‘FaceHalt’ gains new experimental mode for wider app adoption

Great news for all of you FaceHalt early adopters. The tweak has now gained access to apps like Hulu, Netflix, and HBOGo by means of a new experimental option.

The new option, which can be found in a revamped preference panel located in the settings app, is the biggest new feature included with the tweak's 1.0.2 update. Other features included bug fixes.

In the change log for the update, the developer states that users should try the new Experimental mode, which can be setup on an app-by-app basis, if they find that merely enabling the tweak for a specific app doesn't work. Unfortunately, in my testing the tweak with Netflix, I was met with some pretty mixed results. Your mileage may vary.

Sodium: remix your wallpaper with tons of custom effects

I don't know about you, but I have a bad habit of keeping the same wallpaper on my iPhone for months on end. That usually makes for a boring background in dire need of a little seasoning — you can probably tell where I'm going with this.

Indeed, Sodium is a new jailbreak tweak that seeks to add some flavor to your iPhone's wallpaper. It does so by means of a variety of custom fill colors, blend modes, and more. Have a look inside at our video walkthrough to get a taste of what sodium offers.

Samsung issues invites to September 4 Note III event

In spite of naysayers, Samsung's stylus-based Galaxy Note phablet series has definitely carved a market for itself. Introduced in October 2011, the original 5.3-inch Note went on to ship a surprising ten million units by mid-August 2012, making a believable case for pen-based mobile devices sized between jumbo-smartphones and tweener tablets.

During last year's IFA, the Galaxy maker held the Unpacked event to introduce the Note successor, called the Note II. But that was last year and this year another Note upgrade is needed so the South Korean conglomerate has just sent out invites to an event unimaginatively called Unpacked 2013 Episode 2, with the Note III likely the star of the show...

Liquid damage suit members receive notice about cash payout from Apple

Earlier this year, Apple has agreed to pay $53 million to resolve a consumer class-action lawsuit involving faulty moisture indicators in older iOS devices falsely interpreting that a device had been damaged by water, prompting Apple to unjustly deny customer warranty claims based on these defective indicators.

According to details made public on the settlement’s website, eligible customers are now being contacted via email about the class-action settlement and damages. Specifically, owners of older iPhone and iPod touch products may be entitled to a cash payment from Apple...

iPad mini MultiStand: hang it up or take it out

I previously covered two ProClip USA dashboard accessories for iPhone 5 and iPad mini, a little more than a month back. These two mounts were excellent for my vehicle and I use the iPhone mount daily on my morning and evening commute. Consequently, my friends at ProClip sent over one of their newest devices.

There are many stands, docks, and cases in the iDownloadBlog review category, but none of them operate quite like the ProClip USA iPad mini MultiStand. Using the same production process, ProClip designed a stand for iPad mini that not only rests easily on a desktop, but also mounts on a wall, workbench, or elevated surface. The case versatility is optimal for users looking for a semi permanent and portable option with a ruggedized design...

China investigating Apple suppliers over pollution concerns

Authorities in China are investigating two Taiwan-based Apple suppliers over pollution concerns, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. Environmental regulators believe that both UniMicron and Foxconn are knowingly polluting their water tables.

The investigation follows accusations made last week by Chinese activist Ma Jun and a number of nonprofit organizations. They claim that factories in Kunshan, China belonging to the two companies are guilty of releasing water tainted by toxic metals into the rivers...

Survey finds 52% of developers are working on iOS 7-only app updates

Last month, we asked our readers if they would pay for iOS 7 app updates on apps they already owned. With all of the UI changes and new features Apple's added in the software, developers are having to spend an enormous amount of time and resources to bring their apps up to speed.

Looking at the comments in that post, though, the answer was clearly a resounding "no." In fact, a lot of readers claimed that they'd rather stay on iOS 6, than update to iOS 7 and have to repay for their favorite apps. Well, if this new survey is any indication, that may not be an option...

Spotify introduces new curated playlists

Streaming music services aren't just about the music these days. Aside from obvious bullet points like price and availability, users are also looking for features like discovery and smart playlists. And Spotify just made a huge play in this regard.

A few hours ago, Spotify took the wraps off its new 'Browse' page, which now features what it calls 'expert playlists.' These are essentially curated playlists that promise to deliver 'music for every moment,' from workouts to dinner parties...

Square Register for iOS updated with payment tracking, Bluetooth printer support and more

Even if you're not a Square user, you should pay attention to what the company is doing in the mobile payment space. This is an area Apple has long been rumored to be getting into, expanding on its Passbook app, and if that happens, Square will be among its top competitors.

Having said that, Square updated its popular Register software today, bringing the app to version 3.2. The changes made in the update are fairly significant, and include the ability to track and record a number of various payments types, and [finally] Bluetooth printer support...

‘BMarks Bar – Chrome’ updated with several awesome new features

We raved about BMarks Bar - Chrome on the last episode of Let's Talk Jailbreak, and for good reason, as it's one of the best Google Chrome tweaks yet to be released. Recently, the tweak was updated with all sorts of new goodies, which is sure to make the bookmarking experience even better with Google Chrome.

Version 1.0.2 of BMarks Bar - Chrome brings enhanced iOS 5 compatibility, press and hold actions, dynamically updating bookmarks, and access to the bookmarks bar while in full screen mode. Needless to say, if you're a fan of Google Chrome, you definitely want to check out the new features that this update brings to the table. Full video overview of the new features inside.

InstaLauncher: launch your apps with precision and efficiency

If you're a Mac user, then you're no doubt familiar with some of the popular launcher apps like QuickSilver, and Alfred. Even Spotlight, to a somewhat lesser extent, can serve as a capable launcher for your various applications.

On a desktop machine like the Mac, launchers are useful in order to be able to quickly find and launch an application. This prevents you from having to wade through countless pages and/or lists of apps in search of the one you want to launch.

The same concept applies to our smartphones. Spotlight on iOS can work as a launcher, although it's certainly not the most desirable means of launching apps. That's why this new jailbreak tweak dubbed InstaLauncher is such an exciting and refreshing jailbreak tweak to have. It allows you to locate and launch all of the apps on your device in sub-second nature. Check out our full video walkthrough after the jump, which shows how you can become more productive on your iPhone, courtesy of InstaLauncher...

QuickCarrort: an Activator shortcut for the Carrot to-do app

There are tons of so-called to-do apps available on the App Store, but Carrot is one that stands out in my mind as being fairly unique. Dubbed as being a "to-do list with personality", the Carrot AI uses insults and other harmless wit to interject feeling into processing ho-hum everyday mundane tasks.

With that in mind, I'm here to discuss a recently released jailbreak tweak that works in unison with Carrot. The tweak, aptly titled QuickCarrot, allows users to quickly enter tasks into Carrot using an Activator gesture. To see how it works, take a look at our video walkthrough after the break.