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Get in touch with your favorite contacts quicker using Fast Dial

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

If your favorites contacts list is not fast enough to get you to the call you want to make when you want to make it, you may need a shortcut. Sure, you could use Launch Center Pro, but there is something even simpler (and cheaper).

Fast Dial ~ photo dialer and social app launcher for your contacts is a shortcut app that lets you quickly access and call phone numbers, send SMS messages, or email contacts with a simple swipe. Plus, you can connect to them via social networking sites without having to leave the app…

Share customized maps and directions with Mapkin

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

When you are giving directions to someone on how to get to your house, only you know the signifiers and landmarks to explain the easiest route and secret back entrances to your neighborhood.

Mapkin – Maps, GPS & Personalized Navigation is a mapping service that lets you customize the route, add your own voice navigation, and send directions to friends and family so they won’t be confused by awkward instructions…

iPhone 5s beats Nokia Lumia 1020 in camera shootout

Sébastien Page ∙ October 31, 2013

You know how they say that sometimes more is less. Some also say that specs don't really matter anymore. Well, it all comes true in a camera shootout carried out by the folks at Laptop Mag between the Nokia Lumia 1020, and the iPhone 5s. For those who are still keeping track of specs out there, let's note that the Lumia 1020 comes with a whopping 41MP camera. Apparently that wasn't enough to beat the iPhone 5s 8MP camera though...

The iPhone 5s conclusively beat the Nokia Lumia 1020 in our photo face-off, taking seven out of 10 rounds–and tying one. Even after updating the Lumia 1020′s camera software, which reduced issues with the blue color cast on many images, colors were still more accurate on the iPhone. Apple’s device also excelled when delivering detail and contrast.

New Remote app icon surfaces in App Store’s ‘Designed for iOS 7’ section

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2013

Last week we reported that a redesigned Remote app icon had been spotted in iTunes, suggesting that the app would be getting its long-awaited iOS 7 makeover sometime soon. But we have yet to see that happen.

That doesn't mean we aren't close though. Today, more evidence of an impending update surfaced by way of a similarly-new Remote icon appearing in the Columbian App Store's 'Designed for iOS 7' section...

Some Apple Stores said to be holding back iPad Air stock for in-store pickup

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

Good news for folks hoping to score a new iPad Air tomorrow without having to go wait in line. A new report is out this afternoon reaffirming previous chatter that Apple will allow some users to schedule their online orders for same-day in-store pickup.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, 9to5Mac is reporting that some Apple Stores have been told to allocate a smaller number of devices for purchases handled in the morning and later in the day, leaving the rest of the inventory free for Personal Pickup...

Samsung bests Apple in latest J.D. Power tablet customer satisfaction survey

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

J.D. Power and Associates is an American-based marketing information services firm that's highly regarded for its research on customer satisfaction. Apple loves to quote their surveys, and does so at media events and on earnings calls.

But this is one report Tim Cook and company are probably not going to be mentioning. In J.D. Power's latest tablet customer satisfaction survey, Apple was bested by Samsung on overall satisfaction and in particular areas like device cost...

Add a little fright to your iOS device with Silent Valley: Mystery Mansion

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Around this time of year, many people celebrate Halloween by watching scary movies, making gory crafts, and playing spooky games. Oh, and eating orange-colored candy, too.

Silent Valley: Mystery Mansion is a hidden objects game from the company that delivers some of the best quality games in the genre, G5. Figure out what happens in this disturbing take of honeymoon horror…

iPad Air world tour begins as online Apple Stores start accepting orders

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2017

Due to time zone differences, Apple's online stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia had gone offline earlier this morning, ahead of the November 1 iPad Air launch. And right on cue, the online Apple Store in Australia, China, Japan and elsewhere have returned for business now.

Most of the stores are listing the device as shipping within 24 hours. The online Apple Stores across Europe and in North America are expected to go down in a few hours as Apple preps to take online orders at midnight.

I've got more info plus line shots from across the world right after the jump...

Half of the Top Overall apps in the App Store are games generating 79% of revenue

Sébastien Page ∙ October 31, 2013

An interesting tidbit of information coming from analytics platform Distimo about the App Store most popular category – Games – and how much that category generates in terms of revenue.

Looking at the Top 400 Overall Grossing, 48% of all apps in the Top Overall were games and those apps generated 92% of the revenue for Google Play in September 2013. For the Apple App Stores (average of iPhone and iPad), 52% of the apps in the Top Overall were games and these apps generated 79% of the revenue.

In short, half of the apps in the Top Grossing charts of the App Store generate 79% of total revenue. Note that these apps do not generate 79% of the total App Store revenue. They generate 79% of Top Grossing charts revenue.

Apple promoting stock apps in App Store search results at devs’ expense

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has cunningly devised a novel though controversial way of promoting its own iOS 7 stock apps, features and services right in the App Store search. The application store has seen a whopping 60 billion cumulative downloads thus far and with over a million apps carried it's serving a lot of customers on a daily basis.

If you now go to the App Store and run a search for popular generic terms such as 'browser,' 'movies' and 'SMS', the first entry popping up in your search results should be a banner advertising a related stock iOS 7 apps or feature like Safari, iTunes Store, Messages and more...

International Apple Stores going offline ahead of tomorrow’s iPad Air launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

As retailers have now begun receiving large shipments of iPad Air units, Apple's online stores in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere are now going down ahead of tomorrow's launch. The online Apple Stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia are all offline, with more going down as we speak.

This was to be expected. As is their wont, Apple typically takes its online store offline ahead of major product launches and significant product updates. The iPad Air is slated to launch on Friday, November 1, in the United States and a few dozen international markets...

Apple bars gold/red/green/yellow device shots from devs’ marketing materials

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has updated its App Store Marketing Guidelines and is now advising developers against using images of the gold iPhone 5s in their marketing materials. According to the new rules, apps carried on the App Store can't feature screenshots on gold iPhone 5s devices nor can such shots be used in other materials used for marketing communications.

Developers should "feature only the most current Apple products", the updated guideline notes, specifically mentioning the following finishes or colors: iPhone 5s in silver or space gray, iPhone 5c in white or blue, iPad Air in silver or space gray and iPad mini in silver or space gray...