iPhone News

Controllers for All: a must have tweak that brings PS3 controller compatibility to iOS

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment that every jailbroken iOS gamer has been waiting for: the ability to use the Sony PS3 Dual Shock 3 with games enabled for controller support. This means that any game that supports a MFi (Made for iPhone) controller in iOS 7, is now fully playable with the Dual Shock 3, no cumbersome configuration required.

Controllers for All really is a game changing tweak for gamers, no pun intended. It also means that you no longer have to shell out your hard earned dough to support the half-baked hardware controller efforts we've seen thus far.

Folks, seriously; this tweak is reason enough alone to jailbreak. It basically turns your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch into a full-fledged legitimate gaming console. And this is just the beginning, as its developer, Ori Kadosh, promises that even more controllers, like the Dual Shock 4, will be supported in future updates.

We've got the full hands-on video walkthrough inside. Check it out, you don't want to miss this.

How to emulate the iPhone’s Sleep button with the proximity sensor

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 18, 2014

SleekSleep is a recently released jailbreak tweak that allows you to emulate a press of the sleep button by means of the iPhone's proximity sensor. This basically means that you can sleep or wake your iPhone using a wave or swiping motion in front of the device.

As we always like to do here at iDB, we've taken the liberty to record a walkthrough of SleekSleep so that you can see exactly how it works. Take a look past the break to see this interesting tweak in action.

How to build on suggested search queries in Safari

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 18, 2014

One of the worst things about Safari's autocomplete for search is that you can't build on a query like you can do with Google Chrome. Once you select a suggested query in Safari's omni-box, it auto submits the search.

While suggested queries are definitely a helpful service, the way that Safari goes about the implementation isn't very efficient. A recently revamped jailbreak tweak called Platinum seeks to improve Safari's search capabilities. Have a look at our full video walkthrough inside to see what I mean.

Ayecon for iOS 7: a must have theme, even if you don’t like skeuomorphism

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

If you've been jailbreaking for any decent amount of time, you've surely heard of the legendary Ayecon theme. This is a theme that set the standard for detail when Retina displays were still a relatively new feat in the mobile device industry.

A lot has changed since Ayecon first came riding over that hill on its white horse, reinvigorating the stagnant theming space in the process (I know some people will debate Ayecon's design, but they simply can't deny its influence.)

Flat is in, skeuomorphism is hated (and dead). So where does Ayecon fit in with this wave of change? Will Surenix, its designer, abandon the style that made Ayecon a success in the name of staying with the trend? Or, will he instead, stick to what made Ayecon work? Check inside for the full scoop along with the detailed video walkthrough.

How to bring back the unlock sound in iOS 7

Jeff Benjamin ∙ January 18, 2014

iOS 7 ushered in a whole new look and feel to the iOS we all knew. Its been a polarizing release to say the least, but I think that many of the naysayers are finally beginning to get used to the way things are.

But some things that Apple changed in iOS 7 never made sense to me. I can see getting rid of skeuomorphism, but I never quite understood why they ditched the unlock sound in iOS 7. It's especially odd when you consider that the lock sound is still there.

UnlockSound7 is a new jailbreak tweak that allows users to regain the iPhone's iconic unlock sound that occurs when unlocking the device. Take a look at our video walkthrough to see how it works.

How to prevent iOS screenshots from being uploaded to Photo Stream

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

On any given week, I take dozens of screenshots of my iPhone or iPad for either personal reason, or as part of my workflow at iDB. For each post I publish involving an app for example, there are at least two screenshots, as you can see above.

Of course, every time you take a screenshot on your iOS device, it is automatically uploaded to your iCloud Photo Stream. Over time, these screenshots can be really annoying and distracting, especially if, like me, you use your Photo Stream as the screen saver of your Apple TV.

Thankfully, a jailbreak tweak called Screenshot Dam is available to stop screenshots from uploading to Photo Stream automatically...

Apple’s focus on wearables apparently includes medical biosensing and iris scanning

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

If a new report by a very reliable blogger is anything to go by, Apple's rumored wearable project is seeking to mainstream medical sensor technology and health biosensing via monitoring your blood chemistry. Evidence proves that earlier this year the company poached two high-profile biosensor experts from medical devices firms.

These people, who joined the iWatch hardware team, bring expertise in mobile medical technologies focused on reading and analyzing blood and glucose levels via a potentially disruptive technology that uses a painless patch which works on the arm and doesn't require a needle.

Apple's interest in blood monitoring through skin is interesting in light of the rumored iWatch wearable device, even more so considering Google's latest initiative - Smart Contact Lenses that measure glucose levels in tears.

Furthermore, the iPhone maker is said to be "actively investigating" iris scanning technology. As we wrote before, Samsung is said to be exploring iris scanning for the upcoming Galaxy S5. This is your TL;DR version, the full analysis and detailed context continues...

New class action suit claims Apple sells customer info

Cody Lee ∙ January 17, 2014

Three men from Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Apple this week. Adam Christensen, Jeffrey Scolnick and William Farrell claim that they were unlawfully forced to enter their zip code while making purchases at the company's New England retail stores.

The suit contents that this practice is illegal under the Massachusetts Unfair Trade Practices Act, which says you can't compel customers to provide identifiable information. And the men say that Apple isn't just collecting info, it's also selling it to third parties...

Spark Camera is Apple’s Free App Of The Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Today is Friday and you know what that means, no? That's right, every Friday a new app goes free in the App Store in Apple's ongoing Free App of the Week promo.

Hopefully, you haven't forgotten about downloading PAC-MAN, last week's Free App of the Week. Those who missed it needn't despair as Apple's new freebie is definitely worth getting excited about.

Spark Camera, a cool iPhone photography app from Ideo (the design shop that created Apple’s first mouse) arrived last October. The program got Lory and the rest of the iDownloadBlog team drooling over its sharp, easy to use interface and great features aimed at creating gorgeous mini montages by stitching together your snippets of a moment in time.

Spark Camera is normally priced at $1.99, but you can now grab it free of charge until next Thursday, courtesy of Apple's Free App of the Week...

T-Mobile to expand ETF offer to switchers from U.S. Cellular and regional carriers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 5, 2017

The nation's Un-carrier, T-Mobile, is just getting started. After its swearing CEO John Legere said at CES that his company will eliminate another customer pain point by paying off switchers' early termination fees, now comes word that the initiative will expand to U.S. Cellular and some regional carriers in the United States.

This means that subscribers flocking to T-Mobile from U.S. Cellular and a dozen other small regional carriers that lock subscribers into long-term contracts will also receive the same ETF treatment as defectors from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint currently enjoy...

Google readying iOS remote desktop app unofficially named Chromoting

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Google officially started work on Chromoting, a remote access technology for its Chrome OS, some four years ago.

Later rechristened to Chrome Remote Desktop, the VNC technology resembles Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection software and is designed to allow folks to access virtual desktops.

An Android Chromoting app has been in the works since last year and now a blogger has discovered evidence in the form of support documentation on the Chromium issue tracker website which indicates that an iOS version is also under development.

Why should you care? Read on...

Rumor: Apple seemingly targeting Fall launch for 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 17, 2014

According to Taiwan-based supply chain makers, Apple is accelerating development of a rumored large-screen iPad, the iPad Pro, and is gearing up to launch the device by the end of the third quarter, indicating a Fall launch alongside the expected refresh to the existing iPad lineup.

As the unnamed sources asseverated, Apple has also asked its component suppliers and manufacturing partners to prepare for new models of 7.9 and 9.7-inch iPads...