By default, it takes you at least 6 steps to enable your device's Passcode from your Home screen. You have to launch the Settings app, navigate through a couple of screens to the Passcode Lock window, and set it up.
While this process is just fine for folks who keep their iOS devices Passcode-protected at all times, it's fairly tedious for those that only enable the security feature every once in a while. Luckily, there's TapTapPass...
Research firm IDC today shared an interesting data point which again reminds us that the mobile game has pretty much come down to the epic fight for supremacy between California-based Apple and Seoul-headquartered Samsung group. Combined shipments of desktop and notebook PCs, tablets and smartphones rose to 378 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, accounting for $168 billion in quarterly sales.
One particular data point has piqued our interest: thanks to the (sarcasm alert) "disappointing" iPhone 5 and "overpriced" iPad mini, Apple closed the gap with the South Korean giant, having accounted for a 20.3 percent unit share versus 21.2 percent for its rival.
And, of course, when you narrow down the analysis to just revenues, Apple's high-margin business has allowed the company to pull in the market-leading 30.7 percent revenue versus 20.4 percent revenue share for Samsung.
In other words, nearly one out of every three dollars spent on desktop/notebook PCs, smartphones and tablets in Q4 2012 went to Apple, with Samsung taking one out of each five bucks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNx7rUjOdeM
Sebastien and I share a passion for iPhone photography so when he asked me to take a look at Handy Photo the other day, I was overly excited. So what does this new photography app does that your favorite software can't? How about AntiCrop and TouchRetouch, two interesting features that work a lot like content-aware fill in Photoshop?
Or, perhaps you'll be impressed by the ability to perform complex touch ups and work with 36-megapixel images (not a typo)? The promo video is a bit cheesy and heavy on superlatives, but it does a nice job highlighting key features of this handy program. I've included more info and a few screenies after the break...
As expected, T-Mobile USA announced at its "Uncarrier" event in New York that it's finally become the official distributor of the iPhone, six years after Apple announced its game-changing smartphone. The company will start offering the iconic device April 12 and has confirmed it'll work on its LTE network, which also formally launched on Tuesday. The iPhone 5, of course, also supports T-Mobile's speedy HSPA+ covering 225 million people in 229 metropolitan areas.
Unlike AT&T, Verizon and Sprint - or most of the world's carriers for that matter - the Deutsche Telekom-owned wireless telco will sell Apple's device contract-free, tapping its previously mulled monthly installments in another uncharacteristic industry practice. "We're canceling our membership to the Wireless Carrier Club," CEO John Legere quipped at the presser.
Specifically, per T-Mobile's press release, you'll be paying $99.99 upfront to get an entry-level 16GB iPhone 5, without ever having to put your signature on a two-year service contract. The rest of the device's unsubsidized price will be recovered through installment plans requiring you to drop an additional $20 over the next 24 months.
Quickly, do the math in your head: under these terms, the iPhone 5 will set you back $580 in total, a nice $69 saving over the unlocked $649 iPhone 5 on Apple's web store...
Research firm comScore today issued a new survey of the world's top web properties. Apple.com, which comScore ranked the world's eleventh most-popular web site last year, climbed to the #8 slot, reflecting the growing popularity of Apple gadgets in the post-Jobs era. Matter of fact the Apple.com web site recorded a 54 percent increase in the number of hits compared to last year.
That's a significant difference versus a 38 percent average gain for the top 100 measured web properties and the largest increase in the top ten rankings. It should be noted that the web analytics company now finally includes both hits from desktop as well as mobile devices. Go past the fold for the full breakdown...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9wi_OX0Rvo
Logitech today launched two new interesting accessories for your iPad: the Keyboard Folio and Keyboard Folio Mini. As the names suggest, the former is for your full-size 9.7-inch iPad and the latter is for its little brother, the 7.9-inch iPad mini. These act as both a protective cover which attaches to your device magnetically and a physical Bluetooth-enabled keyboard with custom iPad shortcuts. Additionally, a hands-free flip stand props up your device in two comfortable viewing angles...
T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest carrier and the only major U.S. telco without the iPhone and LTE network, will discuss the iconic smartphone at tomorrow's event, one publication has it on good authority. CNET has confirmed that the iPhone will play a part at T-Mobile's "Uncarrier" event tomorrow, meaning we can now confidently speculate that the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco will formally announce it will be carrying Apple's handset and share details regarding its unsubsidized pricing structure...
Last month, we told you that Chevy started offering Siri Eyes Free in its 2013 Sonic and Spark models, officially making it the first automaker, out of the 9+ that will support it, to incorporate the feature into a production vehicle.
Today, the car company posted a new TV ad for its 2013 Sonic sedan showcasing the new Siri integration, which gives compatible users hands-free access to the digital assistant from a built-in button on the car's steering wheel...
Since Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S4 handset earlier this month, Apple has been on an iPhone marketing blitz. In addition to its two new iPhone ads, it's also posted a 'Why iPhone' page on its website and launched an email campaign.
And today, it continues the push with a new iPhone promotion for US customers. Effective immediately, the company is offering free next day shipping on all of its iPhone models ordered through its online webstore, regardless of price...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRt5qagkGBU
Remember webOS? Say what you will about Palm, but the HP-acquired firm has pioneered what's arguably the most efficient implementation of multitasking on a mobile device to this date (no jailbreak required, of course). For those not in the know, the webOS multitasking metaphor is a stack of cards which represents your running tasks.
Each card can be moved around, dismissed and manipulated with a flick of your finger. It's a remarkably fun and engaging solution to efficiently interact with your apps, one which gets the job done while moving out of the way. Designer Jesse Head took that idea and applied it to the problematic iOS multitasking tray, replacing the boring grid of icons with app tiles sporting nearly full-screen live previews. It appears as useful as it's gorgeous to look at, no?
Yahoo! announced today that it will be acquiring mobile news start-up Summly. The deal, said to be worth around $30 million, is for both the app and the team, and is expected to close sometime in the next few months.
For those unfamiliar with the company, Summly created and maintains the popular news-summarizing iPhone app of the same name. It uses special algorithms to deliver 'snapshots' of stories that match a users' interests...
Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known in the Western world as Foxconn, is Apple's favorite manufacturer that assembles a lot of its products, with Pegatron taking care of the rest. Foxconn also helps a number of other tech giants build and assemble their gadgets.
As Apple is its most visible high-volume client, Foxconn's earnings are often scrutinized for hints of Apple's sales performance. Today, Foxconn reported a record quarterly profit on increased manufacturing efficiency and output of Apple's iPhones and iPads, after having solved production bottlenecks in the prior quarter.
The increased revenue and improved profit margins also could mean that Foxconn may have had some room to push Apple for better pricing, Bloomberg reports...