side, Arcuri believes Apple will move forward with its Touch ID, iBeacon and Passbook technology to bring mobile payments to the platform. Passbook was introduced in iOS 6 and has been relatively unused by the company since its debut. Arcuri predicts Apple will stick to its current release schedule and ship the iPhone 6 next September. He also expects Apple will roll out a 13-inch iPad before the end of the year. Continue reading →

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Are apps that ask for your iCloud password a privacy threat?

We take our usernames and passwords for granted until they are compromised and our accounts are stolen by malicious hackers. It happened to Wired journalist Mat Honan and it can happen to you, too. This why Marco Arment’s latest blog post about the handling of iCloud credentials by apps is so concerning.Arment points to the Sunrise Calendar app, which is currently being promoted by Apple, as an example of how not to handle iCloud IDs. Upon launch, the app asks you to sign up for an account and then add a calendar. If you want to add an iCloud calendar, you must enter in your Apple ID username and password. This information is entered in the Sunrise app itself and is sent to Sunrise’s servers. Sunrise confirmed to Arment that this is what it is doing. When you type in your iCloud credentials, they are sent to our server only once in a secured way over SSL. We use them to generate a secure token from Apple. This secure token is the only thing we store on our servers, we never store your actual iCloud credentials. Though this data is not stored on Sunrise’s servers, the data is still being processed by Sunrise’s servers before it is sent off to Apple. Users are trusting Sunrise to ensure the data is not being cached along the way by analytic tools or proxies and that nobody has compromised the intermediary servers and is maliciously monitoring the sending and receiving of this data. Given the high-profile security breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus, this is a valid question to ask. Based on Sunrise’s response to Arment’s post, it appears that Apple may be contributing to this problem by not supporting OAuth or a similar scheme. OAuth takes the approval process out of the hands of the app and puts it in the hands of the service. The approval process is handled by the service on its own website, not within the app. For example, if an app wants to access your Twitter account, you are brought to Twitter where you can login and provide permission to the app. Apple doesn’t support OAuth so Sunrise claims it has to handle this authorization on its own servers. Arment argues that this behavior is risky and Apple someday may pay the price. Many readers have blamed Apple for this, mostly because the lack of official iCloud APIs and support for OAuth (or a similar scheme). I agree. But the ideal “Apple way” isn’t to do something really horribly until they have time and motivation to “do it right” — it’s not to do it at all. It’s better not to permit apps to access customers’ iCloud account at all (beyond the official, secure APIs) than to allow any app to collect them insecurely and do whatever they want with them. Regardless of whether you agree that this is Apple’s fault, it will definitely be Apple’s problem when an app like this has a security breach that compromises hundreds of thousands — maybe millions — of Apple IDs. What do you think? Are apps like Sunrise a security or privacy threat? Will you continue to use apps that ask for your Apple ID and password? Continue reading →

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Apple to issue update that’ll fix the white screen of death

Apple has told Mashable that the white screen of death reported by some iPhone owners running iOS 7 will be fixed in an upcoming update. Reports about this glitch started appearing in Apple forums shortly after the release of iOS 7. The white screen of death is a bug that causes the phone to quietly reboot when you least expect it. I’ve had it happen to me on occasion, with no clear cause. All of sudden the screen would turn black, and the Apple logo would appear. A minute later, the phone was back at the login screen. In my case the screen would turn black because I have a slate gray iPhone. A white phone supposedly reboots with a white screen. This is the new “blue screen of death” http://ift.tt/1fd6Jg6 — Hiten Shah (@hnshah) November 26, 2013 Speaking to Mashable, Apple spokesperson Trudy Miller acknowledged the existence of the glitch and confirmed a fix was coming soon. “We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash.” The white screen of death fix is expected to land alongside iOS 7.1. iOS 7.1 is now in the hands of developers and is in its fourth beta version. The final release is expected to arrive in March. Besides bug fixes, the next version of iOS 7.1 is expected to introduce some UI tweaks and may close the hole being used by the evasi0n7 jailbreak. Continue reading →

