Year: 2012

Camera+ finally gains full-res sharing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Camera+'s inability to share snaps at full resolution on Facebook has been ticking me off for some time. I prefer to share my images in full-res whenever possible, but the otherwise perfect Camera+ app stubbornly kept insisting on reducing my uploads to a paltry 1,024 pixels horizontally.

Thankfully, the annoying limitation is gone now. What's more, developer tap tap tap has also bumped up the quality a bit for Twitter, Message and web link sharing, meaning you’ll get higher quality shares even if you don’t change a thing.

The iPad version now does a better job handling atypical image formats and the team is already talking about the upcoming version 3.8, "which is right around the corner".

In addition to "a few other really cool things", this will be the update you've been waiting for, one that will finally converge the features in both iPhone and iPad version of the program...

Google Maps for iOS saw 10 million downloads in first 2 days

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

It's been 5 days now since Google released its highly-anticipated Maps app for iOS, and it's still the #1 free download in the App Store. With its vector graphics and exclusive features like Street View, the app is obviously a hit.

But just how big of a hit are we talking? Well Google SVP of Commerce Jeff Huber gives us some insight on that via a post to his Google+ page. He says the Maps app saw more than 10 million downloads in the first 48 hours...

How to jailbreak iOS 6.1 beta 4

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Apple seeded the 4th beta installment of iOS 6.1 just a while ago, and it's now available as both a delta update, and a direct download via Apple's developer portal.

As we always strive to do, we've taken it upon ourselves to jailbreak iOS 6.1 beta 4 as a confirmation that it can be done. Inside, we'll show you the exact steps that you need to take in order to do the same on your qualifying iOS 6 beta 4 device.

Google rolls out new iPhone app: YouTube Capture

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0sOzdXce6o

Google on Monday released a brand new software to simplify the process of uploading videos to YouTube from your iPhone or iPod touch. Dubbed YouTube Capture and provided as a free download from the App Store, the app lets you record and touch up videos with color correction, stabilization, trimming and the ability to add free music tracks from YouTube prior to uploading your finished work. Moreover, you can upload to Google+, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube simultaneously...

iOS 6.1 beta 4 released to developers for all iOS devices

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple has released what is reportedly its final iOS 6.1 beta a few minutes ago, when it pushed out iOS 6.1 beta 4 for all iOS devices including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV.

Existing beta users can access the latest update via the General > Software Update section of the Settings.app. This delta update rings in at a modest 56.5 MB, while the full fledged update comes in at 896 MB when downloaded directly from Apple's developer portal.

Even with strong iPhone 5 debut in China, analysts downgrade AAPL, sending shares below $500

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Is the glass half-full, or half-empty? Apparently, when it comes to Apple's stock, financial analysts in Europe and Asia are born pessimists. After Citigroup Sunday downgraded the iPhone maker's stock from Buy to Neutral, shares fell below $497 in pre-market trading Monday. This after closing Friday at nearly $510. Analysts appear to have discounted the equally-positive news this morning that Apple's two million iPhone 5 in three days in China broke a record...

Fry’s undercuts everyone with a $126 iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 28, 2016

Fry's, an American big-box store and electronics retailer, has beaten Walmart with a nice holiday discount on the iPhone 5. The entry-level iPhone 5 with sixteen gigabytes of storage and a two-year contract will set you back $126. That's a buck less than Walmart and the lowest price we could find for Apple's latest handset. If you're in the market for a new iPhone, this could be the best deal yet to get your hands on the super fast, thin and light iPhone 5, arguably the best phone in the world...

Microsoft recaps its ‘milestones’ in 2012

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 2, 2017

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ismMaczcCzo

Microsoft, once the mighty Apple archival, in ways more than one is now directly or indirectly supporting Apple's war on Android. With that in mind, let's check out Microsoft's recap video highlighting its milestones in 2012, one for each month. I'd call only two Microsoft products milestones: Halo 4, which raked in $220 million in sales in the first 24 hours, and the Xbox console with Kinect, which got Windows support in February.

As much as I like Windows Phone's originality, it's failed to make a dent and clings to a single-digit market share. The Surface is a flop (even the CEO agrees) and major software launches like Windows 8 and server products have not met the management's internal expectations. Besides, Apple's iPhone biz recently became worth more than all of Microsoft. How's that for a milestone?

Apple retains European smartphone lead over rapidly-growing Samsung

Ed Sutherland ∙ December 17, 2012

The UK continues to be Apple's European fortress against the invading hordes of Android smartphones. That's the word from Internet firm comScore, which announced Monday most European cell phone owners have adopted smartphones. In the United Kingdom, Apple is holding onto a slim 4 point-lead.

Meanwhile, South Korea-based Samsung experiences double-digit growth. Germany is the only European nation where smartphone penetration has not reached at least 50 percent. In the UK and Spain, two countries where consumers have largely abandoned landlines, smartphone adoption is at 62.3 percent and 63.2 percent, respectively.

But the real story could be the tight race between Apple and Samsung, fueled by Android's growing presence in Europe...

Brightcove CEO sees a bright future for Apple television

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 17, 2012

Brightcove founder, chairman and CEO Jeremy Allaire previously shared some interesting observations regarding Apple's living room strategy, saying that AirPlay technology and third-party apps will set a mythical Apple television set apart from traditional TV sets. And with Tim Cook telling NBC that television remains an "area of intense interest" for Apple.

Jeremy this morning shared some additional observations concerning the Apple TV strategy, noting Apple should best serve its customers with a companion $149 device rather than a full-blown HD TV set costing as much as two thousand bucks...

IBM: 5 years from now, you’ll be able to touch through your phone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 28, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wXkfrBJqVcQ At the end of every year, IBM Research publishes its annual “5 in 5″, basically a list of five technologies that computer scientists believe will make the most impact in the next five years. Some of the past predictions that came true include a 2006 notion that we'd be bale to access healthcare remotely and use real-time speech translation. More often than not, however, these technology picks are merely entertaining guidelines and food for thought.

In the 2012 edition, IBM's research arm calls for smartphones and computers with a sense of touch unlike any you've experienced before. Our gizmos will understand images and be more aware of their surroundings while providing a wide range of output via sensory and cognitive technologies, enabling, for example, the smell or taste of food.

With all due respect to current technology, our computers today are just large calculators", IBM's CTO of Telcom Research Paul Bloom says in the above clip. So, 2017 should be all about cognitive computing. Included after the break: five videos highlighting these interesting predictions...