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Report: Apple close to striking major partnership with NHL

Cody Lee ∙ December 7, 2016

The National Hockey League has informed teams that it is in late-stage negotiations with Apple over a major partnership, reports TSN. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Canadian sports outlet says the deal could see iPads and other technology come to NHL team benches.

Apparently the League has been in talks with Apple, and competitor Microsoft, for several years, but discussions with the iPhone-maker accelerated after a similar deal with the NBA fell through. The source says this pact could still dissipate, but it's pretty far along for that to happen.

10 great gift ideas for MacBook users

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Welcome to the latest edition of iDB’s ongoing Gift Ideas series, where we provide curated roundups of some of our favorite products. Throughout the year we cover and test a number of devices and accessories, so we decided to use that experience to help those searching for the perfect present. Today’s roundup is focused on MacBook users.

Apple wants to offer rentals for movies that just came out in theaters

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is in discussions with Hollywood studios about eventually offering home rentals for new movies two weeks after they've hit the silver screen, but at a price.

New flicks are usually available for purchase on the iTunes Store 90 days after theatrical releases, followed by rentals two to four weeks later.

Movie studios are now said to be discussing rentals two weeks after they open in theaters though encryption is among the concerns in these talks, the article notes.

With T-Mobile’s new Digits service, your number can be used across multiple devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

U.S. wireless carrier today unveiled a new service, called Digits, which aims to uncouple your phone number from your mobile devices and wireless service plans.

According to T-Mobile CEO John Legere, Digits makes it so that you can use your T-Mobile number across multiple devices like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop PCs and wearable devices.

Digits will also permit you to use multiple T-Mobile numbers on the same device, making it easy to combine your work, home and personal numbers on a single smartphone with calls and texts appearing from the same number.

Win iOS tweaks and themes with #25DayJBGiveaways Christmas countdown

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ Updated January 9, 2017

To celebrate the countdown to Christmas TheJailbreakBusters are running 25 continuous days of giveaways, with prizes consisting of tweaks and themes offered up by various developers and designers within the community.

Currently on Day 7, the iOS advent calendar event has already given away hundreds of freebies, ranging from theme packs such as Splendore by rauseothemes, to the alarm-clock customisation tweak Sleeper by /u/CoBrA2168.

Today's prize is the tweak QuickCenter from noted group iOSCreatix, and entering is as easy as pie.

Sprint partners up with Pokémon GO to add new Pokéstops and Gyms

Anthony Bouchard ∙ December 7, 2016

Sprint is partnering up with Niantic to increase the amount of Pokéstops and gyms that you can access in Pokémon GO.

The goal of the collaboration is to give players more access points to stock up on Pokémon item necessities and to battle other players for experience and team gym domination, but clearly Sprint gets some positive press out of the deal too.

Pandora’s subscription service in testing, “redefines what premium could and should be”

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

After recently refreshing its brand identity, the popular Internet radio service Pandora today officially announced its upcoming on-demand music service, simply called Premium, which the company says is going to redefine what “premium” could and should be.

Pandora Premium, “an effortless and flexible experience for all subscribers,” includes features that tune into each listener’s individuality while leveraging its deep knowledge of musical data.

Apple seeds iOS 10.2 beta 7 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

Just two days after releasing iOS 10.2 beta 6 to members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Beta Software Program and five days since iOS 10.2 beta 5 dropped, the Cupertino firm on Wednesday morning seeded a seventh beta of what would become the second major software update to iOS 10 since its September 2016 launch.

iOS 10.2 beta 7 (build number 14C92) is available as an-over-the-air download via the Software Update mechanism on devices with a prior beta and an appropriate configuration profile installed. A standalone installer is available via Apple's dedicated portal for developers.

Alto’s Adventure creators announce new game Alto’s Odyssey is coming in 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

Snowman, the brains behind the award-winning endless snowboard game titled Alto's Adventure, today said that the time has come for something new in the form of Alto's Odyssey, their brand new game scheduled for release some time in 2017 (we're thinking early-2017).

Snowman's Ryan Cash told me via email that long before Alto’s Adventure had even been released, they started working on an idea for what might come next.

In November, App Store captured highest monthly sales ever in its history

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 6, 2017

According to Phil Schiller, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, the App Store last month enjoyed the highest monthly sales ever since its inception in the summer of 2008. “November 2016 was a record breaker for the App Store—the highest monthly sales ever in its history,” reads the tweet.

Although Schiller didn't provide any hard numbers, in just two weeks during last year's holiday season the App Store raked in a massive $1.1 billion revenue from sales of iOS apps and In-App Purchases.

Fitbit buys Pebble’s software assets, but cancels new hardware

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 19, 2018

Fitbit, the maker of popular activity and fitness trackers, has officially acquired Pebble. The deal was finalized this morning, both companies have said.

The acquisition includes all of Pebble's software assets, but excludes any hardware. Yup, that's right—looks like the Pebble smartwatch is officially dead.

“Due to various factors, Pebble is no longer able to operate as an independent entity,” the company said. “We have made the tough decision to shut down the company and no longer manufacture Pebble devices.”

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn rumored to spend $7 billion on U.S. expansion

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 7, 2016

Taiwan-based iPhone manufacturer Foxconn is said to be considering pouring as much as $7 billion into a massive expansion of its operations in the United States, looking to create 50,000 jobs within the country in the next four years, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Foxconn is reportedly looking to build a collection of U.S.-based assembly plants.

The company has confirmed being in preliminary discussions regarding expansion of its U.S. operations. CNBC earlier posted a slide which pegs the investment at $7 billion.