You wouldn’t know it by reading through the latest tech news headlines, but Apple is on track to have another stellar year. It’s already recorded two record-breaking quarters, and it has yet to launch a new or refreshed product.
But not everyone is ignoring Apple’s success. Fortune today released its annual, high-profile ”Fortune 500″ list of the largest companies in the United States. And the iPad-maker has risen up several spots from last year, to #6… Read More
Google sent shockwaves throughout the tech world yesterday when it announced that it would be killing off Google Reader this summer. Despite a recent decline in usage, a number of people, and apps, still depend on the service.
But never fear, as usual, iDB has you covered. We’ve done all of the leg work, and put together a list of 10 Google Reader alternatives. And by the time you get done reading through them, you’ll be saying “Google what?” Read More
The evad3rs just launched their official website a few moments ago, unveiling the name of the 6.x jailbreak: evasi0n. They look to be about 60% done with the hack, as they’re finishing up the GUI and about to start private testing.
The site also divulges some other information regarding the jailbreak, including device and firmware compatibility. And as expected, evasi0n is going to support all iOS devices running iOS versions 6.0 to the just-released 6.1… Read More
Consumer reports is an American Magazine (and web resource) that has been bringing its readers reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services for nearly 80 years now. So needless to say, their opinions are highly regarded but many.
But I know a few iPhone 5 owners that aren’t going to agree with its latest report regarding flagship smartphones. In its February 2013 issue, the magazine ranks Apple’s handset as one of the worst high-end devices available on the larger US carriers… Read More
Given the fact that millions of iPhones, iPads and iPod touches were given as gifts this year, and that a number of apps and games were on sale, it’s no surprise that there was a huge spike in app downloads on Tuesday.
In fact, app analytics firm Distimo found that daily downloads in the App Store increased by 87% on Christmas Day compared to the December 2012 average. So what was everyone downloading? Read on to find out…
Christmas is over and 2012 is winding down, meaning it’s about that time where folks start reflecting back on the year. As such, Instagram has posted a list of its most popular picture-taking locations for the past 12 months.
Out of anywhere else in the world, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was the most popular, with over 100,000 photos taken there in 2012. Interested in the rest of the list? We’ve got the whole thing for you after the break… Read More
Nielsen, a highly regarded information and measurement firm, released its “Digital Tops of 2012″ lists yesterday, which included topics like the top 10 Internet brands, and the top 10 iOS apps for the year.
The apps were picked based on average unique users from Q1 of 2012 to Q3, and as you might have guessed, four of the top 10 chosen are (were) native iOS apps like Maps and YouTube. We’ve got the full list after the fold… Read More
Christmas is rapidly approaching, and a quick glance at the calendar tell us we only have about two weeks left to finish up our last-minute holiday shopping. Luckily, for those of you that are still having trouble deciding what to get that special someone, iDB is here to help. Over the past few days we’ve been bringing you our top picks for Christmas gifts as part of our first ever iDB holiday gift guide. And now that you know what Sebastien and Jim suggest, here are my personal recommendations… Read More
Apple may not always sell more phones than the competition, but between its trend-setting handset designs and gargantuan fan base, it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the most powerful companies in the wireless industry.
In fact, the folks over at FierceWireless just posted their annual list of the top 25 most powerful people in US wireless. And out of all of the carrier CEOs and heads of government agencies, they ranked Tim Cook number one… Read More
Apple doesn’t get a whole lot of respect from the tech world when it comes to innovation. The company is seen more as a re-innovator than an innovator, as it typically builds its products on top of previous inventions.
But according to a new report by Global management consulting firm Booz & Co, Apple is the most innovative company in the world. The iPad-maker finished ahead of the likes of Google, 3M and its rival Samsung… Read More
Realmac Software has just released a new OS X version of its popular Clear to-do app. That’s right, the popular list-maker is now available for the Mac, and it includes a lot of the same gestures and UI stuff from the iOS version.
Speaking of the iOS version, Realmac also released a major update to its iPhone app yesterday. Clear 1.2 contains several new features including iCloud-syncing, which goes great with the new Mac app, quote sharing, and more… Read More
Apple has filed its end of the year 10-K document, a performance report required of all companies by the SEC (Security Exchange Commission), and as you might expect, it contains some pretty interesting information about the iPad-makers.
