Facebook announced today that it has acquired Onavo, an Israel-based startup. Initial reports claimed the sale price was in upwards of $200 million, but a more recent scoop from The New York Times claims it was closer to $120 million.
There are two parts to Onavo's business: one of consumer-facing apps that help optimize iOS and Android device performance, as well as minimize their data usage while surfing the web, and one of app analytics for mobile publishers...
You can tell the end is nigh when a company buys full-page print ads to post an open letter making the case for its future. In the case of Canada's BlackBerry, formerly Research In Motion, the writing has been on the wall ever since Steve Jobs took the stage at the January 2007 MacWorld Expo to introduce the world to the iPhone.
Given its former co-CEO's state of denial and just plain stubbornness, I'd written off BlackBerry in my book long before first signs of trouble became public knowledge. Of course, BlackBerry continues to defy critics by insisting that it'll find a way out of the hole it'd dug for itself.
Starting tomorrow, the BlackBerry feel-good aimed at customers, developers and investors will appear in over 30 major print newspapers across nine countries, including The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal in the United States.
Here's the crux...
It was bound to happen. You knew that once the iPhone 5s debuted with a fingerprint sensor, other manufacturers would follow suit. No, Apple wasn't the first to implement such a feature, but it has a way of mainstreaming stuff like this.
Today, HTC unveiled the 'HTC One max,' a 5.9-inch smartphone that includes a dedicated fingerprint sensor. Located on the rear of the device, the feature is activated via a swipe and can be programmed to recognize 3 different fingers...
To say that Flipcase, a new iPhone game by Dave McKinney and Stuart Hall, is interesting would be understating its cleverness, originality and inventiveness.
This ingenious take on Hasbro's classic four-in-a-row invites you to use Apple's iPhone 5c case with its circular holes on the back as a grid, which makes it fun and more three-dimensional.
Simply attach your case to the device's front and tap through the holes in the case to play. Whoever connects four holes of the same colors wins. How cool is that? Very cool! Jump past the fold for more awesomeness...
Privacy-minded folks won't like this: word on the street is that the Internet giant Google is readying a new app for iOS and Android devices that will reward people for tracking their mobile habits and patterns.
Dubbed Mobile Meter, the software has reportedly been conceived to give Google a much deeper insight into how owners of smartphones and tablets use their devices.
This is especially eyebrow-raising given Apple's tight control of its ecosystem. In order to persuade people into installing Mobile Meter on their devices, the search monster will ostensibly reward people in exchange for their mobile trends. More tidbits right below...
Heads up Twitterrific users, the Iconfactory team has posted an update for the popular Twitter client today, bringing the app to version 5.5.2. The update brings about improvements, bug fixes, and one long-awaited feature: profile editing.
That's right, with Twitterrific 5.5.2 you can now upload your banner and avatar image as well as edit your profile. That means you can set your account name, location and website information without ever having to leave the application...
In today's roundup of the somewhat obvious Apple rumors, a new report has suggested that the upcoming iPad mini 2 will be a tad thicker than its predecessor, presumably in order to accommodate a bigger battery needed to drive Apple's power-hungry Retina display. This is newsworthy as none of the leaks to date has pointed to added bulk.
The thicker iPad mini meme isn't unexpected: watchful readers will remember that Apple's third-generation iPad with Retina display turned out to be slightly thicker than the previous iPads, due to the larger battery inside...
We previously heard October should be for new iPads. As various parts and components are now leaking out from China on a daily basis, it's fairly safe to assume that next-generation iPads are indeed around the corner. Just recently, we've seen leaked iPad 5 schematics, shells and an alleged Touch ID module and now a set of photographs have been posted online seemingly depicting the rear case of both the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2.
Provided these shots are legit, Apple could pull an iPhone 5s and provide both new iPads in gold, in addition to the previously leaked white and space grey finishes...
Like every other facet of iOS, Notification Center received a significant visual overhaul in iOS 7 when compared to iOS 6 and below. Gone are the opaque linen textures in favor of a simple and clean semi-transparent overlay.
If you're running a jailbroken iOS 6 installation, then it's possible to gain some of Notification Center's new visual cues. SevenCenter is a new jailbreak tweak that brings the iOS 7 Notification Center experience to iOS 6, and iOS 5 devices. Have a look inside to see what I mean.
Ahead of September's double iPhone launch, the Wall Street Journal reported Apple had finally inked a sought-after deal with China Mobile to distribute the iconic smartphone. Indeed, TENAA, the Chinese equivalent of the United States Federal Communications Commission, has made public documents pertaining to both new iPhones.
Specifically, the filings mention GSM-enabled TD-LTE radios inside the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, proving Apple had in fact been given a network license for China Mobile's third and fourth-generation cellular services.
As Apple's existing carrier partners China Unicom and China Telecom use the more common CDMA variants (CDMA2000 or WCDMA), these TD-LTE network licenses are the strongest indication that China Mobile, the world's largest telco with 704+ million subscribers, may offer the iPhone 5s/5c real soon...
The rumors were true: Apple launching its iPhone trade-in program in the United States in late-August, the company on Monday officially announced that customers visiting its retail stores across the United Kingdom can bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling and receive a credit that can be used toward the purchase of a new iPhone. More details right after the fold...
The United States wireless carrier Cricket Wireless today announced that it will start selling Apple's new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on Friday, October 25. Would-be shoppers can pre-register their interest here or visit the MyCricket website for more information. Cricket, a prepaid Leap Wireless brand, offers a cool $50 a month off-contract nationwide talk/text/data plan and back in May 2012 had become the nation’s first wireless operator to offer unlocked iPhones with a pre-paid plan...