Amazon Instant Video gets overhauled with iOS 7 styling

Amazon on Monday issued a new version of its Instant Video for iOS app. Available free in the App Store, the new Amazon Instant Video version 2.5 now finally features a brand new user interface on the iPhone and iPad which honors Apple's human interface guidelines for iOS 7 development.

Released initially for the iPad in August 2012 and later updated with iPhone UI, the app picked up support for background AirPlay wireless streaming to the Apple TV back in September 2013.

If you live in the Amazon cloud, Instant Video for iOS is your gateway to the world of Hollywood entertainment available on Amazon's video service. Today's facelift arrives after the online retail giant announced (and started selling on the same day) its own set-top box last week, the $99 Fire TV that does voice and runs games.

Read on to learn more...

How to replace your battery life indicator with Zelda-inspired hearts

Do we have any Zelda fans in the building? If you're a fan of Nintendo's action-RPG series, then you will no doubt appreciate this new Alkaline jailbreak theme from designer alextmoore.

Aptly entitled Zelda Hearts for Alkaline, this recently released theme allows users to replace the stock battery indicator with hearts similar to those that appear in the Big N's popular gaming classic.

Want to see how it works in action? Have a look inside for the video walkthrough.

What early iPhone 5 buyers wanted: stronger battery, better Maps, bigger screens and more

According to Apple's internal survey conducted with early iPhone 5 buyers, the company was well aware it didn't have what consumers wanted most, as far back as the Fall of 2012.

An internal research note from Apple’s lawsuit with Samsung, published by Business Insider reporter Jay Yarrow, indicates the one thing iPhone 5 buyers wanted most was longer battery life, hardly a surprise as the longer-lasting battery is the most frequently cited complaint among smartphone buyers in general.

Early iPhone 5 adopters were also asking for a much improved built-in Apple Maps application, the #2 item on the wish list, and a bigger screen as the third most often requested feature. We're of course expecting iPhones with bigger screens in the second half of this year.

If there's any substance to the rumors floating around, Apple is working on a 4.7-inch iPhone and another one with a screen measuring between five and 5.7 inches diagonally, although the latter model could be delayed over issues with in-cell production technology for the larger screen size...

Apple’s iPhone trade-in program extends to Germany

Apple's own iPhone trade-in program is now available across company-owned online and brick-and-mortar retail outlets in Germany. Now available via the Online Apple Store and through Apple's free Apple Store application for the iPhone and iPad, the initiative allows German shoppers to trade-in their existing device in good condition and receive a gift card worth up to €230, or about 315 in US dollars.

Like in the United States, German customers can then redeem the amount on the gift card against a new iPhone purchase to help bring down the upfront cost of the hardware. Your existing devices get disposed of in an environmentally friendly way instead of ending up in landfills...

IGN names ‘Epoch 2’ its Free Game of the Month

Great news gamers, IGN has named Uppercut Games' Epoch 2 its Free Game of the Month. This is one of the first times that the game, which normally retails for $4.99, has ever been made available at no cost.

For those unfamiliar with the title, Epoch 2  features intuitive, gesture-based controls and gorgeous visuals. It continues the post-apocalyptic storyline of the original, and offers new weapons and gameplay modes...

Internal Apple slides explain why it thinks iPhone growth is slowing

Despite posting 50+ million iPhone sales last quarter, Apple's stock slid some 6%. As impressive as the numbers were, they still fell short of Wall Street expectations and reaffirmed fears of slowing growth. Apple's YoY (year-over-year) iPhone growth is now down to just single digits.

The question is why? And Apple has a pretty good idea of what the answer is. According to some internal documents brought to light by the ongoing Samsung trial, the company attributes the slowing in iPhone growth to consumer want for larger, cheaper handsets and other factors...

Sometimes You Die: a side-scrolling platformer with no rules

What would a game look like if you took all of the glitz and glamor out of it - if there were no coins to collect, and no points to earn? What if, in order to progress, you had to kill your character, ruining a “perfect game”?

Sometimes You Die both asks and answers those questions, as well as a few others. It is striped down in looks, but extraordinary in execution. If you think you’ve beaten the game, think again…

Galaxy wallpapers

Another Sunday, another Wallpapers of the Week submission. Guys, keep the comments coming and make sure to catch me on Twitter to share the goods. This week is a featured artist who dropped me a tweet a couple weeks back and I am able to get him in the feed of wallpapers.

The section is only kept popular by the readers like you! To me, there is nothing better than a fresh wallpaper every week, if not every day. Thankfully, this week we have a three-for-one deal, with iPad included. Step past the fold for a quick download...

The best apps for learning music

I’ve been actively playing music in a variety of bands for the past 17 years. I taught myself everything I know. I’m far from being an expert or professional, but I can hold my own against other musicians.

I would have loved an iPhone or iPad when I was learning how to play music. I probably would have progressed a lot faster, and might even be more competent than I am now.

For those potential musicians or secret rock stars out there, we’ve got a list of apps that are geared toward learning your instrument. We believe these are some of the best apps for learning music. Have a look at our selection and add to it if you think we've missed something...

This week on iDB: mark your calendars!

Like every Sunday, we bring you the stories that were the most popular on iDB during this past week. Whether it is a news piece, an editorial, a tutorial, a new jailbreak tweak, or an accessory review, we sum it all up in one convenient place.

If you like what you're reading, please make sure to spread the love by sharing our posts on your favorite social network.

We're usually hanging out a lot on Twitter and Facebook, more rarely on Google+.

The best calendar apps for iPhone Apps of the Week: Monument Valley, Fantastical 2 for iPad, and more Themes of the week: Looka, Elza, Comic7 and Caramelo Wallpapers of last week: mountains to the sea Download WWDC 2014 wallpapers Auxo 2 review: one of the best jailbreak tweaks ever gets better Auxo 2 is now available in Cydia Happy birthday, iPad! How to enable five additional dynamic wallpapers in iOS 7 Alleged iPhone 6 production images show protruding camera lens, rounded LED flash Video pits Apple’s Touch ID against Samsung’s Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner Must-see: Apple’s breathtaking Istanbul store Amazon unveils its Apple TV competitor: meet the $99 Fire TV set-top box Study takes a look at app stability on iOS and Android

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of our new podcast, Let's Talk iOS:

And of course, make sure to catch up with the new episode of Let's Talk Jailbreak:

We’re social! Find iDB on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, App.net, YouTube, and in your RSS reader. Also make sure to subscribe to our new podcast!

Google building Android set-top box with voice input, apps and games

In 2011, Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said that, "by the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded." But here it is, 2014, and a quick search of BestBuy.com confirms that the lofty goal never came to fruition.

The company hasn't given up on the living room though. In fact, according to a report from The Verge, it's readying a new Android-based set-top right now. The site has obtained screenshots and other documents outing the project, which is apparently named Android TV...

Atmospheric puzzle game Year Walk is now available on Mac OS X

Just in case you haven’t heard of the thought-provoking and innovative atmospheric puzzle survival game Year Walk, it was a hugely popular iOS title based on Swedish mythology that was impressive, to say the least. Its dark theme and bizarre characters stood out amongst the droves of Angry Bird clones that flooded the App Store.

Simogo just launched a Mac OS X version of Year Walk that includes some big changes, including new puzzles, new areas to explore, and new graphics. It’s like getting to play the game for the first time, all over again…