Year: 2012

Apple rumored to make a massive $9.76 billion investment in Foxconn

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2012

Just as we've digested the news about Apple's favorite manufacturer Foxconn buying an eleven percent stake in Japanese giant Sharp (apparently in order to better compete for display orders from Apple), a new report surfaced claiming the iPhone maker itself is considering investing a whopping $9.76 billion in Foxconn.

The sum would be enough for a 20 percent stake in the Asian manufacturing powerhouse. Is this why Tim Cook toured China a week ago? Surely an investment this big would let Apple have a greater say on working conditions in Foxconn plants.

The two partners would also get to collaborate more tightly on new projects that require in-depth knowledge of the intricacies behind large-scale operations run by Foxconn, Apple's strategic manufacturing ally.

Apple to add sixth US carrier partner later this month [updated]

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Earlier today we told you that nTelos had landed the iPhone. The Virginia-based regional carrier is scheduled to start offering the handset on Friday, April 20th.

But apparently it's not the only US carrier partner Apple is adding this month. Alaska Communications has also announced today that it will soon be offering the smartphone...

Sparrow for iPhone updated, developers say push coming soon

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Sparrow, once only a third-party email client for the Mac, landed on iOS last month with a splash. The $2.99 software provides users with an excellent alternative to the native Mail option.

Well the app received an update today, bringing it to version 1.1. It includes a handful of new additions and features, and the developers say that more is on the way...

Sprint confirms unlimited LTE data ahead of 4G LTE iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Excluding some regional carriers such as nTelos (which begins carrying the iPhone on April 20), Sprint remains the only major wireless carrier in the United States with an unlimited everything plan. Unlike others, Sprint's iPhone customers are enjoying unlimited data. Not surprisingly, the carrier would love to retain this key differentiator as it's prepping to finally roll out 4G LTE.

According to a new report, a Sprint spokesperson has now confirmed that the carrier is planning on offering unlimited data when their 4G LTE network goes live. 4G LTE support is all but given for the upcoming sixth-generation iPhone. Even with Sprint being terribly late with 4G LTE deployment, this is still good news for future iPhone customers.

The speed increase offered by 4G LTE technology over 3G HSPA+ is substantial. And if the new 4G iPad is anything to go by, unlimited data could sway those prospective data-hungry customers.

‘Vuziq’ makes video ringtones a simple reality

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 4, 2012

Video ringtones have always been more of a novelty than anything else, and Vuziq doesn't change that. What Vuziq does well is make it extremely easy to assign a video ringtone to your iPhone.

That ease of use makes this novelty worth giving a shot. Take a look at the full step-by-step video walkthrough straight ahead...

‘Brightslide’ places a brightness slider and flashlight at your fingertips

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 4, 2012

Brightslide is a jailbreak tweak that lets your quickly adjust screen brightness and invoke the iPhone's LED flash using a simple Activator action.

It's a good tool for those who find themselves often adjusting screen brightness, or for those who rely on using the LED flash as a flashlight.

View our full video walkthrough for Brightslide inside...

Popular Dolphin browser gets voice control, URL keyboard, night mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2017

Dolphin, a popular third-party Android browser, finally got ported to the iPhone last August. It's seen more than ten million total downloads on both platforms since. Featuring custom gestures, a clever user interface design, advanced features and many customizable options, it's the favorite non-Apple browser on my iPhone.

Developer MoboTap Inc. updated the iPhone version of Dolphin today with half a dozen nice-to-haves, including the all-new voice control capability dubbed Sonar. Just shake your device or tap the mic icon and tell Dolphin what to search for. Voice input works with any site that has search or text fields.

This lets you not only search for eBay items, but update your Facebook status, post a tweet and more - all just by using your voice. Sonar also lets you speak commands to bookmark your favorite website and control other features of the app.

nTelos lands the iPhone on April 20 with a $50 discount and unlimited everything

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Regional carrier nTelos Wireless announced this morning via a press release that it will carry Apple's iconic smartphone from Friday, April 20. The latest iPhone 4S will be priced at $149.99 for the 16GB model, $249.99 for the 32GB model and $349.99 for the 64GB model, the carrier said. The previous-generation 8GB iPhone 4 will be available for $49.99.

These prices entail a new 24-month contract. Unlike AT&T and Verizon Wireless, nTelos offers nationwide plans starting at $79 a month, with unlimited everything for $99 a month. They, however, throttle data after 5GB.

All iPhone models will be available in their retail and online stores and through telesales. nTelos stores will open early at 7am on the launch day. If you live in an area with nTelos covearge and are in the market for an iPhone, you can pre-register your interest starting today at their website.

The next iPhone to pack eco-friendly battery with fast charge time?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

What you see here is a brand new breakthrough battery design from NEC called Organic Radical Battery (ORB). Measuring just 0.3mm in profile thanks to the use of polymer film of 0.05mm thickness, these ORBs are just a fraction of the somewhat bulky lithium-ion polymer batteries found in today's smartphones and other portable devices.

What’s best, the tech sports fast charge time and is is completely eco-friendly, unlike their lithium-polymer counterparts that contain some harmful elements. Apple's iOS gadgets and notebooks currently utilize the lithium-polymer battery technology.

According to a new report, Apple is interested in using the extremely thin yet powerful ORB battery technology in its revamped next-generation iPhone, expected some time during the early-summer or Fall.

Happy Birthday iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 3, 2012

Two years ago today, the iPad went on sale in the United States for the first time. The launch came just two months after Steve Jobs unveiled the tablet on January 27, 2010, in front of a large crowd at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco.

The CEO told the audience that Apple felt that it had finally come up with a device that would be better at tasks like browsing the web, sending emails, and sharing photos than either a smartphone or a laptop. "And we call it, the iPad."

These leadership tips explain why Steve Jobs was the world’s best CEO

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 18, 2018

Steve Jobs used to be frequently named the world's best CEO - and for a number of reasons, too. Apple's co-founder was (in)famous for his unique corporate style that flies against just about every conventional management lesson taught at universities. Indeed, one could learn a lot about business and life in general from Steve.

If you feel like expanding your horizons today, you should check out this collection of memorable business tips from Steve's authorized biographer Walter Isaacson and Ken Segall, the marketing wizard and author of a new book titled "Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success".

Noticed missing Twitter mentions on your iPhone? You’re not alone

Oliver Haslam ∙ April 3, 2012

Twitter integration with iOS has led to huge sign-up numbers for the social network. Add those new users to the throngs of iPhone owners that were already big Twitter users, and it's safe to say that there are plenty of Twitter accounts plugged into iPhones.

We're also willing to bet that a fair chunk of those are using the official Twitter app, and it appears that some of those may be experiencing an odd bug, and one that is rather annoying – users are reporting that they are unable to see their own @replies in the Connect tab of the iOS Twitter app. We've seen this first hand, and it is indeed rather odd.

No amount of refreshing, rebooting or force-closing fixes it. Thankfully though, there is one fix that works, and it's really rather simple...