Year: 2012

How to bypass iPad jailbreak detection on Amazon’s new video streaming app

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

Yesterday Amazon launched Amazon Instant Video, its new video streaming app for the iPad. The app lets you either stream or mark for download and later offline viewing any previously purchased video from Amazon. It also allows Amazon Prime users to stream over 120,000 videos for free.

Jailbreak users were quick to note that Amazon put a block in place to prevent them from using the app. As we reported this morning, Amazon even confirmed the problem, basically saying that if you are using a jailbroken iPad, there is nothing they can do for you.

But don't worry, as usual, the jailbreak community has your back...

The Phillips Mini Hi-Fi: the ultimate iPhone-run party machine

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 12, 2018

Every good party needs good music. And nowadays, most people seem to store most of their good music on their iPod or iPhone. So that makes iOS compatibility an important feature when you're out shopping for a stereo.

There's no shortage of music players that have a 30-pin dock connector, and there's several to pick from that can connect to your device through AirPlay. But sometimes a Jambox isn't enough. Enter the Phillips Mini Hi-Fi...

iPad slaughters competition, gains share in Q2

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 2, 2012

The iPad is increasingly looking like a big success story for Apple though investors have been largely ignoring the fact due to their fixation with the iPhone, which fell three million units short of predictions in Q2 2012.

During the June quarter, Apple sold 17 million iPads, an 84 percent increase over the 9.25 million iPads sold in the year-ago quarter and up from the 11.8 million iPads shipped in Q1 2012. In just twelve months, Apple increased its share by almost seven percentage points, from 61.5 percent in Q2 2011 to a whopping 68.2 percent in Q2 2012.

Samsung and Asus also gained, the former on the heels of its Galaxy Tab lineup that Apple thinks copies the iPad's look and feel, and the latter based on strong sales of own products and the Nexus 7 which Asus makes for Google...

Amazon confirms problems with Instant Video app on jailbroken iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 2, 2012

Online retailer Amazon confirmed that its newly released video streaming client for iPad, the free Instant Video app, doesn't run correctly on jailbroken iPads. Amazon yesterday released the program which enables its $79-a-year Prime subscribers and regular users to easily stream and synch via an iPad their video purchases and thousands of movies and television shows the company has on offer...

Even smarter Smart Cover could be in the works, patent hints

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

A much more capable Smart Cover could be in the works as a newly surfaced patent application indicates Apple's been researching a next-generation iPad cover which combines a built-in keyboard with a flexible display itself driven by multitouch technology.

Coincidentally, a recent rumor asserted Apple was researching bendable displays and exploring ways to use flexible panels in mobile gadgets (Samsung's already on it). As for the smarter Smart Cover, it could also incorporate solar panels for easy recharging under sunlight, in addition to inductive charging, smart pen input and even a battery engineered inside the case in a variety of ways...

Apple demands sanctions against Samsung over evidence leak

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

When Samsung on Monday publicized previously excluded evidence related to its F700 phone and other devices it had been working on before the iPhone came along (to establish prior art), the company didn't just anger Judge Lucy Koh, it also drew ire of Apple's legal team.

Cupertino is now asking the court to rule in its favor because Samsung's unusual move was in an attempt to prejudice the jury. Because of that, Apple's attorneys are saying the court should rule that Samsung infringed Apple's patents as a way of punishing the South Korean conglomerate for misconduct...

Apple worked on curved-glass iPhone, but production was prohibitively expensive

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 2, 2012

This Apple vs. Samsung litigation may be the patent trial of the century, but to fans it's also a treasure trove of valuable information concerning the company's industrial design and craftsmanship, something Apple never detailed voluntarily.

One of the more interesting nuggets from yesterday's deposition by Apple's designer Christopher Stringer highlighted two interesting prototypes that Apple eventually passed on: one sporting a shaped glass and the other featuring all-aluminum enclosure akin to the iPod...

Sharp confirms display shipments for iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2016

Sharp president Takashi Okuda today confirmed to Reuters that his company will begin shipping displays for Apple's sixth-generation iPhone this month. This is the first time to my knowledge that a major supplier officially confirmed an unreleased Apple product, even if he didn't give a more specific date for shipments beyond this month. The panels will be four inches corner to corner, 30 percent bigger than current iPhones, sources told the news gathering organization...

The Time Command Mini adds app-enhanced flare to the alarm dock

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

There is a lot of competition out there in the dock world and many of them simply play music, charge your iDevice, and get in the way due to their bulky form factors. Stem Innovation is here to challenge the status quo with their Time Command Mini, which is not only a dock, but also an extension of your iDevice, thanks to the timecommand companion app...

Rumor: iPad mini display production to start this month

Cody Lee ∙ August 2, 2012

Alongside the new iPhone that everyone keeps talking about, Apple's other big announcement this fall is expected to be a smaller tablet. Dubbed the "iPad mini," by the media, the slate is believed to house a 7.85-inch screen and fall in the $200 price range.

Although there's no actual evidence that such a product exists, it's been confirmed by a number different news outlets. In fact, a new report is out this evening claiming that Apple is set to start production on the smaller tablet's display sometime this month...

Apple officially shuts down MobileMe and iWork.com

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2012

Apple has officially closed the door on its MobileMe cloud service today. The move comes after a several month-long transition period that allowed users to move their accounts to iCloud and download their remaining files.

As of this morning, the MobileMe site no longer offers users the option to transfer their accounts over to iCloud, or download their remaining data. Instead, MobileMe visitors are redirected to the existing iCloud website...

New report offers more information about Apple-Twitter talks

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2012

Last week, news broke that Apple had, at one point, been in talks with Twitter over a massive investment in the social network. The report described the move as a "strategic investment" believed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Initially, it was believed that these negotiations had taken place in recent months. But a rebuttal by The Wall Street Journal claimed that it's been more than a year since this happened. And today, The WSJ is back with more information...