Month: May 2013

‘Secretary’ reads you your messages and missed notifications

Looking for a new way to sort through notifications on your iPhone? If so, you might want to check out Secretary, a new jailbreak tweak that will read your notifications aloud to you upon connecting your device to a Bluetooth speaker or headset.

Once activated, the tweak can tell you how many unchecked missed phone calls and messages you have, as well as the number of impending calendar events. It can also read your text messages aloud to you using text-to-speech, similar to Siri...

Sharp expected to begin iPhone 5S display production in June

Earlier this year, it was believed that the iPhone 5S would go into production in March ahead of an early summer release. But after rumors of manufacturing issues began to circulate, the handset's expected arrival time was pushed back to the fall.

And a new report out of the east this morning corroborates that theory. A Japanese newspaper is reporting that Sharp, one of Apple's primary panel partners, is gearing up to begin mass production of LCD displays for the iPhone 5S next month...

Google Now likely coming to Macs via Chrome

Isn't it interesting how Google circumvents Apple and builds its own platform on top of iOS? Not only are the Internet giant's popular services like Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Search available as native iOS apps, they're among most downloaded App Store items.

Despite early complaints of excessive battery drain (and Google's mild response), the potentially disruptive Google Now feature is now available on iOS devices through Google's standalone Search iOS app. And now, Google Now could be heading to Macs...

Google spotlights Chrome integration tool for iOS developers

Hot on the heels of yesterday's Gmail update—which added the ability for users to choose to use Google's iOS apps over their stock counterparts—Google has published a blog post reminding iOS devs that they too can utilize Google's offerings.

Particularly, it spotlights Chrome integration in the post, informing third-party developers that they can use a simple callback function in their apps that will launch web links in Chrome (if it's available, obviously) instead of mobile Safari...

AT&T 4G LTE coverage arrives in Manhattan, Kansas, Sedalia, Warrensburg and Missouri

Having expanded its fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio technology to include fifteen new markets (and four major U.S. cities before that), the U.S. wireless carrier AT&T has now expanded LTE coverage in five new markets. If you live in Manhattan, Kansas, Sedalia, Warrensburg or Missouri, AT&T's LTE network should pop up on your LTE devices.

Compared to its third-generation network, AT&T's 4G LTE offers ten times greater download speeds, always-on functionality, simultaneous talk and surf and other perks...

New FIPS 140-2 certification could broaden government use of iOS 6

There's been a lot of talk lately regarding Apple and its efforts to broaden the use of iOS in government agencies. The latest report says the US Department of Defense is close to granting both the iPhone and iPad approval for secure use.

Today comes word that the DoD might have just received the green-light it needed to move forward. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (or NIST) just announced that iOS 6 has achieved FIPS 140-2 certification (Level 1)...

Amazon’s Cloud Player can now stream songs to Ford’s SYNC AppLink vehicles

Not to be outdone by the popular Swedish streaming music startup Spotify, which a month ago updated its mobile client with support for Ford's SYNC AppLink platform, the online retail giant Amazon today issued a similar update to its Cloud Player mobile app.

The app integrates with AppLink vehicles so you can control music playback using your voice and the steering wheel buttons.

Other changes new accessibility features via improved support for the iOS VoiceOver features and an "improved experience" when adding songs to a playlist...

You can now sign up for Boingo subscriptions with iTunes credentials via Wi-Finder

You wouldn't think that an update to an app that maps out Wi-Fi hotspots would be newsworthy, but this new release from Boingo Wireless could have a significant impact on how travelers access the internet.

The hotspot provider updated its Wi-Finder app today with the ability to sign up for access to its wireless internet in-app. So signing up for a Bingo subscription is now as easy as typing in your iTunes password...

Let’s Talk Jailbreak 09: Debating over prices

Sebastien and Jeff discuss the debate over the prices of apps and tweaks in Cydia. They also chit-chat in depth about Velox, one of the year's most highly anticipated jailbreak tweaks. Also, don't miss our coverage of this week's tweaks, which include Luna, FullScroll, and more. Oh, and have you ever wanted to know what could happen when you play your Piano Passcode out in public? We've got the answer.

iPad mini 2 Retina screens reportedly entering mass-production next month

NPD DisplaySearch is on a roll. After reporting yesterday that Apple could release two Retina-enabled iPad mini models - one in the second half of this year and another in the first quarter of 2014 with an updated processor, the display market researcher tell CNET today they think those high-resolution Retina panels for the second-generation iPad mini could go into mass-production soon, as early as June or July of this year.

If true, and assuming satisfactory yield rates, Apple should be able to ready its first Retina iPad mini for a Fall introduction, a time frame KGI Securities' well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently outlined based on his own sources...

German court says Apple’s customer data-sharing policies violate privacy laws

While Apple has been praised for its security efforts in iOS, it does not get the same applause for its privacy policies. The company is currently involved in a US-based lawsuit over its information-sharing practices, and today, a German court ruled against it.

This morning, the Berlin Regional Court in Germany ruled that Apple's sharing of customer data violates its privacy laws. It said that Apple cannot request "global consent" for use of a customer’s data without telling them where and how the data will be used...

RunKeeper gains Pebble smartwatch integration

RunKeeper, the popular mobile fitness and GPS tracking app, received an update Tuesday which allows for some interesting Pebble smartwatch features. Thanks to deep integration with the Bluetooth Smart-enabled E-paper wrist device, RunKeeper users can keep track of their workout stats on their Pebble.

This includes the stuff like displaying elapsed time, distance and pace or using the wrist device to pause and resume RunKeeper. The application also supports an additional seven languages and includes the obligatory bug fixes.

RunKeeper also said future updates will enable even deeper Pebble integration. I've included a nice promotional video and more details for you, right past the fold...