When a fan war breaks out over what the 'best mobile platform' is, I usually try to stay out of it. I like iOS better than Android, and believe it to be the superior of the two. But I know that's just my personal opinion, and not a fact.
Truth be told, I actually like quite a few things about Android. The way it handles contacts, for instance, is great. You can text, email or call someone with a quick swipe or tap. It's too bad I can't do that in iOS. Or can I?
Good news future travelers. Alaska Airlines has updated its official iPhone app today to allow its customers to access digital boarding passes using their iPhones. The update, which brings the app to version 2.6, includes support for Passbook.
Alaska is listed as the 7th largest US airline, by passenger traffic, and it joins several other major airlines in backing Apple's digital wallet platform. Earlier this month, both Easy Jet and Qantas updated their apps with Passbook support...
In the months leading up to 2011's WWDC event, there were numerous reports that Apple would announce a major partnership with voice recognition giant Nuance. Obviously, the gossip never materialized, and Apple didn't even end up unveiling Siri until that fall.
But despite the fact that no one has ever come out and said it, Nuance has long been given credit for powering Siri's speech recognition capabilities. And today, the company's CEO Paul Ricci confirmed the theory while speaking at AllThingsD's D11 conference...
Apple surprisingly confirmed today that it has sold over a hundred million iPod touch units since the device's inception in 2007. The media player colloquially known as iTouch was released on September 14, 2007, following the launch of the first-generation iPhone. Five years later, a fifth-generation model launched with a four-inch Retina display, thin 6.1mm enclosure, Lightning I/O and the A5 chip.
In an interesting move yesterday, Apple has removed the less-pricey fourth-generation iPod touch model from its online store. At the same time, the company has quietly introduced a new fifth-generation SKU that includes sixteen gigabytes of storage, but lacks the iSight camera and the lanyard hook.
The entry-level device retails for $229. The streamlining means that Apple now offers only the latest fifth-generation iPod touch in 16/32/64GB flavors, priced at $229/$299/$399...
I guess the title could have read: "Adobe finally releases Kuler color-picking app for iPhone," because the company announced it nearly 2 years ago. Adobe introduced the app as part of a suite of new touch-friendly applications back in October of 2011.
But better late than never. Kuler hit the App Store this morning as the color-picking app Adobe originally promised. You can capture colors using your iPhone's camera, or previously downloaded photos, and you can create and save your own color themes...
Following in the footsteps of Twitter, Apple, Dropbox, Google and others who recently ramped up security by rolling out two-step account verification, the note-taking platform Evernote today announced similar security features. Small wonder, given recent security exploits which prompted Evernote to issue a password reset across the board.
In a nutshell, two-step authentication makes your notes more secure by requiring a verification code sent to your phone whenever you’re asked to provide your username and password.
This will usually happen when logging into the web interface or installing Evernote apps on a new device, such as your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Additionally, Evernote is also launching Access History and Authorized Applications features. I've included more information right after the break...
TapBots' Tweetbot to this date is my go-to Twitter client, both on iOS and Mac. The iOS app was updated a month ago with a handy new Media timeline, revamped image viewer and a few under-the-hood tweaks. Today, Tapbots gave the Mac edition some love.
On top of fixing a few nagging issues, the new Tweetbot 1.3 brings the Media timeline to your desktop. As part of Twitter's new guidelines, tweet details now have favorite and retweet counts, which comes in handy when checking how viral a tweet is. Another nice-to-have: the Mac edition now supports Twitter's profile cover images...
Nine days ago, Mac games developer Aspyr inadvertently told customers in an email communication that "the critically-acclaimed Star Wars RPG is now available on iPad." Following that "leak," Aspyr today released Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the App Store.
The iPad-only title is based on BioWare's classic 2003 RPG game and includes unique characters, creatures, vehicles and planets.
On top of that, you get to choose from nine customizable characters, use over 40 different Force powers, roam odd planets and vast galaxies and much, much more. If you're a Star Wars fan, this one's a no-brainer...
Earlier this month, the search monster at the Google I/O developers conference unveiled its new $9.99 a month subscription service called Google Play Music All Access. It offers streaming from Google’s catalog of "millions of tracks" and supports curated playlists, radio stations and ability to remove unwanted songs.
While Google initially said the service will run on Android devices and on the web, there was no mention of iOS whatsoever. During today's interview at the D11 conference, Google's new Android lead Sundar Pichai confirmed that Google Play Music All Access is coming to iOS in the next few weeks...
Today, Microsoft-owned Skype has been updated on the iPhone and iPod touch (the latter sold 100 million units since its 2007 inception). The enhancements include a pair of features related to the application's chatting and VoIP calling capabilities.
For starters, one-to-one chats now appear in the correct order. There's also a new introduction screens for first-time users. More importantly, the VoIP application now lets you switch easily between headset, speaker or Bluetooth device, without interrupting call in progress...
Rockstar Games has refreshed Grand Theft Auto 3: The 10 Year Anniversary Edition for the iPhone and iPad today, adding several notable features that enhance the experience. Like Electronic Arts' Real Racing 3, the Grand Theft Auto game now supports cloud saves for hassle-free gameplay across devices.
Now you can start playing on your iPhone and continue right where you left off on the iPad, and vice versa.
This is tremendously useful in today's multi-device world and it's a shame other game makers don't support cloud saves out of the box. Grand Theft Auto 3 also now plays nice on the iPhone 5's taller screen and you can use your own iTunes playlist...
A rather credible Vietnamese publication has posted a video Thursday which purportedly depicts a case thought to have been designed for Apple's next-generation full-size iPad, the iPad 5. Now, rumor mills expect the next iPad to adopt the iPad mini's narrow side bezels and thinner appearance.
Although iDB couldn't confirm the authenticity of the video at press time, it does indicate that narrower side bezels on the iPad 5 could result in a device that's both narrower and has slightly reduced height compared to the current-generation iPad 4...