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Apple releases iTunes 11.1.4 with Wish List viewing in library, improved language support

Apple has just released iTunes 11.1.4, that lets you see your iTunes Wish List while viewing your library. Apart from the ability to see Wish Lists easily, the new iTunes update also improves support for Arabic and Hebrew, and of course includes stability improvements. A number of security related fixes were also included in the update, details of which you can view here. You can install the update from Software Update, or download the full installation file from Apple’s website. Direct Download links: Mac (222MB) Windows (131MB) Continue reading →

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Belgian Retailer listing suggests new Mac mini coming in February

In the past couple of years, Apple has updated several products in the Mac lineup, but hasn’t given much attention to the Mac mini, which was last updated in October 2012. According to a listing on Belgian retailer Computerstore.be, Apple might update Mac minis with newer Haswell Core i5 and Core i7 Intel processors by the end of February. The listing is of course placeholder for when the actual product launches, but the retailer says the release information comes from reliable sources. Here’s a translated product description of the new Mac mini, as per the listing: The Apple Mac mini features a sturdy and above all very compact aluminum housing. Despite its small size, the Apple Mac mini comes with powerful hardware. The Mac mini is equipped with the latest Intel Core i7 processor from Haswell series. This processor is obviously faster than its predecessor, but also uses the powerful Intel Iris graphics. The latest Apple operating system, OS X Mavericks, works very user friendly and communicates seamlessly with other Apple products. So for example you can just get iMessages on your Mac mini. In addition, OS X Mavericks a very secure operating system, you have (almost) not suffer from nasty viruses. The Apple Mac mini with the latest WiFi standard 802.11ac. This will make use of a high speed Gigabit LAN. You are here obviously compatible 802.11ac equipment needed. If you ever want to expand the memory of the Mac Mini, this is easily done by turning the black plate on the bottom and then add additional memory. The Mac Mini has many connections. He is equipped with HDMI, USB 3.0, FireWire and high-speed Thunderbolt connection. Are you waiting for a new Mac mini? Let us know in the comments below. [via MacRumors] Continue reading →

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Apple loses ground in consumer satisfaction survey

Apple is known for its stellar customer service and extreme brand loyalty, but the lack of a solid retail chief may be taking its toll on the company. A recent Forrester Research customer experience survey suggests Apple is no longer the leader in this area. Forrester Research queried 7,500 consumers about their opinions of what it was like to do business with a company. They asked respondents questions like: How enjoyable were they to do business with? How easy were they to do business with? How effective were they at meeting your needs? The results of the 2014 survey show that Apple is losing ground in the customer satisfaction department, falling behind Microsoft, Samsung and Sony. Amazon led the pack with a score of 91 that reflects the strong support of its Kindle owners. Sony followed with a score of 83, while Microsoft and Samsung shared an 82 score. Apple fell in line behind its competitors with a score of 81. Though it didn’t outpace it competition, Apple did slightly improve from 2013 to 2014 and scored a “good” rating according to the survey’s findings. [Via Wall Street Journal] Continue reading →

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Fancy: A cool new Jailbreak Tweak that lets you change color of iOS 7 User Interface

Fancy, one of the most anticipated jailbreak tweak is now available on Cydia. Fancy allows you to add a color tint to various elements of the UI in iOS 7 such as Control Center, Notification Center, banner notifications, the dock, keyboard etc. If you’re bored of iOS 7, then you’re going to love Fancy as it allows you to change the color tint of various elements of the UI to give iOS a fresh new look. You can change the color tint using the RGB sliders. You can change the color of the UI elements globally via the Settings app, or you have the ability to override it for the following sections: Banners Notification Center Control Center Dock HUDs Spotlight Assistant Keyboard Lockscreen (Beta) Check out the video walkthrough of the tweak to get a better idea: Fancy by Mitch Treece is available on Cydia for $0.99. As we’ve mentioned in the video, the initial version is a little buggy, but we hope that the developer will release an update soon to fix the issues. As always, let me know what you think of Fancy in the comments below. Continue reading →

