Report: Apple building split-screen multitasking into iOS 8

Soon there may be no need to gnash your teeth at Microsoft whose anti-iPad television commercials always highlight the Surface's split-screen multitasking, a feature iOS currently does not support. But Microsoft will want to rethink those ads as an exclusive report by a reliable blogger claimed Tuesday that Apple is building split-screen multitasking functionality into iOS 8.

If the report is anything to go by, it should be akin to the iPad jailbreak tweak called OS Experience that our own Jeff Benjamin highlighted recently. Details are right after the break so read on for the full reveal...

Rumor: Apple will tap Beats to introduce high-res iTunes music, improve In-Ear Headphones

Apple's purported acquisition of Beats Electronics, LCC has set the tongues wagging as pundits race to offer their armchair analysis of the grand strategy behind Apple's alleged $3.2 billion deal.

The latest in the Apple-Beats saga comes via the rather reliable Japanese blog Macotakara which earlier this morning asserted that Apple will use Beats to introduce support for high-resolution audio files in iTunes and the iOS Music app and also improve sound quality of its pricey pricey $79 In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic...

This ‘iStick’ USB flash drive has a built-in Lightning connector

Folks looking for a way to move media and other data between their iOS devices and computers locally may want to check out the iStick. The newly-announced device may look like an ordinary USB flash drive, but it features a built-in Lightning connector.

The creators of the iStick, Hyper, say it's the first of its kind, and the whole purpose behind it is to provide users with a way to quickly and safely move data between their computers, iPhones, iPads and iPod touches without the need for iTunes or the Internet...

Gorgeous RPG The Shadow Sun goes on sale for a limited time

Game-maker Ossian Studios has put one of its most popular titles, The Shadow Sun, on sale this week. The beautiful RPG, which we named one of our Apps of the Week back in December, is normally priced at $7.99, but for a limited time, you can snag the game for just $3.

For those unfamiliar with The Shadow Sun, it's your standard RPG with customizable characters, skill-building and quests. But, developed by veterans of the Neverwinter Nights and Baldur’s Gate franchises, this game is anything but ordinary. Keep reading for a full overview...

New report says iPhone 6 likely to feature NFC for future mobile payment service

According to a new report, the incoming iPhone 6 is going to feature support for NFC technology (or near field communications). Citing sources 'close to the matter,' New York news outlet Brightwire says Apple is planning to utilize the wireless tech in a future mobile payment system.

In fact, Brightwire claims that Tim Cook and company have already inked a deal with China UnionPay service. And under that deal, users will be able to make mobile payments on over 3 million China UnionPay 'QuickPass' POS machines in the country using Passbook on their iPhones...

How to play Habbo on iPhone or iPad

Habbo is a popular online community based upon a virtual hotel where you can create a character, decorate rooms with virtual furniture, chat with others, play mini-games, organize events and more. Sulake launched the game in Finland in 2000 and has since expanded it to Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and other regions over the past decade. On the desktop, it was originally a Shockwave-based game that has since transitioned to Adobe Flash.

As you probably know, Adobe Flash has never been supported on the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. In fact, over four years ago, Steve Jobs published an article called Thoughts on Flash to explain why Apple is so inexplicably against supporting the platform on its iOS devices. As such, it is impossible to play Habbo through Safari by traditional means. That is no reason to be worried, however, as there are actually a few options for playing Habbo on an iPhone or iPad. Take a look… 

Let’s Talk iOS 028: Samsunged

Episode 28: We share our thoughts on Apple's rumored Beats Music acquisition and what it could all mean. Jeff explains why he both likes and dislikes the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Samsung Gear Neo 2 smartwatch.

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Microsoft announces Office for iPad has surpassed 27 million downloads

Microsoft announced today that downloads for its newly-released Office for iPad suite have surpassed another major milestone. The company's Julia White told a crowd at its TechEd conference in Houston this morning that the software has been download over 27 million times, more than double the figure shared a month ago...

App Recap: 10 apps to start off your week

After a rather eventful week on the App Store, the first edition of App Recap this week starts off on a bit of a slower pace. Nevertheless, we still have a roundup of new, updated and discounted apps that are worth looking at. App Recap is posted mid-day as an extension of the in-depth app coverage that our team of writers, including Lory, Christian and Cody, provide throughout the day. Take a look at today's featured apps… 

Design comparison: final iPhone 6 mockup vs iPhone 5s vs fifth-gen iPod touch

With everyone and their brother 3D printing iPhone 6 mockups, virtually every single day brings another iPhone 6 "leak" that wants to go viral. There's just too much stuff proliferating out there so iDownloadBlog usually only covers the material we specifically deem newsworthy.

This would typically entail photos and footage that bring something new to the conversation, be it a never-before-seen angle, an interesting design choice or other curious detail.

Today's video is no different.

Created by an Italian enthusiast blog, it pits an unusually detailed physical iPhone 6 mockup against the iPhone 5s and the fifth-generation iPod touch, showing the supposed design differences from various angles...

Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre could see grand introductions as Apple executives at WWDC

Should Apple's rumored $3.2 billion deal to buy Beats Electronics, LCC come through, its most visible co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre could show up on the Moscone West stage to be introduced as Apple executives, as per Billboard. An annual pilgrimage for programmers, Apple's 5-day Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, kicks off on June 2.

If history is an indication, Tim Cook will share the stage with other senior executives to tell us what's next for Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems. Given the amount of coverage WWDC typically enjoys, it would be the perfect venue to make such a high-profile announcement...

How to integrate Google Cloud Print natively within iOS

If you ever listen to our Let's Talk iOS podcast, you're probably keenly aware of my paperless lifestyle. As a huge Evernote proponent, I make it a habit of avoiding hoarding lots of unnecessary papers. But every now and then, even I am forced to print out a document or two. It happens just rarely enough to make it extremely annoying, and my annoyance is compounded by the fact I don't own an AirPrint compatible printer.

As someone who is slowly integrating their way back into the Google ecosystem, I decided to give Google's Cloud Print service a try. Google Cloud Print is basically the Google equivalent of AirPrint with some notable differences here and there. But for all intents and purposes, people use Google Cloud Print for the same reason that people use AirPrint—they want to print wirelessly from a wirelessly connected device.

It goes without saying that Google Cloud Print support is a feature that hasn't been, and probably never will be, included in stock iOS. But that's okay, because there is a jailbreak tweak that will allow you to just that. Check inside for the full video walkthrough.