Year: 2012

Shazam Player iPhone App Adds a Touch of Lyrics to Your Music

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Shazam made its name as a music recognition engine, helping users find tracks based on the music that was being played at a club, on TV, or just about anywhere. The software was one of the first in the App Store, and certainly one of the biggest success stories of its generation.

As the years have passed the app has seen new features added, and the download numbers have continued to increase. Now the team behind that app has released a new, improved music solution called Shazam Player, and we're going to go ahead and assume it's going to be just as popular as its older brother.

Shazam Player is built to completely replace the iOS music player, taking over music playback duties and adding in that Shazam magic, with social aspects thrown in for good measure.

Sony to Bring Music Unlimited Service to iOS

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 11, 2012

Spotify, Rdio, Rhapsody, and even iTunes itself could be set to get some new competition later this quarter, according to Venturebeat, with the news that Sony is set to join the already burgeoning music streaming market with a new iOS app in the works.

Sony's "Music Unlimited" service offers music lovers a way to listen to tracks using a subscription model, with streaming music being the order of the day. The iOS app that is expected to be released during the next three months will support offline playback via caching, just as the competition does, negating the need for a constant internet connection.

The Music Unlimited service currently comes in two monthly flavors: a $3.99 basic option and a $9.99 premium one, with the latter offering unlimited playback and more advanced features...

Will Apple Open Up Siri for Other iOS Devices?

Cody Lee ∙ January 11, 2012

A few days ago, evidence surfaced in the latest iOS 5.1 developer beta that Apple could be bringing Siri to the iPad in the near future. The idea sparked some controversy, as a lot of folks don't see a use for the digital assistant on a tablet.

But what if there's more to it than that? Cult of Mac has discovered that the Dictation reference everyone is talking about is also evident on the latest iPod touch model. Of course, this could mean nothing. But what if it means everything?

TomTom’s New App Uses Twitter and Facebook to Help You Navigate

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

TomTom is obviously one of the biggest players in the navigation business, and with standalone devices selling alongside the company's mobile apps, it's also one of the most dominant.

Not happy to rest on its laurels, TomTom has been showing off a new version of its popular iOS app at this year's CES, and it's a little different. Namely, this incarnation uses social networks like never before, with Twitter and Facebook being used to actually help with navigation.

Version 1.10 of the current TomTom apps will take in the new social features, with abilities such as navigating to recent checkins on a network being added throughout the app. Notifications of expected arrival times and more can also be shared the other way, keeping your friends and family up to date on proceedings...

$30,000 iPhone Speaker Dock Spotted at CES

Cody Lee ∙ January 11, 2012

Last month we told you about one of the world's largest and most expensive iPhone speaker docks: the iNuke Boom. Made by Behringer, the speaker weighs over 700 pounds and can pump out a staggering 10,000 watts of power.

Want to try it out? You can, if you happen to be in Las Vegas right now. Behringer has a working iNuke on hand at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, which has completely taken over Sin City this week...

Yeah, I Use Siri Everyday. And it’s Awesome.

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

For some reason there has been a lot of negativity thrown in Siri's direction over the past few months. The digital assistant that was once referred to as a "major revolution in voice recognition technology" is now being written off as a mere novelty.

In fact, our very own Oliver Haslam wrote an interesting piece yesterday regarding the topic. He's obviously in favor of the latter sentiment, saying things like, "other than setting a timer once in a while — for the sheer novelty of it — Siri just does not get any use from me."

The post garnered quite a bit of responses from folks that were either for or against Oliver's argument. Today I figured I would share my 3-month impression.

Apple Announces “Education Event” in New York City on January 19th

Alex Heath ∙ January 11, 2012

Apple has officially announced its upcoming media event for January 19th. The previously-rumored event will focus on education and take place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

It was speculated that Apple's January event would revolve around education and textbooks, but Apple has only said that the event will be an "education announcement."

Rumor: iPad 3 Already in Production for Early March Release

Alex Heath ∙ January 11, 2012

The latest rumor from Japanese blog Macotakara claims that production for the next-generation iPad has already begun, and that Apple is expected to ship the product by early March. Foxconn and Pegatron are reportedly manufacturing the iPad 3 as we speak, and Foxconn is responsible for 85% of the supplies.

According to the report, initial shipments are scheduled to go out in early March, corroborating early claims from different sources. Apple is expected to hold a low-key media event at the end of January, but no dates have been given for other events in the coming months.

T-Mobile Explains Why It Doesn’t Offer the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ January 11, 2012

T-Mobile CEO Philipp Humm recently explained why the iPhone is not capable of running on his 3G network, despite earlier claims that iPhone users were able to establish an intermittent 3G connection in certain areas of the United States.

Humm told AllThingsD that frequency band incompatibility is the main reason the iPhone isn't able to use high-speed data on T-Mobile, and that the carrier hopes to resolve this issue in the near future.

iPhone Still Top Dog in Customer Satisfaction

Cody Lee ∙ January 11, 2012

Although the latest polls still show Android has a larger smartphone marketshare than iOS handsets, the iPhone still seems to have a major lead in the more important category: customer satisfaction.

You can talk all you want about marketshare, but it's the customers who determine a platform's future. And according to the latest survey from ChangeWave, iPhone owners are by far the most satisfied...

Picks of the Week: HeyTell, LostWinds, Grid Lens

Alex Heath ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Every week we bring you a few App Store apps that we find particularly useful or awesome. The App Store is full of mediocre stuff, but iDB tries to find the gems for your downloading consideration.

This week, we've got a nifty app for sending voice messages between iPhones, a new game, and clever photography app. We hope you enjoy this week's picks!

Call of Duty Elite For iOS Now Available for Download

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

If you're a Call of Duty Elite subscriber and happen to have an iPhone, then today is a big day for you, because Activision's accompanying iPhone app has now made its way to the App Store.

Call of Duty fans will be able to check their career stats, formulate strategies, and change weapon loudouts on the fly, all from the comfort of their iPhone.

The free Call of Duty Elite app allows gamers to make alterations that can be pushed straight into the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 game, meaning players are always ready for action.