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.

We’re giving away 10 copies of iRealSMS 3.0

That's right folks, it's time for another iDB giveaway! Last week we handed out 10 free Cydia download licenses for PhotoAlbums+, and this week we're back with another popular tweak from the SpiritofLogic crew: iRealSMS 3.0.

We've mentioned iRealSMS a few times here on iDB over the past three years, as it's gone through several updates. And now we've got 10 copies of the latest version of the Messages app-replacement to give away. Read on for details...

Etcher turns your iPad into a functional Etch-A-Sketch

TechCrunch points to an interesting new Kickstarter project called Etcher, an iPad case that makes your tablet look like an Etch-A-Sketch. But this accessory does more than just drum up nostalgia — it actually works.

That's right, unlike other Etch-A-Sketch cases, this one has real knobs that let you draw real lines on your iPad's screen. So on top of keeping your tablet protected, you have a way to create impromptu sketches...

Pod2g now running iOS 5.1 untethered jailbreak on new iPad

Pod2g has just made another big announcement regarding his progress on the iOS 5.1 jailbreak. A few moments ago, the hacker tweeted that he had jailbroken [untethered] a third-generation iPad running iOS 5.1.

The news comes just one week after we received word that pod2g's iPhone 4 had received the untethered jailbreak treatment on iOS 5.1, as the iOS expert seems to really be hitting his stride...

Rumor: Apple to unveil $200 7-inch iPad this fall

iMore is out with a new report today, claiming that it has learned from a reliable source that Apple will be going forward with plans to release a 7-inch iPad this fall. The tablet will launch in October, alongside the new iPhone, and cost less than $250.

While it's easy to chalk this up to just another "iPad mini" rumor — we know, there's been a lot of them — it's worth noting that iMore has been fairly accurate in the past with Apple info, most recently nailing the new iPad event date last March...

Facebook announces App Center, a cross-platform app store

Late yesterday afternoon, Facebook announced that it was going to be launching a cross-platform app store, coded entirely in HTML5, called App Center. Cross-platform meaning it will be available on both Android and iOS, as well as the web.

No, this doesn't mean that the social network is looking to take on Apple or Google. The App Center will contain both iOS and Android apps, along with Facebook's own titles, and will link directly to each platform's respective app stores...

Gameloft’s N.O.V.A 3 now available in the App Store

Last week, we told you about Gameloft's upcoming new first-person shooter, N.O.V.A 3. And with its stunning graphics and Halo-esque gameplay, the latest iteration of the popular sci-fi series looked pretty impressive.

Well for those of you who have been looking forward to playing the game on your own iOS device, we've got some good news for you. It appears that N.O.V.A 3 has just landed in the App Store...

iPad to come as standard equipment in 2013 Cadillac XTS

This is kind of cool: Cadillac just announced that all models of its 2013 Cadillac XTS will come standard with a new iPad. The news comes from the car-maker's head of customer experience Mark Harland, speaking at the CTIA Wireless show.

It appears that Cadillac will be loading up the tablet with all kinds of customized software, including OnStar RemoteLink, MyCadillac, and other vehicle-specific apps...

Get an iPhone HiveDock free for a limited time

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the HiveDock is an iPhone accessory that magnifies your handset's screen and amplifies its audio. It supports both iPhone 4 and 4S models, and requires zero electricity. We touched on it a bit last year.

The bottom line is, if you're in the market for an iPhone dock that will enhance your music listening and movie watching experience, the HiveDock is definitely worth taking a look at. And right now you can get one for free. Read on for details...

Google releases redesigned Google+ app for iOS

Are you one of the few people left still using Google's social networking service? If so, you'll be happy to hear that the search giant has just released a major update to its Google+ app for iOS.

No, the update doesn't bring about any major new features. But it does include a revamped UI, which looks a lot cleaner than the previous version, and a few other nice improvements...

Awesome infographic shows Apple’s impressive stats

In the last decade, Apple has grown from a computer-maker with fractional marketshare to a consumer electronics powerhouse. It's popular iPhone and iPad lines, and even its retail stores are constantly setting records.

We've mentioned a lot of these impressive statistics on iDB in the past, but we all know that pictures are much more effective. So we thought we'd share this cool infographic with you from the folks over at Sortable.

Here's Apple by the Numbers...

U.S. version of Proview’s iPad lawsuit dismissed by California judge

By now, most of you are likely familiar with the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Proview over the iPad trademark. Much of the dispute has unfolded in or around China, but in February the monitor-maker brought its fight Stateside.

In the lawsuit, filed in Santa Clara California, Proview alleged that Apple committed fraud when it used a dummy corporation to purchase the iPad trademark, thus making the deal void. But this California judge doesn't want to hear it...

Both Target and RadioShack knocking $50 off iPhone 4/4S

Those looking to purchase an iPhone in the near future might want to make it a point to check out the prices at their local Target. 9to5Mac is reporting that the retailer is knocking $50 off both 4 and 4S models for all carriers.

This brings the iPhone 4S down to $150 — in line with discounts being offered by regional carriers, and the iPhone 4 down to just $50. And apparently, Target's not the only chain dropping the prices on the popular handsets...