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 files complaint against Motorola over FRAND abuse

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 1, 2017

Well we all saw this coming. Electronista is reporting that Apple has just filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding Motorola's recent legal actions. The handset-maker won an injunction in Germany last month, resulting in the temporary ban of some of Apple's products.

But Apple has maintained that the patents that Motorola is asserting against it are industry standard, and therefore fall under FRAND jurisdiction. And since Motorola doesn't seem to want to offer Apple a FRAND license, Apple went to the EC...

Analyst arrested for leaking iPhone sales projections

Cody Lee ∙ February 18, 2012

How many times have you come across an Apple-related rumor that came from an analyst and his "supply chain" sources? Just look at all of the Apple TV gossip — most of it can be traced back to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

While we tend to write off most of their predictions, there are some analysts that actually know what they're talking about. But we don't see them very often, because the ones that do provide accurate information, usually go to jail...

Apple investigating new methods to detect water damage in iOS devices

Cody Lee ∙ February 18, 2012

The current method for detecting water damage on an iOS device is pretty ancient. Like other electronics, most of Apple's mobile products have liquid contact indicators that change colors when the device comes in contact with excessive moisture.

The problem with these indicators is that they can sometimes change colors without ever being submerged in water. For instance, heavy humidity can cause a device to appear as if it has suffered severe water damage. So Apple is looking to change things...

Facing criticism, Foxconn raises worker wages by as much as 25%

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Apple and its overseas manufacturing partners have been taking quite a bit of heat over the last month. Reports of underage employees, 60+ hour work weeks and other poor working conditions have been constantly grabbing headlines.

But just as we have reported on the bad things, we must also report the good. It appears that in the face of criticism, Foxconn, Apple's largest supply chain partner, has decided to substantially increase its workers' wages...

iPad 3 Retina Display confirmed

Cody Lee ∙ February 17, 2012

After months of speculation, it appears that it has now been confirmed that Apple's next tablet will feature a Retina display.

The confirmation comes from the folks over at MacRumors, who have just gotten their hands on one of the purported iPad 3 display panels that have been floating around China for the past few weeks...

R-SIM SIM interposer unlocks your iPhone 4S on iOS 5 and 5.0.1

Cody Lee ∙ February 17, 2012

Even though we are still waiting on an iPhone 4S software unlock from the Dev Team, there are a couple of hardware unlock solutions available. Just last week we told you about the TPSIM SIM interposer, and now another one has surfaced.

The R-SIM is a turbo SIM card for your iPhone 4S that will unlock your handset, allowing you to use it on any compatible GSM network in the world...

Google caught overriding Safari users’ privacy settings

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 18, 2018

User privacy has been a hot button issue over the past few months thanks to high profile scandals like the CarrierIQ fallout, and the more recent Path debacle. And now it looks like we can add Google to the list of violators.

In a recent investigative report, The Wall Street Journal claims that the search giant has been intentionally overriding the privacy settings of both desktop and iOS Safari users to better track their web browsing activity...

Apple TV disappears from Best Buy inventory ahead of expected refresh

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

The Apple TV is in an interesting spot right now. Apple introduced the media hub, in its current form, all the way back in September of 2010. So in comparison to the company's other iOS products, the ATV is long overdue for a refresh.

But given all of the rumors that we've heard that Apple is building a full blown TV set, you have to wonder if we'll see another iteration of the set-top-box. Well whatever the next 'Apple TV' product is, we could see it very soon...

Hong Kong judge backs Apple in iPad trademark dispute

Cody Lee ∙ February 16, 2012

By now, most of you have probably heard about Apple's ongoing trademark dispute with Proview. The monitor-maker believes that Apple is infringing on its iPad trademark, and has recently won an injunction against the company and its tablet in China.

Apple has responded to the allegations, claiming that it acquired the rights to use the iPad trademark from Proview years ago. It believes the company is trying to exploit loopholes in their agreement for monetary purposes. And judge Hon Poon agrees...

Rumor: Pre-GM version of iOS 5.1 leaked

Cody Lee ∙ February 16, 2012

Apple has been seeding beta versions of iOS 5.1 to developers for almost three months now. And the most recent version, beta 3, was released more than a month ago. Apple is expected to unveil the new software alongside its iPad 3 next month.

That being said, the folks over at BlogdoiPhone are claiming that they've managed to acquire a Pre-GM version of iOS 5.1. And among the new features they've discovered, is a new Lock Screen camera icon (pictured above)...

Apple wins injunction against Motorola in Germany over ‘slide to unlock’ patent

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

When the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) awarded Apple a patent late last year regarding its 'slide to unlock' feature, we didn't think it would be very long before we saw it pop up in Apple's Android war. And it wasn't.

Hot on the heels of Motorola winning an injunction against Apple in Germany, which resulted in a temporary ban of some of its products, the Cupertino company has fired back by winning its own injunction against Motorola in the country...

Why we’ll finally see LTE technology in the iPhone and iPad this year

Cody Lee ∙ February 16, 2012

Yesterday morning, my friend and colleague Oliver Haslam laid out an interesting case for why he believes, despite overwhelming evidence, that Apple won't implement LTE technology into any of its mobile products this year.

Oliver thinks that because there aren't 4G networks in every corner of the world, and because current LTE devices suffer from issues like poor battery life, we won't be seeing LTE in the next iPad or iPhone. But I happen to think he's wrong...