UsageBarX modifies the clunky activity bar on your iPhone or iPad

Anthony Bouchard ∙ April 2, 2017

Whenever you use Personal Hotspot, multitask while in the middle of a phone call, or use Shazam to tag music in the background, your Status Bar multiplies in size and changes color, which depends on the situation.

While the intent was to keep you aware that something is happening in the background, it becomes intrusive when the user interface gets squashed down to make room for the double-decker-sized Status Bar. That’s where a new free jailbreak tweak called UsageBarX by iOS developer Justin Petkovic comes into play, as it offers more than one potential solution.

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Don’t want internet providers to sell your browsing data? Use a VPN

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated March 26, 2018

While the FCC fought hard to keep your internet browsing data safe from third parties, it appears the United States government has other interests in mind. That said, your internet service provider (ISP) may soon begin selling your personal internet browsing data to third parties, putting your privacy at risk of exploitation.

On the other hand, there's still a way you can protect yourself and your data. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) will keep your internet browsing data hidden from your ISP, which in turn keeps it from being sold to third parties.

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Now that Apple has stopped discounting USB-C accessories, check out these cheaper alternatives

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2017

It was fun while it lasted: the age of Apple's discounted USB-C adapters and dongles is over as of today. But don't you worry as we just updated our roundups of cheaper USB-C adapters and USB-C cables from third-party vendors that you may need for your new MacBook Pro.

Following complaints from customers regarding the need for various dongles, Apple temporarily discounted many USB-C peripherals sold in its stores as a way to assuage their concerns. The limited-time deals were supposed to end on December 31, 2016 but the company extended the price cuts until March 31, 2017.

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You can now search over a million unique Stories on Snapchat

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Snapchat users can now search over one million unique Stories on the ephemeral messaging service, the company said Friday.

“We’re rolling out Stories in Search starting today in select cities and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do,” said the company.

To find a Story that might interest you, simply enter a keyword in the Snapchat for iPhone's search field to instantly see relevant Stories.

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Check out Twitter’s new default profile image replacing the infamous egg avatar

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

In a blog post today titled “Rethinking our default profile photo”, Twitter announced that accounts without a profile image will now show a new, more generic avatar rather than the old icon resembling an egg. Twitter recently added new features to its mobile app in the form of notification filters that let you filter out “egg” accounts, as well as mute words, phrases and more in your timelines. The original egg profile image has lasted on the service for full seven years, but it's now run its course.

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Apple hires former YouTube and Spotify veteran to help shape its video content strategy

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Apple has hired Shiva Rajaraman, a product leader formerly with Google's YouTube, Spotify and Twitter, to accelerate its failing video content strategy, The Information reported yesterday citing people familiar with the matter. The paywall'd article cites three people briefed on the hiring as saying that Rajaraman will help shape Apple’s video strategy to take on established players like Amazon and Netflix.

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Barclays: iPhone 8 to sport 3D sensors on both front and back

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with a few other sources, believes Apple will bet heavily on augmented reality with iPhone 8. He predicted the device's front-facing camera will use a bespoke 3D sensor to let users take 3D selfies, map their surroundings, scan nearly any real-world object in three dimensions and more.

Analysts Andrew Gardiner, Hiral Patel, Joseph Wolf, Blayne Curtis and Mark Moskowitz reported in a Friday research note, obtained by 9to5Mac, that iPhone 8 may use a second 3D sensor out the back for augmented reality features.

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Watch new iPad Pro ads highlighting portability, all-day battery and educational features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Yesterday, Apple expanded its collection of iPad Pro ads based on real tweets from real people with a trio of new videos running fifteen seconds long each. The commercials highlight the device's light weight, portability, all-day battery life and the many advantages it brings to students in school. Using the “Real problems... answered” tagline, the clips can be streamed from Apple's official YouTube channel.

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Apple’s new “Live Bright” ad highlights best Apple Watch Series 2 features

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Apple on Friday published a new commercial for Apple Watch Series 2 via its YouTube channel. Titled “Live Bright” and running one minute and fourteen seconds long, the video takes viewers on a quick tour of some of the best new features of Apple's second-generation wearable device, including built-in GPS, water resistance to 50 meters, a dual-core S2 chip “and a display that’s two times brighter than before”.

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Barclays: 2017 iPhones will have True Tone display

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

According to research note from Barclays, obtained by MacRumors, all three iPhone models this year will adopt True Tone technology that's currently available only on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

The research notes states that both Apple's rumored all-new iPhone 8 model with an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display and the iterative LCD-based iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus will each include a “full spectral sensing” ambient light sensor to support a “True Color” screen.

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Download Panols free via Apple Store app to create stunning panoramas for Instagram

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Apple is giving away Panols for a limited time, a $1.99 savings, but only through its official Apple Store app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Created by Juan Arreguin, Panols allows you to share the panoramic photos taken with your iPhone, as well as other photos stored in your photo library, with Instagram users everywhere. Taking advantage of Instagram's profile grid, Panols showcases your panoramas to their full effect in the standard three-across display view.

You can edit the name, description and geolocation of all your photos and be assured that your original photo will remain intact as the app uses a copy for all edits.

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