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.

Withings enters fitness tracking space with new Pulse wearable

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

If there's one market that's really exploded over the last year or two, I'd say it's wearable computers—more specifically fitness trackers. There's already a number of companies in the space, including Nike and Jawbone, and giants like Apple and Samsung are rumored to be joining soon.

And this weekend, veteran iOS accessory-maker Withings officially joined the fray by putting its wearable Pulse tracker up for pre-order. The device, which it showed off at CES earlier this year, can be pocketed, clipped or worn on your wrist and tracked and by a mobile app...

Semi-Restore now available for Mac and PC

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Over the past month or so, we've been bringing you coverage on Semi-Restore, a new utility that allows you to restore your iOS device back to nearly stock status without losing your jailbreak. It can remove everything from settings to jailbreak tweaks, and even App Store apps.

The last time we mentioned the software, it was still in beta, and the developers said that it was only about 85% complete. Well we have some good news for you today: it was finished this weekend, and is now available. You can now download Semi-Restore for the Mac or PC...

AT&T promotion makes 16GB iPhone 5 just $99 with contract

Cody Lee ∙ June 22, 2013

It appears that retailers are in full-on inventory clearance mode with the iPhone 5, in anticipation of a new model. Best Buy is currently taking $50 off the handset, Walmart is offering the device at a $70 discount, and it looks like AT&T wants in on the fun too.

This morning, the country's second largest carrier started a promotion that takes 50% off its entire smartphone lineup. Yes, that even includes the iPhone 5, which means that you can score an entry-level model of the popular handset for just $99 with contract...

FAA rules set to change, may allow iPad and other tablet use pre-flight

Cody Lee ∙ June 22, 2013

Good news air travelers, you may soon have to quit pretending to turn your iPads and other electronics devices off before takeoff. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the FAA is expected to relax the ban on using some types of personal electronic devices at low altitudes.

Devices like iPads, e-readers and other tablets may see the rules relaxed to the point where they are usable throughout your entire flight—from takeoff to landing. However, cell phones, and more specifically cell phone calls, are expected to remain off limits due to the scope of the changes...

Walmart now selling 16GB iPhone 5 for $129

Cody Lee ∙ June 22, 2013

Not to be outdone by Best Buy, Walmart has today announced a promotion that could save you big bucks on Apple's latest handset. The retailer is now taking additional $60 off the iPhone 5, taking the price of the 16GB from $189 to $129 with contract.

It's also knocking $50 off of the iPhone 4S, taking its price from $89 to $39. Again, the deal requires that you sign a 2-year agreement with either AT&T, Sprint or Verizon (T-Mobile not included). And according to reports, the price changes are permanent...

Apple Board mods Tim Cook’s pay package to be more performance-based

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

According to a new filing with the SEC this afternoon, Apple's Board of Directors has elected to modify Tim Cook's payment package he was awarded in 2011 after being promoted to CEO. The change, which apparently came at Cook's request, takes the one million restricted stock units he was set to receive over the next 10 years and makes the compensation more performance-based...

Food Network brings its top TV shows to iOS

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

Great news this afternoon for all of you Chopped and Iron Chef fans, you can now watch your favorite TV shows on your iPhone or iPad. Food Networks released a new iOS app today called Watch Food Network and that allows you to watch some of its top programming on the go.

The app support the streaming of some of the Food Networks' most popular shows—including Diners Drive-Ins and Dives and Restaurant Impossible—as well as AirPlay, so you can stream content to your Apple TV, and iCloud sync, so you can always pick up where you left off...

Over 5 million videos uploaded to Instagram in first 24 hours

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

As anyone within 5 miles of a computer can tell you, popular photo sharing service Instagram unveiled a new video capture and upload feature yesterday. The Facebook-owned app can now shoot and post 15-second, Vine-like videos.

And apparently people love it. Today, Facebook flexed its muscles in the direction of Twitter's Vine team, announcing that Instagram users uploaded a staggering 5 million video clips in the first 24 hours of the feature's existence...

New Nokia ad pegs iPhone users as mindless zombies

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

You know you're doing something right when your competition spends more time in its commercials bad-mouthing you and your products than it does actually advertising its own. So Apple must be doing something extremely right.

We've seen it with Samsung, we've seen it with Microsoft, and now Nokia is getting in on the action. The Finnish handset maker released a new ad this morning that portrays iPhone users as mindless zombies. Full clip after the fold...

First full trailer for Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Jobs’ film released

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

The first official trailer for Ashton Kutcher's 'Jobs' was finally released today, giving the general public its first glimpse at the movie. We saw a snippet of the film earlier this year, when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, but it never really made it beyond the tech world.

'Jobs' has had an interesting year thus far. After receiving mixed reviews at Sundance, the film's April release date was canceled and the project was shelved. Then, earlier this month, we learned it would finally be hitting theaters in August. So without further ado, here's your trailer...

Tokyo court finds Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple’s ‘rubber banding’ patent

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

On Friday, a Tokyo court found a number of Samsung's legacy smartphone models to be guilty of infringing on one of Apple's patents. More specifically, it's the infamous 'rubber banding' patent, which Apple has used in a number of courtroom battles.

For those unfamiliar with the 'rubber banding' property, it covers the software action that triggers the bounce-back animation when a user reaches the end of a scrolling document. And the Japan court feels older Samsung handsets infringe upon it...

New photos of alleged iPhone 5S with dual LED flash surface

Cody Lee ∙ June 21, 2013

As the iPhone 5 nears the end of its 12-month life cycle, rumors regarding Apple's next-generation handset are beginning to pick up. It's believed that the phone, which is expected to be called the iPhone 5S, is already in production.

And when devices go into production, it becomes harder to control component leaks. That might explain how the folks who took these two photos got their hands on what appears to be a nearly complete (minus the display) iPhone 5S...