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.

iOS 4.3.2 Goes Live, Fixes iPad 2. Jailbreakers Beware!

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We reported a few days ago that iOS 4.3.2 would be released within the week. Well it looks like BGR's sources were right on the money. The latest version of the firmware went live today and was said to fix multiple issues.

It corrects a known FaceTime glitch for the iPhone, but more importantly appears to correct the 3G connectivity issue with Verizon iPad 2s. The problem had been plaguing Verizon iPad 2 adopters for nearly a month.

What's also interesting is that the update also lists that it contains the latest security updates. Jailbreakers should beware of updating to any new iOS software without official word from the Dev Team or Chronic Dev.

These guys need to test the current jailbreak with the new software to make sure everything still works. It's very possible that Apple patched the exploits that made the jailbreak work.

A re-tweet by Comex today said "So 4.3.2 was originally built the same day @i0nic's untether was released .... what can we conclude from this info?"

If you have an iPad 2, there is no jailbreak available, so you can update if you want. However I only recommend that you do so if you need the fix for 3G connectivity, otherwise you could endanger yourself of not being eligible for a future jailbreak.

If you have an iPad 1 and are jailbroken or are planning to be, stay away from this new firmware until we receive official word that it's compatible. Stay tuned and we'll keep you updated on the latest iPad jailbreak news.

Were you experiencing the Verizon iPad 2 glitch? Did 4.3.2 fix it?

iOS Moves Ahead of Android in Advertising, Still on Top for App Revenue

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 6, 2017

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. According to a recent report from Millenial Media, iOS is the hottest platform right now for developers and advertisers. The Application Platform Mix is part of Millenial Media's monthly Mobile Mix report.

The release is full of statistics on market share and advertising impressions by mobile device platform. While Android seems to sustain a lead in the smartphone market by sheer volume, iOS is still considered the most profitable platform...

They Got Poisoned While Making Your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We told you last year about the workers in Suzhou, China suffering from health problems due to toxic chemicals. The employees were poisoned in 2009 using a hazardous chemical to clean iPhone LCD screens.

Their employer is a subsidiary of Wintek corporation and is the number one producer of small to medium sized LCD screens in the world. Although Apple has since released information that the workers have fully recovered, a special report by PBS Newshour scheduled to air tonight tells a different story...

New AutoAnswer App Now Available in Cydia

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Ever wanted the ability to set your iPhone to automatically answer incoming calls? Auto answer is a feature I've seen requested several times, across multiple iPhone message boards. If your iPhone is jailbroken, you have a handful of options.

Applications like CallControl are nice, but have limited auto answering capabilities. If you have been looking for an auto answer app with more features, you need to check out AutoAnswer. The new Cydia app promises to handle all of your auto answering needs for your iPhone...

More iPad 2 Jailbreak Updates

Cody Lee ∙ April 13, 2011

Some people believe that media outlets misinterpreted tweets from p0sixninja the other day, stating that he and the Chronic Dev team were almost done with an iPad 2 jailbreak. Even MuscleNerd sent a message out on Twitter, trying to stop the hype.

"Despite recent rumors, the only iPad 2 JB close to reality is Comex, patience please."

His message came in light of dozens of tech blogs (including us) reporting that the Chronic Dev team was getting close to finishing an iPad 2 jailbreak. The new Apple tablet has been out almost a month now and iDevice hackers have yet to produce a viable solution to jailbreak it.

While we aren't sure of Comex's latest jailbreak status, it appears that MuscleNerd was wrong about the Chronic Dev team's progress. p0sixninja tweeted yesterday,

"A lot of progress has been made in the past few days, but we're still working on dumping iPad 2 BootROOM."

Although he mentions that there is no ETA, he does mention that his iPad 2 has already been jailbroken, and gives a shout out to Comex for all of the help.

A Twitter follower asked p0sixninja if he and Comex were working together, to which he replied

"That's up in the air right now. We'll see how things progress between me and @MuscleNerd in the next few days."

It doesn't matter who finishes first, I just hope we see a jailbreak solution for the iPad 2 before Apple releases iOS 4.3.2. For those unaware, Apple patched Comex's original iPad 2 exploit in iOS 4.3.1, delaying a jailbreak solution for the new tablet for a month (and counting). As always, we'll keep you updated on the latest iPad 2 news.

