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Analyst on iPhone 6 camera: no protruding lens, software-based image stabilization

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 29, 2016

As we told you before, supposed case leaks indicate that Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 could be as thin as the current-generation iPod touch, its slim body purportedly measuring between 6.5mm and 7.0mm (the iPhone 5s is 7.6mm thick).

But Apple's desire to create an ultra-thin phone might also result in an unsightly camera lens protrusion on the back, according to purported production images.

The exposed camera design is said to be the result of the larger components needed for a new optical image stabilization feature. Apple's engineers are faced with a dilemma: create an ultra-thin device that features optical image stabilization and has the annoying protrusion or expand the device slightly to 7.5mm to get rid of the protruded module on the back.

But there's allegedly a third option: tap the speedy A8 processor and the power of software to implement an electronic rather than optical image stabilization. This would allow Apple to realize the thin appearance of the device while doing away with the rumored bulge on the back...

Apple launches updated MacBook Airs with faster processors for $100 less

Cody Lee ∙ April 29, 2014

As expected, Apple launched refreshed MacBook Air models this morning. There aren't any major changes, but the new laptops feature faster versions of Intel's Haswell processors and are priced at $100 less than their predecessors.

The updated models are currently available worldwide. Unsurprisingly, there's no sign of the rumored 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina display...

Samsung profits fall in Q1 on slowing high-end smartphone sales

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Samsung said profit fell for a second straight quarter as sales in its smartphone division continued to dip. The South Korean electronics giant announced its earnings for Q1 2014 this morning, and its operating profits for the period fell 3.3% from the year-ago-quarter.

Investors are particularly concerned with the growing trend of slumping handset sales—Samsung's mobile division is also down 1.2% year-over-year. The just-released Galaxy S5 is expected to give its Q2 numbers a boost, but the future beyond that is less than certain...

Let’s Talk iOS 026: Stock split

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 20, 2018

Episode 26: We discuss what's new in iOS 7.1.1, Apple's recent Q2 earnings call, The ultimate iTunes Store guide, more Nike speculation, and we each talk about our most anticipated upcoming Apple release.

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The Beverly Hills Cop trilogy is on sale on iTunes for only $9.99

Sébastien Page ∙ April 28, 2014

There are two kinds of people in this world: people who love the Beverly Hills Cop, and those who've never seen it. Whether you're the former or the latter, this is your opportunity to own the complete trilogy for only $9.99.

Admittedly, the first one is actually the best of the series, but at this price, it doesn't even make sense to just get it separately as it is more expensive than the whole trilogy bundle.

You can download the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy on iTunes for $9.99 here.

Appellancy: unlock your device using facial recognition

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 28, 2014

Appellancy—the facial recognition jailbreak tweak that unlocks your device—is now available for download on Cydia's BigBoss repo. The tweak, which is by far the best jailbreak tweak to feature facial recognition unlocking, worked very well in my testing of the final build that just hit Cydia.

I was a bit skeptical due to some issues that I had with the beta versions of the tweak (mainly crashing), but most of those issues seem to have been fixed. Check out our video walkthrough of the tweak after the break.

Purported iPhone 6 case theorizes how thin next-gen iPhone could be

Jake Smith ∙ April 28, 2014

On par with the launch of any device from Apple, third-party case makers have taken rumors, maybe a little insider knowledge, and some guessing to theorize what the design of the next-generation iPhone could be, long before the launch.

YouTube channel Unbox Therapy got its hands on one of these cases floating around, and compared it alongside the iPhone 5s and iPod touch. The striking factor for the purported iPhone 6 case wasn't the height difference, but that its thinness matched up with the iPod touch, perfectly.

Opinion: the clock is ticking on Apple’s rumored on-demand streaming music service

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

If you need another proof that download sales are declining steadily as music lovers increasingly rent their music rather than buy it, here's one.

Spotify's head of label relations in Europe, Kevin Brown, revealed last week to an industry outlet that his company is earning more cash across Continental Europe from sales of music subscriptions than iTunes does by selling individual song and album downloads.

As a reference, iTunes back in the summer of 2004 enjoyed a commanding 62 percent share of European music sales.

But having added more than a million active users in the United Kingdom alone in the last four months, Spotify seems poised to beat iTunes. Small wonder Brown is adamant that it's only "a matter of time" before the Swedish startup overtakes Apple's digital music store in Europe in terms of revenue.

Why isn't Apple doing something about it? Doesn't the firm see the signs on the wall already? Didn't Tim Cook and Co. get the memo that music downloads are dying a slow death? Read on...

AT&T planning in-flight 4G connectivity for late-2015

Jake Smith ∙ April 28, 2014

AT&T has announced on Monday plans to launch in-flight 4G connectivity as early as late-2015, a technology it touts could be more reliable than in-flight Wi-Fi already made available on some flights in the US.

To deliver the new service, AT&T plans to build an air-to-ground network in the US, based on global 4G LTE standards, to "provide fast speeds and efficient utilization" of spectrum already owned by AT&T.

Facebook open sources animation engine behind Paper for iOS

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Facebook has open sourced the Pop animation engine that drives its Paper app, now available in a listing on GitHub.

The Pop engine supports basic static animations, and also has spring and decay dynamic animations for building realistic, physics-based interactions. The Paper app has been praised for its design, and now developers will be able to access the same engine that drives it for their own iOS and OS X apps.

Top Apple execs Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi speaking at Code Conference

Jake Smith ∙ April 28, 2014

Top Apple executives Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will headline the second night of Recode's Code Conference in May, joining an already high profile lineup including General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Hollywood mogul Ryan Seacrest.

Apple executives rarely make an appearance at events outside of those officially held by Apple, however, Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, formerly of the D Conference, obviously have a secret to doing it. The two have interviewed Apple co-founder Steve Jobs several times, including once alongside Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and most recently interviewed CEO Tim Cook.

Camera Fx8 and FiLMiC Pro go free for a limited time

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

If you're like me, you've downloaded dozens of camera and image-editing apps to your iPhone to satisfy your inner iPhone photography nerd - and you're still yearning for more. Unfortunatelly, your newly found obsession with photography software may end up costing your hard earned dollars for most of these apps definitely don't come cheap.

If you're on the lookout for a not-to-be-missed software deals, this should be a no-brainer.

Camera Fx8 by Apalon Limited has gone temporarily free. This piece of software lets you apply fun effects, shapes and borders to your images in post-processing or in real-time. It's gone free today for the next 24 hours so give it a download before it goes back up to its regular price of $2.99.

Also notably, FiLMiC Pro, one of the best video camera apps and a $4.99 value, has gone free for a limited time in the App Store...