Year: 2012

First look at the new iPad mini Smart Cover

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Although the iPad mini won't start hitting shelves and doorsteps until this Friday, it appears the Cupertino company has decided to go ahead and start shipping the tablet's accessories. Earlier this afternoon, my local FedEx driver dropped off this little guy: a Dark Grey polyurethane iPad mini Smart Cover.

At first glance, the smaller Cover may seem like an exact replica of its larger sibling. But there's one significant difference between the two, and that's the hinges. Instead of using a bare metal hinge, like it does in the full-sized Smart Cover, Apple used a covered hinge in the mini version. So there's no metal on metal...

Maybe Microsoft should hire Forstall?

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 29, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwhv8U614Vo

In the hope that this will have an instant meme value, I just came across this nice little clip of somebody demoing saving a document in Microsoft Word Preview on the Surface RT tablet. Go past the break to join the discussion in the comments...

Tim Cook sends email to Apple employees regarding management changes

Cody Lee ∙ October 29, 2012

Earlier today, Apple announced some major changes to its management team. The company's SVP of iOS Software, Scott Forstall, will be leaving next year, as will SVP of Retail John Browett. Other executives, particularly Jony Ive, will be picking up Forstall's responsibilities, and a search is underway for Browett's replacement.

This afternoon, Tim Cook sent an internal email to Apple employees regarding the management changes, and thanked Scott for his many years of service. We've got that email after the break...

Meet the Hue, an overpriced app-controlled lightbulb from Philips

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

How about a lightbulb that lets you personalize lighting settings and timers while you're out, just by using an app for your iPhone or iPad? That's what Philips set out to achieve with the Hue, "the world’s smartest LED bulb”, that it says consumes eighty percent less power than traditional bulbs. What's more, the Hue uses the open ZigBee Light Link standard, allowing it to be integrated with other ZigBee certified systems.

The free app for iOS and Android devices invites you to change settings, pick any color for any of your bulbs or group them together to create moody presets. You can also program your bulb to turn on and off at different times of day and more.

Conveniently, the Hue is set to hit Apple stores on an exclusive basis starting tomorrow, October 30. That Philips is in a rush to release this product with a little help from one of the world's most powerful brands actually speaks volume about the popular Lifx project which has already raised $1.3+ million on Kickstarter.

At any rate, the Hue doesn't come cheap, which is a real downer. Read on for additional details and a nice promo clip...

Apple’s SVP of iOS software Scott Forstall to leave the company next year

Cody Lee ∙ October 29, 2012

This is huge: Apple just announced that some major executive changes will be taking place in 2013, one of which involves Senior Vice President of iOS Software Scott Forstall leaving the company. Forstall, as most of you know, has been largely responsible for the success of iOS and its devices. In his absence, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield and other executives will take on more responsibilities.

Additionally, Apple's newly-appointed head of retail John Browett will also be leaving the company. A new search for his position is already underway, and in the mean time, all Apple retail will be reporting directly to Tim Cook.

More details after the break...

Apple updates Find My Friends with new features, resolves unexpected iBooks quits

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 29, 2012

Apple has updated its Find My Friends app for iOS devices and iBooks 3, which launched alongside the iPad mini last week. iBooks version 3.0.1 is a minor update which resolves an issue where iBooks may unexpectedly quit. With last week's release of iBooks 3, a free download, Apple added a new continuous scrolling theme akin to the Instapaper app, the ability to see iCloud purchases on your bookshelf, social sharing of quotes and more. Find My Friends version 2.0.1, also a free download, now features friends' notifications regarding your location right under the Me > Followers section. You will also find your temporary friends listed under Followers in the Me tab as well...

Roundup of Google’s new Nexus phone and tablet, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

It doesn't hurt to keep tabs on what competition is doing. Hurricane Sandy may have spoiled Google's media event planned for today, but that didn't stop the search giant from launching two new Nexus devices today along an Android software update. The company announced a new four-inch Nexus smartphone, made by LG, that provides pure Android experience free of carrier junkware and user interface skins.

In addition, Google also launched a rumored ten-inch iPad contender with the world's highest-resolution mobile display. Both devices run Android version 4.2, which still carries the Jelly Bean code-name. Here's a full breakdown of Nexus news from today...

Analyst predicts Apple moving from tech titan to dinosaur within a year

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Psst. I've got a tip for ya: Apple's going down. Yep, the iPhone maker is set to become a tech dinosaur about a year from now, according to one analyst. I'd blame the whole thing on Hurricane Sandy, but the analyst opinion was released last week, just after Apple announced lower-than-expected profit margins. "Apple's time to turn from tech titan into a dinosaur will come, but we still think that we are at least a year away", Berenberg Bank analyst Adnaan Ahmad recently told investors, according to Daring Fireball and cited by Fortune...

iPhone 5 launching in India and other countries on November 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Echoing an earlier prediction by BGR India, The Economic Times has it on good authority that Apple is ready to launch the iPhone 5 in the 1.24 billion people market of India this coming Friday, November 2. The App Store now accepts local currency and everything is seemingly ready for the launch as Apple works to achieve its self-imposed goal of bringing the iPhone 5 to a hundred countries across 240 carriers by year's end. According to web reports, come November 2 the iPhone 5 will also land on store shelves in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Romania and Thailand and is also expected to hit the Dominican Republic and Mexico...

The iPad mini cost concerns are overblown, analysts say

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 29, 2012

Stop your worrying. That's the message from one Wall Street analyst trying to calm investors' concerns over Apple announcing smaller margins. A wave of worrying erupted last week when company executives announced the iPad mini comes with an unwanted add-on: tighter profit margins. Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore called such concern "overblown," saying the lower-than-expected margins are "nearly entirely cyclical and not structural" as Apple ramps up production and perfects the manufacturing process. After all, we've seen this before...

First gameplay video of Angry Birds Star Wars

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 29, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yq9idnT1OM

A new Star Wars-themed Angry Birds game, part of a broad merchandizing partnership with toy maker Hasbro, is due November 8. It's currently marketed under an SEO-optimized Angry Birds Star Wars moniker and we previously showed you the original teaser and a trailer featuring Princess Leia. Today, Finnish developer Rovio is out with another amusing video depicting romance in the making between Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

It also lets us in on gameplay action and mechanics. Looks like birds-slinging remains the focus of the game. This upcoming puzzler will introduce a host of crazy and officially licensed Star Wars-themed characters, each with its own personality and skills. I love how one of the birds is waving Lightsabers to penetrate the thick walls...

PassHack allows you to hide stock apps directly from Passbook

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 12, 2018

We already told you about Rag3Hack, the non-jailbreak solution to hiding stock apps on iOS. Now the folks behind Rag3Hack are back with PassHack. PassHack is essentially the same thing, except for now, you can easily access the URLs necessary to hide stock apps from the convenience of Passbook.

This solution actually has no bearing on Passbook besides the fact that it contains a pass with the URL schemes on its rear. Look at it as a handy bookmark to all of your favorite Rag3Hack URLs. Take a look inside as our video shows you the details...