Month: January 2013

This beautiful iPhone 5 theme does not require a jailbreak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Lately I guess you can say we've been on a kind of non-jailbreak kick. With that in mind, we're happy to show you how you can get this awesome looking theme on your iPhone 5 without jailbreaking. The theme is called Black Orbs, and it features 31 different app icons that link to some of the more popular apps on the iPhone.

Obviously, since we have no iPhone 5 jailbreak yet, some compromises had to be made. Unlike WinterBoard, you can't outright replace the look of an app icon with that of another. Instead, the developer of Black Orbs strategically used web clips and an easy to install profile to pull it off. It's certainly not the perfect solution for a true iPhone 5 theme, but you have to admire the work here. Take a look inside as I show you how to install Black Orbs on your iPhone 5.

How to quickly respring your iPhone without jailbreaking

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

It may seem kind of obvious when you think about it, but did you know that you can setup a quick respring shortcut using the Newsstand glitch that we showed you? Basically it involves adding a folder to a folder, which causes the device to crash and respring when trying to open the folder inside the folder.

By establishing this setup permanently, you'll create an easy way to respring at any time. This is despite the fact that the device is not jailbroken. Check out our video tutorial for the full how-to.

Concept video shows what a 4.8-inch iPhone could look like

Cody Lee ∙ January 22, 2013

Amidst growing speculation that Apple is working on a larger handset, a Russian site has created this mockup of what it believes a bigger iPhone could look like. Created from details in the recent 'iPhone Math' rumor, the device has a 4.8-inch display and 12MP camera.

Contrary to other iPhone concepts, which typically travel outside the realm of possibility, this one opts to stay within the lines of Apple's current design schemes. It looks like the iPhone 5, but its footprint has been both lengthened and widened to support the larger display...

Google posts Q4 results, comments on iOS apps, better batteries, impact-resistant phones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

Google has just posted its fourth quarter earnings for the calendar year 2012. The Internet giant raked in $14.42 billion in consolidated revenue (versus estimates of $12.3 billion), up 36 percent annually and eight percent sequentially. Excluding traffic acquisition costs and Motorola Home, quarterly revenue was $11.34 billion, up from $8.13 billion. The firm earned 54 percent of the revenue outside of the United States, or $6.9 billion.

Quarterly net income came in at $2.9 billion, a 6.7 percent increase (non-GAAP profit was $3.57 billion, up from $3.13 billion a year before). The company surpassed analysts' expectations on EPS, which was $10.65 on a non-GAAP basis versus the $10.54 consensus. So, even though revenue climbed substantially, profit was only up slightly.

Of note, Google's Motorola subsidiary (excluding the home biz) lost "only" 353 million, or 23 percent of the unit's quarterly revenue. Better batteries and impact-resistant design could be in the works for Motorola handsets. A live stream of the earnings call is included right after the break alongside other tidbits related to Apple, Maps, Nexus devices and more...

GrouPlay brings democracy to your iOS party playlist

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Settling on a good party playlist can be difficult. Say you've got friends with different tastes in music, and your music library doesn't have enough danceable tracks on its own that everyone can enjoy. If it's a big party, you don't want just anyone touching your iPod, and you also don't want someone with questionable taste to hijack the music for the party.

With the GrouPlay app, anyone with access to your Wi-Fi network can contribute songs from their own music library to your temporary party playlist, provided they have an iPhone 3GS, 3rd generation iPod touch, iPad, or later. Once the songs are uploaded, the real fun begins...

Microsoft’s Surface Pro to land on February 9 with $899 price tag

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

After a bit of a delay, Microsoft today announced launch details for its new Surface Pro tablet. The device will become available for purchase on February 9, and will run $899 for the entry-level 64GB model.

The Pro's release comes more than three months after its less-capable sibling, the Surface RT. And with reports suggesting that it didn't do so well over the holidays, Microsoft is hoping the Pro will be a hit...

Munster (again) sees Apple shipping iTV and new remote in 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

You gotta give it to Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, arguably for years the most vocal proponent of a full-fledged Apple television set. Speaking to Bloomberg today, Munster re-iterated his belief Apple is working on releasing a standalone television set in 2013. His thinking is apparently based in checks with Apple's suppliers and he also sees the Cupertino firm shipping an intelligent remote that, in his mind, should be an important part of the rumored iTV...

Orchestra now offering reservations for upcoming Mailbox email client

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Last month, we told you about an exciting new iPhone email client called Mailbox. The app, which has been described as a cross between Clear and Sparrow thanks to its simple, swipe-based UI, is slated to hit the App Store in the next few weeks.

And in anticipation of high demand for the free email client, Mailbox-creator Orchestra opened up a reservation system this morning. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and will help the team manage server traffic when the app lands...

AMD hires ex-Apple and Qualcomm chip experts, looks to move beyond PCs

Cody Lee ∙ January 22, 2013

This is kind of interesting. In an effort to move beyond PCs and expand its market, AMD just hired two high-profile chip experts: Charles Matar of Qualcomm, and Wayne Meretsky, formally of Apple.

The company currently depends on the PC industry for 80% of its profits. And with sales in that business dropping due to rising demand for smartphones and tablets, it's looking to shift gears quickly...

Bear Motion offers a premium iPad mini folio case at a great price

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Since the mini was released, I scoured the internet looking for new cases, sleeves, and folios for my favorite new Apple device. If you keep up with my reviews, you know I prefer minimalism and always look for premium products. You may also know, I hate paying big bucks for the nice stuff. The epitome of champagne taste and a beer budget, I stumbled upon Bear Motion and found the intersection of my preferences. If you visit Bear Motion's unsuspecting website, you may be surprised at my excitement about their iPad folio case.

On my recent quest for a new mini folio, I was looking for something professional, minimalistic, black, leather, and it could not add too much bulk. A reasonable price is obviously always an important factor as well. Meeting all of these requirements, the Bear Motion folio case comes in black or red and is adorned in 100% genuine Brazilian Buffalo leather...

Verizon numbers suggest Apple sold over 50M iPhones last quarter

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple is set to announce its iPhone sales and other figures from the holiday quarter tomorrow, in what many are calling its most important earnings report of the last decade. Recently, rumors of slipping iPhone and iPad demand have driven the company's stock down to $500. And this is its chance to start turning things around.

The focal point will be on iPhone numbers, since the handsets account for half of Apple's business. And it needs to have sold in upwards of 50 million of them to avoid disappointing the Street. Well according to analyst Brian White, they hit that mark and then some...

Apple wins 26 patents, including multitouch and more

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 22, 2013

Apple was granted more than two dozen patents today, including technology for multitouch sensors dating back to 2007, when the original iPhone debuted. Also approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Apple patents covering the iOS magnifying loupe, noise-cancellation and even product packaging.

The multitouch patent, which covers the layout of screen sensors in the first iPhone, as well as future touch devices, follows a broad patent granted earlier this year covering a wide range of potential uses for multitouch, including aircraft instruments. For some time, Apple and its chief rival Samsung have fought over patents, culminating in a $1 billion victory for Apple, which charged the South Korean company infringed upon technology owned by the iPhone maker...