Perhaps most interesting is that it names Scott Forstall’s new official title at the company, following Monday’s announcement that he is no longer the SVP of iOS software: Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer… Read More
We are now just 24 hours away from Apple’s October 23 media event, where the Cupertino company is expected to do something it hasn’t done since January 27, 2010: unveil a new iOS device. Sure, we’ve seen updated iPhones and iPods over the years. But the last time we saw an all-new mobile product from Apple, Steve Jobs was hoisting it on stage.
That should, however, change this week, when Apple introduces the long-rumored “iPad mini.” The scaled-down tablet has been the subject of speculation and gossip for more than two years now. And if insider reports and part leaks hold true, it looks like the mythical slate is finally going to materialize in San Jose’s California Theatre tomorrow.
If this all sounds like a big deal, that’s because it is. With the iPad mini’s pricing said to be somewhere around $300, and its screen size between 7 and 8-inches, Apple’s wading into an already well-established budget tablet pool that is currently dominated by the likes of Amazon, which just introduced a slew of new Kindle Fires, and Google.
Even with the tough competition, though, analysts and pundits alike are betting on Apple to sell millions of these bite-sized iPads — especially with the holidays around the corner. But does the Cupertino company’s new tablet have what it takes to live up to the high expectations? You tell us. Here’s everything we know right now about the iPad mini … Read More
Apple’s iPhone event ended more than 2 hours ago, but we’re still trying to sift through the gobs of information regarding the new handset and its features. And we figured you were too.
So we went ahead and did all of the leg work for you, and uncovered just about everything there is to know about the new iPhone hardware. And we’ve put it in a single, easy-to-read list.
Here’s the iPhone 5 by the numbers… Read More
TIME magazine just published its list of the 20 most influential Americans of all time. Among those listed are folks like George Washington, Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and yes, Steve Jobs.
The magazine calls Jobs the “high priest of the computer age,” and gives a brief rundown of his life and accomplishments, including his time at Disney, and his unprecedented revival of Apple… Read More
After introducing the iPhone 4S on Tuesday, Apple was met with an onslaught of harsh criticism for essentially “not living up to the hype.” Several rumors regarding a completely redesigned handset seemed to set the wrong expectations.
But level-headed folks saw this coming a mile away. The Cupertino company pulled the same thing with the 3GS. Why recreate something brand new every year, when the cell phone business generally revolves around two-year contracts? Read More
The BlackBerry PlayBook launched last week to some mixed reviews. The latest formidable iPad competitor to enter the market has certainly heard its fair share of criticism. There’s very few usable applications and the operating system isn’t consistent.
Although the tablet doesn’t offer any kind of threat to the iPad 2 in terms of market share at this point, I hope the folks over at Apple are taking notes. There are a few things that the juggernaut could learn from the rookie tablet.
1. Flash Video
You knew it was coming, so we’ll get it out of the way first. Flash. Although I’ve never seen Flash work properly on a mobile device, the BlackBerry PlayBook plays back Flash videos effortlessly. While I admit I probably don’t encounter many problems by not having Flash these days, it’d be nice to have access to Flash-based Videos.
2. Screen Resolution
Believe it or not, those folks over at Research In Motion, known for not being on the cutting edge of technology, produced a brighter and sharper screen than the iPad 2. I’d like to see Apple increase the next iPad’s screen resolution substantially. Retina anyone?
3. Worthy Native Web Browser
While a wealth of 3rd party apps make up for the features Safari lacks, they don’t have the ability to be the default browser. If you open a link from an email or application, you’re tossed right back into Safari. The PlayBook’s web browser, on the other hand, has tabbed windows and an easy way to manage them. The Safari multi-page browsing system works nice on the iPhone, but the iPad could use a different design.
4. Stereo Speakers
So the iPad is touted as a great portable media device that allows you to play games and watch movies, but the mono speaker is so last year. The PlayBook comes with stereo speakers and sounds amazing. I’ve always felt Apple’s iDevice products could use better quality speakers, but I’m sure they just assume accessory makers fill that void.
5. Phone Pairing Capabilities
With the PlayBook, you’re able to tether your BlackBerry smartphone and access all of your information in real time. I know it’s also flawed in this area by not providing native PlayBook Calendar and Contact apps, but it would be nice if the iPhone shared this feature. Imagine not having to use a 3rd party application to transfer pictures from your iPhone to your iPad.
So there you have it, a few things that the BlackBerry PlayBook did right. Obviously RIM’s tablet is in its early stages and the iPad 2 is clearly winning the tablet war. Hopefully though, we’ll see some of the missing features listed above, in the next iteration of Apple’s tablet.
