iDownloadBlog.com

Loop Fob makes swipeless credit card payment via iOS possible

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Originally a Kickstarter campaign, Loop's mobile payments device, the Fob, is now available for purchase online at the Loop webstore. The $39 adapter has a contactless chip inside and uses patented technology to encrypt your credit card information on a secure memory module. By storing all of your credit cards, the Fob lets you make payments at virtually any terminal in the U.S.

The Boston-based startup has partnered with a bunch of retailers and credit card issuers to make the solution play nice with virtually all of major points of sale in the United States. In addition to the $39 adapter, Loop will also introduce a $99 Loop ChargeCase later this year...

Aerial photo shows significant demolition progress being made at iSpaceship site

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

Apple's upcoming new headquarters, Campus 2 aka iSpaceship, has cleared the last remaining hurdle after the Cupertino City Council unanimously approved the project in November 2013. Apple has since started demolishing the site.

Ron Cervi, news and traffic reporter for KCBS, has posted a nice-looking aerial photograph of the site on his Instagram profile, showing significant demolition progress being made...

After spending 12 years with Apple, head of Technology Advancement Group retires

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

NetworkWorld is reporting that Brett Bilbrey, head of Apple's Technology Advancement Group, has retired after spending nearly twelve years with the company.

During his tenure at Apple, Bilbrey has contributed to a number of projects and was a prolific inventor whose name can be found on a number of patent filings detailing such inventions as a wireless charging system or a 3D imaging camera for iOS devices.

He is also credited with a recent filing for a dynamic, reconfigurable and touch-sensitive keyboard. Most recently, as of August 2008, Bilbrey was heading up Apple's Technology Advancement Group. But what exactly does the group do? Read on...

Latest Samsung ads take swipes at iPhone’s screen size and iPad’s multitasking

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

Samsung is taking a page from Microsoft's book with the release of a new ad featuring side-by-side comparison of its 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab Pro and Apple's iPad. Not only that, Samsung has actually borrowed the concept of Apple's inaugural iPad Air commercial dubbed 'Pencil' and applied it to its ad.

The ad titled 'Multitasking Redefined' highlights Samsung device's multitasking capabilities allowing it to render two apps side-by-side, because "doing two things at once is greater than doing one thing at once".

The 60-second video proudly proclaims the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to be an even thinner tablet than the iPad Air despite a negligible difference in their thickness. There's also another ad which uses a video of a LeBron James slam dunk to mock the iPhone's screen size.

Here it is...

Aliens, jetpack and more in Gameloft’s latest Gangstar Vegas update

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

French games maker Gameloft has released an interesting new content pack for Gangstar Vegas, the latest installment in its Grand Theft Auto series which hit the App Store in June of last year.

Available in the App Store as a free update for existing users, the Gangstar vs. Aliens content pack pits you against - what do you know - aliens! The game is still set in the City of Sin and this update brings back the jetpack while adding additional missions, weapons, costumes and vehicles.

If you live Gangstar Vegas, strap on your jetpack and kick some alien butt in the Gangstar vs. Aliens update...

Shazam and Warner Music Group form crowd-sourced record label

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

The media discovery service Shazam and Warner Music Group (WMG) have struck an interesting partnership that will see the former not only discover new acts by analyzing what new songs people tag most, but also sign them to a new Shazam branded label.

Yup, you read that right: the development marks the arrival of the first crowd-sourced record label. Shazam is the world's top music-tagging and discovery engine and WMG is the largest American-owned music conglomerate worldwide, the third largest label in the global music industry and one of the big three recording companies...

TPK said to supply silver nanowire-based flexible AMOLED panels for iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

Apple is said to have commissioned Taiwan-based touch panel maker TPK to build flexible AMOLED panels for a rumored iWatch wearable device. According to a report by The China Times, highlighted by DigiTimes, the iWatch will include a flexible AMOLED display and 3D protective glass, with '3D' likely referring to a curved appearance of the cover glass.

Moreover, the Apple wearable device could use silver nanowire touchscreen technology developed by TPK. Interestingly enough, TPK recently signed a deal with Japan-based Nissha Printing to mass produce nanowire layers...

Apple announces the very first iTunes Festival to be held in the US

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Apple this morning announced via a press release iTunes Festival SXSW, the very first iTunes Festival to be held in the United States. The music event will be held March 11-15, 2014 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, which is the home of Austin City Limits.

The lineup of stars includes Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Pitbull, Keith Urban, ZEDD "and more to come". It gets even better as all five nights of the event will be available as a free live and on-demand stream via the iTunes Store on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC devices.

Additionally, music lovers will be able to stream the event in high-definition through the iTunes Festival app on iOS devices and the Apple TV set-top box...

Sketchy rumor claims iPhablet won’t use iPhone branding

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 19, 2014

A new report out of Taiwan reiterates that Apple is working on two new iPhone models, one with a display measuring 4.7 inches diagonally and the other sporting a 5.6-inch screen. However, the story surprisingly claims Apple won't use iPhone branding for the 5.6-inch model because this "non-iPhone" is apparently an "experimental" device.

We're not sure what to think about this as Apple has always branded all of its smartphone models as iPhones. The claim reminds me of an old rumor which said Apple would release a new kind of iOS device, a cross of sorts between the iPhone and the MacBook Air that would justify a completely new branding...

Sector sequencer comes with its own probability drive

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Step sequencers allow musicians to create loops using notes that are played in intervals with customized timing and duration parameters. Depending on what you are going for, they can be either complex or simple. Sequencer machines are usually somewhat heavy and take up a lot of space on a desk or tabletop.

Sector is a stochastic sample slice sequencer that offers the same variety in looping as a physical sequencer, but only takes up the amount of room your iPad does. Plus, this probability-based loop maker turns your notes into crazy mixed up sounds…

Microsoft relaunches SkyDrive as OneDrive, adds referral bonus storage

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Microsoft announced a few weeks ago that it would be changing the name of its SkyDrive cloud service to OneDrive, and this morning the full rebrand went into effect. This doesn't mean much, as existing apps will continue to work with the service.

In fact, the iOS app has already been rebranded, and it looks like Windows, Mac and Android apps will be updated today with the new name. But there are a few changes being made that are worth noting, like the new Dropbbox-like referral bonuses...

BlackBerry CEO ‘outraged’ over T-Mobile’s iPhone offer

Cody Lee ∙ February 19, 2014

It looks like T-Mobile's targeted iPhone offer didn't just upset BlackBerry fans. The Canadian handset-maker's CEO John Chen says that he and his team are also outraged, especially since their long-time business partner didn't contact them beforehand.

For those that missed it, T-Mobile has been sending out iPhone promos with the text "great offer for BlackBerry users," and it caused quite the backlash on Twitter and other social networks from loyal fans. Here's what Chen had to say about the ordeal...