The top stories of the week

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Like every Sunday, we get to take a look at some of the most popular posts that were published on iDB during the week that just ended. Whether it is a news item, a new jailbreak tweak, a tutorial, or an app review, we sum it all up in one convenient place for you.

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Springtomize 3 has been updated for iOS 9 and is launching soon

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 19, 2015

The tweak that many of you have been waiting for is almost here. Springtomize 3, the legendary jailbreak tweak originally from Filippo Bigarella, is right around the corner for iOS 9. Earlier today, a copy of the tweak landed in my inbox, and I've been testing it out throughout the day and into this evening.

In case you're not familiar with Springtomize, it's a tweak that essentially allows you to customize a wide variety of SpringBoard attributes. You can change the size of app icons, change the look of the dock, hide icon labels, and adjust animation speeds. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

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iMachine 2, Heavy Blade, Contemporary Magic, and more apps to check out this weekend

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Now that the iPad Pro is finally out, we know some of you have been dedicating a lot of time to pushing the tablet to its limits. It's too bad that we can't sideload f.lux on iOS anymore. But, don't worry. There is plenty of great content waiting for you, and with a benchmark that is as good as an Intel Core i5 processor, there won't be anything your iPad Pro can't handle.

If you're looking for some content to download onto your 13-inch tablet, we've got a list of some apps and games you may have missed earlier this week.

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Cydia Substrate updated to version 0.9.6110

Jeff Benjamin ∙ November 13, 2015

Saurik has pushed an update to Cydia Substrate, bringing the package to version 0.9.6110. The update contains fixes for corrupt extensions, which some developers apparently use for obfuscation purposes.

Prior versions of Cydia Substrate made attempts to detect whether an extension's installation might cause the process to crash, yet by doing so, it ended up resulting in Cydia Substrate crashing itself. With version 0.9.6110, this should no longer be the case.

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Review: Vevo’s revamped iOS app is a lot cleaner and more fun to use than Apple’s Music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

In case you missed it, Vevo has completely redesigned its lagging iPhone and iPad application in the App Store. I watch music videos from Vevo artists on YouTube on my desktop. On mobile, not so much and I blame Vevo's hopelessly outdated design, inconsistencies and complicated features for that.

Bumped to version 5.0, the new Vevo experience starts with a black-and-white logo and a matching app icon.

The headline change here is an all-new interface—it gets out of your way, unlike Apple's own Music app, and sports a tremendously useful mini-player. It's almost too weird to say that Vevo's new iOS app is a lot easier and way more fun to use than Apple's stock Music app has ever been, but it's true.

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Verizon gets FCC waiver to begin offering Wi-Fi Calling

Cody Lee ∙ November 13, 2015

The Federal Communications Commission on Friday gave Verizon permission to begin offering Wi-Fi Calling. As noted by MacRumors, the Commission granted the carrier a waiver today that will allow it to rollout the feature, which was introduced last year with iOS 8.

The news comes a month after AT&T was granted the same waiver, and it activated Wi-Fi Calling for compatible devices days later. In a statement, it also criticized the FCC for excusing the fact that Sprint and T-Mobile have long been offering the feature without a waiver.

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App Store search results are now smarter and more relevant

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Apple has been working hard in recent weeks to make App Store search results smarter and more relevant, reports TechCrunch. The outlet points to comments from high profile app developers, who began noticing changes to the search results earlier this month and a major algorithm update on November 12.

"I just searched Twitter on the App Store and Instagram is gone," Contrast's David Barnard pointed out on Twitter. "Tweetbot is #4, Twitterrific #5, and more relevant results overall." Tapbots developer Paul Haddad also spotted the change, noting that the change has had a significant impact on his app searches.

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Which has lower latency: Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 stylus?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Microsoft's fourth-generation Surface Pro offers stylus and keyboard cover accessories just like Apple's newly released iPad Pro. Apple, of course, is adamant that the Pencil is the best stylus on the market because it has virtually no lag or delay.

The Apple Pencil takes full advantage of  iOS's predictive touch technology, the iPad Pro's special screen design and sensors in its tip that measure every nuanced stroke, angle and pressure.

After putting the device through its paces, El Mundo writer and photographer Angel Jimenez de Luis concludes that Apple's stylus has a bit lower latency than Microsoft's, and he posted a video showcasing tracking capabilities of both accessories.

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Samsung reportedly on the verge of supplying OLED screens for future iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Samsung, which uses AMOLED screens in many of its flagship smartphones and tablets, could become a major provider of OLED panels for the iPhone maker as a deal is all but secured, according to an ETNews report Friday citing a Samsung Display employee.

The report arrives hot on the heels of a research note that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent to clients earlier this week, in which he estimated that Apple won’t be switching to AMOLED screens for iPhones anytime soon and will continue using the existing LCD display technology for at least the next three years.

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Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard deliveries slip to 4-5 weeks, Apple promises ‘regular shipments’

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 13, 2015

If you're in the market for an iPad Pro and are considering purchasing Apple's $99 Pencil or the $169 Smart Keyboard to take full advantage of the tablet's new features for creatives and mobile workers, you're in for some serious waiting as shipping times for these accessories have slipped to 4-5 weeks on the Apple Online Store.

In a statement to Mashable, the company did acknowledge limited supply of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard in its own retail stores and promised “regular shipments”.

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Apple Watch 2 already in the works for summer 2016 release, Apple supplier claims

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 6, 2017

The Apple Watch may have been met with a muted response from critics (and it's still being rolled out around the world), but that's not stopping Tim Cook & Co. from working on a next-generation model.

According to an Apple supplier, a second-generation Apple Watch is already in the works.

It's said to be released late in the second quarter of next year, a little more than a year after the original model’s debut. As reported by Taiwanese media, Barry Lam, the chairman of Quanta Computer, the company that assembles the Apple Watch, said during an investor meeting that the Apple Watch 2 is being developed, shockingly, as we speak.

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