Month: October 2012

FaceTime preview window now reflects aspect ratio of the caller’s device

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

In addition to the big ones in iOS 6 and a host of lesser-known but otherwise welcome enhancements, every now and then a small tweak surfaces, capturing our imagination and delighting us with simplicity. More often than not, these little nuggets clearly prove Apple remains as obsessed with agonizing over every little aspect of its products as it's ever been. For example, the FaceTime preview window where a live video stream of the person you're calling is displayed now indicates their device's aspect ratio...

Apps Apple personally tested now appear in App Store’s Categories menu

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2012

In its never-ending quest to improve app discovery, Apple with iOS 6 added to its App Store on the iPad, iPhone and Mac something called App Collections, a curated section which lists apps that the company personally tested. As of recently, App Collections are now prominently featured on iOS devices and Macs via a dedicated section nested within the Categories menu of the App Store and iTunes. All of the apps featured in App Collections are basically recommendations by Apple's editorial team...

Test finds that Sprint iPhone 5 has the best call quality

Cody Lee ∙ October 21, 2012

According to Apple, the iPhone 5 has much better call quality than its predecessor thanks to its new wideband audio technology. Unfortunately, no US carrier supports this feature yet.

This means that call quality on your iPhone 5 still greatly depends on your location and who your service provider is. And according to a new report, Sprint is the one to beat in this category...

Apple Stores now carrying iPhone 5 cases

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Accessories for Apple's latest smartphone are extremely hard to find right now. Not only does the iPhone 5 have a different dock connector, but it's also larger than its predecessor, making most cases and add-ons obsolete.

But we have some good news today, at least for the folks looking for a cover to protect their new handset. Reports are coming in this weekend that Apple has started stocking its retail stores with iPhone 5 cases...

The iDownloadBlog top 10 news stories of the week

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 24, 2017

A new week is coming, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on what happened last week. If you think you may have missed a few of the top stories from last week, don't sweat it, we've got you covered.

We've gathered the top 10+ most popular stories from iDB last week for you to check out. As always, make sure that you're friends with us on Facebook, Google+, and that you are following us on Twitter...

Claimed photo of retooled iPad with Lightning connector

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

The rumor that Apple was looking to release a tweaked version of its third generation iPad this fall popped up back in June of this year. And at the time, it seemed crazy. Why would Apple refresh a 6 month-old product?

But over the past 4 months, the story has really started picking up momentum, as several reports have pointed to Apple unveiling the retooled iPad at its iPad mini event next week. Then today, this picture surfaced...

How to hide multiple app icons, no jailbreak required

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

A while ago we told you about StifleStand — an app for Windows or Mac that allows you to hide Newsstand without the need for a jailbreak.

Now there's another option for hiding Newsstand, along with a host of other default iOS apps. Again, like StifleStand, no jailbreak is needed for this method either.

In the following video walkthrough, we'll provide you with a demonstration of Rag3Hack, a new website dedicated to hiding stock iOS apps on any device, regardless of whether or not the device is jailbroken.

iPad mini pricing said to start at $329 in the US

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

As Apple's October 23 media event inches closer, pieces regarding what the company may announce are starting to fall into place. The company is expected to unveil a slew of new and refreshed products, including an "iPad mini."

Not much is known about the smaller tablet, outside of what it may or may not look like and what sounds like a November 2nd release date. But a new report is out today that claims to fill in at least one important blank: pricing...

iTunes leaks iBooks 3.0 ahead of October 23 event

Cody Lee ∙ October 20, 2012

Last week, The Next Web reported that Tuesday's iPad mini event was going to have a heavy focus on iBooks. This made some sense, considering the tablet's size and price is expected to put it up against other e-readers.

Today, the site adds weight to its story by posting a screenshot of an apparent leak in an e-book listing in Apple's iTunes Store. We've got the image after the break, note that it says "this book requires iBooks 3.0 or later."

Journalist tours Foxconn’s Shenzhen campus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

If you were to ask someone what they thought of Foxconn today, chances are their response would be negative. And for good reason. Over the past few years, we've heard horror stories about the manufacturing giant regarding terrible working conditions and child labor, and we've seen the pictures of the windows with prison bars and the suicide nets.

And that's exactly the kind of scene James Fallows, a journalist for The Atlantic, prepared himself for, as he set out on a tour of Foxconn's famous Shenzhen campus. He was ready to see the dark, depressing work environment and the somber, joyless employees that he had read so much about in other reports. But it didn't go at all how he expected...

Apple to announce retooled third gen iPad next week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

While it will likely be the star of the show, the iPad mini isn't the only new device Apple is going to be unveiling at next week's event. Word is that the company has a new MacBook and some updated desktops to show off as well.

And according to a new report, Apple is also going to introduce a retooled third generation iPad next Tuesday. The updated tablet is said to feature the new Lightning connector, global LTE support and other improvements...

Study shows 85% of iOS users delete free games after one day

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

I don't consider myself a hardcore iOS gamer, but I'll try almost any recommended title once, as long as it's free. I'm sure there's more than 200 games in my App Store's Previous Purchases tab to back that up.

But looking at my iPhone 5's home screen, you'll only find a handful of them. That's because I tend to lose interest in games rather quickly. And according to a new report from Playnomics, I'm not alone...