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Starbucks 3.0 is out with new iOS 7 design, shake-to-pay and tipping

Cody Lee ∙ March 20, 2014

That big Starbucks app update we told you about last week has arrived in the App Store today. The update, which brings the client to version 3.o, includes the long-awaited redesign for iOS 7 as well as a handful of major new features and improvements.

On the new features side, we have shake-to-pay, which will allow you to bring up your barcode with the flick of a wrist to pay for your Starbucks order. There's also a new digital tipping function that lets you tip your barista, and a new Dashboard view...

iPhone 6 to have 8MP camera, report claims

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 20, 2014

Instead of the twelve or sixteen-megapixel camera upgrade in its 2014 iPhone offerings anticipated by watchers, Apple is said to stick with the eight-megapixel module and focus on improving image quality through software advancements and features like optical image stabilization, a new report asserts.

Apple is seemingly expected to skip the megapixel race with the iPhone 6 "to concentrate on other ways to better images," people familiar with the matter apparently told AppleInsider...

China Mobile sells one million iPhones in February

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 28, 2017

China Mobile with its 776 million customers is the world's largest wireless carrier by subscribers and it's been selling Apple's iPhone for two months now. So how many iPhone units did the carrier move?

According to media reports Wednesday, China Mobile's CEO Li Yue has confirmed that his company has managed to add one million new iPhone users last month since offering the device in mid-January.

To give you some context, that's a nice 75 percent share of the 1.34 million 4G-capable smartphones the carrier moved in February...

New Samsung ad takes simultaneous jabs at iPad, Surface and Kindle

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 20, 2014

Samsung's just posted a new ad to its YouTube channel inviting viewers to "do more" on the new multi-tasking Galaxy Tab Pro series tablet, featuring three different scenes dedicated to bashing Apple's iPad, Microsoft's Surface and Amazon's Kindle tablets. The ad is actually humorous, which is a refreshing change change for Samsung.

The commercial's anti-Apple scene envisions sending email on the Samsung tablet while on a video call, using snapping two apps side by side. Have a look at it after the break and tell us what you think in the comment section...

2015 iPhones and iPads could achieve photorealism with ray-traced graphics from Imagination

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Imagination Technologies, a fabless UK-based semiconductor maker, has been supplying PowerVR-branded mobile graphics IP for Apple's in-house designed iDevice chips since the iPhone's inception.

Detailed 3D graphics, speedy animations and smooth performance have always been one of the hallmarks of the iPhone and iPad so it's no surprise that Apple is an investor in Imagination.

Following Imagination's announcement of a next-generation PowerVR GX6650 GPU that promises to smoke graphics giant Nvidia's own Tegra K1 mobile processor, Imagination yesterday said it is taking PowerVR graphics architecture to the next level by adding ray-tracing capabilities.

Apple likely won't utilize this technique in its upcoming A8 chip for the iPhone 6 and 2014 iPads because Imagination's technology won't be making its way into products until 2015.

This means that come 2015, your iPhone and iPad could easily give dedicated game consoles a good run for their money graphics-wise, by supporting high-quality lighting and shadows, accurate transparency and photorealistic reflections...

Pandora upping monthly ‘One’ fee, dropping annual subscriptions

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Pandora announced this week that it is going to making some significant changes to its Pandora One subscription service over the next couple of months. Most notably, it's going to be raising the monthly subscription cost and eliminating the annual option.

Citing rising licensing costs, Pandora says that it's raising its 'One' fee from $3.99 per month to $4.99 per month, and taking away the discounted annual plan altogether. The company says that royalty rates it pays to artists have increased 53% since it began...

Several users complaining of Hotspot issues in iOS 7.1

Cody Lee ∙ March 20, 2014

Folks having trouble with their Personal Hotspot feature in iOS 7.1 aren't alone. A number of users have been complaining of tethering issues since installing the latest iOS update, as evidenced by this 16-page thread in Apple's support forums.

Specifically, the problem seems to occur when trying to save custom APN settings in a device's Cellular menu. Apparently you can enter information into the text fields, but the values don't save and any attempt to make a connection errors out...

On-rails shooter Star Horizon now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ March 20, 2014

Great news gamers, that beautiful on-rails space shooter 'Star Horizon' we told you about earlier this month is now available in the App Store. This means you can download it now to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (running iOS 6 or later) and get to playing.

Star Horizon was developed by Tabasco Interactive, and is powered by the brawny Unity engine. The game follows John, a private in the service of the Federation, in his journey through the cosmos as he rescues friends and battles the enemy in his warship...

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes companion app hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Konami today released the next installment in its popular action-adventure stealth franchise, Metal Gear Solid. The game is officially called Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and available for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

And to go with it, Konami has created a namesake iOS companion app, now available free in the App Store.

Although the iPhone and iPad application connects to the main Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, some modes do not require console connectivity. Jump past the fold for full details...

Yahoo launches new Classic Games site for Web, Android and iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Yahoo today announced a renewed push into gaming with the launch of its Classic Games site. The site features an easy-to-use design that allows you to browse for and play games across the Web, Android and iOS devices.

The company also introduced the Yahoo Games Network, a new platform for third-party game developers akin to Apple's Game Center. It offers various tools including analytics, player authentication, monetization, and social sharing...

Eddy Cue calls out inaccuracy in new post-Jobs Apple book

Cody Lee ∙ March 19, 2014

Early reviews are out for former WSJ writer Yukari Kane’s new book on post-Jobs Apple: 'Haunted Empire' ($14.99 in the iBooks Store), and they aren't good. Many readers believe that Kane fails to make her obvious preconceived point that Apple is doomed, and doesn't even appear to try.

Even Tim Cook had something to say about the book, telling CNBC yesterday that "this nonsense belongs with some of the other books I’ve read about Apple." And today, another executive has spoken out. SVP Eddy Cue says that the epic 'pen' story Kane tells in her book never happened...

Checkmark 2 review: this location-based reminder app gets even better

Lory Gil ∙ March 19, 2014

In July of 2012, Christian wrote a very positive article about Checkmark, calling it the app that Reminders should have been. Thanks to location and time-based reminders, the app made it much easier for users to be notified at the right time and place about an upcoming event or task.

Checkmark 2 just launched in the App Store. Not only has the app received a complete iOS 7 redesign, but it also now includes iCloud sync and recurring reminders. Plus, a whole slew of new features make Checkmark 2 the app that Checkmark should have been…