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Apple granted administrative stay in eBook monitor appeal

According to a report in Reuters, Apple has been granted an administrative stay by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Apple filed the appeal after Judge Denise Cote denied Apple’s motion to remove Michael Bromwich from his position as compliance monitor in Apple’s eBook settlement with the Department of Justice. This short stay relieves Bromwich from his position while a federal panel of three judges decides whether the stay should remain in place while pursues a formal appeal. The DOJ did not oppose the administrative stay, but will continue to fight Apple as it tries to remove Bromwich. The DOJ has until January 24th to file opposition papers before the panel rules on the possibility of a permanent stay. Apple has been unhappy with Bromwich from the moment of his appointment as compliance monitor. The company claims Bromwich overstepped his bounds when he asked to meet with executives and board members. Apple also opposed his excessive fees, which are being billed at a rate of $1,100 per hour. Continue reading →

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Apple relaunches three-year old iPhone 4 in India to revive sales in the country

Apple has started selling the iPhone 4 in India again, in an attempt to battle falling iPhone sales in the country. The iPhone 5s, priced at $830, the “cheaper” iPhone 5s, priced at $675, and the iPhone 4s, priced at $621, are all quite expensive in India. Apple is now trying to lower the entry price-point for the iPhone, by selling the iPhone 4 for $370. The iPhone 4 was introduced three years ago with a 1GHz A4 chip, 512MB of RAM and a 5MP camera. The specs were great for running iOS 4, but the user-experience takes a significant hit when running iOS 7, which requires much more resources for running smoothly. Moreover, Apple doesn’t let users downgrade to earlier versions of iOS. Apple prides itself in saying that it cares about user-experience, much more than its competitors. Given that, what do you make of the iPhone 4 relaunch? Let us know in the comments below. [via Indiatimes] Continue reading →

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Nike+ FuelBand inspired iWatch concept shows iOS 7 running on a watch

A few months back, we had shared a Nike FuelBand inspired iWatch concept that looked great, but had a few flaws. Designer Todd Hamilton today posted an improved version of the concept, showing a long, but narrow touchscreen running “iWatch” optimised apps. From Todd’s blog post: I kept the band simple with a curved touchscreen display on the front. For physical controls I placed a single button on the left to act as the home button, and two more on the other side for volume controls. For the lock screen I designed a simple black & white interface displaying the time, date, and button to activate Siri. From here the possible actions are: tap to use Siri, swipe up to unlock, or pull down to view notifications. The concept watch has a Springboard too, with each page showing four icons vertically stacked. Here’s a video demoing how you’d make a phone call: We’ve seen several iWatch concepts till now, but this one’s my favorite not only because of how it looks, but also because of its well-imagined functions. Let me know what you think. Make sure you check out Todd’s blog for more images, and details about this iWatch concept. Continue reading →

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Verizon activates 8.8 Million smartphones in 4Q 2013, but doesn’t reveal iPhone activations

Verizon Communications today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013, posting strong numbers including a profit of $7.9 billion, revenues of $31.07 billion, and 8.8 million smartphone activations. The company however didn’t breakdown its smartphone activation numbers by platform as it had in the previous quarters. iPhone activations on various carriers are a good way to estimate the total sales during a quarter, but this time we’ll have to wait until Apple’s financial results, which will be out on the 27th of this month. Verizon’s total subscriber count now stands at 102.8 million, with 1.7 million new customers added in the past quarter. The 8.8 million smartphone activations account for 88.9 percent of the total activations, up by 3.5 percent from last quarter. The carrier however saw smartphone activations go down 10 percent from last year’s 9.8 million smartphones. In its press release, Verizon also touted its 4G LTE network, which is now available to 305 million people in more than 500 markets across the US. For all the numbers from Verizon’s results, head to this PDF link. Continue reading →

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Keep Track of Your Valuables at All Time with Find’Em Tracking Card [Deals Hub]

