Jim Gresham

Editor at iDownloadBlog.com since 2012, Jim Gresham curates the finest wallpapers and customizations for Apple devices, enhancing user experience through visual creativity. With a keen eye for design and a passion for personalization, Jim helps readers transform their screens into stunning displays. He spent his younger years tinkering with computers, reading about technology, and watching Star Wars, while being teased by his peers at school for nerdy tendencies. Since 2008, he has worked on improving his Apple arsenal and spends his free time researching the latest gadget trends, trying to find the next awesome iDevice accessory for review. A native of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he enjoys the stiff crease on a well-ironed dress shirt and dons a bow tie on a regular basis.

September 9 invites wallpapers: “wish we could say more”

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Today, Apple sent out invitations to an event hosted on September 9, 2014 at 10:00AM PST. Per usual, there is a rush in the community to determine what Apple has hidden inside the graphic. The "Wish we could say more" line has lead many to speculate about enhanced Siri optimization or the ability to action iPhone through voice commands on a wearable device. Just yesterday, Re/code claimed the highly anticipated Apple wearable, dubbed "iWatch," should launch alongside the iPhone 6 at the upcoming event.

As with many recent Apple announcements, designers quickly put their skills to work, publishing wallpapers inspired by the invitation. Inside are a few wallpapers, for your favorite upcoming Apple event.

Incipio Lexington folio gives professional flare to your iPad Air

Jim Gresham ∙ August 28, 2014

iPad Air cases abound, as is expected with any Apple product. Flooded markets of parts, pieces, cases, and accessories define the smart device realm. Incipio being a standard in the Apple accessory market is always quick to offer several solutions for all devices. Today, we take a closer look at the Lexington hard shell folio case. The Lexington is a rigid case that will keep you protected just about anywhere, but still look classy in the office. The rigid Plextonium back offers necessary support, but keeps things minimal and crisp.

The Incipio Focal case will turn your iPhone into a point-and-shoot camera

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Despite smart devices replacing point-and-shoot cameras in the mainstream, there still seems to be many people confused by the transition to an app-based camera. Every time I am out and ask someone to take a picture of my wife and me, it seems to be a shot in the dark, so to speak. People always fumble around with the screen, trying to zoom, or change the flash, or even take the picture.

I run into people that push the software button to take the picture instead of using the volume button. Either way, there always seems to still be an unfamiliarity with the way an iPhone takes pictures. Unless you were born in 2007 when the iPhone launched, there is a transition from point-and-shoot cameras to the iPhone, and it continues to be a struggle for some.

In that light, Incipio developed an app and hardware combination bringing point-and-shoot characteristics to iPhone. Focal is a camera case providing easy snap picture taking. Dedicated shutter and zoom buttons prevent screen pecking while trying to setup the perfect shot.

Belkin WeMo Insight Switch review: control home appliances and electronics from your iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Growing up as a child, anytime my family would venture out of town for more than a couple days, my father would run around the house trying to locate "the timers." The timers, with which anyone is familiar, were the timer switches for the lamps in the house. They were old brown boxes with a beige turn wheel and a little switch, think I/O, for each of 24 hours. After manually selecting each switch to either turn on or off the receptacle, off you go for vacation. Now your lights magically turn on while you are away.

Even in the late '80's, I remember those timers looking dated, even acting dated. But, they worked and continue to be the same technology most people use today. Thankfully, Belkin is putting a stop to this archaic fumbling system with a modern appeal. The WeMo line of home automated devices gives you the power, literally, in a carefully crafted app and hardware unit.

Lion wallpapers for iPhone and iPad

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

We are back with another edition of Wallpapers of the Week. Last week, we featured a grouping of wallpapers termed "stars and moons," to much excitement. However, there were several comments about not receiving the posted wallpapers in iPad format. The Wallpapers of the Week section is designed for iOS device wallpaper downloads, but that doesn't guarantee any certain size submission. With the intent to make a conscious effort to please those readers looking for iPad wallpapers, this week I chose a set of wallpapers with iPad specific sizes.

Taking the subject back to nature, the walls herein are of the jungle's king. With no intent on striking a resemblance between Apple's operating system and the subject matter, simply, lions are a very striking and photogenic creature. The lion's majesty is caught in these images and shared for all your iOS devices.

