Cody Lee

Cody Lee, iDownloadBlog.com’s longest-serving Editor, joined the site in 2008. He specializes in uncovering the best deals on Apple products, apps, and accessories. With years of experience in technology journalism, Cody helps readers save money while staying informed about the latest trends and updates in the Apple ecosystem. Cody’s history with smartphones goes almost as far back as he does. As the son of a Nokia employee, he was exposed early on to handsets like the N91 and the Communicator. He has since been involved in nearly every aspect of the mobile phone industry. While going to college, he worked at a Nokia factory, building handsets, and later moved on to a sales position at a major wireless carrier.

Volkswagen’s first CarPlay-enabled vehicles heading to dealers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Volkswagen announced on Wednesday that its first CarPlay-enabled vehicles have begun shipping from production facilities. The German automaker says the first 2016 models featuring its new infotainment system will start landing in dealer showrooms in "late July 2015."

It's calling the new infotainment system "MIB II," and in addition to CarPlay it will also support Android Auto and MirrorLink. In the press release, Volkswagen calls the new system "one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available."

Apple releases OS X El Capitan Public Beta 3

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2015

Apple on Wednesday seeded the third public beta of OS X El Capitan to testers. The release comes just two days after beta 5 of El Capitan was pushed out to developers and three weeks after the first public beta.

The new build is available to registered public testers who are already on beta 2 via the Updates section of the Mac App Store, or through the beta web portal as a standalone download. You can enroll in the program by clicking here.

Apple seeds OS X El Capitan beta 5 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple on Monday released the fifth OS X El Capitan beta to developers. The new build is available to registered developers via the Updates section of the Mac App Store or through Apple’s Developer Center.

Today’s update comes less than a week after Apple pushed out the fourth beta of OS X El Capitan, and nearly two months after its initial release in early June during Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference.

Apple reportedly approached BMW over using i3 as basis for its electric car

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Apple approached BMW last year regarding its rumored electric car project, reports German business magazine Manager. The publication says that Tim Cook and other senior executives visited the i3 assembly plant in Leipzig, Germany during "autumn 2014" to discuss the possibility of using the i3 as the basis for its own vehicle.

For those who aren't familiar with the i3, it's BMW's urban 5-door electric car that looks like a hatchback from the future. It's been generally well-received by critics, but with a 0-60 time approaching 7 seconds and a battery range of under 100 miles, it's not turning nearly as many heads as the model S and other Tesla-made cars.

100 apps and games discounted to $0.99 in massive App Store sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Apple is running a massive sale in the App Store right now, marking down the prices of 100 notable apps and games. The promotion includes titles from a variety of genres, and everything has been discounted down to $0.99.

The promo has been split up into 6 sections: Apps for Photography Lovers, Apps for Kids, Smart Tools for Everyone, Game Hits, App Store Veterans, and More Games to Explore. We've listed some of our favorite deals below.

YouTube app updated with support for fullscreen vertical videos

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Google's YouTube updated its iOS client today, bringing the app to version 10.28. The update brings about two major enhancements: support for fullscreen playback of vertical videos and push notifications.

The former is fairly significant. Users can now view vertically-filmed videos in fullscreen when in portrait mode—a big improvement over previous versions, which would shrink content between two black bars.

Apple highlights apps for anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Apple has begun highlighting apps with specialized accessibility features. The curated section features apps such as TapTapSee, Color Identifier and more.

Apple has long been praised for its efforts to ensure iOS devices can be used by those with various disabilities, including vision, hearing and motor skill impairments. It also regularly spotlights third-party accessibility applications.

Apple pulls Nest products from its website and retail stores

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2015

Apple has stopped selling the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Protect smoke alarm online and in its retail stores, reports Mashable. A search for the products on Apple's website now redirects customers to HomeKit-compatible devices.

The move comes a month after Apple debuted HomeKit, a platform that aims to streamline communication between iOS devices and smart home accessories. Among the compatible products available at launch was the ecobee3 thermostat.

Honda announces CarPlay support for 2016 Accord

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Honda on Thursday debuted the 2016 Accord at its research facility in Mountain View. While car makers typically reserve new car unveilings for major auto shows, Honda says that it chose the location to highlight the role Silicon Valley is playing in the industry.

The ninth-generation Accord features a thorough refresh for 2016, with a big focus on technology. All EX and above models will include a Display Audio infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display and support for both CarPlay and Android Auto platforms.

Apple working on TV remote with built-in fingerprint sensor

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

The US Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published three patent applications from Apple relating to biometric input devices. As noted by AppleInsider, all the filings mention a device with a built-in fingerprint sensor that could be used in a future TV remote.

It's not hard to imagine the biometric possibilities of a remote control for a TV or set-top box. The device would be able to identify users—paving the way for custom profiles, settings and parental controls—and could support multi-finger shortcuts and simple gestures.

Save $125 on iPad Air 2 in Best Buy’s ‘Black Friday in July’ sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 15, 2017

In an effort to drum up sales during the summer slump, Best Buy has announced that it will be hosting a "Black Friday in July" sale this weekend where it will be discounting iPads, MacBooks and a number of other products.

The promotion begins on July 24 and runs through the 25th, but those with a My Best Buy account can access the deals today. You can sign up for My Best Buy, for free, though it does require an email and phone number.

Nickelodeon’s ‘SpongeBob Moves In’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2015

Apple has just named “SpongeBob Moves In” its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to download Nickelodeon's popular city-builder for both iPhone and iPad for free—saving you a solid $4.

On Day 1, players help SpongeBob move into his Pineapple house, get a job at the Krusty Krab and begin building their own Bikini Bottom. As your town begins to thrive, you'll unlock new characters, buildings, decorations and areas like Jellyfish Fields.