In an interesting extension of its lineup of RC-controlled iOS toys, iHelicopters today launched Mini Brick Cars, an interesting do-it-yourself project that should appeal to your kids. As the name suggest, a Mini Brick Car is actually a package containing a bunch of mini bricks which allow you to create any type of vehicle that can be controlled via your iPhone, iPod or iPad using a dedicated controller app. The kit costs $59.95, including free shipping to any destination in the world… Read More
The iTorch, a portable iPhone charger that lights the way
By Jim Gresham on Apr 10, 2013
Since my visit to CES 2013, a quest for a backup portable iPhone charger began. Running around the world’s largest trade show peddling for power was pretty ugly. New Trent was kind enough to send one over for review and it fitted the bill for my charging woes. A simple, travel size device, the iTorch IMP52D provided a full charge in just under 2 hours for my iPhone 5… Read More
Avid launches iOS-compatible audio interfaces
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 8, 2013
Avid, a highly regarded name among pro audio engineers, today announced a pair of mobile audio interfaces with native support for Apple’s iOS platform and the iPad. The Avid Fast Track Solo and Fast Track Duo let you record your guitar, vocals and other instruments through a high-quality mic pres and inputs and tight integration with its Pro Tools Express suite for Mac or Windows PCs. Each interface has a bus-powered USB port on it and allows for a direct iPad connection without the need for Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit interface… Read More
Backup and restore app data, clear caches and more with Icon Tool
By Cody Lee on Apr 6, 2013
What do you get when you take a jailbreak tweak that can clear an app’s notification badges, and cross it with one that can clear its cache, backup and restore its data, and more? Easy, Icon Tool.
Icon Tool is a new tweak by developer ioshack that offers up all of the above-mentioned options in one easy to access menu. Simply put your device into wiggle mode, and triple tap on an app icon… Read More
Take better low-light panoramic pictures with LLBPano
By Cody Lee on Apr 6, 2013
I’m a big fan of the Panorama capture feature that was added in iOS 6. I’d like to be able to use it while holding my iPhone in landscape mode, but other than that I think Apple did a great job with it.
It doesn’t always work very well in low-light conditions though. And that’s where the jailbreak tweak LLBPano comes in. It enables Low-light mode on the iPhone 5 when taking panoramic photos… Read More
Duke Nukem II smashes its way onto your iPhone and iPad
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 3, 2013
As promised, Interceptor Entertainment and 3D Realms today launched Duke Nukem II for the iPhone and iPad on the App Store. The legendary game has made it to Apple’s mobile platform as part of its 20th anniversary. Generation Y readers will remember that the original Duke Nukem II had been released way back in 1993 for Microsoft’s DOS.
It was then followed by Duke Nukem 3D in 1996, a Nintendo Game Boy Color port in 1999 and Duke Nukem Forever in 2011. The iOS version is an enhanced port of the original, which means souped up VGA graphics, a new soundtrack, online leaderboards and more. If you’ve enjoyed the original release, you’ll be delighted to know that all of the 32 original levels have made it to the iOS version… Read More
Did you know you could delete digits in the Calculator app by swiping?
By Cody Lee on Mar 30, 2013
We’ve come across some pretty cool tricks in iOS over the years. There’s the six hidden buttons on the iPad’s split keyboard, the long-hold action in the Mail app that brings up your last draft, and my favorite, Photo Stream websites.
Today we’ve got another neat little tidbit to share with you involving the stock Calculator application. I know, for most of you this app rarely gets touched. But for those of you that use it more often, this tip could prove very useful… Read More
Meet Mittens, Disney’s new physics-based puzzler
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 30, 2013
Who would have thought Disney Interactive would ever produce a smash hit for the iPhone? Seemingly against all odds, that’s exactly what the company has accomplished with its charming puzzler, Where’s My Water? (free, $0.99 universal). The game knocked Rovio’s Angry Birds off the top spot on the App Store’s list of paid apps just 24 hours following its release and ratcheted up a million downloads in its first month of release, enough to score an Apple Design Award for iPhone apps.
Where’s My Water? was also Apple’s 25 billionth app download and was featured in a free download promotion. Disney, of course, wasted no time building a merchandising business around the game. But that was 2012. Now in 2013, Disney is looking to replicate its success with a brand new physics-based puzzler involving kittens and aptly named Mittens. Have a look at the official trailer and jump past the fold for additional info… Read More
How to embed Vine clips in web pages
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 29, 2013
Twitter’s Vine is fine for random sharing of six-second videos and today they issued an interesting new update promising to make embedding own or someone else’s clips easy as a pie. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
The new version won’t let you just grab an embed code in-app. For reasons beyond our comprehension, the software sends you to a special web page where the embed code can be created.
It’s not the end of the world, but the solution is cumbersome and inelegant, though it works. To start injecting those beautiful Vines into your blog posts, web pages, email newsletters or pretty much into any other other type of HTML content, just follow our quick guide and you should be fine… Read More
Final Fantasy V hits the App Store
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 28, 2013
Twenty years following its original release on SNES, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy V has landed on the iPhone and iPad. The game invites you travel the lands commanding a band of four in search for the mysterious crystals that control the four elements – earth, water, fire and wind – thereby bringing peace and prosperity to the world.
