Year: 2012

Sparrow push notifications reportedly working for some users? [Updated]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

It looks like the folks at Sparrow have started to enable push notifications for a handful of users. Perhaps this is a part of a larger rollout?

YouTube personality Duncan33303 has reported that push notifications are now working on his 1.1 installation of Sparrow, as have others.

According to a blog post on Sparrow's website, the push update was supposed to be available in the next released of Sparrow, that being version 1.2. It appears, however, that the developers of the highly popular Mail app alternative may have included code in the 1.1 update to make push notifications work without the need for Apple's approval...

AT&T to start unlocking off-contract iPhones this Sunday

Cody Lee ∙ April 6, 2012

Unlocking your iPhone can be a fairly tricky task. Unless you pay in upwards of $600 for a factory-unlocked handset, you could be required to jailbreak or even purchase a third-party SIM mod to use your iPhone on multiple carriers.

But according to Engadget, that could change this Sunday for AT&T customers. The site is reporting that it has received an anonymous tip that the US carrier will start unlocking off-contract iPhones starting April 8th...

After Wi-Fi, 3G connectivity issues with the new iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2012

Yesterday, we informed you of a bunch of Wi-Fi connection issues some owners of the new iPad continue to experience with their device, including intermittent connectivity, slow data speeds and inability to see Wi-Fi networks. Unfortunately, more network-related woes have been discovered.

Since last week, an unknown subset of international users have been reporting trouble connecting to 3G cellular networks with their 4G LTE iPad. Interesting enough, Apple appears to have deleted a thread at their Support Communities website that by this morning has already ballooned to well over a hundred posts.

Here's what folks are saying...

iDB deal of the day: 37% off the OtterBox Defender Series with Realtree Camo

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Get a great deal on the OtterBox Defender Series with Realtree Camo. Today, and today only, you can get it from the iDB store at a 37% discount.

The OtterBox Defender Series with Realtree Camo Case for the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 offers rugged protection for your smartphone. The Defender Series case will help keep your phone protected from drops, bumps, dust and shock.

All features, keys and ports are accessible through the case, providing you with a unique, interactive safeguard. Included with this case is a holster style swivel belt clip.

Works with: iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, Verizon iPhone 4.

List Price: $59.95 Your Price: $37.95 You Save: $22.00 (37% Off)

This deal is available exclusively in the iDB store, while supplies last

Apple’s SIM connector patent explained and why it matters for Nano SIM

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2012

As Apple fights rivals Nokia, Motorola and Research In Motion for the upcoming Nano SIM card standard, a new patent filing indicates the company is thinking beyond smartphones. The iPhone maker already holds an important Nano SIM patent and now we've learned they're researching a universal SIM card connector solution.

Yes, it would require a "drawer" and devices would need to be engineered with this in mind, but the benefits offset engineering hassles. Apple's SIM card connector solution could let you transfer a SIM card from one device to another. Plus, it is reliable and resistant to damage by an improper insertion of a SIM card.

It even works with Integrated Circuit Card found in credit cards, broadening potential uses to e-commerce applications. And if this patent filing is an indication, Apple's universal SIM connector could be coming to a MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple television near you...

‘SMS Timestamps’ makes tracking your messages easy

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 6, 2012

Want an easy way to track when your text messages were sent or received? SMS Timestamps is a jailbreak tweak that may be up to the task.

With SMS Timestamps installed, you can force a timestamp to created with every new message, or you can set specified timestamp intervals of 1, 5 or 10 minutes.

It's nowhere near a groundbreaking idea, but if you've been looking for a standalone timestamp solution, then SMS Timestamps does the job adequately...

Apple could receive $7.4 million in tax breaks to build new Texas campus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 16, 2016

AppleInsider passes on a report from an Austin news outlet that Apple could receive tax rebates worth $7.4 million over the next 10 years if it goes ahead with plans to build a new campus in Northwest Austin.

Combine this with the nearly $30 million in tax breaks and incentives it is already set to receive, and Apple has a lot of reasons to want to start building its new offices as soon as possible...

Foxconn workers to get wage increases in July

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2012

Foxconn is the world's largest (and Apple's favorite) contract manufacturer. Despite criticism that it runs sweatshops, the truth is that Foxconn leads the charge in improving working conditions at its high-tech factories, at least compared to other large-scale production operations in China.

A new report citing company founder and CEO Terry Gou confirms that Foxconn has put forth a plan to increase salaries of its workers come this June. Conveniently, the news coincides with Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent trip to China, as well as the rumored production of a sixth-generation iPhone...

Security hole in Facebook app could lead to identity theft

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 19, 2017

Folks who use Facebook's iOS app might want to make sure to stay away from using public computers and charging stations for a while. Apparently a serious security glitch has been discovered in the software that could give hackers access to your account.

Security researcher Gareth Wright published a blog post yesterday that has raised some serious questions about how iOS developers are handling saved values — logins, etc. It seems that some apps are saving this data in plain, unencrypted text files...

Jobs’ biographer says the CEO’s disdain for Android was real

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

Yesterday, Google's Larry Page sparked some controversy with some comments he made regarding Steve Jobs. In an interview with Businessweek, the CEO suggested that Jobs' disdain for Android was more for show than anything else.

But Walter Isaacson, author of the Apple founder's popular biography, tells a different story. Isaacson gave a lecture at the Royal Institution in the UK last night, and had no problem clearing the air about Jobs' feelings on Google's mobile OS...

AppMosaic: an upcoming App Store discovery tool from Cydia

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 7, 2016

AppMosaic is an upcoming jailbreak app that brings App Store App discovery to your iDevice by means of Cydia.

I believe this is probably the first app of its kind on Cydia, and for that, AppMosaic gets major props for originality.

Upon opening the app, you're presented with a two sided column that composes a full mosaic of app icons. The left side of the column is dedicated to the top 200 paid apps, and the right side is for the top 200 free apps.

Check out our full video walkthrough to see how AppMosaic can help you discover hidden gems on the App Store...

Apple reportedly reaches settlement over search for iPhone 4S prototype

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2012

In the months leading up to the iPhone 4S launch, Apple lost a prototype of the handset. It seemed like it was going to be the iPhone 4/Gizmodo debacle all over again, but no pictures or other evidence ever surfaced.

Apple took some heat over the way it handled its search for the device, allegedly raiding the home of Sergio Calderon with a team of police officers. In fact, Sergio threatened to file a lawsuit against the company unless a settlement was reached.

Well here we are, more than 6 months later, and no lawsuit has been filed...