Year: 2014

iOS 7: the ultimate iTunes Store guide

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 28, 2023

Interested in making a digital media purchase on your iPhone? The iTunes Store app is your primary portal for doing so. The iTunes Store app is a stock application that is installed by default on every iOS device. It allows you to make digital media purchases for a variety of media types.

The iTunes Store app works in tandem with the stock Music app and the stock Videos app to provide users with a rich digital media experience. Check inside for details covering the ins and outs of this long running stock application.

Leo’s Fortune is the best platformer we’ve played in a while

Lory Gil ∙ April 26, 2014

Ah, the platformer, a genre that has stood the test of time for generations. Once Mario and his brother graced our living room screens, we were hooked on the run-and-jump adventure that platformers offer. After so many decades, it is starting to get hard to tell titles apart. It seems like anyone can make a platform game, but not everyone can make it good.

Leo’s Fortune is a platform game that is visually attractive, mechanically exciting, and filled with complex puzzles that keep you coming back for more…

Tiny Dice Dungeon puts a unique twist on the RPG genre

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

By now, it may have become clear that I am a fan of good old-fashioned role-playing games. Give me a dungeon crawl over a physics-based game, any day of the week. As much as I love the genre, games can seem a bit redundant over time when you’ve played so many of them.

Tiny Dice Dungeon is a unique twist on the RPG genre that mixes dungeon crawl gameplay with dice throwing mechanics. Role doubles for twice the damage. Role a one and lose your turn…

Keyfault eliminates frustrating iOS keyboard behavior

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Instead of simply describing this tweak, I'll start by telling you a personal story. Like Sebastien's incessancy over ShareLock, I too had a tweak burning a hole in my brain at JailbreakCon. However, unlike Sebastien, I was able to convince my new favorite jailbreak dev, Filippo Bigarella, to code mine at the dinner table that fateful Friday night. Now, perhaps Filippo felt some form of quid pro quo harassment, considering I let him bunk with me at the hotel across from the convention center, but that is of no consequence.

Ever since I have used the emoji keyboard, I have been frustrated with the way default keyboards are selected when tapping a typable field. This behavior is also the same on language keyboards, but since I am an average American, I only know two languages, English and emoji.

Fixing this long annoyance of mine, Keyfault returns the active keyboard to the default language keyboard as determined in settings...

Case maker’s iPhone 6 renderings show thin design, rear antenna cutouts

Cody Lee ∙ April 26, 2014

A new set of alleged 'iPhone 6' renderings surfaced online yesterday. The images come from Ukrainian website UkrainianiPhone, and the device depicted in them matches up with most everything we've seen thus far on the handset, including its relocated Sleep/Week button and circular iSight flash.

There is one noticeable difference, though, between this iPhone 6 model and the ones that we've seen in the past, and it has to do with the rear shell. Up until now, all of the renderings we've seen have shown a solid back cover. But these new shots suggest that Apple is leaving breaks for the antenna...

Apps of the week: Up Next, Third Eye Crime, birdStepper, and more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Some pretty awesome apps came out this week. I’m excited to spend my weekend testing out all of the cool games that made their way into the App Store after Thursday’s big launch. I’ll bet many of you are still stuck in Hitman Go mode, unwilling to come up for air until every last level is completed. I don’t blame you.

However, if you are looking for something new this weekend, we’ve got a list of apps and games that are sure to occupy your hands and your brains. Who’s going to mow the lawn…

New iOS 8 concept shows what Healthbook and other rumored features may look like

Cody Lee ∙ April 25, 2014

Tech site Tech Radar is out with a new iOS 8 concept video this afternoon, depicting what it thinks the new firmware could look like. We actually know, or think we know, quite a bit about Apple's next mobile OS thanks to a number of reports, and this clip helps visualize all of that information.

The video covers most of everything we've heard thus far. It shows a revamped Notification Center, with a new easy-to-read layout, and the oft-rumored Healthbook app connecting to an iWatch. It also suggests how Siri could use Shazam's tech, and how CarPlay could help keep drivers safe...

Apple launches replacement program for iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake button

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Apple announced a new replacement program today for folks having issues with the Sleep/Wake button on their iPhone 5. The program allows for the replacement of the button on select iPhone 5 models where it has either stopped working completely, or only works intermittently.

The Cupertino firm says that it will offer the service free of charge to iPhone 5 customers with models that exhibit this issue, and have a qualifying serial number. It has set up a website with all of the details on the program for the 'small percentage' of people that have been affected...

TapToUnlock7: unlock iOS 7 devices with just a tap

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 25, 2014

No more sliding! Just Tapping. That's the headline for the description for TapToUnlock7 in Cydia, and I have to say, it's apt. TapToUnlock7 is a tweak that gets rid of the "slide to unlock" action and replaces it with a simple tap.

TapToUnlock7 works with both passcode enabled devices and unsecured devices. When you have a passcode enabled, a tap will activate the passcode screen, and when you have the passcode disabled, you'll be whisked away right to iOS' Home screen.

The tweak features a variety of customization options to change up the look and feel of the tap to unlock button on the Lock screen. Have a look inside as we explore various facets of this brand new release.

Nike CEO talks new focus on software for wearables, excited about future with Apple

Cody Lee ∙ April 25, 2014

Following the news last week that Nike is gearing up to shutter its wearable hardware efforts, CEO Mark Parker appeared on CNBC today to talk about the new direction. Parker says the company's goal is to expand the FuelBand system, and that software and strategic partnerships will help them with that.

Obviously, he couldn't say anything directly about the rumors that Nike is teaming up with Apple on a product, but Parker did note that the two companies have been working together for a long time. And when pressed about the speculation, he said that [Nike] is 'excited' about the future of the relationship...

Yomi is a battle card game that delivers on the action

Lory Gil ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

On my many regular trips to my local board game store, I’ve seen this battle card game called “Yomi.” It looks really fun, but it costs $100 new. Ouch! It is one of those games I’d like to try before I buy. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who owns a copy, so I didn’t know if I’d like it, until now.

Sirlin Games recently developed an iPad version of Yomi that is an online, cross-platform adaptation of the card game I’ve longed for, but never invested in. After a few days of testing, it looks like my board game budget will be depleted, once again…

Fly Catbug Fly! Journey through unique worlds to collect sweet nothings

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Bravest Warriors is a web cartoon from Cartoon Hangover that was written by Pendleton Ward, the same zany brain that created Adventure Time. Although I am a huge fan of Finn and Jake, I’ve never actually seen Bravest Warriors. That will probably change soon.

Fly Catbug Fly! is the first video game based on the cartoon web series staring its most adorable character. This child-voiced, ladybug-winged cat flies through the air, collecting stuff like skulls, salad bowls, and toilet paper. Help Catbug grab as much as his little wings can carry and deliver them to Impossibear. Don’t worry. I’m just as confused as you are…