Year: 2012

1Password 4 lands in the App Store

As promised, AgileBits has released 1Password 4 for the iPhone and iPad today. The update to the popular password-keeper is actually an all-new app, with several improvements over its predecessor like a revamped UI, new features and more. Plus, AgileBits is offering a steep discount on the new software for a limited time. More details after the break...

The Daily Recap – Dec 12, 2012 edition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRLq-OGgags

Welcome to The Daily Recap for December 12th, 2012. Watch our video above for a quick look at some of the top stories from the day in less than two minutes. If you missed out on any of today’s big news, this is an excellent way for you to get caught up fast.

For your convenience, you’ll also find links to all of the stories listed in today’s recap inside...

Google Maps app now available in the App Store

As expected, the official Google Maps app has landed in the App Store this evening. The release comes following a number of rumors, which have been circulating since the summer when it was announced that Apple would be replacing Google Maps in iOS with its own in-house solution.

The app works on the iPhone and iPod touch (no iPad version yet), and includes a number of features such as voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, Google's exclusive Street View, which allows you to look at locations from street level, and public transit directions. More details after the fold...

iDB 2012 holiday gift guide: Cody’s picks

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…

Google to release iOS maps app tonight

After much wait, it seems that Google is finally set to release its iOS maps app tonight.

As you'll no doubt recall, Google Maps was the stock maps app on iOS on up until it was usurped by Apple's own flavor of maps beginning with iOS 6. Of course, that didn't go down so well for Apple, as its Maps app was critically panned for being ugly at best, and dangerously inaccurate at worst.

The Apple Maps debacle got so bad that a public apology was posted by Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Scott Forstall, the man behind Apple Maps, was relieved of his duties.

Now, after months of speculation and wait, AllThingsD is reporting that Google will release its iOS maps comeback tonight...

As expected, the Dream JB is a fake – updated

Okay, I'll bite. Again.

Yesterday I called out the developer of "Dream JB" for promising to bring a jailbreak to the iPhone 5 when he knew good and well that he couldn't fulfill that promise.

Understandably, a lot of readers were miffed that I had the audacity to dash their hopes for a jailbreak. We've waited a long time for a jailbreak for iOS 6 and the iPhone 5, so it didn't really surprise me when I was labeled a pessimist, although I was surprised a bit that my journalistic integrity was questioned. Fair enough, I was pretty positive that in due time this "jailbreak" would be exposed for what it really was.

Due time came today.

As I stated, I too wish for a jailbreak, it's in my best interest to have one...but I and many others saw through this for what it was — a fake. Now the developer has released a video showcasing his fake work. And although it's a pretty ambitious job of fakery, at the end of the day it's still fake.

Facebook confirms Instagram will have ads

Brace yourselves, it looks like advertisements are coming to Instagram. Since its release in late 2010, the popular photo sharing service has managed to remain ad-free. But once Facebook took over the reigns earlier this year in its legendary $1 billion buyout, speculation has been rampant that this would change, and Facebook just confirmed it...

As rivalry with Samsung and Google intensifies, all eyes are on iTV

Here's the latest on the Apple television front: it will certainly be announced in the next three years and it will look like, well, something. But whenever and whatever Apple unveils, rivals are sure to copy it. So says venture capitalist, the founder of Netscape and one of the early architects of the web, Marc Andreessen.

Andreessen, who sits on the board of Facebook and HP, is just the latest voice in what's become a deafening roar of rumor, leaks and knowledgeable guesses surrounding talk that Apple will get into the television business. Somehow. Sometime...

Australian police: flawed Google Maps putting people’s lives at risk, too

Look, digital maps are imperfect - some more than the others. Australian police earlier in the week issued a public safety warning over a major flaw in Apple Maps which incorrectly put the town of Mildura in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park.

It wasn't Apple's fault entirely as the company was working on data from The Australian Gazetteer, a company run by the Geosciences Australia agency which supplies Gazetteer with mapping data sourced from the state of Victoria itself.

And now, we learn that the police in Colac, west of Melbourne, warn of safety concerns from Google Maps. Ouch!

RadioShack price-matches Best Buy, knocks $50 off iPhone 4S/5 on any carrier

RadioShack previously lowered its asking prices for the iPhone 5 by a cool $25, but that was only for the AT&T version of the popular handset. Sweetening its holiday deal, the American franchise of electronics retail stores has now shaved $50 off both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, regardless of your preferred carrier. The retailer is basically price-matching Best Buy's promotion where they also knocked $50 off all iPhone 5 models. Go past the fold for additional terms and conditions...

Microsoft turns to retailers to help flagging Surface sales

Microsoft's Surface tablet just isn't selling. But the company knows - or thinks it does - the reason. The problem with sales is that the Surface just isn't available in enough stores, the software giant turned tablet maker says. Currently, the Surface is mainly sold in about three dozen Microsoft's own retail outlets in the country.

After being stung by reports that its tablet wasn't even selling in Microsoft-owned stores (are you reading this, Oprah Winfrey?), the company announced it will put the Surface on the shelves of third-party retailers, such as Staples. If 'build it and they will come' isn't working, will 'stock it and they will buy' be any better?