Joe Rossignol

Joe Rossignol is a former iDB editor.

Apple’s official Podcasts app crashing for several users [updated]

There are widespread reports this afternoon that claim Apple's official Podcasts app is crashing for several users upon launch. The app does temporarily open, but then immediately closes and returns to the Home screen in a matter of seconds. The issue appears to be affecting devices running both iOS 7.1.1 and iOS 8 beta, according to multiple tweets and other reports.

A significant number of users have turned to the Apple Support Communities to voice their concerns about the problem, with complaints ranging from the app crashing to multiple icons and album artwork. The crashing issue appears to have been affecting users since at least 2:00 PM Pacific, when the first reports began to appear on Twitter and elsewhere… 

App Store gets dozens of awesome new iOS games in massive refresh

Thursday is always expected to be a busier day on the App Store each week, as several developers release new apps for iPhone and iPad. But when I awoke this morning, I was pretty shell-shocked to realize just how many new high-quality games are now available. While I would normally resort to throwing most of these new titles into App Recap, our daily app roundup, the sheer number of awesome new games merits a separate post this afternoon.

Aerena: Clash of Champions, Supernauts and Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake are among the new games in this massive App Store refresh, which is something that usually only happens around the holidays. We've provided game trailers for some of the exciting new games ahead, and we'll be highlighting even more of the releases in App Recap later tonight. So grab your iPhone or iPad and check out a dozen must-have games ahead…

Apple said to be working on hardware products for the connected home

As the smartphone, tablet and personal computer markets become increasingly saturated, Apple is said to be planning to expand its foray into the home. A new report, citing unnamed sources, claims that the iPhone maker has assembled a team to work on different hardware products for the home that would be closely integrated with Apple's existing lineup of devices… 

Costco now selling iPhones and iPads for up to $120 off

After a four-year hiatus, Costco has began selling select iPhone and iPad models at steep discounts of up to 70% off. The big box retailer had stopped selling Apple products in 2010 following a dispute in which it was not allowed to carry the iPad, but it appears that the two companies have now reconciled their business relationship.

Costco now offers a limited selection of iPhones on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon through its online store, including the 16 GB iPhone 5s in space grey, silver or gold for just $77.99. The smartphone regularly retails for $199.99 with a new two-year contract, making this one of the better deals for an iPhone 5s you will find. The devices are not available in stores… 

iOS 7.1.1 compatible jailbreak tweaks

It has been a few days since the Chinese team Pangu surprised us with an iOS 7.1.1 untethered jailbreak, and the dust is finally starting to settle. After learning that the jailbreak is safe to use, we've gone ahead and shared video guides on how to jailbreak iOS 7.1.1 on Windows and how to jailbreak iOS 7.1.1 on OS X. We also answered some of the other pressing questions surrounding the jailbreak, including the two exploits used for this method.

We've been receiving a lot of questions on our social platforms and comments about which jailbreak tweaks are compatible with iOS 7.1.1, so we've gone ahead and compiled a list based off this shared document by JailbreakQA moderator iAdam1n. While our jailbreak guru Jeff Benjamin has tested some of these tweaks, we cannot guarantee that all of the packages listed will work with your specific iOS device, version or other tweaks installed… 

Apple seeds OS X 10.9.4 build 13E25 to developers

Apple has seeded the fourth beta of OS X 10.9.4 to registered Mac developers for testing. This latest OS X Mavericks beta has the build number 13E25 and arrives just six days following the third OS X 10.9.4 beta release. As with most of these minor build releases, it is unknown exactly what changes that Apple has made, but we should be nearing a public release soon… 

Google Drive for iOS updated with activity stream, incoming view, faster uploading and more

The official Google Drive app for iPhone and iPad has been updated to version 3.1 with several added features. An all-new incoming view displays files that have been shared with you as they arrive, alongside an activity stream for viewing changes to files and folders made by you and others from the details panel. We've recapped some of the other changes and have the official release notes after the break… 

Google announces Android ‘L’ developer preview, coming later this year

Google has just unveiled a developer preview of Android L, its latest software version for smartphones and tablets. Android L has several improvements to its design, graphics, notifications, multitasking, battery life and more. We've recapped the major new features in Android L ahead, ranging from Material Design and Project Volta to Android Extension Pack and Enhanced Notifications ahead… 

Facebook’s Snapchat lookalike Slingshot now available worldwide

After launching in the United States last week, Facebook's new Snapchat competitor Slingshot is now available for international users. I can confirm that the app is available in the Canadian version of the App Store, and it appears to be available in most other countries as well. If you haven't downloaded Slingshot yet, the app is free on the App Store for iPhone… 

Watch the Google I/O keynote streaming live here

iDownloadBlog is providing a live video stream of the Google I/O keynote, which kicks off at 9:00 AM Pacific in San Francisco. Google's head of Android and Chrome Sundar Pichai is expected to unveil the latest version of Android, in addition to talking about the Android Wear and Android TV platforms. You can expect at least a few other announcements on top.

We'll be providing comprehensive coverage of the keynote as it unfolds, keeping you up to date with the latest news and announcements. While waiting for the special event, perhaps go back and watch the WWDC keynote or guess what you think the name of the next Android version will be in the comments section down below. Hint: it should start with an L. Join us for a chat…

App Recap: check out these 7 apps for iOS

After a trio of massive sales on the App Store last week, things have quieted down quite a bit on the storefront. We've still gone ahead and hand-picked the best new, updated and discounted apps for iPhone and iPad in this edition of App Recap. There are 7 apps to check out, including updates to four popular apps and discounts on two award-winning games. Take a look at the complete list ahead… 

Optical image stabilization could be exclusive to the 5.5-inch iPhone

There has been a myriad of rumors surrounding the oft-rumored iPhone 6 and what kinds of features we can expect in the next-generation smartphone. We've heard about potential flagship features, ranging from NFC and wireless charging to a thinner and rounder chassis, while one lesser-mentioned improvement could be optical image stabilization. But if a new prediction is accurate, the feature could be limited to the 5.5-inch iPhone.

According to Pacific Crest Securities analysts John Vinh and Kevin Chen, optical image stabilization could be exclusive to the 5.5-inch iPhone to help Apple differentiate the larger iPhone with the 4.7-inch model that is also expected to be released. The analysts claim that a $4 to $5 premium on optical image stabilization over traditional auto-focus solutions could be the underlying decision behind this move…Â