The Big Turtle Shell and its 2.0 sidekick are Bluetooth speakers that can handle the elements

Jim Gresham ∙ August 24, 2014

I'm partial to having a speaker in almost every room of the house. There is no particular reason why and, after thinking about it, I am not really that into music. However it is nice to always have some jams going in the background. Thanks to Outdoor Tech, I can have music going in one room, but still hear it in the next. Or, if I am rocking out in the neighborhood pool, I am loud enough to get in trouble.

After meeting with Outdoor Tech at CES, I was really excited about both the Big Turtle Shell and the Turtle Shell 2.0. If you can recall, I reviewed the Turtle Shell gen. 1, and was pretty impressed. In fact, the Turtle Shell has not left my kitchen, except for a couple of roadie tours, for a complete year. I have access to a lot of gear, so it is definitely a credit to the product for any one to make it a full year.

I must admit, the Turtle Shell has been de-throned, in favor of the 2.0 version and the big brother, Big Turtle Shell.

Stars and moons wallpapers for iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Previous popular wallpapers included galaxy images. Our galaxy variant and starred night sky wallpaper posts were some of the most popular over our first year of Wallpapers of the Week. In the spirit of giving the readers more of what they want, this week we present another set of galaxy inspired wallpapers.

Today, there is a pack of wallpaper posts highlighting a whimsical approach to the starry sky. From creatively placed moons, to clouds and even space ships, if you are into galaxies, possibly far, far away, step inside for your downloads...

Cityscape wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

This week's wallpaper post moves away from graphically created imagery and back to a photographic focus. While previously popular posts include simulated geometric shapes, the contents in today's walls include similarly playful designs.

Utilizing standard photographic techniques, both images bring back the basics. The cobbled street image plays with leading lines in the street, drawing the users eye to the photo's mid-point. However, with a blurred background, the focus hangs in the foreground on the textured stone road.

In the additional image, tall buildings are utilized to frame the street, creating depth of field, while making the image seem visually longer and deeper than flatter graphically designed alternatives. In both versions, the flat tonal color scheme will make icons pop and the Lock screen clock will not be lost. Step inside for the download...

Instagram’s Bolt wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As with previous Wallpaper of the Week editions, there is a desire to populate relevant media to the section. Typically, the section is completed with wallpapers by theme or genre. Alternatively, when there are time related walls, we like to make sure they spot light on the Sunday afternoon post.

Instagram released a new Snapchat competitor, Bolt. Considered a "one-tap photo messaging" solution, Bolt does not require a Facebook or Instagram account to operate. Instead, Bolt utilizes a mobile phone number to interact with friends via photos and videos.

With a minimal and elegant home page, Bolt sparked the interest of @JasonZigrino, who submitted his wallpapers inspired by the new app.

Colorado landscapes wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

During the last two months, the Wallpapers of the Week section was populated with contrived or graphically designed wallpapers. While walls like the "Complex Geometry" and Puerta del Sol Apple Store opening were very well received, today we celebrate natural beauty of the Colorado landscape.

A skill I always envy is an artist's ability to capture nature through a camera lens. Much more complicated than pointing and shooting your Photo app on a smartphone, true beauty is difficult to capture. An artist I keep up with published these images recently and shared them through Twitter. Get downloading!

Alternative transportation wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Each week, we bring you some of the best wallpaper images the web can offer. Sometimes, these wallpapers are user submitted, others found, some sought by theme or category. It is an open experiment we hold every Sunday, that keeps readers coming back to see what washed up for their devices.

This week is a themed week and the images inside have been scoured from the internet. It seemed that cars were just too easy. Consequently, we offer you a set of alternative transportation wallpapers, from Blackhawks to the Batmobile...

Geometry wallpapers

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

A couple weeks ago, we posted a set of "simple geometry" wallpapers by @A_RTX on the Wallpapers of the Week section. The images were met with quite a lot of fan fair, receiving more than twice the number of social shares than other previews wallpaper posts. With more than 150 shares, I decided to add another wallpaper set in the same genre.

If you did not, go back to the simple geometry post for six, excellent wallpapers. If you are an old pro at the wallpaper section, forge on to redeem your new set of images...