Year: 2014

Report sheds light on public transit directions in iOS 8’s Maps and other new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 11, 2014

A new report by the reliable blogger Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac has offered new details concerning Apple's Maps service in iOS 8, the next major iteration of Apple's mobile operating system for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, which is expected to be released later this year.

Gurman learned from sources briefed on Apple's plans that CEO Tim Cook, SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and Maps head Patrice Gautier have been leading teams of Apple engineers since former iOS chief Scot Forstall’s departure in order to polish and enhance the service so it lives up to the “incredibly high standard” of Apple’s customers.

Here's what you should expect from Apple Maps in iOS 8...

Yahoo Search app updated with new iOS 7 design

Cody Lee ∙ March 11, 2014

Yahoo has updated its official Search client for iOS this morning, bringing the app to version 3.1. The update doesn't include much, but is instantly noticeable thanks to the all new design. Yahoo calls it 'minimalist,' but we often refer to this as iOS 7-style.

For those who aren't familiar with it, the app is pretty much your standard web engine with a built-in browser, but of course with Yahoo's services. So for folks invested in the ecosystem with either Mail or Tumblr, it could offer more than Google or Bing...

Rovio teases yet another new Angry Birds game

Cody Lee ∙ March 11, 2014

It hasn't even been a month yet since Rovio unveiled its new game 'Angry Birds Stella,' and the studio has already begun to tease a new title for its hit franchise. A 30-second clip showing a bird wearing a suit of armor popped up on Rovio's YouTube channel over the weekend.

The trailer instructs users to prepare for the most 'epic soft launch ever,' suggesting that the new game will be launching in the near future. It also tells us that the game will be arriving in Australia and Canada first, with other countries to follow shortly after. View the clip below...

TwitkaFly brings Twitter quick reply and quick compose to iOS 7

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 10, 2014

If you've been around the jailbreak scene for any considerable amount of time, then you probably recognize the name TwitkaFly. It's a jailbreak tweak that's been around since the iOS 4 days, and it allows you to use quick reply and quick compose features with Twitter.

TwitkaFly was just recently updated for iOS 7, and it brings with it a fresh coat of paint and compatibility with Apple's latest OS release. As you'll see from our video walkthrough, TwitkaFly isn't perfect, but it's a tweak that you should definitely consider if you're a big time user of the official Twitter app or Tweetbot

Let’s Talk iOS 019: Discussing iOS 7.1

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 20, 2018

Episode 19: On this week’s episode we discuss the release of iOS 7.1, the head-turning traditional iWatch concept, rumors of Apple opening up Siri to third-party developers, the official iDB ultimate Siri guide, plus we tell you how to backup and restore SMS Messages on a clean iOS install.

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Apple credits iOS 7.1 security changes to evad3rs and other jailbreak community members

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2014

Following the release of the first major iOS 7.1 software update earlier today, Apple has now updated contents of the support document which outlines security updates for its products with a link to this newly created document describing iOS 7.1 security improvements.

In it, Apple credits prominent members of the jailbreak community such as evad3rs, the team behind the evasi0n jailbreak, as well as Google and others who reported issues and helped contribute toward the security changes within iOS 7.1...

Instagram to pester us with more ads as it signs major $100M deal

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2014

Facebook-owned Instagram is about to monetize its more than 150 million active users in a big way, by continuing to pester them with a growing number of really expensive photo and video ads. Not that fans of the photo and video-sharing service will necessarily approve of the move, but Instagram has now signed its first major deal, reports AdAge.

Come on, you knew this was coming: first ads began showing up on Instagram back in November 2013.

That being said, today's announcement is on an entirely different level as the people of Instagram have managed to sign a lucrative deal with an ad agency worth a cool $100 million. According to people familiar with the matter, the team is now rolling out a paid advertising program with a year-long commitment from Omnicom to spend north of $100 million to advertise for its clients on Instagram...

Apple updates Remote app with better iTunes Radio control, purchased content support, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2014

You're probably aware by now that Apple today released iOS 7.1 with CarPlay support and improvements to Siri, Touch ID and more (jailbreakers should stay away from this update, for now).

Additionally, the firm's unleashed a companion Apple TV 6.1 software update with a new way to hide Home screen icons and seeded Xcode 5.1 and iAd Producer 4.1.2 (both with iOS 7.1 compatibility) to its registered iOS devs.

And now, the iPhone maker's free Remote app for the iPhone and iPad has received an update with support for accessing your past TV show and movie purchases and more. Remote 4.2 is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch free in the App Store...

Two new iPad models discovered in iOS 7.1

Cody Lee ∙ March 10, 2014

After months of betas and rumors, Apple released iOS 7.1 to the public today. The update features a number of improvements, and apparently it also includes support for two new, unannounced tablet models: the iPad4,3 and the iPad 4,6.

Before you get too excited though, the consensus is that these new models likely represent minor hardware revisions for existing iPads, rather than all-new products. It seems the model numbers aren't very far off from current iPad models...

Fruit Ninja developer Halfbrick Studios announces its latest puzzle game, Bears vs. Art

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Halfbrick Studios may not be as prolific as big name studios when it comes to churning out new iPhone and iPad games on a monthly, sometimes even weekly basis, but their addictive games had me burn lots of midnight oil.

Today, the creator of Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja has announced its latest puzzle game, Bears vs. Art. Soft-launched in Australia in Canada (global launch is due "soon"), Bears vs. Art involves Rory the bear and some stuck-up art connoisseurs.

The concept combines elements of speed and action to create "a totally new experience" in which our hero must sabotage supposed works of art in more than a hundred galleries. Finally a game that expresses bears' natural animosity toward art! I've included more tidbits and a trailer right below the fold...

Apple TV 6.1 update adds new way to hide apps

Cody Lee ∙ March 10, 2014

In addition to launching iOS 7.1 for the iPhone and iPad today, Apple also rolled out new firmware to the Apple TV. The software, labeled as version 6.1, brings about a handful of improvements, including the ability to hide channel icons from the ATV's Main Menu.

While you could hide icons in previous versions of Apple TV software, the process was very convoluted, forcing you into the Settings menu > General > Restrictions > Hide. But with today's update, you can now skip all that and hide icons right from the home screen...

Jailbreakers should stay away from iOS 7.1

Sébastien Page ∙ March 10, 2014

We've mentioned it several times before, but looking at the amount of emails we've received about this matter, it is worth reiterating that anyone with a jailbroken device should stay away from the newly released iOS 7.1. If you update to iOS 7.1, you will lose your jailbreak. At this time, there is no indication that evasi0n7 will be updated for iOS 7.1, quite the opposite.

https://twitter.com/MuscleNerd/statuses/443080497023819776

Obviously, if you do not care about your jailbreak, you are free to update to iOS 7.1. If you choose to do so, you will have to plug your iPhone in iTunes as evasi0n7 disables OTA updates by default.

You've been warned. Now it's your responsibility to make the decision: is iOS 7.1 worth losing your jailbreak? You tell me.