What do you think, are we getting close to an iPad 2 jailbreak?

iPad 2 Demand Up 40% From Its Predecessor

Cody Lee ∙ April 13, 2011

RBC Capital Markets' Mike Abramsky issued a new report today sharing his expectations for Apple's quarterly earnings report next week. The analyst is predicting that the Cupertino company will handily beat market expectations.

Abramsky's looking for Apple to post a revenue of $24 billion and an earnings per share of $5.75 for last quarter. The boost in revenue is said to be a product of strong iPhone 4 and iPad sales.The note also included results from an interesting survey of over 2000 consumers.

Of those polled, 28% said that they were "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to purchase the latest version of Apple's tablet. That's 40% higher than their previous polling in May of 2010, where respondents were questioned in a similar fashion about the original iPad.

The research also revealed a survey of potential iPad 2 purchasers before it launched. The poll showed that out of customers who were planning to purchase a 3G model, 46% wanted Verizon service.

Abramsky's report should not only please investors but help eradicate rumors of a 2011 iPad 3 launch. Apple is making too much money on its current iPad 2 model to even think of shipping an update this year.

What do you think?

[MacRumors]

iPhone Manufacturer Considering Brazil Move

Cody Lee ∙ April 13, 2011

If you have been coming to the blog for a while, you definitely recognize the name Foxconn. The infamous manufacturer of popular Apple products has certainly had its share of bad publicity.

For those that don't recall, Foxconn has made the headlines multiple times over the last couple of years due to its poor working conditions. This time they aren't garnering attention for worker suicides, they're in the spotlight because they're looking to make a very public move to Brazil...

Jailbreak Meetups Coming to Your Area?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We've told you about MyGreatFest, the jailbreaking event that will allow thousand of iDevice hackers to congregate. It looks like the folks over at ModMyi also see jailbreaking as a great way for folks to connect.

It appears they are using Meetup.com, a website geared to help organize a local group or find one in your area, as a vehicle for this endeavor. From Tampa, Florida to Everett, Washington, these 'meetups' between jailbreakers have already started to take place...

New Nimbus Web Browser is Free for a Limited Time

Cody Lee ∙ April 12, 2011

Let's face it, Apple's default Safari web browser on the iPhone could use an upgrade. It's not bad by any means, but it could certainly stand to add some much needed features. Maybe that's why 3rd party web browsers in the App Store are so popular.

If apps like Opera Mini and Skyfire don't quench your thirst for alternative browsing options, allow me to introduce you to something different. As of today jailbroken iPhone users can download Nimbus, a new web browsing application in Cydia...

No iPad 3 Coming Later This Year?

Cody Lee ∙ April 12, 2011

Even before the iPad 2 was launched, speculation that an iPad 3 would be released later this year has been rampant. It was rumored that the iPad 2 was more of a bridge between the original iPad and a more powerful version to launch this fall.

DigiTimes is refuting the gossip, reporting that their sources inside a major component manufacturer say a fall release of the iPad 3 would be nearly impossible. They claim they were only recently visited by Apple regarding the next version of their tablet.

They went on to say that it appeared the product was still in early planning stages, as Apple was inquiring about panels that supported higher image quality. It's believed that Apple has been looking for an AMOLED-type display with full HD capabilities for the next iPad.

Honestly it wouldn't makes sense to see another iPad release this year. I can see why Apple would want to move the iPad's release cycle out of March (so soon after Christmas), but a fall release this year seems so unlikely.

I would think if anything new was to come out of Cupertino regarding their iPad line, it would be the addition of LTE or other 4G technology. Their iPad 2 sales are too hot to extinguish with another model built from the ground up.

What do you think?

Impressive iPhone 4 3D Demo, No Glasses Required

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

The 3D graphics effect has been done on iDevices before. Apps like Labyrinth for the iPad 2 and the Cydia 3DBoard tweak use the accelerometer in the device to manipulate graphics based on user movements. This is a neat circus trick, but the device must be moved to create the 3D effect.

Jeremie Francone and Laurence Nigay of the EHCI Research group have created an impressive tech demo of 3 dimensional graphics on the iPhone 4. Instead of using the accelerometer, they use the device's front facing camera. How's that possible?