Apple building ‘visually stunning’ Palo Alto store next to Microsoft

By Ed Sutherland on Jun 17, 2013

While most Apple retail locations which grab headlines are in China or New York City, the iPhone maker is working hard to finish work on its flagship store in Palo Alto, California. Unlike other huge glass Apple flagship stores, this one is most known for overwhelming a nearby Microsoft store built just last year to out-do Apple.

Aside from the one-upsmanship between the two rivals, the 12,000-square feet store in the city’s Stanford shopping center expected to open in November may have been one of the last decisions made by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. According to a report Monday, Jobs approved the store’s design just six months before Tim Cook became CEO… Read More

 

Skype rolls out Video Messaging

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

Microsoft-owned Skype started testing out Video Messages in mid-February. The new feature is meant to let Skype users send short video snippets to each other up to three minutes long, even when offline. Now out of beta, Skype Video Messaging is available to everyone via a free update to Skype mobile and desktop apps across Windows, Mac, iOS, BlackBerry and Android platforms. Here’s a closer look at Skype Video Messaging and how to use this new capability on your devices… Read More

 

Steve Jobs bio book paperback edition due September 10

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

Walter Isaacson’s authorized Steve Jobs bio book arrived on October 24, 2011, shortly following Apple co-founder’s passing earlier that month. It quickly outsold popular titles such as Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath to top Amazon’s best-selling list of 2011 in less than two months.

Currently available in a hardcover edition via Amazon and others or digitally on the Kindle Store and Apple’s iBookStore, Steve Jobs: A Biography will be available in a paperback form on September 10, with a young Steve on the cover… Read More

 

XCOM: Enemy Unknown hitting iOS on June 20

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

We told you back in March that developer Fireaxis and publisher 2K Games will be releasing the official XCOM: Enemy Unknown port on the App Store this summer. Today, the publisher has confirmed both the released date and price: XCOM: Enemy Unknown is coming to an iPhone and iPad near your on June 20, costing twenty bucks.

Basically a re-imagined remake of the 1994 cult classic strategy game UFO: Enemy Unknown (also known as X-COM: UFO Defense), XCOM: Enemy Unknown puts you in the shoes of an elite multinational paramilitary organization which must get rid of the alien scum invading the Earth… Read More

 

Poster app acquired by WordPress.com owner Automattic

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

The blogging platform space has certainly seen some consolidating recently. First, Twitter rather infamously snapped up the rival micro-blogging platform Posterous only to kill it shortly after. Seeing what’s coming, Posterous founders launched their new blogging thing, Posthaven.

If you blog on the go using your iPhone or iPad, chances are you’ve switched from the somewhat clunky WordPress iOS app to Poster, an elegant iOS blogging client by developer Tom Witkin. In a blog post Monday, Tom confirmed he sold out Poster to Automattic, a company which happens to run WordPress.com. Here’s what you should expect if your daily blogging depends on either the Poster or WordPress app… Read More

 

Catch Notes makes it easy to capture and collaborate on ideas

By Lory Gil on Jun 17, 2013

If you are the kind of person who is always jotting down ideas on napkins, sending random text messages to friends about cool concepts, or leaving notes to yourself on sticky pads, you need something to help organize your thoughts.

Catch Notes is a productivity app that makes it easy to capture your ideas and share them with others without any fuss or muss. Just open the app, type in or record your idea and add your contacts for true collaboration…  Read More

 

Rockmelt turns Web discovery into a social engagement

By Lory Gil on Jun 17, 2013

With news aggregators like Pulse and Flipboard out there, it is difficult to compete in the website discovery arena. Plenty of aggregators have launched in the App Store, but few have made much of an impression.

Rockmelt: Discover the Best of the Internet, News & Blogs is an aggregator that, not only looks fantastic, but offers multiple ways to engage with other website readers without having to think of a clever comment… Read More

 

Apple posts open letter regarding PRISM accusations and customer privacy

By Cody Lee on Jun 17, 2013

Apple has just issued a statement regarding its customer privacy policy, following accusations that it is involved in a US government-run PRISM program that offers up user data without warrant. It’s already commented on the situation, but it obviously felt it needed to be more clear.

Tonight the company posted an open letter to its website entitled ‘Apple’s Commitment to Customer Privacy.’ The letter reiterates that Apple knew nothing about the so-called PRISM program, and offers insight into its relationship with the government and what it means for users… Read More

 

iOS 7 beta GUI PSD file now available for download

By Cody Lee on Jun 17, 2013

Heads up all of you designers and concept artists. The entire GUI (graphical user interface) for iOS 7 has just been uploaded to the web.

That’s right, all of the buttons, menus, icons and anything else you can think of graphic-wise in the developer beta are now available for download… Read More

 

Features MIA in iOS 7

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 16, 2013

I’m sure technophiles by now are aware that Apple restricts beta code to registered developers, but that didn’t stop iOS 7 Beta 1 from popping up in a lot of places on the web.

You can’t blame the curious types for wanting to get a taste of Apple’s most important software upgrade since the iPhone’s inception.

But as a side-effect, those unfamiliar with Apple’s betas are taking to blogs to write about crashes, UI inconsistencies and allegedly missing features. To be fair, teething issues are the norm for major software releases, let alone betas.

But tell that to concerned citizens who are blogging about iOS 7 “issues”. We’ve scourged the web for top complaints in order to lay out Apple’s thought process and explain why some features are “missing” in the first beta and what can be expected from upcoming beta releases… Read More

 

Photo surfaces of first ‘Made for iPhone’ game controller prototype

By Cody Lee on Jun 16, 2013

We know that iOS 7 is going to offer developers an easy way to make their games compatible with physical controllers. After years of ignoring the space, Apple is finally going to officially support third-party gamepads, and both Logitech and MOGA are already onboard.

