Month: June 2012

Vavo: a universal stand and mount for iPhone [sponsored]

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 26, 2017

You know we're big fans of Kickstarter projects here at iDB. While some of them are kinda wacky and don't bring anything new to the table, others are quite innovative and make me go "I need one of these." That's exactly the case of Vavo, a universal mount and stand for iPhone and other devices that recently launched on Kickstarter.

The folks behind Vavo aren't stranger to Kickstarter or iDB. A couple months ago, they successfully launched Foco, a sound-enhancing device for the iPad, with a little help from iDB.

Today, we sit down with Adewale Adeluyi-Adelusi and Bojan Smiljanic from Unique Design Solutions and ask them more details about Vavo...

Judge deals Kodak a major setback in Apple patent suit

Cody Lee ∙ June 15, 2012

Those of you longing for more news regarding the ongoing court battle between Apple and Kodak over image patents will be happy to hear that we've just received an update on the case.

It appears that the judge, today, has denied the struggling camera company's request to fast-track the trial, meaning that Kodak could go broke before a decision is reached in court...

iOS 6 brings built-in support for Government Alerts

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 9, 2018

Still looking for new iOS 6 features? Then you're in luck, because we've just come across one that you might not have seen yet: Government Alerts.

That's right, it looks like the latest iteration of Apple's mobile OS includes built-in support for AMBER alerts, and other emergency notifications...

Is there any hope left for Nokia? (probably not)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

It's not a typo: I really meant Nokia, not RIM. Look, the writing's on the wall. In the first quarter of 2012, only Apple and Samsung reaped benefits of the 41 percent year-over-year growth in the smartphone biz.

Together, the two frenemies accounted for 55 percent of global smartphone shipments in Q1 and an astounding 90 percent of the profits.

Apple shipped 35 million iPhones in Q1 while Samsung recorded 43 million global shipments. None of this is surprising. What's stunning is how sharp Nokia's decline is. Of all companies, beleaguered RIM, whose Q1 shipments dipped 20 percent, may soon surpass Nokia...

Podcasts will have their own app in iOS 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 27, 2016

According to Peter Kafka of AllThingsD, and verified independently by my sources, podcasts in iOS 6 will have a dedicated app come this fall. Though the Podcast section is still present in desktop iTunes 10.6.3, released earlier this week, removing it from iOS 6 iTunes storefront indicates plans that a brand new Podcast app is in the works. Another tell-tale sign: at first run, the iTunes app tells you the iTunes U section has moved to a dedicated app, released back in January. Oh, Audiobooks too are MIA...

Apple’s WWDC conference keynote hits YouTube

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

Apple today finally posted its WWDC keynote talk to YouTube. The presentation saw CEO Tim Cook and other executives take the wraps off of iOS 6, unveil MacBook Pro with Retina display and more.

A lot of people prefer YouTube over any other video delivery system. So, if streaming the keynote through Apple's website isn't exactly your cup of tea and you're not comfortable downloading the entire presentation as a high-definition iTunes podcast, enjoy this YouTube clip on whichever device you happen to use.

Me? I like my Apple keynote on my Apple TV...

Shocker: millions won’t qualify for iPhone 5 upgrade this fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

Do you own an iPhone 4S? If so, you and tens of millions of others like yourself in the United States and abroad won't qualify for a fully subsidized upgrade this fall. Blame it on the disparity between yearly iPhone cycles and carriers' policy of locking smartphone buyers with two-year contracts.

Apple's phone is enjoying stellar sales, moving 37.1 million units last holiday and 35.1 million last quarter, thanks partially to last summer's pent up demand.

The question is, will iPhone 4S owners - now locked into wireless service contracts and not eligible for fully subsidized upgrades - be willing to pay extra to obtain an early iPhone 5 upgrade this fall?

iPhone 5 with transparent iClear Retina display and laser projection keyboard

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

If you can't get enough of futuristic mockups like a holographic iPhone, this one's guaranteed to pique your interest.

It's viral now as clearly a lot of work has gone into rendering such a surprisingly realistic-looking depiction of a next-gen iPhone.

The basic premise definitely salivated our mouth and made us wish someone out there paid notice and engineered a device like this. Not like it's happening anytime soon, mind you, but perhaps Samsung's collective brain trust is crazy enough to take a shot at it?

After all, the South Korean conglomerate is working on phones and tablets featuring flexible displays so...

New iOS 6 3D Maps ported to iPhone 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

With its in-house mapping solution in iOS 6, Apple basically pulled a Siri in that folks in Cupertino have limited this headline feature to the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later (full iOS 6 device compatibility list is here). Now, I realize graphics-intensive 3D Flyovers require A5-enabled devices. But turn-by-turn? Seriously, Apple?

Worry not, those crazy Russian hackers have cracked the code to run the new iOS 6 Maps on the iPhone 4, complete with 3D Flyovers and turn-by-turn navigation - without even using Cydia...

Angry Birds Seasons gets 30 water-themed levels

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

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Two weeks ago, Finnish developer Rovio updated Angry Birds Space, the latest installment of its addictive pig-pounding series, with a bunch of food-themed levels. Today, Angry Birds Seasons gets some love as Rovio issues a free summer update which brings thirty new underwater levels.

Building upon the concept of gravity first introduced in Angry Birds Space, Rovio has now brought gravity-defying action to the Seasons. You can fling the birds underwater and, yes - pigs sink to the bottom of the ocean...

Qualcomm, Broadcom and other suppliers reportedly readying chips for iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2012

With Apple's next-generation iPhone a no show at San Francisco's WWDC conference, a new report from Apple's supply chain in Asia has emerged, claiming that silicon providers left and right are lining up to supply the California-based company with various chips for the next iPhone...

Apple researching a device with swappable camera lenses

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 9, 2018

It's always interesting to see the different patent applications that Apple submits to the USPTO. Even though most of them rarely make it into consumer products, they give us a glimpse inside Apple's top secret R&D labs.

The latest one to surface in the United States Patent and Trademark Office database covers a device with a removable back panel, which could bring about swappable camera lenses and other attachements...