Month: September 2012

New YouTube app insights

The new official YouTube app hit the App Store a few hours ago, and we've taken it for a test drive. It's obvious that this isn't an app that Google hastily threw together in a matter of weeks — it's probably been sitting on the back burner for quite some time now.

Since Apple and Google's contract terms were up with regard to the stock YouTube app developed in-house by Apple, it became appropriate for Google to unleash their own YouTube app.

How does it compare with the app it replaces? Check inside for the full scoop...

Check out this blow-away concept of next-gen iPod touch

With just one day left until Apple's massive iPhone 5 introduction tomorrow, it's a mockups day today. This morning already saw us post a few nice dummies and mockups, from the iPhone 5 dummy with high-quality closeups of the handset's controversial two-tone design to a concept video showing off its possible features to this nicely done mockup of a mini iPad in hand.

With some people expecting new colorful iPods at tomorrow's event, designer Guilherme Schasiepen went about rendering half a dozen stunning mockups of what a fifth-generation iPod touch might look like. The renderings and more food for thought follow right below...

Nicely done mini iPad dummy in hand

As an avid reader of this blog, you must have read all there is about purported iPad mini cases, the device's rumored shrunken down shell and other leaked parts. You've also seen mockups depicting its skinner side bezels and thin design and marveled at the nicely done interactive three-dimensional model.

All of the above, of course, is based on what the rumor-mill thinks it knows so far about Apple's purportedly inexpensive, smaller iPad. It was only a matter of time before someone envisioned what an iPad mini held in your hand would look like, right as we're approaching its rumored October launch...

Crisp shots of the two-tone iPhone 5 design surface

The most visible design change concerning the next iPhone, which is due for the official announcement tomorrow, is its metallic backplate with two glass stripes at the top and bottom for cellular and WiFi antenna. It's perhaps the most controversial feature of the next iPhone. Matter of fact, our own little poll tells us you guys are pretty torn over the two-tone thing.

Making matter even more interesting is a last-minute leak by the increasingly reliable Rene Ritchie, who obtained a pair of high-quality photos of the iPhone 5 dummy depicting the two-tone thing in detail greater than ever before. In addition, the photos show a nice closeup of the handset's bottom with its smaller dock connector and relocated headphone jack...

Vodafone too has Nano SIMs in stock ahead of tomorrow’s iPhone 5 launch

Right on time, Vodafone in Germany appears to be stockpiling the new 40 percent smaller Nano SIM cards, a German publication reveals. The carrier is one of Apple's major iPhone distributors throughout Europe and in the United States, where UK's multinational mobile network operator has a joint venture with the US telco Verizon Communications, called Verizon Wireless (Vodafone has a 45 percent ownership of the joint venture). Apple's next iPhone is expected to file as the first phone to feature the recently ratified Nano SIM standard which allows for the creation of thinner and smaller mobile devices...

Samsung prepares for iPhone 5 launch with new anti-Apple ad

You have to feel for Samsung, it's had a rough month. First, it was found guilty of being a blatant copycat and forced to pay more than a billion dollars in damages. And then, its manufacturing arm took a business hit.

But then you hear stories like this, and all of that empathy turns into...well, something else. It appears that, like everyone else, Samsung is gearing up for the iPhone 5 launch, with a new anti-Apple TV commercial...

Photo shows iPad mini and iPhone 5 cases compared to an iPhone 4S

Just one more day to go until Apple's highly-anticpated iPhone event, and surprise surprise, we have more purported case leaks. This time, it's a photo of an iPad mini and iPhone 5 case, among a 4S and others.

The purpose of the image is to give us an idea of how the unannounced devices measure up to their predecessors. And it's actually really interesting to see how the iPad mini compares to the third-gen iPad...

Wannabat Season turns fast-paced baseball into iOS eye-candy

Vitusoft’s new 3D, one-on-one baseball app Wannabat Season gives the sport a new, stylish attitude and it’s fast-paced game design is perfect for those with an action addiction.

Wannabat brings baseball to a gritty urban environment, and foregoes the stadium for the street. Instead of famous names and jerseys, players can expect to face off against a slew of opponents who ooze style, while players design their own character to compete — both in terms of fashion and field domination.

Native YouTube app now available in the App Store

Remember back in August when it was discovered that the stock YouTube app was not going to be included in iOS 6? Apple said that its license to include the app in iOS had ended, and Google was working on a standalone app to replace it.

Well, that app just went live in the App Store...

Concept video shows off possible iPhone 5 design and features

We're just a little more than 24 hours away from Apple's big iPhone event, where the company is expected to unveil the latest iteration of its popular smartphone.

And what would an impending Apple event be without a concept video? Check out this clip we came across that shows off possible iPhone 5 design and features...

SlideSB places a brightness slider on the iPhone’s Home screen

SlideSB is a new jailbreak tweak that places a brightness adjustment slider on each page of your Home screen. This allows you to quickly adjust the screen brightness, instead of going about more traditional means of doing so.

Although SlideSB is an extremely simple tweak, it stumbles a bit in execution. Take a look at our video walkthrough inside for the details...

Powerleft shows how much usage time remains on the iPad’s battery

The usage time remaining statistic is something we all tend to take for granted on our laptops, but it's not something we're accustomed to having on our tablets; at least iOS tablets, that is.

Powerleft is a jailbreak tweak that aims to fix this oversight, adding a usage remaining indicator conveniently in the iPad's status bar. Now you'll be better equipped to know if you can sit through that 3 hour movie, without reaching for the charging cable.