Following iOS 7 flattening, Apple changes Jony Ive’s title to SVP, Design

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

This is quite interesting. Just as Apple has taken the wraps off iOS 7 which has undergone a major facelift under the guidance of Apple’s Jony Ive, the design guru’s official title on the company’s Leadership section has been tweaked, going from Senior Vice President of Industrial Design to just Senior Vice President of Design.

The subtle but signifiable change of nomenclature is for sure meant to signal Ive’s tremendously important and much broader responsibilities at Apple, that now encompass both hardware and software design across the company… Read More

 

Eddy Cue talks Steve Jobs, page curls and iBooks launch at e-book hearing

By Cody Lee on Jun 17, 2013

Eddy Cue once again took the stand today in Apple’s ongoing antitrust case with the Department of Justice. The company’s SVP of Internet software and services took the stand on Friday to talk about Steve Jobs’ involvement in Apple’s iBooks project. And this morning, he offered up a few more details.

Cue spoke more candidly on the witness stand today, providing several interesting tidbits about Jobs’ participation in Apple’s iBooks launch back in 2010. Apparently, the then-CEO had a big hand in the project, doing everything from designing minor UI details to choosing which book to offer for free… Read More

 

Digg’s Google Reader replacement launching June 26 on iPhone first

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

In spite of die-hard users screaming and crying foul, Google quite unapologetically remains on track to shut down its popular news aggregation service dubbed Reader come July 1. But don’t worry, there are plenty of alternatives to Google Reader such as the popular Mac/iOS app Reeder, the unavoidable Flipboard and many other apps.

The social news aggregator Digg is among the companies looking to exploit the opportunity. In March, Digg announced that work had begun on its own Reader replacement. Today, the firm said the app will be rolling to everyone by June 26, giving Google Reader refugees almost a full week of head start before the July 1 cut-off deadline… Read More

 

Shazam updated with new ‘Pulse’ feature for discovering new music

By Cody Lee on Jun 17, 2013

It seems like music discovery is all the rage these days. Twitter launched a new iPhone app back in April, and Apple launched its iTunes Music service earlier this month, both of which place a large focus on helping users discover new music.

And today, Shazam pushed further into the space. The popular song, album and artist identifier released a significant update to its iPhone and iPad apps this morning with, among other things, a new ‘Pulse’ feature for discovering new music… Read More

 

Facebook rumored to step on Vine’s turf with Instagram Video

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

Facebook last week sent out invitations for its June 20 press event snail mail style, down to clean white envelopes. The graphics alludes the social networking giant has been working on “big ideas” and today TechCrunch chimes in to claim knowledge of the event’s agenda.

What Facebook apparently has in store is a video sharing feature for the Instagram generation. Rather boldly proclaiming that “Instagram will get video on June 20″, the story cites sketchy sources as asserting that the Instagram video service is much like Twitter’s Vine, which focuses on short six-second videos… Read More

 

Gameloft previews Modern Combat 4 ‘Meltdown’ update, coming Wednesday

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 17, 2013

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour made its way into the App Store last December and today French developer Gameloft is teasing a forthcoming update. Titled ‘Meltdown,’ the content update is of course free to players who bought the game and will be available on iOS starting Thursday, June 19, and “coming very soon” to Android.

The trailer included right below the fold mentions three new maps (Fracture, Extraction and Backfire), two new game modes and a brand new specialization (Demolition)… Read More

 

pod2g is considering switching to Android

By Jeff Benjamin on Jun 17, 2013

Frustrated with what he’s seen thus far with iOS 7 beta 1, iOS hacker pod2g has announced via Twitter that he’s considering switching to an Android device. Pretty surprising news for someone who is arguably the most famous iOS hacker of all time. This is significant, because pod2g has been at the forefront of the last few jailbreaks on iOS, and without him, it’s quite possible that we wouldn’t have any of the more recent jailbreaks to hit the scene.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that pod2g is totally giving up on iOS — as he acknowledges, it is just a beta after all. But with a switch to Android, the possibility exists that the iOS 6 jailbreak, dubbed evasi0n, was the renowned hacker’s swan song when it comes to Apple devices. Read More

 

Forrester: iOS is shoppers’ platform of choice

By Ed Sutherland on Jun 17, 2013

Owners of mobile gadgets running on Apple’s iOS operating system are more likely to make purchases from their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and use their iDevices for product research. According to research firm Forrester, iOS owners are nearly one-third, or thirty percent, more likely to make purchases using their smartphone or tablet and fifteen percent more likely to research products, compared to Android users.

Although Apple’s software is overwhelmingly chosen by shoppers, 96 percent of e-businesses planned to develop mobile applications for both Android and iOS. However, while companies such as Microsoft and others encourage developers to create apps for their platform, only very large companies intend to stray from the iOS-Android duopoly… Read More

 

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

 
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