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.

Apple’s Arizona sapphire plant said to be gearing up to build 5″ iPhone displays

Cody Lee ∙ February 6, 2014

We've known since last fall that Apple was teaming up with GT Advanced to open up a sapphire crystal manufacturing plant in Mesa, Arizona. But up until now, it's been unclear exactly what components it would be making. Camera lenses? Touch ID covers?

Well according to a new report from 9to5Mac, the plant is gearing up to build iPhone displays. Citing import/export and other records, the site says that the Mesa plant has just procured enough equipment to make over 100M ~5-inch iPhone displays this year...

Final Fantasy VI now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ February 6, 2014

Great news this morning for all of you Final Fantasy fans. Square Enix's mobile version of the series' classic sixth episode is now available in the App Store and can be downloaded for both the iPhone and the iPad.

Final Fantasy VI first debuted in 1994, and is highly regarded as one of the best titles in the franchise. And for its iOS debut, the game has been completely rebuilt with easy touch controls and enhanced graphics...

Amazon app now lets you search for things by taking photos of them

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Amazon has pushed an update to its iOS app, enabling a new feature called Flow. The feature allows users to search for items on the website by simply scanning them in the app using their iPhone's camera. Need a stapler? Just point your iPhone at one.

Flow recognizes via shape, size, color, box text, and general appearance, and can analyze multiple items at a time. Hold your iPhone up to a row of products and every recognizable item is placed in a queue that can then be added to your Amazon cart...

Apple posts new ‘On the runway with iPhone 5s’ video

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

Apple has added a new video to both its YouTube channel and iPhone marketing page called 'On the runway with iPhone 5s.' The clip contains footage from the Burberry Womenswear Spring/Summer 2014 fashion show from last September.

For those who missed our original post on the fashion show, Apple handed out then-pre-release iPhone 5s units to Burberry employees to cover the event. Their footage highlighted the handset's image quality and new slow-motion feature...

Collection of every Apple reference ever made in The Simpsons and Futurama

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

A comprehensive list of all the Apple references ever made in popular animated TV shows The Simpsons and Futurama has been compiled by the folks over at TUAW. And knowing what a huge following the two shows have, I thought it was worth sharing.

The series have a combined 33 seasons between them, and were both created by Matt Groening. Groening has a well-documented affinity for Apple, and even wrote some copy for the company in the 80's, so as you'd imagine, it gets mentioned quite often...

Samsung asks Olympians to hide Apple logo on iPhones during opening ceremony

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

This is kind of interesting. Ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which is scheduled to begin in two days, Samsung has requested that athletes participating in the Games hide the Apple logos on their iPhones while taking photos and recording video.

It appears that Samsung, a major sponsor of this year's Olympics, is particularly concerned with the opening ceremony. And it's asked that any athlete who plans to use Apple's handset to record the widely-broadcasted event to keep the logo hidden...

Battletoads-inspired game ‘Toad Rider’ hits the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

Good news for those longing to relive their glory days in the form of a nostalgia-evoking video game. Toad Rider, a new iPhone and iPad game inspired by the classic NES title 'Battletoads,' is now available in the App Store.

The game was actually modeled after one specific part of the original Battletoads game—the notorious Turbo Tunnel level that has you maneuver your hoverbike around obstacles. And it makes for a great endless runner...

A list of devices and patents involved in upcoming Apple-Samsung trial

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

Ahead of their high-profile trial, scheduled to start in March, Apple and Samsung have submitted a list of all of the patents they are accusing each other of infringing, and applicable devices. Well this is a pared down list, trimmed by each side at Judge Koh's orders.

This is the second time the two will meet in Koh's northern California courtroom. The first time around, Samsung was found guilty of infringing on a few Apple patents and was forced to pay close to $1 billion in damages. This time, there may be even more at stake...

Steve Jobs said to have approached Sony about using OS X in VAIOs

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

As serious as Apple has always been about making all of its own hardware and software, it's hard to believe that OS X almost wound up on Sony VAIO PCs. But it's true, according to Japanese freelance writer Nobuyuki Hayashi.

It's even harder to believe that the effort was spearheaded by Steve Jobs himself, but it was. In a recent blog post, Hayashi recounts a time when Jobs and other Apple executives met with Sony and pitched them the OS X VAIO...

Apple restarting iPhone 4 production for India and other markets

Cody Lee ∙ February 4, 2014

Apple has reportedly resumed production of the discontinued iPhone 4, according to a new report. Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, The Economic Times is reporting that Apple hopes to sell the handset in places like India, Indonesia, and Brazil.

The Mac-maker is hoping that the device will help it recoup market share in these countries and other developing markets, where few carriers offer subsidies on their smartphones and prices of consumer electronics tend to run much higher than the global average...

‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ coming to iOS this spring

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

Gameloft and Marvel announced the official tie-in game for the upcoming Captain America sequel this morning. It’s called ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier' and it will be arriving on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms this spring.

We don’t know much about the game, outside of its title. But judging by this trailer Gameloft posted this afternoon, it's not going to be your typical hack-and-slash marketing vehicle, as it features Borderlands-style graphics and unique gameplay...

Microsoft buys $15 million stake in Foursquare

Cody Lee ∙ February 4, 2014

It's been a pretty big day for Microsoft. Following the news earlier today that Satya Nadella has been named the company's new CEO, and Bill Gates would be stepping down as chairman, comes word that the Windows maker has made a sizable investment in Foursquare.

The deal, which has been confirmed by both parties, is said to be worth $15 million, and it will give Microsoft access to Forsquare's mountain of mobile data. The company plans to utilize the data in its Bing mapping software and various other Windows Phone applications...