Month: May 2013

Apple criticizes TransMedia CEO for saying users are platform-agnostic

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2013

We all know the great lengths Apple will go to nurture and preserve its developer ecosystem and user experience on its platform.

One developer, however, has tested Apple's patience by issuing an iPhone app press release that suggests users don't really care which mobile platform they happen to be using.

That drew an interesting response from a representative from Apple Worldwide Developer Relations, who cautioned the comment is at odds not just with Apple's primary marketing messaging, "but the entire reason Apple exists"...

iPad has grown three times faster than iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2017

It's easy to get caught in the trap of assuming the iPhone is Apple's fastest-growing product. Although the iPhone sold more units than the iPad - after all, it's been available since 2007 whereas the iPad debuted three years later - the Apple tablet is growing three times faster than the iPhone.

This is just one of the many interesting factoids from Internet Trends, an annual report on the state of the Internet, mobile and social by Mary Meeker, one of the world's top Internet analysts. Read on for more tidbits...

Mextures: easily apply textures, light leaks and more effects to your images

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

There are a lot of photo editing applications in the App Store these days. It is hard to find one that is actually unique. It seems like everything that can be done for iOS photo editing, has been done. So, when an innovative app comes along, it is a real treat.

Mextures is the most original photo-editing app for the iPhone that I’ve seen in the App Store in years. It is more than just a filtering mechanism for your images. It lets you layer, blend, and add texture to your pictures, making them in to pro-quality works of art…

The Scosche Railkase adds aluminum to the bumper case genre

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Bumper style cases are typically made with a silicone or TPU material. These rigid, yet jelly like materials are suitable for minor bumps and bruises but may not be so helpful for the rugged user. The RAILkase p5 by Scosche is a new case that combines bumper functionality with the protective framing of aluminum, and it just brought home a CES 2013 Design and Engineering award.

It is difficult to find metal bumper cases simply because of the nature of the bumper. A bumper case runs the rim of an iPhone, only providing protection on the sides and corners of your device. Thanks to the creative team at Scosche, the RAILkase utilizes a hinge and locking system to provide a nonbendable bumper option…

Change the way you ‘slide to unlock’ with FXOSLock

Cody Lee ∙ May 31, 2013

Are you getting tired of the old 'slide to unlock' bar on your iPhone's Lock screen? Tough. It's been like that since Apple unveiled the original handset back in 2007, and I doubt it's going to be changing it anytime soon.

But the good news is, if your iPhone is jailbroken, Cydia has hundreds of slider replacements to choose from. In fact, a new one just recently hit the store called FXOSLock that completely changes the way the slider looks...

Apple Web OS: a theme that mimics Apple’s online store

Cody Lee ∙ May 31, 2013

If pressed, I would say that I consider myself an Apple fan. I love my iPhone, and my iPad, and I'm typing right now on a MacBook Pro. But even I cringed a bit when I first laid eyes on this new DreamBoard theme called Apple Web OS.

As the title states, Apple Web OS essentially gives your iPhone a complete 'Apple web store' makeover. Instead of icons it has product photos, and instead of pages it has tabs. It's actually very authentic, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing...

Another iPad 5 front panel leaks (update: debunked)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2017

A new image has popped up on a reliable Chinese web site, showing what appears to be a front panel for Apple's upcoming fifth-generation iPad. Matching up previous leaks, the part features skinnier side bezels that Apple first tried on the iPad mini. The part has holes for the FaceTime front camera and the Home button in the same position as the iPad mini’s bezel, along with the touchscreen connector.

Update: as pointed out by the French blog NowhereElse.fr, the image depicts an iPad mini digitizer. Move along folks, nothing to see here...

Swipe to call, text or email in the Contacts app with QuickGestures

Cody Lee ∙ May 30, 2013

When a fan war breaks out over what the 'best mobile platform' is, I usually try to stay out of it. I like iOS better than Android, and believe it to be the superior of the two. But I know that's just my personal opinion, and not a fact.

Truth be told, I actually like quite a few things about Android. The way it handles contacts, for instance, is great. You can text, email or call someone with a quick swipe or tap. It's too bad I can't do that in iOS. Or can I?

Alaska Airlines updates app with Passbook support

Cody Lee ∙ May 30, 2013

Good news future travelers. Alaska Airlines has updated its official iPhone app today to allow its customers to access digital boarding passes using their iPhones. The update, which brings the app to version 2.6, includes support for Passbook.

Alaska is listed as the 7th largest US airline, by passenger traffic, and it joins several other major airlines in backing Apple's digital wallet platform. Earlier this month, both Easy Jet and Qantas updated their apps with Passbook support...

TodoMovies is the first app to utilize modern Motion Posters

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

I recently gave TodoMovies 2.0 the full review treatment and found it to be an amazing app for movie lovers. It is a perfect way to keep track of old movies, in theater movies, and upcoming movies while building your watch list for the road.

Adding to the excellence, the app recently posted a very hefty update, further building appeal. TodoMovies is now the first app to implement Motion Posters. "What is that," you are certainly asking yourself, at least I did. Follow me past the fold for a video preview...

CEO confirms Siri uses Nuance voice recognition tech

Cody Lee ∙ May 30, 2013

In the months leading up to 2011's WWDC event, there were numerous reports that Apple would announce a major partnership with voice recognition giant Nuance. Obviously, the gossip never materialized, and Apple didn't even end up unveiling Siri until that fall.

But despite the fact that no one has ever come out and said it, Nuance has long been given credit for powering Siri's speech recognition capabilities. And today, the company's CEO Paul Ricci confirmed the theory while speaking at AllThingsD's D11 conference...

How to subscribe to ‘Let’s Talk Jailbreak’

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

The iDownloadblog podcast recently reached a milestone. Two weeks ago, “Let’s Talk Jailbreak” hit episode 10. Unfortunately, at about the same time, Apple decided to pull the popular podcast from iTunes.

Don’t worry, you can still listen and subscribe to Let’s Talk Jailbreak without missing a single episode. We’ve got a quick tutorial on how to subscribe in a variety of ways to hear Jeff and Sebastien muse over all things jailbreak…