These things have lost their power and are on the verge of destruction so you must find a way to restore their power. The iOS version also includes The Sealed Temple from the 2006 release, the Tetsuya Nomura-designed optional boss Enuo and an all-new soundtrack… Read More
Twitterrific iOS app finally gains push alerts, but…
…but you probably won’t be able to take advantage of them because native Push Notifications are still in beta so developer Iconofactory had to limit the much-needed feature to the first thousand users, as determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
The system is very similar to the reservation tickets in the Mailbox app. Luckily, I was able to reserve my spot on time so my copy of Twitterrific version 5.2 has native push alerts turned on.
Tucked away under the app’s settings, push alerts can be turned on and off individually for direct messages, replies, mentions, favorites, retweets and follows.
Another handy treat: each of these can be color-coded so you get a better idea of a particular notification’s importance after it appears on your screen, especially handy when these alerts start cropping up on your Lock screen… Read More
Capcom puts some games on 99-cent Easter sale
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 26, 2013
If you’re looking for bargain deals on iPhone and iPad games ahead of Easter, the Japanese games maker Capcom has you covered. The company has reduced some of its popular iOS titles down to the 99-cent price point, including several installments in its Street Fighter series and Mega Man X, a nice arcade-quality action platformer with crisp Retina graphics.
Capcom does not specify when the promotion will end so best thing you act now if you’re a fan of these games… Read More
Quick review: Handy Photo for iPhone and iPad
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 26, 2013
Sebastien and I share a passion for iPhone photography so when he asked me to take a look at Handy Photo the other day, I was overly excited. So what does this new photography app does that your favorite software can’t? How about AntiCrop and TouchRetouch, two interesting features that work a lot like content-aware fill in Photoshop?
Or, perhaps you’ll be impressed by the ability to perform complex touch ups and work with 36-megapixel images (not a typo)? The promo video is a bit cheesy and heavy on superlatives, but it does a nice job highlighting key features of this handy program. I’ve included more info and a few screenies after the break… Read More
Bluelounge releases Mika, one stand to rule them all
By Jim Gresham on Mar 26, 2013
It is almost redundant for me to begin another article expressing my love affair with quality iOS device stands, but, for the sake of tradition, allow my introduction sentence to lend credence to my lust. Bluelounge announced today, their newest product, the Mika, which is a simple stand for iPad, but strong enough to hold a full size MacBook. Thanks to a buddy at Bluelounge, I was able to get my hands on one for review prior to the announcement… Read More
Apple envisions multitouch gestures on blank screens
By Ed Sutherland on Mar 26, 2013
Apple Tuesday was granted an intriguing multitouch patent with a wrinkle: no screen display necessary. Instead of glancing down at your iPod during a workout to adjust the volume or skip past an annoying track, you simply touch the screen. The patent, first filed in 2009, opens up a number of potential benefits, including extending battery life.
Rather than your iPod nano’s screen displaying controls such as sliders, Apple envisions devices accepting multitouch user input even when a screen itself is blank. Not only would this open the potential for eliminating hardware controls, but the technology may also become part of everyday devices ranging from your iPhone, iWatch or even iGlasses, should Apple decide to compete with Google… Read More
MechWarrior explodes onto iPhone
By Jim Gresham on Mar 26, 2013
Growing up in the 90′s provided the extreme advantage of spending late nights in front of Mech Warrior 2. Aside from King’s Quest V, Mech Warrior 2 is one of the few PC games I ever completed from start to finish. When we were contacted by Personae Studios to review their newest build of MechWarrior: Tactical Command, I had no hesitations to agree. Moving from a FPS console and desktop option to RTS, the iOS Mech Warrior experience will be appreciated by MechWarrior fans, old and new… Read More
XCOM: Enemy Unknown iOS port due this summer, Mac build launches April 24
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 25, 2013
If you’re fond of complex strategy games that go past the Command & Conquer series (which, in my personal opinion, doesn’t look and play well on iPhones and iPads), you should jump with joy on news that developer Firaxis and publisher 2K Games are porting XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the popular turn-based tactical role-playing strategy, to Apple’s platform.
The game has some pretty ardent following and a port for iOS was officially announced at a PAX East panel on this past Saturday. What’s in it for you and why should you care? Go past the fold more some more tidbits… Read More
US Department of Defense said to be ordering 650,000 iOS devices
By Cody Lee on Mar 20, 2013
The United States Department of Defense has a pending purchase order for more than half a million iOS devices, according to a new report. ’Well-placed sources’ say the government plans to purchase in upwards of 650,000 iPhones, iPads and iPod touches as part of an ongoing effort to update and mobilize its technologies… Read More
Walmart expands iPhone scan-and-checkout option to 200+ more stores
By Ed Sutherland on Mar 20, 2013
It is an idea that was just waiting to be implemented: using your iPhone to scan product barcodes at retailers. Apparently, the world’s largest chain of retail stores agrees. Walmart announced Wednesday it will offer the feature across more than 200 stores in twelve additional U.S. markets, stretching from Seattle to Oklahoma.
Although the move triples the size of the retail chain’s Scan & Go program, Walmart said it still wants to get customer feedback before rolling out iPhone-based price checks in all stores… Read More
iOS 6.1.3 is out with fixes for Lock screen vulnerability, Japan Maps improvements
By Christian Zibreg on Mar 19, 2013
Apple has just issued iOS 6.1.3 (build 10B329), an incremental update to its mobile operating system powering iPhones, iPads and iPods. This particular update brings fixes to the widely reported Lock screen vulnerability, first discovered a month ago, which lets people with access to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to easily bypass your passcode and get to your personal information on the device.
Today’s firmware also contains Maps improvements for Japan. If you’re jailbroken, you’ll want to stay away from this update until we collect more information… Read More
