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+.

watchOS 2.2 preview: Pairing more than one Apple Watch and Maps app improvements [video + screenshots]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Along with the release of iOS 9.3 beta 1 and tvOS 9.2 beta 1, watchOS 2.2 was seeded to developers. watchOS 2.2 isn't filled with nearly as many features as the aforementioned software for the Apple TV and iPhone, but it does contain a major new feature that will make a specific group of Apple Watch owners happy.

Beginning with watchOS 2.2 and iOS 9.3, users can now pair more than one Apple Watch to a single iPhone. Once paired, you can easily switch between them as the need occurs. Have a look at our full video preview for a demonstration of the pairing process in action.

tvOS 9.2 preview: Bluetooth keyboard support, folders, redesigned App Switcher, and Podcasts app [video + screenshots]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Potentially lost in all of the hype over the huge iOS 9.3 beta 1 release, was tvOS 9.2. This release was no slouch either, as it brings a much-wanted addition to the forth generation Apple TV. In this video, I'll showcase many of the new features, including Bluetooth keyboard support, folder support, the redesigned App Switcher, and the new stock Podcasts app. Have a look...

Let’s Talk iOS: 3.5mm headphone jack, iPhone 7 rumors, iOS 9.3 beta, and more

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 1, 2018

Episode 117: Apple releases iOS 9.3 beta 1 with tons of new features, a new report claims that Apple is cutting iPhone 6s production, more iPhone 7 rumors hint to waterproofing and wireless charging. Will Apple ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack? The team debates about this and other things in a brand new episode of Let's Talk iOS.

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Apple introduces new OTA update option to developers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 11, 2016

If you're a developer who doesn't already have your iPhone on a developer seed, then updating to the latest iOS beta means going through iTunes to accommodate the update.

While going through iTunes is the traditional manner for facilitating updates, it's antiquated, and largely unnecessary from a technical perspective. Wouldn't it be much better if you could upgrade to a developer seed without needing to connect to iTunes?

That's the basic premise behind the new Configuration Profiles released by Apple alongside iOS 9.3. These profiles essentially allow you to take a shortcut directly to the beta seed path without needing to touch iTunes. If you've ever upgraded an Apple Watch, or used a Public Beta, then you're already familiar with the process.

iOS 9.3 preview: Night Shift, 3D Touch, Notes improvements, and more [video + screenshots]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 13, 2018

We've put together an in-depth video showcasing many of the new iOS 9.3 beta 1 features. I think it's safe to say that this release packs in many more features for a minor version release than we're used to. In this video, we showcase the new Touch ID security option for the Notes app, the new quick action 3D Touch shortcuts, updated News app features, multiple Apple Watch pairing ability, and much more.

Developer shows off iOS 9.3 beta 1 jailbreak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 11, 2016

It looks as if iOS 9.3 beta 1 has already been jailbroken, which lends hope that a public version of an iOS 9.3.x jailbreak may be possible. But don't hold your breath; this is the same hacker/developer—Luca Todesco—that recently shared a screenshot of a jailbroken iPhone 6 running iOS 9.2.1. He previously made it clear that he has no intention of sharing, and it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon.

Apple seeds massive new iOS 9.3 beta to developers with new Night Shift mode, improved Notes/News/Health apps, and more

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

It's a big day for Apple beta releases, as is highlighted by the seeding of iOS 9.3 to developers. iOS 9.3 is a major new release that incorporates tons of new features to iOS. Outside of a major version number update, this update is one of the biggest iOS updates that we've seen in a long time.

iOS 9.3 contains a new Night Shift mode, which basically Sherlock's f.lux, along with new Touch ID security options for the Notes app, improved CarPlay functionality, an upcoming Multi User mode for schools, and much, much more.

Put it this way, this update is so big that Apple has devoted an entire web page for previewing many of the new features. That's something that it usually only does for major version number releases, but the content contained in iOS 9.3 apparently warranted the fanfare.

Apple seeds watchOS 2.2 to developers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 11, 2016

Along with iOS 9.3, Apple has also seeded watchOS 2.2 to developers. watchOS 2.2 is a significant release, because it is the first software release for the Apple Watch that allows users to pair multiple Apple Watches to a single iPhone. Granted, the iPhone must be running iOS 9.3, which is only available to developers at the time, but it paints a positive picture for the future.

Appster: a must-have utility for viewing app and tweak data

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

Appster is a free utility for jailbroken iPhones that allows you to learn about the apps and tweaks installed on your device. With Appster, you can quickly find out details such as bundle id, app version number, folder location, developer name, etc. Each app also features a direct link to the app's installed location via iFile.

But it doesn't just stop there, in this post I'll show you some of the other interesting features that makes Appster worthy of downloading. In fact, I consider this tool to be a must-have for all jailbroken users.

New Activator beta adds two Apple Watch-centric features

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 10, 2016

If you own an Apple Watch, you can now use it in conjunction with Activator on your jailbroken iPhone. Activator 1.9.8 beta 9, which was released yesterday, adds several new interesting features to the already massive list of things this tweak can do.

In addition to the Apple Watch support, the beta adds support for more system ringtones, features a reduced package size, and incorporates several fixes to make the tweak run more efficiently. Check out the full change log for more details.

How to use the Apple Watch to answer incoming calls on iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 9, 2016

When an incoming call arrives on your Apple Watch, there are a couple of options that aren't readily noticeable. By scrolling up with the Digital Crown, you'll unveil two additional options for handling the incoming call: Send a Message and Answer on iPhone.

The Send a Message option works very much like the Message option on the iPhone, while the Answer on iPhone option will send the call to your iPhone, and place the call on hold until you're ready to answer it.

How to achieve faster video exports in Final Cut Pro X

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

One of the great things about Final Cut Pro X ($299 on Mac App Store) is that you can export high quality videos extremely fast, even on underpowered hardware. For example, my Late 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina display lacks a discrete GPU, but I can still export 4K videos with relative ease.

Some of the speed can be attributed to a technology of Intel's called Quick Sync Video. Quick Sync is a hardware accelerator for H.264 encoding. It's baked into Intel's consumer line of chips, so ironically, it doesn't apply to the beefier Mac Pro. Those machines are powered by professional grade Xeon chips that lack integrated graphics.

That means that even the 12" MacBook, which is the most anemic piece of Intel-powered hardware currently available from Apple, can export 4K videos competently.

With all of that said, there are some things that you should know in order to fully take advantage of faster video encoding when exporting projects with Final Cut Pro X, and you can learn more in this post.