How often do you lose your stuff? Probably more often than you would like. It’s never fun spending extra minutes of your day scouring the couch cushions and countertops in hopes of finding your wallet or purse. That’s a good way to put a damper on a day. You don’t have to worry about that problem when you have the Find’Em Tracking Card. It’s on sale now from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub. The Find’Em Tracking Card sits in your wallet or purse or with any valuables that you decide to pair it with and keeps a beat on them at all times. If you’re struggling to find the item, just pull up the Find’Em Tracking app and it will direct you to your lost goods. You can even get auto-alerts to be told when you’re out of range of your belongings. Your valuables are never lost with this card. You can get the Find’Em Tracking Card on sale from the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub for just $24.99. That’s a savings of 37% off the retail price. It’s a great price for a tool that will save you time and money, so grab this offer today. Continue reading →

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Apple kicks off in-store program to repair iPhone 5c displays

Sources have confirmed to AppleInsider that Apple is now fixing broken iPhone 5c screens as in-store repair. The repair service started with the iPhone 5 last year and was rumored to extend to the iPhone 5c this week. It’ll cost $149 per screen for the repair. Customers with a broken iPhone 5c screen can visit an Apple Store, where a technician trained in the process will repair the display using a special calibration machine. An employee talking to AppleInsider describes the procedure as “bringing China to the Genius Room.” The iPhone 5c repair service is available only in the US. There is chatter that it may debut in the UK soon, but this expansion is still speculation. Continue reading →

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iPad 2 demand falls as customers scoop up newer iPad models

The iPad 2 held its own against the iPad 3 and iPad 4, but the latest sales data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners suggest interest in the aging tablet is slipping. Instead of the iPad 2, customers are buying up the iPad Air and the iPad mini. The drop in iPad 2 sales was precipitous following the introduction of the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini. In September before the unveiling of the new tablets, the iPad 2 accounted for 22 percent of all iPad sales. Once the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini debuted, iPad 2 sales dropped to 5 percent in December. The iPad Air (41 percent) and the iPad mini (25 percent) were the big winners in the holiday quarter, accounting for 66 percent of all iPad sales combined. The iPad mini with Retina display, grabbed 16 percent of sales, which is decent considering that supplies were constrained part of the quarter. One side effect of this shift away from the inexpensive models and towards the more expensive iPad Air is the improvement in the average sales price for Apple’s iPad lineup. After declining for almost two years, the ASP rose slightly from $436 in Q3 2013 to $439 in Q4 2013. Did you buy or receive an iPad Air or an iPad mini over the holiday season? [Via MacRumors] Continue reading →

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VLC updated for iOS 7, adds Google Drive support, Dropbox streaming, new gestures and more

VLC, one of the best media players for iOS, has been updated to version 2.2, has been updated with an all-new design for iOS 7, along with a bunch of new features. Here are the full release notes: A new UI for iOS 7 GDrive integration and Dropbox streaming, New multitouch gestures, Improved library for TV Shows and Audio, Better UPnP integration, with downloading support, A startup tutorial, New streaming formats and protocols supported, Rewritten WiFi upload, Improved privacy when using Passcode Lock And so much more! If the app hasn’t been automatically updated, you can download the update via the Updates tab in the App Store app or use the iTunes link below. Download link: ➤ VLC for iOS – free See also: Tips and Tricks for VLC on your iPhone or iPad Continue reading →

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You can now play iPhone, iPad games with iOS 7 controller support using your PS3 DualShock Controller

Apple added native support for game controllers with iOS 7, but the initial crop of controllers are quite expensive, and not that good. If you’ve been longing to use your PS3 controller to play games on your iPhone and iPad, we’ve got some good news for you. Controllers for All is a new iOS 7 jailbreak tweak that adds support for the DualShock PS3 controller. So all games that utilise the new iOS 7 Game Controller APIs will work with your PS3 controller too. To start using your PS3 controller, you’ll have to buy Controllers for All from the Cydia Store for $1.99, complete a one-time pairing process with your iOS device and then you’re all set to use it. The pairing instructions can be found in the Settings app under the Controllers for All section, or on this webpage. The developer says, support for the DualShock PS4 controller would be added soon. I haven’t been to test it out as I don’t have a PS3, but let me know how it goes in the comments. Continue reading →

