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‘Flash’ automatically displays a Lock screen flashlight shortcut when in a dark environment

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

From time to time I've been known to question the idea of jailbreaking my iOS device. I tend to waffle back in forth between loving it and being a little ho-hum on the idea.

Make no mistake, I'll likely always be a jailbreaker as long as its possible, but using a jailbreak on my daily driver is something different altogether. Right now, my jailbreak has been relegated to my iPhone 6 Plus, my test device; but tweaks like Flash make me wish I still had Cydia on my main device.

Flash is a clever jailbreak tweak that presents a flashlight shortcut on your Lock screen when the iPhone's Ambient Light Sensor detects you're in a dark environment. Watch our video inside to see it in action.

Cut the Rope 2 goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ December 10, 2015

Apple on Thursday named ZeptoLab's Cut the Rope 2 its App of the Week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you'll be able to pick up the popular physics-based puzzler for free for both iPhone and iPad—a small but notable savings of a buck.

For those who aren't familiar with Cut the Rope, it's a cross-platform gaming franchise that revolves around feeding candy to a little green creature named Om Nom. Version 2 features new locations to explore, new characters, and fresh gameplay elements.

iFixit tears down the iPhone 6s Smart Battery Case

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 10, 2015

It was only a matter of time before the folks over at iFixit got their hands on Apple's newly-released Smart Battery Case for the proper teardown treatment, and today is the day that we get a peek inside of the case's innards.

It goes without saying that the $99 Smart Battery Case will score low on iFixit's repairability scale, as tearing down the case means peeling back the soft lining inside the housing and dealing with lots of sticky adhesive.

Tumblr app updated with support for Live Photos

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Yahoo-owned Tumblr today rolled out a major update to its iPhone, iPod touch and iPad application in the App Store, bringing out official support for Live Photos, introducing 3D Touch Home screen shortcuts and a few other enhancements. Tumblr 5.0 for iOS also makes its messaging feature available to everyone today, lets you send a post to any Tumblr and toss it with the tap of a button.

Google Photos launches shared albums

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

As promised back in September, Google Photos has now begun rolling out shared albums on the web and in its mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Arriving just in time for the holiday season, a shared album allows friends and family to add photos to it. Those who have joined a shared album will receive a notification about any changes and newly uploaded photos.

If it sounds similar to Apple's own iCloud Photo Sharing, that's because it is, with one crucial difference: shared albums on Google Photos aren’t designed for a social world—you can't like, comment on or caption them.

Sketchy rumor claims Apple’s been secretly working on its own GPU for years

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2016

Apple is making its own GPU to cut the cord from Imagination Technologies and has been secretly developing its own GPU in-house for a few years now. That's what a sketchy rumor published Thursday by Fudzilla contends, citing sources in the graphics industry.

An in-house-designed GPU would let Apple reduce the cost of its own mobile chipsets further. More importantly, such a move would help it advance the iPhone and iPad's graphics capabilities beyond what Imagination's designs (that Apple licenses) permit.

For end users, this should result in an even smoother iOS and flashier graphics in games (the overhyped term “console-quality” comes to mind) with more realistic special effects.

Product Hunt overhauls iOS app, adds audio player, live chatting, 3D Touch support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

Product Hunt, a Y Combinator-backed website and mobile app for sharing and discovering new products, on Thursday received a major 3.0 update in the App Store, its biggest update since the app was introduced over a year ago.

Featuring a brand new design, Product Hunt now includes live chat and a built-in audio player for listening to podcasts. An expanded search feature lets you zero in on apps, websites, gadgets, games, podcasts and books—and you can now search Product Hunt within iOS's Spotlight feature.

But that's just tip of the iceberg as Product Hunt 3.0 packs in new profile pages, expanded Collections features, enhanced product pages and much more.

GoPro releases companion Apple Watch app

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

I hope for your own sake that you're not one of those irresponsible guys who can be seen interacting with GoPro's mobile app on their smartphone while skating, parachuting or cycling. If you are, however, you might want to download GoPro's latest iPhone app which now includes a native Apple Watch app that lets you start and stop recording with a simple tap on your wrist.

Less time spent starring at the smartphone screen gives you more time to avoid those obstacles. What do you mean, you don't skate?

Analysts are confident that TSMC will grab 100% of Apple’s chipset business in 2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

Although the present-generation A9 and A9X processors are being built by both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) and Samsung, it appears that Samsung will be left out entirely from the lucrative contract to build the forthcoming A10 chipset for 2016 iOS devices.

Barron's on Thursday cited analyst Bonil Koo with investment bank UBS as saying that all A10 orders will be exclusively handled by TSMC, posing a major problem for Samsung.

Pixelmator updated with support for iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and 3D Touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Just two days after Pixelmator for Mac got updated with several new features, the iOS edition of the app has received a major update in the App Store this morning.

Pixelmator 2.2 now works great on the iPad Pro and takes full advantage of Apple's $99 Pencil stylus accessory. In addition, Pixelmator now includes full support for 3D Touch gestures on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

iDB holiday gift guide: Christian’s picks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Is it that time of year again? Gosh, time surely flies, doesn't it? And what an action-packed year it has been in terms of exciting Apple product releases and upgrades, new-category product launches, interesting new accessories, novel new apps and games and what not.

I believe in smart holiday shopping that doesn't force you to break the bank just to purchase cool gifts that your friends and family will actually love, not pass along like a hot potato. So without further ado, I present you my personal holiday gift guide.

Koomas BikePro mounts your iPhone 6s to your handlebars

Lory Gil ∙ December 10, 2015

When I think of iPhone mounts, I don't usually think about bicycles. However, my bike is my main form of transportation these days, so it makes sense to think about ways to have easy access to my mobile device, even more so than my car.

The Koomas BikePro is a handlebar mount so you can secure your iPhone 6s to your bicycle for a safer ride. Just don't forget your device when you lock up your bike. Thieves will steal anything.