Tank Domination rumbles through the App Store

When I was a little kid, I “played tanks.” That is, I drew a picture of a tank on one side of a blank piece of paper, and then drew another tank on the other side. Then, I’d “pew, pew, pew” as I drew dotted lies across the page, finishing with a nice, scribbly “ka-ploosh” as my Crayola-based ammunitions struck the armored vehicles.

Tank Domination is sort of like playing tanks. Except the paper is an iPad, the Crayola drawings are high-definition graphics, and the “pew, pew, pew” is awesome explosions that look so real it will melt your face off…

Apple joins major U.S. tech giants in NSA surveillance reform push

The U.S. government's mass-scale surveillance program which has compromised the security and privacy of millions of domestic and foreign online users, the secret PRISM initiative, did not sit well with Apple and other technology giants. In response to the scandalous revelations by the NSA contractor Edward Snowden that also put the blame on Silicon Valley giants for bowing to NSA's request and providing the agency with hassle-free access to its users' data, the iPhone maker chastised the practice and published how it handles government requests to give up private information belonging to its users.

And now, in the aftermath of the ongoing snooping scare, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple along with seven other U.S. technology giants is making a joint appeal to reform government surveillance activities...

The 10 best weather apps of 2013

As 2013 inches closer to its last days, we take time to reflect on everything that we have experienced over the past year. With 365 days of apps and games to sift through, it is hard to figure out which ones are the best. Don’t worry, you are off the hook. We took care of it for you.

Take a look at our list of weather apps that the writers of iDownloadBlog consider the best of this year’s releases. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite one for the Best Apps of 2013 list…

Wallpapers of the week: sunny clouds and Steve Jobs

We are back again, with another great offering for the Wallpapers of the Week section. There are always great images from which to choose and this week is no exception. Today, I cannot say the options are seasonally specific, but great wallpapers are great wallpapers.

Make sure to keep submitting your wallpapers for consideration as the section is maintained by the readers. The only way for this section to continue running is for readers to keep submitting their works of art. Download the wallpapers inside and find out how to get your images featured on iDownloadBlog...

This week’s top stories: best photo apps, Whatsapp update, and more…

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+.

Show Us Your Setup: Sebastien Page’s work space iPad Air keyboards: 12 models to consider The 10 best photography apps of 2013: vote for your favorite Apps of the week: Double Dragon Trilogy, Space Hulk, and more… iPhone 5s prices around the world Wallpapers of last week: winter wallpaper pack New website solicits crowdfunded reward for an iOS 7 jailbreak Some users finding Touch ID’s accuracy fades with time WhatsApp iOS 7 update is out with new design, broadcast lists and more Assassin’s Creed: Pirates now available in the App Store How to keep your MacBook awake while its lid is closed Keep your menu bar clutter free with Bartender How to record direct feed footage from iOS to a Mac or PC Amazon Prime Air service will use drones to deliver your packages Google’s Eric Schmidt has the nerve to shoot down Amazon’s drones over privacy worries Slope review: magical tablet stand for Apple’s magical iPad President Obama says he’s not allowed to use an iPhone

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

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!

Good deal: 91% off Mac software bundle

Whether you're planning on getting a new Mac for the holidays, or you're just looking for some new apps to increase productivity on your current one, you'll want to check out this big Mac software bundle from Stack Social.

The deal site is currently offering a suite of 10 Apple computer applications, which includes AfterShot Pro, Vitamin-R, skEdit and Compartments, at a steep discount. More details and a full rundown of the apps after the fold...

T-Mobile using MetroPCS spectrum to bolster its LTE network

Good news this weekend for T-Mobile customers. The carrier is finally taking advantage of its recent MetroPCS merger, and has begun rolling out higher-speed LTE service by tapping the airwaves it acquired as part of the acquisition.

According to a report from AllThingsD, T-Mobile quietly turned on the faster service in parts of North Dallas just before Thanksgiving. The higher speeds come by combining the spectrum from both T-Mobile’s and MetroPCS' networks...

There are now 1 million apps available in the US App Store

During its October iPad event, Apple announced that it had crossed the 1 million app milestone in its worldwide App Store. This meant that, not counting duplicates, it had over 1 million apps available around the globe at that time.

This week, Apple passed the same milestone here in its US App Store. According to data from app discovery firm Appsfire, there are now more than 1 million live apps in the App Store. 1,006,557 to be exact at the time of this writing...

Best iPad Air keyboards

As iPad becomes more of a portable workhorse, the need for professional grade accessories drastically increases. Our own Jeff Benjamin swears by his iPad to muscle common tasks for his daily blogging needs. Of the most important professional additions, the keyboard rates at number one.

A virtual keyboard is perfect for portability. Software keyboards only take up screen space, but do not take up space in a travel bag or add weight. They are equally as noticeable when trying to actually accomplish some real work. The Bluetooth keyboard is the answer for users looking to get extra mileage from their iPad Air. Inside, we give a short spotlight to some of the best iPad Air keyboards...

Olloclip releases 3-in-1 iPhone Macro Lens

Olloclip just released a new 3-in-1 Macro Lens for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s.

While the lenses themselves are made of coated glass multi-element optics, the barrels are made of anodized aircraft grade aluminum. As with its other lens kits, these macro lenses connect to the iPhone thanks to soft plastic material that will ensure a secure fit while preventing any damage to your iPhone.

These lenses offer three magnifications in one, allowing you to take close-up shots. The three included lenses are 7x, 14x and 21x macros...

Apps of the week: Double Dragon Trilogy, Space Hulk, and more…

Around this time of the year, I tend to hide out in my nice warm house. Even if a cool band is playing right up the street from me, there has to be something more to convince me that suffering through the cold is worth it. I know I live in California and really don’t know the meaning of the word “cold.” But, I always argue that the reason I can’t stand the cold is because I live in California.

This weekend, I’ll be staying inside where I can play games on my iPad, watch cheesy holiday movies, and drink eggnog until I’m sick. If you are looking for apps and games to keep you inside this weekend, we’ve got a list of some of our favorites this week…

Bing for iPad updated with new iOS 7 design, SkyDrive bookmarks and more

Microsoft has posted a significant update for Bing for iPad this evening, bringing the app to version 2.0. The update includes a number of improvements, including an all-new design for iOS 7 and new SkyDrive bookmarks.

The new design features flat images and text, and a lot of open space (good news though, it's not all white). And with the new bookmarks feature, you can now save bookmarks and images, and access them via SkyDrive...