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.

Survey finds that Apple Stores now account for 25% of US iPhone sales

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

During a summit in San Francisco's Fort Mason on June 27 of this year, Tim Cook spoke to Apple Retail Store leaders about upcoming changes to the company's iPhone marketing tactics. He said he was hoping the changes would help their stores start selling more handsets.

Well here we are, nearly 6 months later, and it looks like the changes have done just that. According to a new survey from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the amount of iPhones purchased from Apple stores has increased from 20% to 25% over the past several months...

Yelp updated with new SeatMe feature for making restaurant reservations

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 1, 2017

Folks looking to take advantage of the holidays this week by venturing out to their favorite eating spots may want to check out the latest version of Yelp. The iOS client was updated today with a new feature that allows you to make restaurant reservations from within the app.

The new feature is the direct result of Yelp's summer acquisition of SeatMe, a tech start-up that developed a solution for making online reservations at popular food and drink locations, and reduces the friction between discovering a great place on Yelp and experiencing it...

New Nokia Lumia 2520 ad lambasts iPad for lack of keyboard

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Microsoft has built up quite the library of iPad-bashing TV spots. And now that it's buying out Nokia's mobile hardware business, it's getting them in on the gag. Today, Nokia launched a new TV commercial taking potshots at Apple's popular tablet.

The ad is supposed to be about Nokia's new Lumia 2520 slate, which launched last week, but you only see it for about 5 seconds at the very end of the 1 minute and 18 second-long video. For the other 72 seconds, it shows a user defending his iPad...

Original Infinity Blade goes free for a limited time

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Good news gamers, Chair Entertainment is offering Infinity Blade free as a limited time Black Friday special this week. The game, which normally retails for $5.99, supports a wide range of iOS devices dating back to the iPad and iPhone 3GS.

This was the first mobile game powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 technology, giving it gorgeous visuals and a fully 3D castle realm. And for those that haven't played it yet, this is your chance to see where the Infinity Blade series began...

Google’s Eric Schmidt posts guide on how to convert from iPhone to Android

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 1, 2017

In an odd move, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt posted a step-by-step guide on his Google+ page yesterday, detailing how he recommends users go about switching from iPhone to Android. The guide is both lengthy and detailed.

Schmidt says his reason for posting the guide is that many of his "iPhone friends are converting to Android." And he claims that like the folks who moved from PC to Mac and never looked back, Android users will never switch back...

Good deal: 62% off 4-piece iPhone camera lens kit

Cody Lee ∙ November 24, 2013

Looking for something special to get that someone special in your life for the holidays? Well if they're an iPhone 5/5s user and like taking photos, we may have just the thing for you: a 4 piece iPhone lens kit.

The kit includes an 8x telephoto lens with custom snap-on mounting case, a fisheye lens, a macro/wide angle lens, and a 2x telephoto lens. And for a limited time, Stack Social is taking 62% off the bundle's usual price...

Apple reportedly closes PrimeSense deal for as much as $350 million [updated]

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A week ago, a report surfaced from Israeli news outlet Calcalist claiming that Apple had reached an acquisition deal with the 3D sensor tech company PrimeSense. The purchase wasn't final, but the outlet seemed pretty confident it was close.

Today, Globes adds it weight to the story with its own report. Thepublication—who has a solid track record of providing accurate intel regarding high-level buyout talks—says the deal was completed Friday and will be announced next week...

Developer ports iOS core to Nokia N900

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Winocm, the developer leading the work on the iOS 6.1.3/4 jailbreak, has managed to port iOS to a non-Apple device. The photo you see above is the iOS core, known as the "XNU Kernel," running on a Nokia N900 smartphone.

The port is extremely primitive, as it doesn't include any of iOS’s or OS X’s user-interface elements and cannot be run as a useable operating system. But it does signal a major development for the ongoing open source project...

Apple updates Genius Bar reservation page with new self-help option

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple products, for the most part, have a reputation of 'just working.' The company controls the entire experience, from hardware to software, and takes other measures to ensure that there is little room for consumer error.

But as with all electronics, sometimes things don't just work and you need help. And while Apple is known for its in-store Genius service, it's launched a new initiative encouraging users to stay home and get help online...

Red Mac Pro designed by Jony Ive, Marc Newson sells for $977,000 at auction

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

Remember that beautiful, one-of-a-kind red Mac Pro designed by Apple's Jony Ive and Marc Newson we told you about last month? Well it and several other items designed by the pair sold this weekend at their Sotheby’s (RED) Auction in New York.

And as with most high-profile charity auctions, the selling prices for most of these items were pretty ridiculous. The Mac Pro, for example, was expected to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, but it ended up selling for just shy of a million dollars...

Amazon app redesigned for iOS 7

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon has redesigned its iPhone and iPad app for iOS 7. The update comes a week before Black Friday—the beginning of the biggest shopping weekend of the year for most retailers.

The app gives users virtually full access to the ecommerce giant's staggering selection of products, which ranges from electronics to clothes, and everything in between. And now it looks right at home on iOS 7 devices...

Foxconn looking to invest $40 million in new US plant

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its North American operations, Foxconn is looking to invest over $40 million over the next two years building a high-tech manufacturing facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bloomberg is reporting this week that the company, which counts Apple as its largest client, will spend $30 million on the new plant and $10 million in research and development at Carnegie Mellon University...