Year: 2014

Another claimed iPhone 6 resolution emerges: 1,472-by-828 pixels at 16:9 ratio

Back in May, code strings discovered in a beta of the iOS 8 software development kit (SDK) suggested that one of the upcoming iPhone 6 models has a screen resolution of 1,704-by-960 pixels, indicating a pixel density of 416 pixels per inch (ppi).

This, in turn, would be more than comfortably above Apple’s self-imposed Retina requirement of 300ppi.

A reference to a larger 1,472-by-828 resolution has now been spotted in a file added in Xcode 6 beta 5.

This assumed resolution on a 4.7-inch device would yield Retina-class 360ppi, or 307ppi on a larger 5.5-inch panel...

How to stop iMessage spam

Are you getting spam iMessages from unknown people or scammers with international numbers and weird email addresses? In this post, we will go over four simple ways to protect yourself and stop iMessage spam for a hassle-free messaging experience on your iPhone.

Apple’s stock closes at record high of $100.56 per share

After hovering just under the $100 mark for several weeks, shares of Apple finally surpassed the mark today and closed at an all-time high of $100.56. That breaks the Cupertino company stock's previous closing record of $100.30, set on September 19, 2012 in the run up to the launch of the iPhone 5.

Today's news comes just a few months after Apple authorized a 7-1 stock split (before the split, today's closing price would be shown as $703.92), and amidst a barrage of rumors regarding the company's plans for product releases this fall which include two new iPhones and possibly a smartwatch...

You can now take a Flyover tour of Yosemite National Park in Apple Maps

Conveniently, Apple's added a 3D Flyover view of the Yosemite National Park in California and Wellington in New Zealand to its Maps service, available across Mac and iOS devices. The latest addition allows you to check out Yosemite's landmarks, or the buildings and other structures in the city of Wellington.

3D Flyover views for the Auckland and Christchurch areas in New Zealand have been added to Apple Maps earlier in the year. The Cupertino company has updated the Flyover availability webpage by adding Wellington and Yosemite to the list...

Trusted analyst no longer sees iWatch in 2014

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo has made a name for himself as one of the more credible — if not the most credible — analysts covering Apple.

And unlike many other ”analysts“ who base their armchair predictions on the combination of the generally inaccurate rumor-mill reporting, hearsay and the Internet echo chamber, Kuo actually does research and puts some thought into notes he issues to clients.

But even renowned analysts like Kuo — and trusted he is — have had their share of misses. Today, Kuo backpedalled on his earlier claim that Apple was working to released an iWatch at some point this year. Ask him again and he'll now tell you he no longer sees the mythical wearable released in 2014 due to the complexities involved in hardware and software engineering...

Poll: will you buy iPhone 6 full price or subsidized?

When Apple finally announces the iPhone 6 next month, I myself will be most certainly watching Tim Cook's pricing slide with great intent. There have been plenty of rumors indicating that Apple could actually hike iPhone 6 prices across the board.

Assuming the rumors are true, like most people I won't be happy about this change, though it won't discourage me from buying the handset.

The more suspicious watchers postulated that only higher-end models would command a premium. For instance, The Wall Street Journal just recently said that only the "more-expensive models" would get sapphire displays due to high production costs.

In the United States, T-Mobile is the only major carrier that fully separates device cost (fully paid upfront or via twelve zero-interest monthly installments) from wireless service plans. With other operators such as Verizon, the subsidy cost is not cut out of your wireless bill after your service agreement is over and your device has been fully paid off.

Which brings me to my question of the day: will you be getting your very own iPhone 6 unsubsidized, paying the full price of the handset upfront? Or, perhaps you'd be willing to commit your soul to a carrier for another 12/24 months, all over again, just to be able to pay the lowest possible hardware price at the time of your purchase?...

Hands-on with Mailbox for Mac: a fast, powerful, gestural mail client

We first heard rumors of a Mac version of the popular Mailbox app last year, and it was since confirmed as being in development, with a public beta sign up for those interested in early access. Although it's been a while, users who signed up for the beta are finally getting their invites.

I've had the privilege of getting a pre-public beta copy of Mailbox for Mac, and I've been putting it through its paces ever since. Here are some thoughts on the OS X edition of this incredible mail client.

New Google app: Photo Sphere Camera for iPhone

Google has released a brand new iPhone photography application in the App Store. Dubbed Photo Sphere Camera, it provides functionality similar to the iOS Panorama shooting mode, and then some more.

By continuously taking images as you pan your device around, Photo Sphere Camera then stitches the individual photos together to create a nice sphere-like 360-degree image which can be published directly to Google Maps or shared with anyone on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and via email.

The app is a free download. I've included additional tidbits right after the jump...

Facebook’s Slingshot picks up new features

It's been nearly two months now since Facebook rolled out its would-be Snapchat-killer, called Slingshot.

Thus far, the software looks like it could be going the way of Poke, the social networking giant's pathetic take on the popular ephemeral messaging software.

Surprisingly enough, Slingshot currently enjoys a three-star rating out of five stars in the App Store.

Besides, the app doesn't seem to be languishing as the team released its first major update three weeks ago bringing out much-needed new features, including a My People tab and brand new reactions.

Today, a second major update has landed on the App Store. Available to download for free, Slingshot 1.2 improves your experience by letting you jump straight to the list of shots by tapping a notification and more...

Here’s why Beta 5 may be the final iOS 8 build seeded to devs ahead of Gold Master

Yesterday's release of OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 6 with an additional five gorgeous wallpapers and a bunch of refinements has left many eagle-eyed watchers scratching their head over the fact that the assumed iOS 8 Beta 6 wouldn't materialize.

Indeed, fast-forward nearly twenty-four hours later and Beta 6 is still nowhere to be seen. Such an anticlimactic turn of events probably means that iOS 8 Beta 5, which was released a fortnight ago, is the final beta build seeded to developers ahead of the so-called Gold Mater release...

Rumor: LG Display beats out rivals to become top iPhone 6 display supplier

If there's any substance to a new supply chain report Tuesday, LG Display beat out rivals like Samsung, Sharp, and Japan Display as Apple had reportedly selected the South Korea-based firm as its top display supplier for the upcoming iPhone 6.

Based on a massive amount of orders, analysts are expecting iPhone 6 shipments in the ballpark of 70 million units during a three-month span.

The huge order should be enough to keep suppliers such as LG Display busy in the months ahead. RBC Capital Markets in a note to clients yesterday cited latest supply chain data, upping its forecast of Apple's orders to as many as 80 million units of both 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variants.

This compares to the 60 million iPhones ordered during the same period of last year...

iPhone 6 could feature faster 150Mbps LTE-Advanced support

Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 could feature support for faster LTE-Advanced networking which promises theoretical download speeds of up to 300Mbps. A claimed iPhone 6 logic board photo suggests Apple may have opted for the slower 150Mbps LTE-Advanced by replacing Qualcomm's MDM9615 chip in prior iPhones with a MDM9625 part.

Originally announced back in 2012, the MDM9625 chipset supports upload and download LTE-Advanced data speeds of 150Mbps versus the MDM9615 chip found in the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c which tops out at 100Mbps.

A handful of the world's carriers have only recently begun rolling out LTE-Advanced so Apple may have opted to support only the 150Mbps LTE-Advanced in anticipation of the faster 300Mbps roll-out...