Month: March 2013

Let’s Talk Jailbreak – 02: Pacifiers are evil

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Welcome to episode 2 of Let's Talk Jailbreak. In this episode, Jeff and I sit down and talk about the reasons why we and other people jailbreak, battery life, some of our favorite jailbreak tweaks, and we also review this week's tweaks that were released in Cydia.

This new episode takes into account some of the feedback you guys gave us last week. Most noticeably, I worked on improving the sound quality on my end. Turns out my mic settings were all jacked up, but after some serious tweaking and sound recording tests, I think I finally hit the sweet spot. It's not perfect yet, but it's better. We're working on making it perfect, so hang tight...

iOS 6.1.3 kills evasi0n jailbreak

Cody Lee ∙ March 19, 2013

It was fun while it lasted, but it appears that Apple has finally put an end to evasi0n. Earlier today, the company released iOS 6.1.3 to the masses, and as expected, it contains patches for multiple exploits used in the popular iOS 6.x jailbreak.

MuscleNerd confirmed our fears on Twitter just a few moments ago, pointing out that Apple has credited the evad3rs with the discovery of 4 of the 6 security flaws that were patched in today's update. So jailbreakers should stay far away...

iOS 6.1.3 is out with fixes for Lock screen vulnerability, Japan Maps improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2013

Apple has just issued iOS 6.1.3 (build 10B329), an incremental update to its mobile operating system powering iPhones, iPads and iPods. This particular update brings fixes to the widely reported Lock screen vulnerability, first discovered a month ago, which lets people with access to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to easily bypass your passcode and get to your personal information on the device.

Today's firmware also contains Maps improvements for Japan. If you're jailbroken, you'll want to stay away from this update until we collect more information...

BatteryDoctorPro: power management, NC settings toggles, app switcher and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 31, 2013

Every once in a while, a good jailbreak app or tweak sneaks past our radar. We feel we do a pretty good job of covering most new notable Cydia packages, but every now and then, one slips through the cracks. And that's exactly what's happened with BatteryDoctorPro.

For those who aren't familiar with it, BatteryDoctorPro is a jailbreak app that monitors your iPhone or iPod touch usage to essentially lengthen your battery life. But it also has Notification Center settings toggles, a multitasking bar and several other handy features...

Apple TV software updated to kill evasi0n jailbreak

Cody Lee ∙ March 19, 2013

In addition to this morning's release of iOS 6.1.3, Apple has also seeded a new version of its Apple TV software. The update brings the firmware to version 5.2.1, and it includes a number of bug fixes as well as support for the new Hulu Plus app.

Unfortunately, as with iOS 6.1.3, the bug fixes are actually patches for the exploits used in the latest evasi0n jailbreak. So if your Apple TV is jailbroken, or you would like it to be in the future, you'll want to be sure to stay away from this update...

XBMC updated with iPhone 5 support and other improvements

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 2, 2017

Popular open-source media player XBMC has been updated today, bringing the app to version 12.1. The update improves the experience across all of Apple's platforms, including the Mac, iOS and Apple TV.

For most users, the iOS update will be the most welcomed change, as it brings about support for the iPhone 5's larger 4-inch display. And Apple TV2 users will be similarly pleased with further support for iOS 6...

Bloomberg: Samsung in race with Apple to get wristwatch to market

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 4, 2018

We've heard a lot of talk in recent months that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device. And it could be ready to launch as soon as this year. We've also seen some alleged leaked screenshot images that suggest Samsung is working on a similar product.

Tonight, Bloomberg is out with a new report that adds significant weight to both rumors, claiming that not only are both companies preparing wearable devices that perform similar functions as smartphones, but they're both racing to get them to market...

Apple patents augmented-reality mapping tech

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 19, 2013

Apple Tuesday was granted a patent for technology enabling integrating augmented reality, the power of the Internet and smart device communications. A key component to the company's take on augmented reality is a system that recognizes live real-world objects, then builds 3D representations useful for mapping and annotating shared data. The patent, filed in 2010, is entitled "Synchronized, interactive augmented reality displays for multifunction devices."

In one potential use, an iDevice camera photographs a circuit board. A layer placed over the image then identifies the components and permits a team to exchange annotations, including text, web links and even images. But this only scratches the surface of how Apple envisions the future of mobile augmented reality...

Evernote gives its Food app OpenTable reservations, Foursquare ratings, recipe sharing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Evernote's Food app debuted in December 2011 as a must-have for both the epicures and everyday folk alike.

Though the initial download was painfully short on features, today's 2.1 update addresses some of the initial omissions by adding three new capabilities which make Evernote Food a whole lot more useful, starting with a reservation system built on OpenTable.

That's right: like Siri, Evernote Food now lets you book a table at an OpenTable-friendly restaurant right within the app. Coupling that feature are user ratings supplied by Foursquare. And, you can now share clipped recipes on Twitter, Facebook or via email. Go past the fold for more details, screenies and a video demonstration...

Hulu updates Apple TV app with new categories and improved playback

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 22, 2017

Great news today for Hulu Plus users. The popular streaming service has announced this morning that it has created a brand new app for the Apple TV that will make it easier to find new content and play it back on your favorite set-top box.

Hulu says it has "redesigned the Plus experience from the ground up" with a new content section, a new "Shows You Watch" tray for quickly accessing your favorite shows, and a more streamlined playback feature, with new Play button...

EU scolds Apple over AppleCare warranty rights

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple's woes over its shady warranty practices in Europe just took a turn for the worse as the European Union through the mouth of its Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding made it clear it has no intention of letting Apple off the hook. In her speech today, she criticized the tech giant for not complying with consumer laws in many EU states.

The Cupertino firm stubbornly insists on its AppleCare terms of service which aren't in sync with EU laws. The company had been previously reprimanded of failing to communicate in no unambiguous terms to its EU buyers that they are entitled to an additional year of coverage...

Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch to join Apple as VP of technology

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Remember the name Kevin Lynch, because you're probably going to be hearing a lot more of it from now on. The former Adobe CTO, or Chief Technology Officer, will soon be taking an executive role at Apple.

Reports of the high-profile hiring started circling this afternoon, and the news has since been confirmed by both Apple and Adobe. Lynch will be joining Apple as VP of technology, reporting to Bob Mansfield...