Jeff Benjamin

Jeff has been with iDownloadBlog since 2010, acting as resident video specialist, and tutorial expert. He earned his degree in Computer Network Systems back in 2001, but decided Cisco routers and the like just weren’t for him. Since then, he’s been heavily involved with online writing. He’s written for numerous tech and video game sites since the late 1990′s, and has a knack for explaining things in a simple, clear, and concise manner. Jeff works primarily from the east coast on his Retina Macbook Pro, and shoots video with a Canon DSLR. During downtime he likes to travel the world, visiting the various Apple Stores across the globe. You can email him at jeff [at] idownloadblog.com and follow him on Twitter @JeffBenjam or on Google+.

First impressions: Bulbae xylum Apple Watch Charging Stand

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

The xylum from Bulbae is an Apple Watch charging stand machined out of a single piece of aluminum. It's a strikingly good-looking stand that compliments both the aluminum Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch.

The stand features a circular design with chamfered edges. To accommodate the magnetic inductive Apple Watch charger, a conduit runs along the inside of the stand with a large opening for housing the charging pad.

The xylum isn't without flaw, but it's one of the better looking Apple Watch stands that I've seen thus far. Have a look inside for more pictures and thoughts.

How to put the Apple TV into retail Demo Mode

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

A few days ago, we showed you how to access the Apple TV's "Advanced Settings" mode. That particular option is geared towards Apple employees. Today, we're going to show you how to place the Apple TV into Demo Mode.

Demo Mode, according to Apple, is a special setting that locks down many Apple TV settings to keep Apple TV “fresh” for each customer interaction. Each time the Apple TV comes out of the screensaver, the Home screen layout will reset to present the default interface.

In a nutshell, Demo Mode is what you see when looking at an Apple TV while in an Apple Store or other big box retail store. Have a look at the rest of this post to see how to enter Demo Mode on your own Apple TV.

App downgrading tool can now block App Store updates [jailbreak]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

App Admin, the jailbreak tweak that lets you downgrade to older versions of iOS apps, has just received a significant beta update. The headlining new feature is the ability to block App Store updates, which allows you to easily keep downgraded apps installed on your iOS device. To learn how to gain access to the free beta version of App Admin, check out the rest of this post.

How to access tvOS’ hidden ‘Advanced Settings’ menu on Apple TV

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

The Apple TV features a hidden "Advanced Settings" menu, which contains some interesting Apple employee-centric features. Accessing the hidden settings menu is remarkably easy to do, all you need is a paired Siri remote to get going.

Inside the hidden Advanced Settings menu, you'll find an AppleConnect login option, a menu pertaining to loading a VPN Profile, Sleep Delay settings, and more. It's generally not something that most customers will even care about, and we can't recommend dilly-dallying around and changing values, but it's interesting to know it's there.

How to watch local live TV on Apple TV with an HDHomeRun + antenna combo

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

It is possible to legally watch free over the air terrestrial television via the Apple TV. This can easily be accomplished by connecting an HDHomeRun to your home network along with an ATSC antenna to pull in free over-the-air high definition local channels.

It's basically the equivalent of connecting an antenna to your TV. TVs generally include a tuner built in, which allows the unit to display the channels pulled in from over the air. Wouldn't it be cool, though, if you could broadcast all of those channels on your home network? By using an HDHomeRun, you can easily tap into free high definition television streams via the Apple TV and an app like Kodi. You can even watch live TV on your iPhone, Mac, or other devices.

In this video tutorial, I'll show you how easy it is to get live local channels on your Apple TV. That means you can watch high definition streams for NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and more. There's no monthly subscription involved, or anything like that, which makes this perfect for cord cutters. Have a look.

f.lux responds to Apple’s inclusion of Night Shift in iOS 9.3

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 10, 2023

The creators of f.lux, the Mac and iOS utility that makes it easier to use bright screens in dark settings, have responded to Apple's inclusion of Night Shift mode in iOS 9.3—a feature that duplicates f.lux's primary feature.

In the Apple world, we refer to this as being Sherlocked—a term that's used when Apple provides OS-level functionality that seemingly makes a popular third-party application redundant. Curious as to what f.lux has to say about the situation? Have a look.

Apple seeds iOS 9.3 beta 1.1 to developers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has seeded an updated version of iOS 9.3 beta 1 to developers. The new update, which appears as iOS 9.3 beta 1.1 in the OTA Software Update on iOS, contains bug fixes and improvements. All developers are recommended to update to this latest version of the iOS 9.3 beta.

If you've yet to install the beta, you'll find the updated version available on Apple's developer member center. The updated version, seeded today, comes with a build number of 13E5181f. You can also take advantage of the new configuration profile feature to get directly on the developer seed path without needing iTunes.

Apple releases iOS 9.3 for public beta testers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 10, 2023

A few days after seeding iOS 9.3 beta 1 to developers, Apple has released iOS 9.3 Public Beta 1 to beta testers as a part of its public beta program. As we mentioned in our in-depth preview of iOS 9.3 beta 1, this release is filled to the brim with new features like the f.lux-inspired Night Shift mode, additional 3D Touch Quick Actions, and much more.

If you’re already a member of Apple's public beta program, or if you’d like to join, simply head over to Apple’s beta website using your iOS device to get going. Remember, you'll need to log in to the public beta website and enroll your device if you have not done so already.

Regulatory information hints at a faster 29W iPad Pro charger

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

The iPad Pro is a massive device, and as such, it contains a pretty significant bit of battery. Unfortunately, the iPad Pro comes with a 12 Watt charger, which makes charging times slow, especially if you use your device while it's charging. In fact, if you pump your iPad Pro to maximum brightness, you might actually lose battery life even when it's plugged in.

But there's some potentially good news, as spotted by an eagle-eyed MacRumors forum member, the iPad Pro is capable of accommodating a much beefier charger than the one it ships with. Here's why a faster iPad Pro charging solution might be in the cards...

Let’s Talk Jailbreak: 2015 jailbreak awards, new jailbreak teased on video, new Activator beta, and more

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Episode 141: The 2015 jailbreak award winners are discussed, a new jailbreak is shown off on video, the App Admin downgrade tweak is updated with new features, how to access your iPhone's flashlight with your mute switch, and a new Activator beta adds Apple Watch-specific features.

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Support Let’s Talk Jailbreak: Get peace of mind knowing your files are backed up securely in the cloud. Backup your Mac or PC for just $5/month. Go to backblaze.com/iDB.

Why pair more than one Apple Watch to a single iPhone? Here’s why…

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 4, 2022

I've seen so many comments questioning the reason behind Apple allowing more than one Apple Watch to be paired with a single iPhone. Some people think it's silly to have more than one Apple Watch, while others genuinely seem to be confused by the decision.

Why would Apple allow you to have more than one Apple Watch paired at the same time? Let's consider the possible answers.

New in iOS 9.3 beta 1: Wi-Fi Assist usage statistics

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 12, 2016

It's now easier than ever to keep an eye on how much data is used by Wi-Fi assist, thanks to a new data monitor found in iOS 9.3 beta 1. Wi-Fi assist, is the controversial feature that taps into your iPhone's cellular connection in those instances where the Wi-Fi connection may not be adequate enough.

First noted by MacRumors' Juli Clover, the addition of data usage numbers for Wi-Fi Assist will help those who claim to have experienced exorbitant amounts of cellular data usage due to the feature.