iPhone News

Former jailbreak hacker accuses Apple of building surveillance backdoors into iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Former iPhone jailbreak hacker Jonathan Zdziarski recently gave a presentation at the HOPE/X conference regarding iOS device security. He said that the platform is reasonably secure from attacks by malicious hackers, but noted there are several backdoors built-in for surveillance.

In the presentation, called 'Identifying Backdoors, Attack Points, and Surveillance Mechanisms in iOS Devices,' Zdziarski detailed a number of undocumented high-value forensic services running on iOS devices, and suspicious design omissions in the OS, that appear to be for snooping...

Apple to wipe all CloudKit data on July 22

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Apple has sent an email to registered developers notifying them of a complete wipe of CloudKit databases. The erase, which is scheduled to take place on July 22nd, is related to the iCloud APIs introduced at WWDC this year and will effect iCloud containers with public databases.

This is the second time Apple is deleting iCloud server data, as the tech giant performed a similar wipe on July 7th in order to upgrade their servers to coincide with the latest beta releases for iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.

Here is Apple's full email to developers:

Apple seeds iOS 8 beta 4 to developers: here is what’s new

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Two weeks after its last beta release, Apple has seeded iOS 8 beta 4 to developers. Aside from the usual myriad of bug fixes and improvements, there are sure to be some UI tweaks and other noticeable changes. Apple has more details in beta 4's release notes.

We're installing the beta now and will be updating this post with any changes we find. Be sure to let us know of any changes you run across! Simply email us at tips@idownloadblog.com or leave a comment below!

Apple seeds OS X Yosemite Preview 4, redesigned iTunes 12 and Yosemite Recovery Update

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

In addition to seeding the fourth beta of iOS 8 this morning, Apple has also released the fourth Developer Preview of its new OS X Yosemite operating system. The update comes two weeks after Preview 3, and well over a month after Apple announced Yosemite at WWDC.

The update is labeled as build preview 4 1.0 and can be downloaded via an update in the Mac App Store, or as a full download from Apple’s online developer center. It does not, however, appear to be out in Apple’s recently-launched public Yosemite Beta Seed program yet…

Here is the redesigned iTunes 12

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Alongside Developer Preview 4 of OS X Yosemite, Apple launched a new beta version of iTunes 12 this morning. The most notable change in the software is its refreshed interface, which features flatter UI elements, greater space between buttons, and other iOS 7-esque design language.

iTunes 12 also brings about a new icon, as well as a host of new features. Included in the new functionality is support for Family Share, a new option Apple announced at WWDC last month for sharing iTunes purchases, improved playlists, a redesigned information window, and more...

iOS 8 beta 4 comes with a new Tips app

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Released earlier today, iOS 8 beta 4 came with a new stock application called Tips, which as its name suggests, is here to share tips about new features to iOS users. So far, the app offers 6 different tips but it does invite users to check back later as apparently it will be updated every week.

As iOS is becoming a more complex operating system, the addition of this app will definitely be welcome by users that are not necessarily tech savvy. While the average iDB reader probably already knows about these tips, most users don't. This is a good way to ensure that all users are aware of what they can do with their device, brought in a very simple and elegant manner.

Below are the tips shared in this first edition:

Netflix updates Apple TV app with next episode auto-play feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Good news Apple TV owners. Netflix has updated its client for the set-top box with its auto-play-next-episode feature, bringing it in line with its other apps. The feature, which has long been available on the web and other platforms, has been a top request among users.

Now, when a TV episode is finished playing in the Netflix app, users will have the option to quickly move to the next one in sequential order. Previously, users would have to back out to the 'Play' screen, then out to the 'Season' screen and manually select the next episode...

Samsung posts new ‘Screen Envy’ ad in response to iPhone 6 rumors

Cody Lee ∙ July 21, 2014

Samsung has posted a new ad to its YouTube channel this afternoon entitled 'Screen Envy.' The spot addresses rumors that the iPhone 6 will come with a larger display, saying that Samsung's Galaxy smartphones have had 5-inch screens for years.

The commercial literally opens with an iPhone user telling his friend that Apple is working on a larger-screened smartphone. The friend, who is of course using a Galaxy S5, is clearly unimpressed by the speculation, saying "that hasn't happened yet?"

Facebook rolling out new ‘Save’ read-it-later feature

Cody Lee ∙ July 21, 2014

Facebook today announced a new feature that will allow users to save interesting items on the social network for later viewing. Users will have the ability to save things like links, places, recipes and media, and go back and view them at a later time.

Similar to apps like Pocket or Instapaper, Facebook's new Save feature allows users to consume content on their own time, making them less likely to skip over it. It also helps filter out annoying posts like quizzes, mobile game invites, and other fluff...

How to get HBO and HBO Go without paying a ridiculous $100+ cable bill

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 21, 2014

For all the talk about television networks and cable providers jumping into the 21st century with apps for accessing premium entertainment on the go, through just about any device, cable cutters are all to painfully aware of one huge caveat - you have to be subscribed to your cable or satellite television provider in order to enjoy premium television shows on your devices.

HBO, by and large the most prominent provider of original television shows, has an excellent HBO Go service available on multiple platforms, but again - you need to be a cable customer which means paying a ridiculous cable bill of hundred bucks per month or more.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Turns out you can in fact enjoy shows like Game of Thrones, True Detective, The Leftovers, Silicon Valley and more, without committing your soul to a cable provider. You only need to know the magic word to keep HBO without paying for the additional 500 channels you never watch...

Best Buy offering $100 iTunes Gift Cards for $85

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 11, 2017

Best Buy, the Richfield, Minnesota headquartered American multinational consumer electronics retailer, is seemingly offering discounts on Apple products on a weekly basis. To boot your week, the company is now offering $100 iTunes Gift Cards for just $85, representing a saving of fifteen bucks on your software and digital media purchases on iTunes.

These physical cards usually leave Best Buy's warehouse in 1 business day and the retailer is throwing in free shipping to sweeten the deal a bit more...

Starbucks preparing coffee ordering service for mobile app

Cody Lee ∙ July 21, 2014

Great news Starbucks-goers. You may soon be able to order your coffee using your iPhone. In a recent interview with Recode, the company's Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman said that it plans to start testing a pickup service later this year via its mobile app.

The move comes as Americans are increasingly turning to smartphone-friendly services like Uber and GrubHub. And with nearly 15% of Starbucks' US purchases now coming via its mobile app, adding the ability to order from it seems like a natural evolution...