Month: March 2013

Final Fantasy V hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 28, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XO9N_18mE4

Twenty years following its original release on SNES, Square Enix's Final Fantasy V has landed on the iPhone and iPad. The game invites you travel the lands commanding a band of four in search for the mysterious crystals that control the four elements - earth, water, fire and wind - thereby bringing peace and prosperity to the world.

These things have lost their power and are on the verge of destruction so you must find a way to restore their power. The iOS version also includes The Sealed Temple from the 2006 release, the Tetsuya Nomura-designed optional boss Enuo and an all-new soundtrack...

Rumor: iTV has Foxconn-made display, ships in early-2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Earlier in the week, the somewhat reliable DigiTimes reported that Apple's rumored standalone TV set could ship later this year with a 4K Ultra HD screen. Another report out from Asia has it that Apple's contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, will supply high-resolution panels for the product.

Sources estimate Apple won't start shipping its television set until next year at the earliest...

Apple reportedly cutting iPad mini shipments next quarter, new model coming?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

There's a new report out of China this morning, claiming that Apple is cutting shipments of its iPad mini next month. The cut is said to be a 20% reduction, with steeper cuts likely happening in the latter part of the second quarter.

While the folks on Wall Street will probably try to spin this into an 'Apple is doomed' story, despite the fact that there's evidence that the mini is selling very well, the consensus seems to be that it's preparing to launch a new model...

Apple looking to beef up Maps team with ‘Ground Truth’ managers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

When Apple released iOS 6 last year, it replaced the long-running Google Maps app with its own in-house mapping software. And, as most of you know, it took a lot of criticism over the move due to its inaccurate map data, missing features and other issues.

It was so bad, in fact, that Tim Cook wrote an open letter to iOS users, promising Apple would work non-stop to make it better. And it has been. It's already made several improvements to the app, and is in the middle of a big hiring push for its Maps team...

Sentry’s new App Switching concept makes it easier to move between apps

Cody Lee ∙ March 27, 2013

We're always in search of ways that iOS can be improved, which is why you'll see a number of iOS concepts and ideas on iDB that are aimed at making Apple's mobile operating system better. Take this recent one on multitasking, for example. It's beautiful.

But not all concepts attempt to make iOS better-looking—some try to make it more functional. And that's the idea behind today's concept. It takes the current app switcher, and makes it more efficient by allowing faster access to more of your suspended apps...

Comparison of iPhone ownership cost on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

With yesterday's announcement that Apple's iPhone 5 will finally start selling through T-Mobile on April 12, we can now compare the total cost of ownership across the nation's four largest wireless carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

A bunch of outlets ran their spreadsheets to assess the current landscape, including Zagg, best known for its line of protective coverings for consumer electronics.

In figuring out how much one saves on T-Mobile over two years versus other carriers, Zagg concluded that T-Mobile’s contract-free iPhone 5 comes in at a very cool $580 cheaper over two years. However, the difference evaporates if you switch your significant other or an entire family of four to the nation's fourth-largest carrier...

If Samsung made an iWatch…

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2013

..it would look something like this. Of course, the South Korean chaebol indeed is working not so secretly on its own smartwatch and if a set of leaked screenshots is anything to go by, it'll have a 500-by-500 pixel resolution display. Meet us in comments...

Plants vs. Zombies 2 launching early this summer

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 18, 2018

Plants vs. Zombies, a tower defense game originally published by PopCap Games for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, hit Apple's iOS platform in February 2010. The title has some ardent following and though I've never been a huge fan, it's true that the iPhone and iPad versions helped the game take off in a big way. PopCap announced today that a sequel, unimaginatively titled Plants vs. Zombies 2, will be launching early this summer...

Samsung owns most mobile patents worldwide

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 27, 2013

For some time, patents have been viewed as the latest competitive weapon. A company can still lose in terms of product sales, but reap a tidy sum through patent litigation and licensing. Samsung, the South Korean firm which makes everything from silicon chips to cell phones, now has the world's largest collection of patents, topping rival iPhone maker Apple.

Thanks to its rise as a mobile powerhouse, Samsung topped the list both in overall mobile patents held and patents granted in 2012. By comparison, Apple ranked No. 7 in mobile patents involving infrastructure and platforms, according to a new analysis of the fast-changing mobile patent landscape...

Belkin launches new Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ March 27, 2013

Belkin today announced the online availability of its newest iPad accessory, the Ultimate Keyboard Case. Well, it's available for pre-order today, and will start shipping to select retailers in May.

So what's so special about the Ultimate Keyboard Case? With a keyboard that is just 6.4mm thin and weighing 17 oz, it's now the slimmest and lightest keyboard folio of its kind on the market...

Twitterrific iOS app finally gains push alerts, but…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

...but you probably won't be able to take advantage of them because native Push Notifications are still in beta so developer Iconofactory had to limit the much-needed feature to the first thousand users, as determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

The system is very similar to the reservation tickets in the Mailbox app. Luckily, I was able to reserve my spot on time so my copy of Twitterrific version 5.2 has native push alerts turned on.

Tucked away under the app's settings, push alerts can be turned on and off individually for direct messages, replies, mentions, favorites, retweets and follows.

Another handy treat: each of these can be color-coded so you get a better idea of a particular notification's importance after it appears on your screen, especially handy when these alerts start cropping up on your Lock screen...

BMW folds 4 new iOS apps into Apps-enabled cars

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2013

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, better known as BMW, features a special option dubbed Apps which integrates iOS software from third-parties for some cool in-car entertainment and driving experience.

Part of the luxury automaker's ConnectedDrive initiative, the Apps platform supports model year 2011 and later vehicles and is controlled through a dedicated iOS app aptly named BMW Connected App. These apps are still few and far between so today the German car maker launched new additions.

A total of four iOS programs that integrate with the BMW Apps platform have been confirmed: Amazon's Audible app which lets you listen to audio books, real-time location sharing software Glympse, the subscription-based music streaming service Rhapsody and Pandora-like TuneIn app that features offers over 70,000 stations and two million shows...