Year: 2016

How to temporarily hide iOS 9’s stock app icons, no jailbreak required

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 4, 2016

Aside from disabling the iTunes Store, iBooks Store and Podcasts apps on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using iOS's Restrictions feature, Apple doesn't yet provide an officially sanctioned way of removing stock apps from your Home screen.

This can be particularly annoying for people who rely on third-party alternatives to Apple's default apps like Reminders, Maps or Calendar.

My preferred way of working around this limitation involves tucking away any unwanted stock app inside a “Junk” folder. Thankfully, YouTubber Jose Rodriguez has found a better way to temporarily hide icons of Apple's stock apps on iOS versions from iOS 9 onward using a simple trick that doesn't require a jailbreak.

App Store acting up and not showing updates correctly? Try this workaround…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 9, 2018

Have you experienced an annoying hiccup in the App Store where it shows that one or more apps need updating but you can't actually apply the updates? Or perhaps the App Store's icon on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad's Home screen is showing a badge even though you've just successfully downloaded all app updates?

I first noticed this odd behavior back in the summer and thought it was a temporary problem that would get fixed soon, but it persisted. As it turns out, this is a caching issue that can be easily circumvented with a simple, cool trick.

Grab Colorburn camera app, Apple’s latest Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 4, 2016

Following iTunes holiday freeze, Apple has now discounted Colorburn camera app to $0 as part of its regular Free App of the Week promotion in the App Store. With more than a thousand filters to choose from, an easy to use interface and advanced features like split photography, this app lets you experiment with different looks for your photos to your heart's desire. Colorburn for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is available free until next Thursday.

Ford announces CarPlay availability for all Sync 3-equipped 2017 vehicles

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 3, 2016

CarPlay has slowly gained momentum over the last few years, but 2016 might be the year when it really breaks into the mainstream. That's because Ford has announced that all of the Sync 3-equipped cars in its 2017 North American lineup will feature CarPlay as an option.

Ford is offering CarPlay as a part of its Sync 3 infotainment package. Sync 3, at least in the current 2016 lineup, is an available add-on, but every new 2017 Sync 3-capable Ford will at least have the option of being equipped with CarPlay.

How to add a progress bar to the respring screen on jailbroken devices

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 3, 2016

RespringProgress is a new jailbreak tweak from Ethan Arbuckle that places a progress bar on the respring screen. This is the same black screen where the white Apple logo resides after performing a respring post jailbreak tweak install, or after invoking respring-oriented jailbreak tweaks. Have a look at our GIF animation to see how it looks in action.

Vote for iDB in the 2015 Jailbreak Awards

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

This is kind of cool. Jailbreak community members have teamed up to create the Jailbreak Awards of 2015. The awards are selected by you, the community, in categories such as best legacy jailbreak tweak, best theme, best website, etc.

The end/beginning of the year is always a great opportunity to reflect on the prior year's accomplishments. In fact, we presented our own 2015 tweak of the year list just last week.

Be sure to vote for iDB in this year's jailbreak awards. It's a great opportunity to show your appreciation for all of the jailbreak coverage here at iDB.

The best reader-submitted wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

iDownloadBlog's Wallpapers of the Week section is, surprise, a weekly posting of fresh wallpapers for your favorite iOS devices, most notably the iPhone. The curated section draws a large amount of visitors on Sunday afternoons and many of you enjoy sharing your own walls!

The best way to have your image considered for a post, is to connect with me via @jim_gresham. However, many readers simply use the comment section below each post to share their favorite wallpapers. With another year down, I combed through the 2015 comments and pulled out the best user-posted wallpapers that were photo quality for your updated devices. Take a step inside to see if your post made the list!

Apple TV expands universal search integration to PBS and PBS Kids

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 3, 2016

Apple's begun allowing developers to implement tvOS's universal search features in their Apple TV apps, beginning with PBS. As first noted by AppleInsider, Siri content queries now produce deep links from both the PBS and PBS Kids apps.

For instance, a Siri query for a PBS show called “Curious George” brings up the regular search results page with a brand new PBS Kids app option alongside the usual iTunes and Netflix choices.

Sketchy rumor calls for 256GB iPhone 7 Plus with 3,100 mAh battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 2, 2017

According to a sketchy rumor published yesterday by Chinese-language Mydrivers, Apple's forthcoming 5.5-inch 'iPhone 7 Plus' will come with a pair of exclusive features versus its 4.7-inch 'iPhone 7' sibling: a new 256-gigabyte storage option and a larger 3,100 mAh battery.

By comparison, the current-generation iPhone 6s Plus has a 2,750 mAh battery inside. The publication did not specify whether the inclusion of the 256GB option will result in the removal of the oft-critized sixteen-gigabyte option from the iPhone lineup.

Jailbreak tweaks of the week: Cello, Vizoom, and more

Sébastien Page ∙ January 3, 2016

If you've been too busy celebrating the holidays and the new year to keep up with the new tweaks that were recently released, then we've got you covered. It's all here for you in one easy to digest post. Spoiler alert: you didn't really miss anything.

iPhone and iPad prices increase slightly in Germany to comply with new private copyright levies

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 2, 2016

Apple has slightly raised prices of select iPhone and iPad models sold through its webstore in Germany in order to comply with new private copyright levies, as first reported by Apfelpage.de.

The iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 5s now each cost 5 euros more versus their December 31, 2015, prices on the Apple Online Store. iPad models such as the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 2 have increased in price by 8 euros for each model.

Original Fantastical for Mac is now officially over, Fantastical 2 is 20% off until January 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

The original Fantastical, the popular calendar and reminders app which basically launched developer Flexibits back in 2011, has received its final update in the Mac App Store. While support for Fantastical 1 is now officially over, Fantastical 2 for iPhone, iPad and Mac will of course continue to be updated, maintained and supported for the time being.

“After more than four years of free updates and support, it’s time to focus our efforts, energy and resources on Fantastical 2,” Flexibits said.