Year: 2012

iOS 6 can pull someone’s full name and Facebook photo based on a phone number alone

I’m risking of stating the obvious with this one, but I’d bet my shirt many of your were unaware of this little trick. As you know, Facebook integration in iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion can automagically update photos and user names for all matching contacts. What you may not have known is that Apple only needs a person’s phone number to pull this data.

So if a girl you met at a bar last night left you just her phone number, you can easily get her Facebook profile picture to appear on your iPhone when she happens to call you - even if you’re not friends with her on Facebook and even if her profile is hidden on Facebook. Plus, you'll get her full name in Contacts. How cool is that?

AntiTint removes the status bar tint in iOS 6

AntiTint is a recently released jailbreak tweak from Ryan Petrich that sets out to do one thing — remove the status bar tint found in iOS 6.

New with iOS 6 came the ability for a developer to tint the status bar to match or accent the color of the rest of their app. Many people have found this to be annoying, and would like to go back to the black status bars predominately featured in iOS versions prior to iOS 6.

If you're jailbroken, then doing so is as easy as installing this tweak. Take a look inside to see how it works...

Google’s iLost ad uses a phony street address to exaggerate Apple Maps flaws

Remember an ad Google's subsidiary Motorola recently published to highlight Apple Maps flaws? "Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan?", Google's advertisement read. "Google Maps on Droid Razr M will get you there & not #iLost in Brooklyn", it went on to suggest that iOS 6 Maps will direct users to a wrong road name in the wrong city. Well, guess what? That address doesn't even exist!

That's right, 315 E 15th Street is not an actual address in Manhattan. This whole maps thing is really getting blown out of proportion. Why would Google fake an ad and make folks search for an incorrect, ambiguous street address other than make Apple Maps look bad. Apple of course also isn't one to shy away from deceptive advertising. Remember this?

Google enables better iOS contact sync via CardDAV protocol

If you wanted to sync your iOS Contacts with Google with changes instantly reflected across devices, Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync used to be your only option. As of today, Google announced that “we’re adding CardDAV to that list”, allowing for seamless contact syncing between your Google Account and third-party apps, including iOS devices running iOS 5 or later...

AquaBoard brings water inspired effects to the Home screen and Lock screen

AquaBoard is a new tweak that allows you to add water effects to your iPad or iPhone. The effects can take place on your Home screen or Lock screen, or can be relegated to just one of the two.

Included with AquaBoard are numerous animations, tweaks, and settings to fully customize the effect to your liking. It looks good on the iPhone, but as you'll see in our video walkthrough, it looks really good on the iPad...

New app from Google hitting iOS soon: Field Trip

So much about distancing from Apple. Google just recently launched very nice YouTube client and Chrome browser for iOS, it's said to be working on a standalone Maps app and now introduced a new software that runs in the background analyzing your environment to give you facts about the places around you.

It pops up a nice card when you get close to something interesting and will even read the info to you if you have a headset or Bluetooth connected. Best thing you check it out in a video I've included right below...

Camera+ for iPad is here: layers, brushes, straightening, Flickr and Facebook importing

The software isn't just blown up to the iPad's 9.7-inch canvas, it also comes with new features specific to the iPad version only. Combined with freshly updated Camera+ for iPhone, you can now seamlessly sync your Lightbox between your iPhones and iPads via iCloud. iPad-specific features include new advanced filters, the straightening feature (finally!), brush on effects, layered effects (mix “So Emo” with “Tailfins”) and the ability to import your images from Flickr and Facebook...

Camera+ updated with iCloud sync, Facebook single sign-on, taller iPhone 5 interface

Taptaptap's Camera+ sold over nine million copies since its inception in June of 2010 and it's remained my favorite go-to photography app ever since. A major new version just hit the App Store this morning, bringing several new features.

Most notably, version 3.5 enables iCloud sync and Facebook sharing with single sign-on. The former lets you automatically sync your Lightbox between devices and the latter simplifies Facebook authorization.

And best of all, the team confirms that Camera+ for iPad is around the corner. Count us excited!

Study finds the iPhone 5 costs $0.41 a year to charge

Okay, so you have your new iPhone 5. Although Apple claims its new handset's battery can last around 8 hours, there will come a time when you have to recharge.

The new iPhone will cost you more to charge, but by only pennies, a new study finds. Keeping your four-inch iPhone 5 fully charged will cost you $0.41 cents per year, or $0.03 more than the iPhone 4...

Discounted iPhone 5 hitting regional U.S. carriers tonight

The iPhone 5 launches in 22 new countries tomorrow, in addition to at least six regional U.S. carriers. We previously told you that regional wireless operators Cricket, C Spire, GCI, Bluegrass Cellular and Appalachian Wireless will be landing the iPhone 5 on Friday, September 28.

Joining these five carriers is nTelos Wireless, according to a new report, who will be offering the entry-level sixteen gigabyte version of the iPhone 5 for just $149 with a two-year contract. Other regional carriers are also reportedly slated to start carrying the device tonight...