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This jaw-dropping concept totally reimagines Apple’s dull OS X Messages app

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2013

The iDB team very much depends on Apple's Messages app as our day-to-day communications tool to keep everyone on the same page. Disregarding for a moment the ongoing iMessage reliability issues, the Messages app that comes bundled with OS X feels terribly outdated both design and feature-wise, even in Mavericks.

Basically nothing has changed since the iChat days apart from iMessage integration and a few questionable UI tweaks adding up to the overall clunkiness.

Thinking differently about the software, Palo Alto, California-based user interface designer Denis Pakhaliuk has envisioned a remarkable concept which has immediately left me speechless and wanting for more.

The awesomeness is right after the break...

Reliable leaker corroborates Google Music iOS app late-November launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

Google Music launched back in November 2011 with a music store, Google+ integration, artist hubs, carrier billing and initial support from Universal Music Group, EMI and Sony Music Entertainment, along with other smaller labels. Fast-forward two years and we still don't have a native iOS app.

Google in its typical fashion has tried to appease its disgruntled Apple audience with a Google Music iOS web app.

Alas, nobody cared!

The search Goliath later promised to bring a native app and a report recently claimed it would launch later this month. Today, a prominent leaker has corroborated that the native Google Music iOS app is indeed due by the end of the month...

baseCam, another fun realtime photo and video filters app

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Filter apps can be found by the truckload in the App Store, and while some of them really stand out for the effects they offer or by their usability, others sometimes go unnoticed. Earlier today, I found out about baseCam, yet another camera app that brings real time video and photo filters to your iPhoneography.

After playing around with it for a few minutes, I have to say that I really enjoy its elegant and simple UI, as well as a few of the live filters it offers. The app description touts 25 unusual filters/effects, and I must say there are a few of them I really like, specifically the Dots, Pixelate, Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue ones...

Curator review: collect your ideas into a visual presentation

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Some people just need to write down thoughts in a brainstorm-style format, or can organize their ideas with an outline. Others need a more visual way to plan, create, and develop thoughts and ideas.

Curator lets you put all of your ideas into a visual grid, complete with pictures, text, and even web links. Then, you can easily track your ideas to their original sources and never forget what you were thinking about…

Use this web tool to track Retina iPad mini availability in the US

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Although it's getting a little bit easier to find the new iPad mini with Retina display in Apple Stores, supplies are still very constrained. Shoppers, for example, are still advised to check availability before venturing out to their local stores.

Luckily, a new web-based tracking tool has popped up that makes this process a little less tedious. Built by the team behind Seaturtle.org, the tool offers a snapshot of Retina iPad mini availability for a number of Apple Stores across the US...

Real Racing 3 updated with new cars, new events and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

Hot on the heels of the major Ferrari update last month, the folks at EA have posted another new version of its popular Real Racing 3 game this week that brings about more new cars, new events and new features.

As for the cars, some new Ferraris have joined the family including the 458 Spider, the 599 GTO, and the prestigious Enzo. And as for the new events and features, there's now weekly time trials and race replays...

This Delaware Apple Store sells more iPhones than any other in the US

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

If someone asked you which Apple Store in the United States sold the most iPhones, you'd probably name off some of the flagship locations like the one in San Francisco on One Stockton Street, or the Fifth Avenue Store in New York.

But you'd be wrong. According to a new report from ABC News, an Apple Store located within the Christiana Mall shopping center in Delaware, sells more iPhones than any other in the US. How? Delaware doesn't charge state sales tax...

Popular Day One journal app updated with new iOS 7 design, M7 support and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

Good news for folks who use Day One this morning. The popular journal app has been updated with a new iOS 7 design and several new features, including support for Apple's new 64-bit A7 processor.

Additionally, the update, which brings the app to version 1.12, includes support for the new M7 coprocessor. And this allows the app to do things like count your steps and auto-track your daily activities...

Several U.S. Apple Stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

I know it may sound blasphemously to some, but the iPhone maker's retail army does get to enjoy turkey with their families as Apple Stores typically close for major holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving Day. One notable exception is the flagship glass cube store on Fifth Avenue, open 24/7 every day of the year.

Apple normally allows store employees to spend time with their families on Thanksgiving Day, with some of its retail shrines typically opening as early as 3am on Black Friday. Last year, for example, only the Royal Hawaiian and Las Vegas Forum Shops outlets were open on Thanksgiving, mainly because of tourist who arrived in droves for the start of the holiday shopping season in the United States.

This year will be different. According to a guy who tracks Apple's retail efforts for a living, a bunch of Apple's brick-and-mortar Stores in the United States will be open on Thanksgiving Day, a move apparently that in line with Tim Cook's policy of doubling down on Apple Stores.

UPDATE: Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly cancelled plans to keep additional Apple Stores open on Thanksgiving...

WSJ: Snapchat turned down $3 billion buyout offer from Facebook

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

It was the summer of 2006. Facebook was just two years old, and strictly a college site, with some 8 or 9 million users. And the company's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, met with board members Jim Breyer and Peter Thiel to discuss Yahoo's $1 billion buyout offer.

As we all know, Zuckerberg ended up turning down the money, in what has become one of the most infamous moves in the last 10 years of tech. But the wunderkind recently found himself on the other side of the negotiating table, with even more money at stake...

Facebook launches redesigned Messenger app

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

In line with reports from early October, Facebook has launched a redesigned Messenger app for iPhone users this afternoon. The new design matches the aesthetics of iOS 7, and looks very similar to the updated Messenger app launched for Android a few weeks ago.

In addition to the makeover, today's update also brings about some new features. In the new app, users will be able to see which friends are using Messenger, as well as have the ability to message non-Facebook friends from within the app as long as they have their number...

Pocket 5.0 is out featuring Highlights: your best and most relevant content

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 13, 2013

Pocket, the popular read-later service (formerly Read It Later), has undergone a major refresh bringing a few new headline features, including one which analyzes saved articles to surface your best and most relevant content. Available now in the App Store, the new Pocket 5.0 introduces a new sidebar panel navigation, a much better search, Pocket Preferences and more. The full breakdown follows below...