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Apple exploring NFC-based digital media gifting between iDevices

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 15, 2013

One of the hangups with Apple's iTunes is that currently there is no way for you to directly 'gift' digital media to a friend or family member. Though you can easily trade, re-sell or give away a music CD, you can't do that with movies, books any other digital content types offered on Apple's iTunes Store.

A patent application published Thursday could solve this dilemma, thanks to near-field communications (NFC) technology, which has yet to be deployed across Apple devices.

According to the filing published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, instead of a second party receiving an email from iTunes that a song or video has been purchased, an item could be gifted to a nearby iOS device simply with the press of a button...

China Mobile Chairman says iPhone talks with Apple are progressing

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

China Mobile has more than an astounding 740 million subscribers, making it the world's largest wireless carrier. It is also a rare major carrier without Apple's iconic smartphone. Part of it is politics - Chinese carriers reluctantly agree to revenue-sharing schemes with foreign companies.

China is also moving away from high phone subsidies that impact short-term profitability, but there surely must be some plain stubbornness as both Apple and China Mobile reportedly repeatedly bring onerous terms to the negotiating table.

Although we heard multiple times in the past that the two sides were about to reach some sort of resolution, the iPhone distribution deal never came to be. Apple's boss Tim Cook recently met with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua and now Reuters reports that a China Mobile tie-up is closer than ever...

Apple reportedly releasing iOS 7 Gold Master on September 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

Apple is shooting to release a Gold Master build of iOS 7 to developers by September 10, if BGR is to be trusted. Gold Master refers to a final version of software that's ready for release to manufacturing - it's usually the same build as the version that comes factory preloaded on latest devices.

The publication reports that Apple will make a final Gold Master build available to its employees and carrier partners five days early, on September 5. More tidbits right below...

There’s more to Apple’s rumored budget iPhone than just the price

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Are you ready for a break from the usual headlines concerning Apple's likely introduction of a low-cost iPhone? The perception of low-cost smartphones as some technological game of limbo between the iPhone maker and Google's Android is all wrong, says one analyst. Those thinking Apple needs to join the race to the bottom misunderstand that hardware price is not the overriding factor for every consumer shopping for a handset...

‘CodeScrambler’ adds more security to the stock iPhone passcode

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Looking to add some additional security to your iPhone? Worried about someone spying out your Lock screen passcode? If you answered affirmatively to those questions, then perhaps you'd benefit from CodeScrambler.

CodeScrambler is a brand new jailbreak tweak that scrambles the Lock screen passcode in a different order each time you attempt to unlock your iPhone. This makes it more difficult for would-be passcode thieves to memorize your passcode based on the location of your taps on the screen.

Have a look inside, as we showcase how CodeScrambler works on video...

Half of top US iPad apps not available or ready for Android tablets

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

What with Android having a numerical edge on Apple's iOS, chances are good that popular iPad apps will find their way to Google's Play store, right? To the contrary, just half of the hundred most popular iPad apps in the US are available for Android tablets, according to a research firm Wednesday.

Of the top hundred iPad apps in the US App Store, thirty don't even appear on Google Play and eighteen more are not optimized for Android tablets, just smartphone versions cartoonishly displayed on a larger screen....

Apple TV owners twice as likely to cut the cord than couch potatoes

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

So who's going to cut the cord? Like-minded individuals like yourself - the types who own a Roku, an Apple TV or a similar connected TV device - are twice as likely to ditch the cable compared to broadband users who don’t connect their TV to the Internet.

That's the gist of a new research into the habits of owners of so-called connected boxes. In addition to set-top boxes, game consoles and Blu-ray players, the definition also includes folks who connect their laptop to a TV with a cable. Unfortunately, cutting the cord is easier said than done...

Gurk III – the 8-bit RPG comes to iOS

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

The Gurk series of games are silly, fun, dungeon crawls that, until now, were only available on Android-based devices. Fans of pixelated role-play adventures can now scour the lands to fight monsters, loot gold, and gain experience on their iPhone.

Gurk III – the 8-bit RPG recently launched in the iOS App Store with just as many pixels as its predecessor, but with more spells, quests, and monsters than ever before…

Viz review: how to quickly create clean and simple charts from your iPhone

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

I used to hold down a “square” job, where I looked at charts and diagrams all day. It wasn’t nearly as exiting as writing app reviews, but it paid the bills. After spending all day with my head in an Excel program, the last thing I would want to do in my free time was to create another pie chart. However, sometimes they are the best way to get your point across.

Viz takes all of the work out of chart creation by making them for you. No more adding formulas to cells or dragging arrows around on a spreadsheet. All you need is some labels and numbers…

IHS iSuppli: production of iPad mini Retina display on track for fall launch

Cody Lee ∙ August 15, 2013

While it seems all but certain that Apple is going to launch a redesigned fifth gen iPad this fall, the fate of the iPad mini isn't quite so clear. Reports thus far have been split between the tablet having and not having a Retina display.

Well this morning we're adding another one to the 'having' pile. Well-known market research firm IHS iSuppli reports that the new mini will indeed have a high resolution screen, and that production volumes are on par with 2012...

iDoorCam shows you who’s at your door, even when you’re not home

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 14, 2016

The introduction of smartphones and tablets has really helped bring 'connected home' technology mainstream. Actions that used to require a large, expensive in-home setup, can now be done with an iPhone, an app, and a relatively cheap accessory.

And the new iDoorCam is the perfect example of this. The camera-equipped, smart doorbell connects to your home Wi-Fi network to stream video of your visitors to all of your connected iOS gadgets, regardless of whether you're at home or not...

Apple updates App Review guidelines with new rules for kids apps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

Apple has updated its App Store Review Guidelines this week, introducing a number of new and revised rules for developers. Perhaps the most notable change is the addition of a new section to the Guidelines on children's applications.

The move likely has something to do with Apple's recent push to get iPads into classrooms. The company recently revised its iTunes terms of service to allow children under the age of 13 to set up educational iTunes accounts...