How to create a free Apple Developer account and link it to Xcode

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 13, 2018

Even if you don't wish to pay $99 a year to join the Apple Developer Program, you can still create a free Apple ID and use that Apple ID to access a limited set of developer-oriented privileges. The free developer account isn't technically a developer account at all; Apple simply gives Apple ID users, who don't wish to become a member of the official paid Apple Developer Program, access to Xcode Developer Tools, Xcode beta releases, developer forums, and more.

Most importantly, your Apple ID can be used to "Test on Device", which essentially means that anyone with a free Apple ID can deploy apps to their iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs, without relying on a paid developer account. In this simple to follow video tutorial, we'll show you how.

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Google reportedly working on a brand new messaging app to take on Facebook

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 24, 2015

As reported on by The Wall Street Journal two days ago, citing people familiar with the matter, the Internet giant Google is allegedly working on a brand new messaging app to take on the growing popularity of apps for keeping in touch, namely Facebook-owned Messenger and WhatsApp.

In addition to messaging capability, the app is said to put a big emphasis on so-called chatbots, smart personal assistants that will scour the web and other sources to answer a question.

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10 games to play with the family over Christmas

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

If your family is coming to visit, or if you are headed home for the holidays, you may be in need of some festivities that will keep any opinionated uncles from talking about politics and religion.

One way to keep things light is to participate in good old-fashioned family game night. Whether you pass-and-play on the iPad, compete via Game Center on your iPhone, grab two controllers for Apple TV 4, or simply pull out a tabletop board game from grandma's dusty closet, we have some suggestions for keeping spirits bright as you while away the evenings this holiday season.

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Let’s Talk Jailbreak 139: iOS 9.2 jailbreak rumors

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Episode 139: Talk about the rumored upcoming iOS 9 jailbreak from TaiG, Surenix teases a new version of Auki, Springtomize 3 is updated, Seng comes out of beta, Ryan Petrich pushes a new version of Activator, GeoHot makes a big splash, and lots of new jailbreak tweaks are discussed.

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RadioShack selling 32GB Apple TV + HDMI cable bundle for $119.98 online

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 23, 2015

A few days ago, we told you about an in-store promotion that RadioShack was running to sell the Apple TV for $50 off its retail price. Today, RadioShack is still discounting the Apple TV, and this time you can purchase the popular set top box via RadioShack's online store.

True, it's not as cheap as the $99 price of the earlier deal, and you'll still need to pony up for taxes where necessary, but it's still a big savings over the retail price of a 32GB Apple TV. Best of all, you don't even have to leave your couch to take advantage of the savings.

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Pre-alpha version of Kodi released for Apple TV 4

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 23, 2015

A sneak preview version of Kodi has been released for the Apple TV 4. Over on the official Kodi forums, developer Memphiz has posted a how to walkthrough outlining the basics of the installation.

Keep in mind that this is a very early build of Kodi for the Apple TV 4, so not everything works. In fact, Memphiz is calling this a "pre-pre-pre-alpha release of Kodi for tvOS." Sounds pretty alpha to us, but it's definitely a good starting point.

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Federal judge dismisses iMessage lawsuit over undelivered texts to Android phones

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 23, 2015

A lawsuit centered on an iMessage issue which turned former iPhone owners' phone numbers into a black hole for text messages after making a switch to Android has been tossed out of the window by United States District Judge Lucy H. Koh, Business Insider reported this morning.

The lawsuit alleged that Apple's messaging system interfered with the delivery of texts, going as far as to suggest that Apple wiretapped those users by intercepting, and then failing to deliver, text messages sent from an iPhone to an Android phone.

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Fleksy Keyboard gains 3D Touch cursor control and other perks in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 23, 2015

Fleksy, the popular software keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, was updated earlier this week with a bunch of refinements and new features, including 3D Touch-based cursor control and Home screen shortcuts on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Other goodies in Fleksy 7.5 include the all-new (and free) festive pack to dress up your keyboard in holiday-themed skins, the ability to search for emoji with the Highlights extension, a new GIF & Stickers tab for browsing animated GIFs and more.

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Disney-funded Littlstar brings immersive 360-degree video to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 23, 2015

A Disney-backed virtual reality company, Littlstar, today launched an app for Apple's fourth-generation Apple TV box that lets users immerse themselves in a wide range of 360 video content from well-known brands, such as Showtime, Disney, Discovery, Fusion, PBS, Mountain Dew, National Geographic and Red Bull.

The app lets users control the videos’ angles using the Touch surface on the Siri Remote. Just like Littlstar’s other apps on the web, mobile and in virtual reality headsets (like the Samsung Gear VR), their Apple TV app lets your rotate videos in full 360 degrees.

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Apple Music to begin streaming The Beatles catalog on Christmas Eve

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 22, 2017

It's official: the entire catalog of the famous English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, will be available for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify and a few other services beginning tomorrow, December 24, at 12:01 local time.

In addition to Apple Music and Spotify, The Beatles catalog will also be available for streaming worldwide via Deezer, Google Play, Microsoft Groove, Amazon Prime, Rhapsody, Slacker and Tidal (Pandora is a notable holdout).

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Our favorite music and movies to celebrate the holidays

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

As the holidays approach, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite holiday traditions. In addition to guzzling eggnog and mixing up hot toddies, we like to settle in with our families, watching classic Christmas movies and spinning our top choices for hall-decking tunes.

Hopefully, these recommendations will spark inspiration for you and give you something to fill the cold winter nights with friends and family as you celebrate the holiday season. Feel free to let us know what your favorites are so other iDB readers (and us, too) can add them to our yearly traditions.

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