Month: January 2013

Joypad Legacy turns your iPhone into a retro game controller for Mac and PC

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated February 23, 2018

Want to play retro-style games on your Mac or PC, but don't have a controller handy? While we wouldn't recommend using touch screen controls for every game, if you're in need of a quick retro fix you can download Joypad Legacy for your iPhone and quickly play retro games with 'classic' controls.

Joypad Legacy comes in two parts: the first part is the controller app for your iPhone that comes with layouts for NES, GBA, SNES, Genesis, and N64. You'll also need a second piece of software called Joypad Connect, running on your Mac or PC. You can use Joypad Connect to build profiles for the games and emulators you want to play with Joypad Legacy...

Accented characters make iOS passwords stronger, not enough to keep your data secure

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

There's a suggestion floating around on tech blogs for setting 'unguessable passcodes' in iOS. The idea is to use alternate accented characters, which are hidden but easily accessible by holding down letters on the virtual keyboard. The thinking is these accented characters could be especially effective at thwarting guesses, as English speakers might not even realize that there are accents beneath the keys...

AT&T activates record 8.6 million iPhones in Q4 2012

Cody Lee ∙ January 24, 2013

Following up reports from Apple and Verizon, AT&T has just released its earnings results for the 2012 holiday quarter. And they actually look pretty good. The carrier sold a record amount of smartphones during the three quarter period, and activated a record amount of iPhones. Full breakdown of the results after the break...

Use iFunBox’s ‘Power Saving Mode’ to prevent select apps from running in the background

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated December 25, 2017

Want to take a load off your iOS device's CPU, battery life, and cellular bandwidth by preventing certain apps from running in the background? Sure, you could install a tweak like WeeCloseApps, but it doesn't set automatic profiles for app behavior, and it doesn't work on non-jailbroken devices.

Luckily, there's a powerful iOS file browser for Mac and PC called iFunBox, which works on both jailbroken and non-jailbroken devices. Among its features, iFunBox allows users to edit 'Power Saving Mode' profiles. Right click on an installed app and you can set one of three multitasking states: allow background, always background, and kill switch. 'Allow background' is the default state of most apps, while 'always background' is normally applied to music and podcasting apps that you'd want active in the background, and 'kill switch' is applied to power-hungry games...

Sentry teases video for upcoming ‘iOS MiniPlayer’ tweak

Mike Schnier ∙ January 24, 2013

Do you love iTunes 11's MiniPlayer so much you wish you could just take it with you when you leave the house? If so, Sentry's latest concept for an iOS MiniPlayer will be a dream come true.

Sentry's iOS MiniPlayer concept is a bar-shaped widget which displays the name of the song currently playing, along with the album art and subtitles for the album and band. Tap on the title, and you've got basic playback controls for pause, fast forward, and rewind. There are even bars at the side of the MiniPlayer which you can drag to hide or reposition the widget...

Google contemplating making own smartwatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 24, 2013

Yesterday, Pebble Technology started shipping the first round of watches to its Kickstarter backers (a companion iOS app went live this morning). We also spotted a number of promising smartwatches at CES, like the iOS-friendly Cookoo, Casio's G-Shock and lots more. Even Apple is rumored to be collaborating with Intel on an iWatch and now Google is apparently considering making one as well...

Unlocking a cell phone in the US to become “illegal” this weekend

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

If you're interested in taking matters into your own hands when it comes to unlocking you iPhone, then you may want to act fast, or else potentially be at risk of being labeled a law breaker. According to a report by Tech News Daily: On Saturday, January 26th, a DMCA exemption expires that made unlocking a phone on your own terms fully legal.

In all actuality, the exemption was nullified back on October 26 (read the final ruling here), but due to a 90 day grace period of sorts, the final expiration date takes place this weekend. Obviously, unlocking is a big subject here at iDownloadBlog, so we're interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. Bear in mind that it's not all gloom and doom, though...

Google had 5 of 6 top mobile apps in 2012

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 24, 2013

Although Apple did not make it into the top six mobile apps in 2012, Apple Maps prevented Android-maker Google from capturing all six positions, according to Internet research firm comScore. As it is, the Mountain View, California search firm captured five of the six slots, it's Google Maps mobile app falling to No. 2 after briefly being dropped by Apple.

Social media giant Facebook claimed the number one spot in a list of top apps for 2012, pushing Google Maps into second place, Internet researchers announced Thursday. CEO Mark Zuckerberg might consider sending Apple a thank-you note, as the iOS Maps debacle is now seen as the reason for Facebook overcoming its rival...

MuscleNerd, pimskeks, planetbeing and pod2g team up as the ‘evad3rs’

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 30, 2013

So this is kind of interesting. Amidst all of the recent talk of the iOS 6 jailbreak nearing completion, pod2g has made a rather unexpected announcement. Apparently he, and three other well known iOS hackers are forming a team.

That team is called 'evad3rs,' and it consists of MuscleNerd, of iPhone Dev-Team fame, pimskeks from the Chronic-Dev Team, planetbeing, who has been working diligently on the latest jailbreak, and of course there's pod2g...

‘Revelation’ reveals masked passwords on iOS

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

If you find yourself forgetting a saved password in your favorite browser, whether it be Safari, Chrome, or the like, then Revelation may come to your aid. But what if you forget a saved password in something like your Gmail email account saved within iOS? Revelation can help there, too.

As you can probably tell by now, Revelation is a new jailbreak tweak that allows you to see your otherwise hidden passwords in the clear. Not only will it prevent your passwords from being masked as you type, you can also go back and reveal saved passwords in their unmasked form.

Indeed, it's certainly a security violation, but if you find yourself up a creek without a way to reset your password, then Revelation may be a good last resort. Take a look at our video walkthrough inside, and decide if its something you might benefit from.

Pebble’s smartwatch app now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ January 24, 2013

Good news this morning for anyone who ordered a Pebble smartwatch, the companion iOS app is now available for download. The news comes just a day after the company announced that it had started shipping its first round of watches.

The app is needed to unlock much of the Pebble's functionality, and as of yesterday, it wasn't in the App Store. And there was some concern that customers would get their watches, after months of waiting, and not really be able use them...

Samsung talks ITC into reviewing its patent decision

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Galaxy maker, Samsung of South Korea, has cunningly persuaded judges to review their preliminary ruling that more than a dozen Samsung devices copied Apple's patented iPhone features, Bloomberg reports this morning.

Last October, a judge with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recommended that trade agency impose an import ban on the infringing Samsung device. ITC confirmed Thursday it will review the preliminary ruling.

As a result, Samsung has managed to push back a final decision, which was originally scheduled for March 27...