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Apple on a hiring spree for Taiwan’s upcoming R&D center

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

Earlier in the month, VR-Zone learned Apple was looking to establish a research and development (R&D) center in Taiwan where talented engineers will be working on the next-generation of iPhone product development, reporting directly to Apple’s headquarters in California.

DigiTimes today expands on the story, reporting the company is now actively recruiting engineers to fill a bunch of various roles, including packaging, quality control, hardware and software. Apple's recruiting efforts are said to have already attracted the attention of many IT engineers in Taiwan...

Apple’s Matcha purchase believed to be over its content recommendation algorithms

Cody Lee ∙ August 15, 2013

Earlier this week, news broke that Apple had purchased a small video discovery startup called Matcha. At one time, the service helped users find interesting TV shows and Movies based on their preferences, but it mysteriously went offline back in May.

While we found out on Tuesday why it disappeared, that's about all we knew about the acquisition. But a report from TechCrunch today shines some new light on the deal, citing sources that say Apple was after Matcha's recommendation algorithms...

How to quickly move app icons with ‘EasyIconEdit’

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

When it comes to moving icons around on your iPhone in a quick and efficient manner, you have a few options. The first and most obvious option is to use iTunes' built in app icon management tools. This allows you to efficiently rearrange the location of your app icons, and you don't have to be jailbroken to do so.

The second, and arguably easier and more desirable method, is to use Lance Fetters' MultiIconMover. This is a tweak that allows you to quickly select batches of icons to quickly move them from one place to another. We've already covered MultiIconMover before; check it out for more information.

Recently, a new challenger has entered into the ring — a new jailbreak tweak entitled EasyIconEdit. Like MultiIconMover, it requires users to be jailbroken, and like MultiIconMover, it uses the same tap to select method for selecting groups of icons simultaneously.

The question is this: How does EasyIconEdit compare with the competition? Have a look past the break and we'll show you.

How to find how much space you’ll save when uninstalling apps

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

I love having a 32GB iPhone, because it means that I rarely have to worry about being cramped for space. Back in the days when I used to opt for the iPhone with less storage, I constantly found myself having to manage space.

If you still find yourself in that unfortunate predicament, first of all, I feel for you. Secondly, you should probably consider downloading Uninstall Application Size. This is a recently released jailbreak tweak that will let you know how much space you'll save when uninstalling any specific app. Have a look inside to see what I mean...

Get a free app and the chance to win one of three $100 iTunes gift cards

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 12, 2018

If there is one thing we love at iDB is to reward our readers with some awesome giveaways. We run those on a regular basis, and from time to time, we have one big giveaway that is sure to go down in iDB history. Today, we are announcing one of these.

We partnered with our friends at Big Fish Games to not only give you a free copy of their hit game Fairway Solitaire, but we also give you a chance to win one of three $100 iTunes gift card...

Best Buy offering $200 iPhone trade-in through Sunday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 17, 2017

The United States consumer electronics retailer Best Buy has launched another noteworthy iPhone trade-in promotion (all over again) which offers a minimum $200 credit in exchange for your iPhone 4S in working condition. Own an iPhone 4 instead? No problem, Best Buy will treat you to a $100 credit.

In both instances your Best Buy Gift Card credit is only good toward the purchase of an iPhone 5 with a two-year carrier agreement with Verizon Wireless, AT&T or Sprint. Now you can get rid off your iPhone 4/4S and get a brand spanking new entry-level 16GB iPhone 5 for zero bucks, normally a $199 value with a two-year contract...

WatchESPN gains Live Toolbar, two simultaneous videos, iOS 7 support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Sports fans, rejoice: the freshly updated WatchESPN iOS app has been updated today with a cool new feature allowing for multitasking of sorts during live programming.

The all-new Live Toolbar in WatchESPN version 1.7 for iPhone and iPad lets you keep up with news, scores and on-demand video from your favorite sporting events while watching multiple videos at once.

That's right: if you ever wanted to follow game highlights while watching live ESPN programming, now you can. You can easily switch to live ESPN programming without exiting the video currently being watched, with video highlights becoming available at the conclusion of a live event...

Specs of Nokia’s alleged Windows RT tablet tipped

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

The struggling cell phone giant Nokia has been notably absent from the tablet market despite talk of a Nokia-branded tablet being in the works. It appears the elusive product may be nearing completion, according to both leaked specs and a Nokia patent filing which outlines a tablet-like device sporting the familiar-looking detachable kickstand and keyboard combo reminiscent of the Touch/Type covers for Microsoft’s own Surface tablet.

As Nokia switched to Windows Phone for its smartphones, little wonder that the upcoming tablet is said to run Microsoft's Windows RT 8.1 operating system built for the power-efficient ARM architecture. The biggest drawback: Windows RT does not run any of the legacy Windows apps written for Intel chips...

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...