Year: 2012

Dial allows you to dial and text friends from a variety of places

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Dial is a brand new tweak that allows you to use a dialer to text or call your friends and family from the App Switcher, Siri interface, or from Spotlight. The tweak has options to outright replace both Siri and the App Switcher, or to be invoked in tandem with the two.

In principal this might sound like a good idea. Wait a minute...let's not kid ourselves, it sounds like a terrible idea, but I was hoping that the execution would surprise me and change my mind. It didn't. Even still, there may be some of you out there who will appreciate Dial for what it is. With that in mind, we've created a video walkthrough showing how the tweak works.

iHelicopters release a new iDevice-controlled toy: the iUFO

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98p_epP0TRQ

iHelicopters, the makers of iPhone-controlled vehicles are on a roll again. After creating a lineup of iPhone-controlled helicopters, RC cars and the rocket-launching Cobra copter, their latest offering is the iUFO. As the name suggests, it's a flying device that resembles an unidentified flying object. Its rotor system is maneuverable via your iPhone, iPad or iPod using a free app that talks to the unit via the transmitter which plugs in the headphone jack .

Its spherical design is aimed at protecting the rotors from hitting nearby objects and breaking. The manufacturer says the system even allows iUFOs to roll over the ground without crashing the rotors and says you don't have to worry about crashing the unit against the walls or ceiling...

iPad growth puts breaks on PC replacement cycle

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Memo to PC makers: Your best days are over. That's the word from one Wall Street observer who says tablets such as Apple's iPad are reducing the need to regularly replace laptops and other computers. Indeed, the PC replacement cycle relied upon by computer makers will be one to two years longer, resulting in a loss of 50 million to 100 million PCs shipped annually, by 2015. By contrast, tablet sales are expected to skyrocket from 182 million in 2013 to 300 million by 2016 - with Apple the major beneficiary...

First LTE iPad mini pre-orders are now en route to US customers

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 13, 2012

During the September 12 iPad mini unveiling Apple vaguely indicated that the Wi-Fi + Cellular model would start shipping “a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi models”. Then, when it started accepting pre-orders and announced opening weekend sales of three million iPads, the company reiterated that the cellular version of both the fourth-gen iPad and the smaller one will be available in the US on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon “in a few weeks”.

We’re now receiving reports that some customers who pre-ordered a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad mini are receiving shipping notices from their courier service. Many are seeing delivery dates of this Friday, November 16, or the following Monday, with some deliveries reportedly set for as early as tomorrow, November 15...

Jawbone releases a re-tooled Up fitness band

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3xk48GsPIg

Accessory maker Jawbone debuted its iPhone health bracelet called the Jawbone Up in September of last year. Despite strong initial sales, the promising gadget quickly proved a PR disaster amid a flood of complaints about poor build quality, imperfect water resistance and a number of other issues.

A year later, and just in time for the holidays, Jawbone is back at it with an improved version of the fitness band that the company says is free of teething problems which plagued early adopters. In fact, Jawbone is so confident in nailing quality control that it dedicated a significant portion of the above promo clip to highlighting detailed testing, design and manufacturing that went into creating the band...

Apple launches 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 13, 2012

With winter holidays upon us, Apple has now launched its official Holiday Gift Guide for this year. A special page on the company's web site is now live, highlighting a range of first and third-party gadgets and accessories that Apple hopes might be a nice guideline for those on the lookout for perfect holiday gift.

The main four sections group products according to Apple's major product lineups: iPad gifts, Mac gifts, iPhone gifts and iPod gifts. Fender's iOS-friendly Stratocaster guitar Cody told you about yesterday (an Apple Store exclusive) is among the listed products, as is the Nike+ FuelBand wrist band accessory, Parrot's AR Drone and many other gadgets...

Never lose your wallet again with Wallet TrackR

Cody Lee ∙ November 13, 2012

Losing your wallet can be a pretty taxing event. In addition to the cash and other valuables you lose, you're forced to call and cancel your credit cards, and have to replace your drivers license, insurance cards and other items.

But what if there was a way you could be sure that you wouldn't ever lose your wallet again? That's the dream that the folks over at Phone Halo are selling with its new app-connected Bluetooth card known as Wallet TrackR...

Display shootout pits the iPad 3 against the Surface

Cody Lee ∙ November 13, 2012

The experts over at DisplayMate have put together another display shootout, this time pitting the Retina screen of the iPad 3 against that of Microsoft's new Surface tablet and Samsung's older Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Galaxy Tab was really just thrown in for good measure here, the real shootout is between the first two.

Last month, a Microsoft engineer claimed that although the Surface has a lower resolution than the iPad, 1366 x 768 vs 2048 x 1536, its display can still outperform it. DisplayMate's Raymond Soneira laughed off the claim, saying there was no way this was possible. And now he has the head-to-head tests to prove it...

Romo the robot is back and better than ever

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Romo the robot first appeared last November as a Kickstarter project. It was essentially a fully motorized, acrylic robot that was both controlled and powered by an iOS device. And despite looking like a build-it-yourself hobby-bot, it collected well over $100,000 in pledges.

Well this year, Romo is back and better than ever. The robot has been redesigned from the circuit board up, and has been improved in almost every way imaginable. It looks better, goes faster, thinks smarter and is much easier to use...

Apple giving select employees two weeks off to work on special projects

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Tim Cook has ushered in a number of changes to Apple in his first year as the CEO. He's instituted an employee donation program, and a few weeks ago he spearheaded one of the biggest management shakeups in the company's history.

And this afternoon, we can add another alteration to the list. According to a new report, Cook has signed off on a new program, code-named "Blue Sky," that gives select employees up to two weeks to work on special side projects...

Text messaging sees first decline ever due to iMessage and other services

Cody Lee ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

Carriers let out a harmonious groan when Apple unveiled its new iMessage service last year. Not only was it a texting alternative, but it would automatically switch users over from texting to iMessaging if both parties were on iOS 5 devices.

Unsurprisingly, this has had a significant impact on the wireless industry and its subsequent text messaging business. According to a new report, the amount of text messages sent during Q3 this year declined for the first time ever...

How to jailbreak iOS 6.1 beta 2 with RedSn0w 0.9.15b3

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

If you're a developer, then you might be interested in jailbreaking the latest beta version of iOS — iOS 6.1 beta 2. The beta was just released today, and like we always do, we've created a video tutorial that shows how to successfully jailbreak it if you happen to be a developer.

Take a look inside as we walk you through the iOS 6.1 beta 2 jailbreak process step-by-step.