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.

Romo the robot is back and better than ever

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Romo the robot first appeared last November as a Kickstarter project. It was essentially a fully motorized, acrylic robot that was both controlled and powered by an iOS device. And despite looking like a build-it-yourself hobby-bot, it collected well over $100,000 in pledges.

Well this year, Romo is back and better than ever. The robot has been redesigned from the circuit board up, and has been improved in almost every way imaginable. It looks better, goes faster, thinks smarter and is much easier to use...

Apple giving select employees two weeks off to work on special projects

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Tim Cook has ushered in a number of changes to Apple in his first year as the CEO. He's instituted an employee donation program, and a few weeks ago he spearheaded one of the biggest management shakeups in the company's history.

And this afternoon, we can add another alteration to the list. According to a new report, Cook has signed off on a new program, code-named "Blue Sky," that gives select employees up to two weeks to work on special side projects...

Text messaging sees first decline ever due to iMessage and other services

Cody Lee ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

Carriers let out a harmonious groan when Apple unveiled its new iMessage service last year. Not only was it a texting alternative, but it would automatically switch users over from texting to iMessaging if both parties were on iOS 5 devices.

Unsurprisingly, this has had a significant impact on the wireless industry and its subsequent text messaging business. According to a new report, the amount of text messages sent during Q3 this year declined for the first time ever...

New in iOS 6.1: Reset Advertising Identifier

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

With the release of iOS 6, Apple replaced its controversial unique device identifier system (or UDID) with the Advertising Identifier. It's a non-permanent, non-personal, device identifier, that advertising networks use to track your behavior.

Since its introduction, users who don't like targeted advertisements have had the ability to limit ad tracking via a toggle in the Settings application. And in iOS 6.1, users will gain the ability to reset their Advertising Identifier as well...

New iOS-friendly Fender guitar spotted in Apple’s web store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

With the holidays just around the corner, Apple has been seen stocking up on app-enabled accessories. A few weeks ago we noted that the iPad-maker had started selling iPhone-controlled lightbulbs, and now it's added an iOS-friendly guitar to its inventory.

Fender, a long-time legend in the guitar business, has created a custom version of its popular Squier Stratocaster guitar with built-in USB and iOS connectivity. This means that you can plug into anything from a complex digital studio, to your iPad, and rock out...

AT&T to start offering Samsung’s 4G Android camera November 16

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Back in August, Samsung unveiled a handful of new products at the IFA show in Berlin, Germany. It showed off the Galaxy Note 2 phablet, a new Windows Phone 8 handset, and some Windows 8 machines. It also took the wraps off its new Android camera.

The Galaxy Camera is exactly what it sounds like. It's a 16MP camera with a 4.8-inch screen, quad core processor, and built-in 3G/4G connectivity running Android software. And for those interested, AT&T will start offering the device this Friday for $500...

Protect yourself and your iPhone with this unique case

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Multi-purpose iPhone cases are a dime a dozen these days. Some of them house an external battery, others have built-in credit card holders; we've even seen a case that doubles as a bottle opener.

But we don't remember ever seeing a case with a built-in pepper spray compartment — until now. Meet the Spraytect iPhone case, the iPhone case that can protect both you and your beloved handset...

Apple ordered to pay Samsung’s legal fees in failed UK patent suit

Cody Lee ∙ November 11, 2012

Apple's legal team has had a rough go of it in the UK over the past few weeks. After losing a patent suit against Samsung, and then the ensuing appeal, the company was forced to write a public apology on its UK website.

Of course, Apple complied and posted the apology, but the judge wasn't impressed with its snarky tone. So in addition to asking the iPad-makers to correct it, he's also ordered them to pay Samsung's legal fees...

Apple and HTC reach global settlement on patent litigation

Cody Lee ∙ November 10, 2012

So this is huge. Apple and HTC have both announced this evening that they have reached a global settlement on all patent litigation, effectively dismissing all patent-related lawsuits between the two companies. Additionally, the two handset-makers have also agreed to a 10 year cross-licensing deal for all current and future patents...

Meet KOLOS, the world’s first iPad gaming wheel

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

We've seen a number of gamepads built for iOS devices over the years, but this has to be the first time we've ever seen an iPad gaming wheel. In fact, the developers of the KOLOS say it's the first of its kind.

The KOLOS is a tabletop steering wheel that cradles your iPad and uses its built-in accelerometer to give you a more realistic gaming experience when playing titles like Real Racing and Need for Speed...

AT&T rolls out LTE to Little Rock, expands in other markets

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

AT&T announced that it was going to be once again expanding its LTE network yesterday. The rollout brings the high speed data connection to Little Rock, Arkansas, and increases its availability in Bakersfield, California and other markets. So if you just picked up an iPhone 5 or other LTE device on AT&T, here's the new coverage areas...

Former Apple exec slams Tim Cook’s management skills

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

It's been just a little over a year since Tim Cook officially took the reigns as Apple's CEO, and thus far, he has looked like a genius. Apple has set a number of records in the last 12 months, and recently released a slew of new products.

But "genius" isn't the word that David Sobotta, a former director of Apple's federal sales group, would used to describe Mr. Cook. In a recent interview with ReadWriteWeb, Sobotta painted a very grim picture of the chief executive...