iPhone News

Sprint sold 1.4 million iPhones during Q2, launches 41 new LTE markets

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2013

Sprint has released its financials for its second quarter of 2013, and once again the carrier saw strong smartphone sales. According to the company, smartphones accounted for some 86% of its postpaid handset mix, and approximately 1.4 million of them were iPhones.

But not all of the numbers fell in Sprint's favor. The carrier lost nearly 2 million subscribers during the quarter, due in large part to the recent shutdown of its Nextel network. And it also posted a staggering $874 million operating loss due to charges related to the closure...

Showtime Anytime app, now with Live TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 30, 2013

If you watch cable on your iPhone and iPad, you're probably aware of the Showtime Anytime iOS app which gives subscribers on-demand access to every single episode of a dozen exclusive Showtime TV shows, plus championship boxing and 60 Minute Sports.

But Showtime fans have long been yearning for the ability to watch live television programming on their iPhone, iPod and iPad devices and now their prayers have been heard...

Intel’s TV box to include server-side DVR that records everything for at least three days

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 22, 2017

We've been hearing for months how Intel's been hard at work developing its own Apple TV contender, which sources claim includes a television service of sorts. Conceivably frustrated enough with “everyone doing a half-assed Google TVs," the world's top chip maker reportedly set on to engineer a set-top box itself "and do it right.”

These rumors may soon prove true: according to a new report, Intel aims to turn the industry upside down by introducing supercharged DVR functionality said to tap a powerful server farm that records and stores every piece of programming for at least three days.

Now, TiVo devices have had a similar patented DVR feature called Trick Play for years. But Trick Play doesn't hold a candle to Intel as it relies on local TiVo storage to record just up to half an hour tops of recently viewed television...

Apple releases iOS 7 beta 4: this is what’s new

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

As expected, Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 7 this morning. The update comes three weeks after the release of beta 3—longer than the the time period between previous betas due to a lengthy Developer Center outage caused by a security breach.

Beta 4 is available now to all registered Apple developers via OTA (over the air update), which can be installed by visiting the Software Update section in the Settings app of devices that currently have iOS 7 installed. And it should post soon to the dev portal...

Hidden code in iOS 7 seemingly confirms iPhone with built-in fingerprint sensor

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

After a three week hiatus, Apple seeded the 4th beta of iOS 7 to developers this morning. The update brings about a number of UI changes and improvements, but no new features have been spotted yet—until now.

Developer Hamza Sood has discovered some hidden code within the beta that seemingly confirms the rumors that the next generation iPhone will feature a built-in fingerprint sensor...

Good deal: $40 off Spigen iPhone 5 case and GLAS.t screen protector set

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Those of you in the market for a new case and/or screen protector for your iPhone 5, may want to check out this new promotion from Stack Social. The deal site is currently offering a package with a case, and two screen protectors at a steep discount.

The three accessories, which are all made by Spigen, include the popular Slim Armor Case, the GLAS.t SLIM screen protector—which we reviewed back in March, and loved—and the Ultra Crystal screen protector. Keep reading for more details...

AT&T acquires regional wireless carrier Long Lines

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

AT&T is at it again. Adding to its list of acquisitions, the company announced today that it will be purchasing regional carrier Long Lines Wireless. The telco has coverage throughout the midwest and owns some valuable spectrum licenses.

The news comes just a little over two weeks after AT&T announced it would be acquiring prepaid carrier Leap Wireless. And the company says the move is to help it improve its 3G and LTE network coverage in areas within Long Lines' footprint...

iOS 7 Beta 4 offers screenshot detection API

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

iOS 7 Beta 2 brought with it an unintended consequence of messing up apps like Snapchat.

Specifically, as Snapchat requires a finger on the screen to hold the photo open while viewing it, the program would no longer close the photo viewing screen upon taking a screenshot.

Even worse, Snapchat couldn't actually detect that the user took a screenshot of a sent photo, possibly creating a huge privacy concern.

With today's release of iOS 7 Beta 4, Apple has introduced a brand new API to let third-party apps be notified when the user takes a screenshot, in order to respond accordingly...

Apple may post three more iOS 7 betas before Golden Master seed in September

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

Now that Apple's Dev Center is live again after an eight-day outage, the company is getting ready to release the fourth iOS 7 Beta later today, if prominent bloggers and Twitter are to be believed.

In fact, a bunch of inactive download links for iOS 7 Beta 4 seem to be already up ahead of the official release on the Dev Center.

And if you ask BGR, Apple will release just three more betas for developers before the Gold Master version is ready for prime time in early September...

Google posts Zagat iOS restaurant guide app, makes ratings available on the web

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

The streamlining continues on over at Google. Two latest products to fall victim of the company's re-newed focus on stuff that matters: the Shopper and Google+ Local app for the iPhone.

Basically the reincarnation of Google Places, the Google+ Local app will get pulled from the App Store next month because its features have been recently folded into the latest Google Maps update.

Although Places lets you use your voice to search for nearby restaurants and businesses, it became the prime candidate for removal after Google had bought Zagat in September 2011. And just like clockwork, Google on Tuesday issued a standalone Zagat app for iOS and Android devices and for the first time has made those reviews available on the web, free of charge...

Samsung targets wavering iPhone users in new Galaxy S4 ad

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2013

Samsung has posted a new Galaxy S4 TV spot to its YouTube channel this afternoon. The ad, titled 'Ready for Takeoff,' follows the company's recent advertising trend, depicting a man using his S4 in public that eventually gets surrounded by interested onlookers.

This particular ad seems to target iPhone users more than Samsung's previous commercials, though, as it co-stars an iPhone owner who seems very interested in the S4, but says he likes a "simple phone" and worries about the complications of switching. Watch...

Pegatron investigation seemingly confirms plastic iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

The Wall Street Journal yesterday shared a report by New York-based China Labor Watch which had counted 86 labor rights violations in three manufacturing facilities operated by Pegatron, Apple's contract manufacturer which assembles older iPhone 4 and 4S models.

It hasn't escaped the attention of eagle-eyed bloggers that the working conditions report also mentions an alleged less-pricey iPhone through the mouth of one of the interviewed workers tasked with assembling Apple’s rumored device at Pegatron's Shanghai plant.

As you know, the rumor-mill, pundits and big media alike are widely expecting the budget iPhone to feature a less-pricey polycarbonate body...