Year: 2012

Review: iZON Wi-Fi video monitor and its companion iOS app

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Like the Lidless Eye of Sauron, iZON stares unblinkingly into your home, taking note of all within. Scary, right? Well, not exactly, as there are many uses for a Wi-Fi enabled video monitor in the home, office, or abroad. The iZON, pronounced "eyes-on," provides a single video feed across a wireless network that streams through the iZON server system, giving the user access to the feed anywhere in the world with your iOS device. If there is a need for you to be two places at once, the iZON can be your eyes and ears whether watching your newborn, crazy pet, or the front door...

Rumor: Microsoft’s Apple TV-killer is called Xbox TV, coming in 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

I see a pattern emerging here. Apple comes up with the iPad and Microsoft launches the Surface. Then, Apple makes the iPad mini while Microsoft is allegedly readying a gadget code-named Xbox Surface, basically a seven-inch Surface tablet focused on gaming. And now, word on the street is that Redmond is working on its own set-top box to take on the Apple TV and others in the living room space. Aptly named Xbox TV, it's aimed at casual gamers and regular couch potatoes...

iMessage, Passbook icon are now registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 21, 2012

Apple's iMessage was first introduced at WWDC 2011 and billed as a data-driven communications service for exchange of chat messages, images, contact cards, locations and more between iPhones, iPods and iPads. iMessage also replaced the old iChat client with the OS X Mountain Lion update, enabling Mac owners to interact with other Mac and iOS users simply by using their email handle or cell phone number. Apple originally filed for an iMessage trademark in September 2011 and today the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted the Cupertino firm two registered trademarks for iMessage, in addiction to another one for the Passbook icon...

Hey Google, thanks for ruining my holidays!

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 17, 2018

Google Shopper, a free download for the iPhone, was last updated on October 3 with minor tweaks. Though optimized for the iPhone 5, the search Goliath seems to have forgotten about shoppers looking to use the program to "browse for gift ideas, research products and locate great deals on the go” using their iOS device. How's that?

Well, the Android version of Google Shopper was updated to version 3.0 on November 9 with attractive new features for holiday shopping. Meanwhile, Google Shopper for iOS remains stuck at version 2.6. Worse, it was last updated more than a month and half ago and contains none of the new features from Google Shopper 3.0 for Android. So, where does this leave folks who want to shop smarter with Shopper?

And the winner of our second iPad mini giveaway is…

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

What an incredible year in terms of giveaways for iDB readers. We gave away a new iPad, an iPhone 5, and iPad mini, and today we're giving a second iPad mini to one lucky winner.

Over the course of the last week, we held a contest in collaboration with the fine folks at Big Fish Games. The rules were pretty simple: all you had to do was downloading a free copy of Fairway Solitaire. The results are now in, and we're ready to announce the winner...

iPhone 5 easier to find in stores, analysts say

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

There is at least a 7-in-10 chance that you can now find an iPhone 5 on store shelves, according to one analyst Wednesday. The once-elusive smartphone may soon be available for same-day purchase from Apple Stores, the Wall Street observer told investors. The report by Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster (I know, don't start) follows news that iPhone 5 units ordered through Apple's website have a two-week shipping delay, down from as much as three weeks. His comments echo those by fellow Apple watcher Shawn Wu of Sterne Agee, who described the wider availability of the iPhone 5 as "much improved"...

Best Buy is offering a $50 discount, $75 gift card on third-gen iPad, today only

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 21, 2012

With the holiday season upon us, Best Buy wastes no time and in a one-day promotion is luring would-be iPad buyers by shaving $50 off the third-generation iPad. And sweetening the deal even more, the retailer is throwing in a $75 gift card with each iPad sold. Part of its "Deal of the Day" promotion, the offer is good only for today. If you're thinking about taking the plunge, go past the fold for additional terms and conditions you should be aware of...

Apple agrees to show the heavily redacted HTC patent pact to Samsung

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 21, 2012

Samsung is more than welcome to take a peek inside Apple's ten-year patent pact with the ailing handset maker HTC, but key data will be blanked out. South Korea-based Samsung last Friday filed a motion to compel, seeking to obtain the settlement and patent license agreement with HTC, saying it's relevant to its patent battle with the iPhone maker.

As things stand now, a version Apple promised to provide will be marked as "Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only" and will contain 33 redacted words. Apple’s generosity knows no boundaries…

This iPad case has 8 built-in speakers

Cody Lee ∙ November 21, 2012

There's a lot of things that the iPad excels at, like performance and screen quality. But it leaves a lot to be desired in the audio department. The tablet just doesn't have the technology to deliver rich, full sound.

Obviously, there's a number of accessories on the market today that fill this void, like the Jawbone Jambox. But none of them are as portable and attractive as the iPad itself. And that's where ORA comes in...

Apple’s iSpaceship campus delayed until 2016

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

If you're an Apple fan, or at least follow the company, you know that it doesn't have a reputation for hitting deadlines. The iTunes Match launch was delayed, as is iTunes 11. And it doesn't look like the new iMacs are going to make it on time.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that the ribbon cutting ceremony for Apple's new spaceship-like research campus has also been pushed back. According to a new report, the company's new workplace won't be set for open until mid-2016...

AT&T reportedly extending FaceTime over Cellular to all customers

Cody Lee ∙ November 21, 2012

AT&T rustled some feathers back in August when it announced that it would only allow its subscribers on its new Shared data plans to utilize the FaceTime over Cellular feature in iOS 6.

Then earlier this month, the carrier said that it would be opening up the feature to legacy data plans. And as it turns out, it looks like this might actually include unlimited plans as well...

Clever Lotto tracks your lucky numbers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Personally, I am no gambler and have never played the US Mega Millions or Powerball drawings, but there are plenty of people out there tossing in a few dollars just to strike it big. If you are looking for a quick, easy way to track those lucky numbers, look no further than Clever Lotto, which keeps track of everything automatically. There is no longer a need to look up the winning numbers or stay up late with your fingers crossed. Clever Lotto will send a push notification to your iPhone every time there is a drawing...