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Weekend news roundup: All the best Apple news from last week

As we close out one week and kick off another, let’s take a moment to look back at the attention-grabbing headlines from the past seven days. Some of the news you may recall, some may be new to you, but all of the topics below are worthy of a mention. Lightroom for iPad makes brief appearance on Adobe’s website Adobe may be close to releasing a version of Lightroom for the iPad. A mobile version of Adobe Lightroom made a brief appearance on Adobe’s website, but was quickly removed. Tim Cook says that Apple is working on “great things” when asked about iPhones with larger screen China Mobile, the world’s largest carrier with over 700 million subscribers, finally started selling Apple’s iPhone earlier today. Bloomberg reports that people asked Tim Cook about the company’s plans to launch an iPhone with a bigger screen and use of flexible displays. Starbucks updates iPhone app with “extra layers of protection” to address password controversy As promised, Starbucks has released an update for its iOS app, which the company says “adds extra layers of protection.” Problems with the Starbucks app came to light after a Computerworld report claimed the app stores passwords in plain text on the device. Apple to offer in-store iPhone 5c display replacements starting next week According to 9to5Mac, Apple may start replacing broken iPhone 5c displays in retail stores as early as next week. Reports last year hinted at this program, but Apple needed time to obtain replacement displays and train employees on the calibration machines used to replace the screens. Here’s why the first crop of iPhone Game Controllers have been a flop Apple added official support for Made for iOS Game Controllers in iOS 7, and we’ve seen several companies release iPhone game controllers in different form-factors to largely unimpressive reviews, despite their high $100 price-tag. So why aren’t MFi game controllers as good as other controllers? Apple’s iPhone marketshare reaches 42% in US, Samsung a distant second at 26% Owing to strong sales of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, Apple has reached 42 percent smartphone marketshare in the US, much ahead of rival Samsung, which has a 26 percent marketshare. Apple reaches settlement with FTC over in-app charges Apple today settled a complaint by the Federal Trade Commission that claims the company did not have proper safeguards in place to prevent in-app purchases by children. As part of the settlement, Apple agreed to refund $32.5 million for all unauthorized charges. The Cupertino company must also change its billing policy in a way that requires permission for all attempted charges. Upcoming Chrome for iOS update could reduce your data usage by half To reduce your data consumption while you’re on-the-go, Google is adding a new feature to Chrome for iOS that compresses data and reduces usage by up to 50 percent. Tim Cook talks to media about China Mobile iPhone deal, says it’s a “watershed” day Apple CEO Tim Cook today made a rare TV appearance with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing to about the recent deal between the two companies that’ll bring the iPhone to the world’s largest carrier. Umoove launches flying game, brings face-tracking controls to mobile devices Umoove introduced a 3D flying experience game this week with novel technology that uses the camera on the iPad and iPhone to control your movement. The app is less of a game and more of a showcase of Umoove’s face and eye tracking technology. Court strikes down FCC’s net neutrality rules, puts “Open Internet” at risk A Washington court today stuck down FCC’s set of net neutrality rules that forbid Internet Servce Providers like Verizon from treating traffic on its network unequally. Apple exploring use of Liquidmetal in Home Button, touch sensors and screws In 2010, Apple signed an agreement with LiquidMetal Technologies to get exclusive access to the firm’s proprietary “amorphous metal alloys,” often referred to as “metallic glass”. Apple has explored the use of the material in the iPhone 3G, and continues to do so, as revealed in a group of patent filings recently published. Google announces that it will acquire Nest Labs for $3.2 billion Google announced in a press release that it is acquiring Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. The company is known for its smartphone-controlled thermostat which debuted in 2011. Nest Labs was spearheaded by former Apple engineers Matt Rogers and Tony Fadell, who is often referred to as the father of the iPod. Continue reading →

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