Year: 2014

SwipeSelection and AltKeyboard now play nice together

Sébastien Page ∙ July 11, 2014

The jailbreak community didn't have to wait for iOS 8 to bring third-party keyboard support to iPhone and iPad. For several years now, jailbreakers have been treated to some clever keyboard tweaks to improve on the usability of the devices.

Two of these tweaks, SwipeSelection and AltKeyboard 2, somewhat overlapped each other's functionalities when released a few months ago, forcing jailbreak users to choose either one or the other.

With both tweaks now having been updated to support each other, this issue is a thing of the past, as SwipeSelection and AltKeyboard can now run side by side properly...

OneThumb: a universal thumbs up/down tweak for Spotify, Pandora and iTunes Radio

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 11, 2014

OneThumb is a unique new jailbreak tweak that works with Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes Radio. It allows you to use a universal Activator gesture to input thumbs up or thumbs down ratings across all eligible apps.

Instead of having different manners and methods for curating radio stations, OneThumb brings it all under one umbrella. We've tested it out, and we can vouch that the tweak works exactly as it is described. Take a look at our video inside for all of the details.

Video: ultimate torture test reveals what it takes to shatter iPhone 6’s sapphire cover glass

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

Earlier in the week, a scratch test captured on video had us marveling at the virtually indestructible sapphire-strengthened cover glass purportedly making its way to Apple's forthcoming new iPhones.

The test, posted by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, showed scratching the protective cover with a set of keys and even a large folding knife yielded absolutely no damage. As Brownlee noted, the part's scratch resistance and proneness to bending and twisting is beyond any smartphone cover glass you've ever seen.

Despite trying, Brownlee just couldn't break the part under his own power. But anything in this world can be broken to pieces. We're a curious bunch here at iDownloadBlog and have been wondering a lot what it'd take to push this alleged sapphire cover glass beyond the point of breaking.

I've just stumbled upon a torture test video which answers that question quite effectively. It's included after the break so give it a quick watch and meet us in comments...

For China, the iPhone location tracking feature is a “national security concern”

Sébastien Page ∙ July 11, 2014

The WSJ is out this morning with a piece based on a report recently broadcasted on the state-run China Central Television, quoting the iPhone location tracking feature as a "national security concern." Nevermind the fact that you can turn off the feature.

As the largest market, one that is greatly untapped, China is a big bet for Apple, and just about any other company. With 6% of the Chinese smartphone market share, Apple is trailing behind the competition, most notably, Samsung, and Xiaomi, but it didn't stop the Chinese broadcaster to make Apple the main target...

Google Maps gains Gmail appointments and search results on map and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

As Apple continues to decrease its dependency on Google for maps in products such as the Find My iPhone service, the Internet giant keeps on adding new features to the native Google Maps iOS app in an effort to widen the gap between its own service and Apple Maps.

Today's version 3.2 update adds a couple new features to Google Maps, starting with a new Explore section acting as your local guide that highlights different places and activities, depending on your location and time of day...

Photoshop Express can now remove blemishes, reduce fog and haze in photos and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

Having received a major update in May adding features like new brushes, a Quick Selection tool and more, the past month or so has marked a relatively quiet period for Adobe's Photoshop Express software for the iPhone and iPad.

But as Apple confirms ceasing development of its Mac photography software, Aperture, Adobe has renewed its commitment to the platform.

First, they're helping Aperture customers migrate to its Lightroom software and now Adobe's made the newly updated Photoshop Express 3.4 even more useful with such additions as blemish removal, a new DeFog tool and more...

Why iWatch may not release before Spring 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2014

For the past year or so, Apple executives have been teasing new product categories coming in 2014.

“There will be new categories,” Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal back in February, for example. “We’re not ready to talk about it, but we’re working on some really great stuff.” Sadly, six months have already passed without a single major Apple product launch, let alone a new product category.

I'm referring to a mythical iWatch, of course, although Apple is rumored to enter new markets other than smartwatches, such as home automation accessories.

A report earlier today by KGI Securities' pretty reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has hinted that Apple has been forced to push mass production of the iWatch back more than a month. He now expects the device to enter production as late as November.

Assuming Kuo is right, when can we expect iWatches to hit store shelves? Read on...

Rumor: Apple’s A8 chip boasts frequencies of 2.0GHz or more per core

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 29, 2016

Given Apple's past mobile processor patterns, it's fairly safe to assume that the new iPhones and iPads - when they drop this Fall - will feature a new A8 chip, designed by Apple and manufactured by both Samsung and Taiwanese chip foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

We also heard whispers that the A8 chip focuses primarily on power efficiency and thus yields only marginal CPU speed increases. However, if a new report out of China is anything to go by, that may not be the case after all as the new 20-nanometer chip is said to boasts clock frequencies of 2.0GHz or more per core...

Afterlight is an iPhoneographer’s dream app

Andrew Kunesh ∙ Updated October 9, 2018

After moving to the city from the suburbs, I've become a total sucker for photography apps. It seems like every time I unlock my bike at a coffee shop, there's a new photo opportunity awaiting my iPhone's tiny sensor -- an opportunity that would look even better with a filter applied to it.

Because of this recent obsession, I've been on the hunt for the best photo apps that offer the great core editing, classy filters, and clean camera interface. My most recent find is Afterlight, a relatively new player in the photo editing game that offers a huge library of filters and a ton of interesting editing features I've yet to see in other photo apps.

However, does this feature-packed photo editing app live up to the uses of a wannabe urban photographer? Read on for a full Afterlight review...

Apple caught cutting some iTunes song previews down to 30 seconds

Cody Lee ∙ July 11, 2014

A few years ago, Apple extended song previews in iTunes from 30 seconds to 90 seconds, for tracks longer than two and a half minutes. The move pleased users, as it enabled them to listen to a large chunk of the song before purchasing it.

It appears, however, that Apple has recently changed its policy regarding music samples, reverting some track preview times back to 30 seconds. The change has been reported by several users, on both mobile and desktop versions of iTunes...

New report says mass production of iWatch may not begin until November

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo issued a new note to investors this morning, stating that Apple may have to push mass production of the iWatch back more than a month. The highly revered analyst originally predicted that production for the device would ramp up in September, but due to the complexity of the project, he now believes it could begin as late as November...

MLB updates At Bat and At the Ballpark as iBeacon rollout continues

Cody Lee ∙ July 10, 2014

Earlier this year, Major League Baseball pledged to have twenty ballparks outfitted with iBeacons by Opening Day as part of its initial rollout phase. And it did. Stadiums in Boston, San Diego, L.A. and many more cities now feature the tech.

Today, TechCrunch is reporting that the MLB is now entering the second phase of the initiative. And apparently it's planning to debut a special project at the 2014 All-Star Game, which is slated for July 15 at Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota...