iDownloadBlog.com

Sony launches new ‘PlayStation App’ companion app for PS4

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Ahead of its big PlayStation 4 launch later this week, Sony has released a new companion app for the console, aptly named 'PlayStation App.' Sony says that the app will allow you to "take your PlayStation experience with you on your mobile device."

Part of that experience includes the ability to connect to the PSN network, meaning you'll be able to chat with your friends, see what they're playing, and open game alerts and invites. You'll also be able to browse the PlayStation store, and much more...

Let’s Talk iOS 002: iPad Air – the final decision

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated August 5, 2018

This episode of Let's Talk iOS features an extremely diverse discussion ranging from the iPad Air, to Pinboard, to the various fitness apps and gadgets we use. We also talk about how to get more out of your Mac using keyboard shortcuts, Google's new Search App update, Jeff's experience with T-Mobile, and so much more. It's Let's Talk iOS, episode 002. You need not miss this.

MultiLS: Place Lock screen notifications on a hidden page

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

MultiLS is a brand new jailbreak tweak that just appeared on Cydia's BigBoss repo. The tweak, which is a $0.99 purchase, allows its users to hide the notifications that would normally appear on the Lock screen.

An iOS 6 only tweak, MultiLS completely moves the entire Lock screen notification list off of the primary Lock screen. When you receive a new message while on the Lock screen, MultiLS will display a pulsating blue bar on the right-hand side of the screen. This glowing bar lets users know when new Lock screen notifications have arrived.

We've taken the initiative to create a video walkthrough showcasing MultiLS in action. Have a look inside for all of the details.

Kuo: A7-driven Apple TV in 2014, iTV in 2015-2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Citing supply chain sources, DisplaySearch yesterday shattered analyst Gene Munster's 'Apple-televison-set-due-this-Christmas' pipe dream to pieces by claiming Apple has put the iTV project on the back burner as it focuses on wearable projects, a new priority for Tim Cook & Co. And guess what reliable analyst restrains himself from making wild Munster-like iTV predictions?

That's right, Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.

Thus, it goes without saying that Kuo's note to clients in which he analyzes Apple's television plans hasn't gone unnoticed with us. In short, he's suggesting that with the technological pieces all in place now Apple is about to introduce significant improvements to the existing $99 Apple TV set-top box.

Bonus: I also get to deconstruct some of the outrageously inaccurate predictions by crazypants Apple analysts Gene Munster!

Poll: are you buying Retina iPad mini?

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

Apple's iPad mini with Retina display is finally here and available via online orders, with shipping or pickup at the company's brick-and-mortar outlets. In fact, the new iPads are already being featured prominently on the online Apple Store.

Wasting no time whatsoever, Apple's web store is now pitching both new iPads as perfect holiday gifts, even with the initially severely constrained supplies of Retina iPad minis.

With that in mind, today I want to focus on a Retina successor to Apple's best-selling tablet, the iPad mini. Do you think you'll be getting an iPad mini with Retina display this coming holidays? The poll is right past the fold so cast your vote and meet us in comments. Should be fun!

Christmas comes early as Apple refreshes web store with holiday gift ideas

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

A seeming barrage of Apple product refreshes over the past few months has helped a great deal overhaul virtually the company's whole lineup. For starters, with September's dual-launch Apple's replaced the iPhone 5 with the fingerprint-reading iPhone 5s and the colorful iPhone 5c and released iOS 7 for public consumption.

Moreover, Tim Cook & Co. have finally managed to give the iPad mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro some much-needed Retina/Haswell love while at the same time introducing the iPad Air and rebooting Mac Pro around a radical new industrial design.

Doomed, indeed!

This has become Apple's modus operandi as of lately: they time product updates so that everything gets revamped ahead of the all-important holiday season. With less than three weeks until Black Friday, Apple's now updated its online store with some nice gift ideas for holiday shoppers...

