Apple patents smart iDevice dock with always-listening Siri capability

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 5, 2013

An interesting Apple patent application has surfaced in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database on Thursday. Titled 'Smart dock for activating a voice recognition mode of a portable electronic device,' the filing basically describes a smart dock of sorts for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices with a unique feature giving Apple's Siri digital personal assistant a permanent place in your home, with a cool always-on functionality.

Unlike Motorola's Moto X handset with on-device Google Now feature always in the listening mode and responding to the 'OK Google' phrase, Apple's patent relies on a hardware dock providing the listening functionality, with users being able to set a custom audio prompt that will trigger Siri...

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AT&T introduces Mobile Share Value plans with No Annual Contract options

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 5, 2013

The nation's second-largest wireless carrier, AT&T, today introduced new Mobile Share Value plans that, similar to T-Mobile's Un-carrier approach, disentangle the device hardware cost from the monthly service charges, allowing people who prefer not to buy their smartphones subsidized to save at least $15 or more per month on Mobile Share Value plans.

These savings kick in when you buy a new smartphone or bring your own device bought at its full retail price, get a new smartphone for no down payment with AT&T Next or switch to the new plans when your smartphone is no longer under contract. All Mobile Share Value plan customers will benefit from shared data plus unlimited talk and text on their phones, the carrier said...

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FancyCam review: use real-time filters for great photos

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Now that the holiday season is underway, many of us are going to be snapping shots of friends and family in various mistletoe-related poses, package-opening frenzies, and food coma portraits. To add a little extra fun to your picture-taking season, you can take advantage of photography apps with filters.

FancyCam is a real-time filter app that lets you pick the look you want before you take the shot. Plus, you can edit, collage, and doodle your way to the perfect holiday pictures…

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ScratchPad HD turns your iPad into a club mixer

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

The iPad is great for using a mobile version of a digital turntable. If you are a professional deejay, the tablet can house hours of music, literally at your fingertips. Plus, there are dozens of compatible deejay apps that let you pretend you are scratching vinyl while you mix the perfect playlist on the fly.

ScratchPad HD is not a deejay app, but it does create the perfect sound bites for scratching, stuttering, and tweaking loops to add to your house, dub step, or drum and bass music…

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Fruit Ninja developer Halfbrick Studios releases new ‘Band Stars’ game

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Half Brick Studios, the Australia-based developer behind hit titles like Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, has released a new game today for iOS. It's called Band Stars, and it's universal, meaning it supports both the iPhone and the iPad.

Band Stars is a simulation game, which tasks you with forming a band and spending time in the studio recording music. The goal of the game is to complete various challenges and reach the top of local, national and global music charts...

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Assassin’s Creed: Pirates now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Great news for gamers this morning. Ubisoft's highly anticipated mobile game Assassin's Creed: Pirates is now available in the App Store. The release comes 3 months after the studio announced the title, which is exclusive for smartphones and tablets.

In Pirates, you'll play as Alonzo Batilla, a young and ambitious captain looking to take on the fiercest of enemies. You'll build up your crew and ship, and engage in real-time naval battles across the Caribbean Sea illustrated in "groundbreaking 3D visuals."

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Square Enix posts screenshots of upcoming Final Fantasy VI iOS port

Cody Lee ∙ December 5, 2013

Back in October, Square Enix director Takashi Tokita announced that his team was working on a mobile version of its popular Final Fantasy VI title. The game, he said, will be landing on iOS and Android platforms "this winter."

Unfortunately, that's about all we know right now, and the winter timeframe means we may not see anything until mid-March. But luckily, Square Enix decided to throw FF fans a bone this week and has posted some screenshots...

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President Obama says he’s not allowed to use an iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 2, 2016

US President Barack Obama has been photographed, on a number of occasions, using an iPad. He says he loves the tablet, and was actually given a second generation model days before it was announced, by Steve Jobs himself.

But it looks like that's where Obama's Apple gadget usage stops. During an Obamacare speech he gave yesterday to a youth audience attending a White House Summit, the President said he isn't allowed to have an iPhone...

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How to control your Nest thermostat from the menu bar

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 4, 2013

I wouldn’t call myself a Nest Learning Thermostat early adopter, but I did acquire one fairly early in the game, and I haven’t looked back. The Nest, as you’re likely well aware of, is the new-aged thermostat from iPod designer Tony Fadell. The Nest allows users to control the thermostat from anywhere in the world using a web browser, or by using an iOS app for the iPad or iPhone.

Mac users have sort of been left out in the cold; pun intended. Desktop users have basically been relegated to using the web browser in order to control the Nest, as there is no official Nest app available for OS X. The good news is that developer Joseph Workman has taken the initiative to wrap the Nest’s web interface into a handy utility called Climate, and it runs in the Mac’s menu bar. This makes it so that you can quickly access the Nest’s temperature controls and other features from anywhere on your Mac.

We’ve taken the initiative to create a video walkthrough in order to showcase to you how Climate works, and why it’s so beneficial to Mac users. Jump past the break to see all the details.

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WSJ: Apple and China Mobile finally ink iPhone deal

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

Following a number of rumors and reports over the past few weeks, The Wall Street Journal is reporting this evening that Apple and China Mobile have finally inked an iPhone deal. The outlet says it's scheduled to launch later this month.

The deal, which has also been confirmed by state-run news outlet Xinhua and a China Mobile subsidiary, comes after nearly 6 years of on-and-off negotiations, and will give Apple access to China Mobile's 700 million+ subscriber base...

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Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio review: a thin, light and classy keyboard for iPad Air

Lory Gil ∙ December 4, 2013

Now that Apple has finally updated its full-sized tablet with completely new dimensions, iPad Air owners are forced to update their cases, covers, and sleeves, too. I have been using the same Solar Keyboard Folio from Logitech since 2011.

Luckily, Logitech has recently revamped their line of keyboards, folios and cases to fit the thinner iPad Air. The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air has been updated with more than just different dimensions. The case has been redesigned to be thinner, lighter and easier to use. Read on for our review of the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad...

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