Today, we get our first glimpse of what at least some of these controllers may look like. A photo has surfaced of what is said to be a prototype of the first ‘Made for iPhone’ game controller. It’s made by Logitech, and the control scheme looks reminiscent of the PS Vita… Read More

 

What iOS 7 running on iPad might look like

By Cody Lee on Jun 16, 2013

Apple surprised a lot of folks last week when it announced that the first beta of iOS 7, it’s next generation mobile software, would only be available to registered developers on the iPhone and iPod touch. Last year, Apple released a beta for all 3 of its mobile devices.

The reason behind Apple’s decision to forego releasing the first beta on the iPad isn’t clear. But for those of you wondering how the redesigned operating system looks on the popular tablet, we’ve come across several screenshots of just that—iOS 7 running on an iPad straight from the Xcode simulator… Read More

 

Cubemen2 will put you on a path of destruction

By Lory Gil on Jun 16, 2013

Every week, Apple spotlights a couple of new or recently updated apps that they believe stand out amongst the sea of submissions to the App Store. The Editor’s Choice is usually given to an app or game that looks especially cool, incorporates iOS technology well, or is otherwise innovative in its field.

Cubemen2 received the Editor’s Choice moniker this week for its combination of real-time strategy and tower defense gaming. It is full of customizable playing fields, multiplayer battle action, and more… Read More

 

Take stunning black and white photos with BW+

By Lory Gil on Jun 16, 2013

A few days ago, we told you about the popular new photography app Camera Noir. The simplistic app takes great photos, but doesn’t offer too many options. While that can be a good thing, it is not for everyone.

BW+ is another app that only lets you take black and white photos, but this one offers a few extras that make it more interesting for iPhone photographers that want just a few more options… Read More

 

How to add iOS 7 Control Center inspired toggles to iOS 6

By Jeff Benjamin on Jun 16, 2013

iOS 7 Control Toggle Icons is a new jailbreak theme that brings iOS 7 inspired toggles to lesser firmware. The toggles, based on those that appear in iOS 7′s new Control Center, help bring the look and feel of iOS 7 to jailbroken iPhones.

Designed by renowned designer, Surenix, the toggle theme integrates with NCSettings, and requires WinterBoard. It’s also been recommended that you add a blur effect tweak to the Notification Center window, further emulating the signature style of iOS 7.

I’ve installed iOS 7 Control Toggle Icons on my iPhone, and I’d like to show you how it all comes together. Check out our hands on video walkthrough after the break… Read More

 

The iDownloadBlog top news stories of the week

By Sebastien Page on Jun 16, 2013

Like every Sunday, we bring you the stories that were the most popular on iDB during this past week. Whether it is a news piece, an editorial, a tutorial, a new jailbreak tweak, or an accessory review, we sum it all up in one convenient place.

If you like what you’re reading, please make sure to spread the love by sharing our posts on your favorite social network.

We’re usually hanging out a lot on Twitter and Facebook, more rarely on Google+.

Of course, don’t forget to listen to the latest episode of our podcast, Let’s Talk Jailbreak:

We’re social! Find iDB on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, App.net, YouTube, and in your RSS reader. Also make sure to subscribe to our new podcast!

 

Google reveals plans to bring internet to the masses using balloons

By Cody Lee on Jun 15, 2013

Google’s ‘X’ division has gained a reputation for making the seemingly impossible, possible. The not-so-secret lab is responsible for churning out a number of innovative projects, including self-driving cars and more recently, Google Glass.

Yesterday, the search giant unveiled X’s next ‘moonshot’ venture called Project Loon. The idea behind Loon is to let loose a ring of balloons, outfitted with cellphone tower-like tech, in the sky in an effort to provide internet to the masses… Read More

 

New tweak based on Sentry’s ‘fan out app grouping’ concept coming soon

By Cody Lee on Jun 15, 2013

The news cycle was completely dominated by iOS 7 this week. As most of you know, Apple took the wraps off of its next generation mobile operating system on Monday during its WWDC keynote. And good or bad, people can’t stop talking about it.

But that doesn’t mean things have quieted down on the jailbreak front—it’s just the opposite. Caughtinflux, an iOS developer and one half of the group A3Tweaks, announced this week that him and Sentry have a new jailbreak tweak in the works.

And it looks awesome… Read More

 

Calm down, it’s only a beta

By Oliver Haslam on Jun 15, 2013

Now that Apple’s iOS 7 is out of the bag, everyone seems to have an opinion on whether it hits the mark. If there was one word we would use to describe Apple’s latest version of its iPhone, iPad and iPod touch software it would probably be ‘polarizing‘ and with good reason. After all, iOS 7 is undoubtedly the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone was introduced all those years ago.

But one thing does appear to be getting lost in all the hysteria surrounding iOS 7. One thing that people do seem to be forgetting not just when forging their opinions on Apple’s new direction, but when condemning existing App Store apps with poor reviews due to compatibility.

Calm down dear, it’s only a beta… Read More

 

Apple sticks it to cheaters with Game Center on iOS 7

By Oliver Haslam on Jun 15, 2013

All the talk about iOS 7 is, rightly or wrongly, revolving around the aesthetic changes that Apple has made, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of alterations under the hood. Game Center, a feature often ignored by many, is receiving some much needed love with this update and those pesky cheaters are top of the agenda.

Whilst adding new Game Center features that aim to make recognizing cheaters as easy as possible for developers, Apple is also adding other development tools that will make the whole Game Center experience better as a whole. Improved leaderboards and challenges are just two of the changes coming in iOS 7.

With rampant cheating and high scores that have obviously tampered with, Game Center is set to receive its biggest overhaul yet, and most people won’t even notice what’s changed… Read More

 
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