Best Buy knocking $100 off iPad 2 and up to $200 off Macs for Black Friday

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

Following Black Friday sale previews from Target and Walmart, major electronics retailer Best Buy has published a number of deals it will be offering up on the popular after-Thanksgiving-day shopping weekend.

Folks looking to get an iPad for a friend or family member for the holidays will be interested to hear that Best Buy will be selling the iPad 2 for $299—$100 off. And it will also be discounting Macs, iPods and more...

How to type in an app while the app switcher is open

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

As we covered in an earlier tutorial, the app switcher in iOS 7 provides the ability to do some pretty cool things that you could never do in previous firmware.

For starters, there’s the ability to use swipe gestures to kill apps — even multiple apps at the same time by using more than one finger. Next, you have the ability to see what’s going on in each of the running apps, courtesy of the switcher’s new full screen app snapshots.

One of the positive side effects of this new app switcher view are the “multitasking” possibilities that stem out of it. First, let me clear the air and state the obvious — this isn’t true multitasking; but as we showed you already, by thinking outside of the box, you can stretch the app switcher’s abilities to meet your needs.

One such need was stumbled upon by reader Matthew Seltzer. After watching our initial app switcher tutorial, he discovered a handy way to get even more out it. If you happen to have a Bluetooth keyboard connected to your iPad, you can take advantage of the last app’s focus in order to continue to type while the app switcher is open.

Wi-Fi models of Retina iPad mini now available for pickup at some Apple Stores

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

When the iPad mini with Retina display first went up for sale on Apple's web store this morning, the option to pick it up in-store was not available. Customers could only choose between shipping methods, with estimates ranging from 1-10 days depending on the model.

But this has changed for some folks over the past few hours. A number of Apple Stores across the US and other launch countries are now showing that Wi-Fi models of the new mini are available for Personal Pickup, meaning you could order the tablet and pick it up today...

Walmart’s Black Friday sale: $100 gift card with iPad mini purchase, $75 with iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 16, 2018

And they're off! With Black Friday now just a few weeks away, retailers have begun teasing their after-Thanksgiving-day sales in hopes of convincing hordes of customers to visit their stores on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

We've already seen a preview of Target's sale, which offers the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $479 with a free $100 gift card, and other discounts. And now, Walmart has published a snippet of its Black Friday specials showing a similar offer...

California inventor gears up for legal showdown with Apple over iPhone features

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

"Boy, have we patented it!", quipped Steve Jobs in wrapping up the segment of his January 2007 MacWorld Expo presentation dealing with the iPhone's multi-touch user interface.

Months later, Jobs through the combination of sheer willpower, yelling and F-bombs would impose restrictions on early Android releases.

The goal was to prevent Google's smartphone software from employing multitouch gestures on mobile devices that Apple had been researching for years. The strategy eventually failed, prompting Apple to launch proxy battles against Android backers such as HTC, Samsung and Motorola over prized iPhone inventions.

One guy was unimpressed, though: a California inventor has been claiming for years now that he holds a patent related to an essential iPhone feature. He's not afraid to take the consumer electronics powerhouse to court in order to prove the infringement and seek a five percent cut of Apple's US sales, Bloomberg reported Tuesday...

Retina iPad mini’s A7 chip slightly underclocked versus iPad Air

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

In a surprise non-announcement, Apple's iPad mini with Retina display has unexpectedly gone on sale this morning. For the time being, the device is available online for shipping or with in-store pick-up.

What you can't do (yet) is just walk in and purchase one due to supply constraints and ongoing manufacturing woes as Apple is "working hard" to meet demand. Availability issues aside, what's there to get excited about the device?

For The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, the answer is simple: the iPad mini with Retina display is a no-compromise play - thou shall no longer sacrifice clarity for portability as the tablet packs in the same Retina display like its bigger brother, the iPad Air.

In fact, the only difference between the two is the screen size as the new iPad mini runs the same A7 processor that debuted on the iPhone 5s and made its way into the iPad Air. And just how speedy is the Retina iPad mini vs. the iPhone 5s and iPad Air?

Here are the first benchmark scores...