Apple warns ex MobileMe users of September 30 iCloud storage downgrade

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

Apple's troubled MobileMe online services suite was officially shut down on this day a year ago. Following the iCloud announcement back in the summer of 2011, Apple originally told MobileMe users they could keep their current storage, in addition to the five free gigabytes of iCloud storage to help with the transition.

As the August 1, 2012 deadline was approaching, Apple had changed its mind and extended MobileMe users' complimentary iCloud storage upgrade to another year. As that plan is now set to expire on September 30, the iPhone maker has started emailing former MobileMe account holders to inform them of the impending iCloud storage downgrade...

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AT&T tops Verizon in customer satisfaction, Santa and Tooth Fairy rejoice

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Although AT&T was the first U.S. carrier that sold the iPhone when Apple introduced the smartphone in 2007, Verizon Wireless quickly overshadowed the telecom giant. For the first time, AT&T has stolen the spotlight back, outranking rival Verizon in customer service satisfaction.

No, hell did not freeze over. And, yes, this is the AT&T that late last year was voted having the worst voice and data service, had all the tethering issues and is constantly sniping with about everyone...

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Apple patents OLED embedded sensors to improve iPhone display

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 1, 2013

OLED is all the rage in display technology (just ask Samsung). By emitting their own light, they serve the purpose of a LCD screen while permitting thinner, lighter devices. Naturally, Apple would be interested in such technology.

However, a new patent filed by Apple suggests the iPhone maker wants to tackle a couple issues with OLEDs, namely light-sensitivity and the persistence of images, which might fade over time.

In a patent application published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's technology is entitled 'Organic light diode having photodiodes'. Using sensors arrayed alongside the OLEDs, Apple's invention hopes to save battery life while offering a number of other benefits...

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In celebration of the series’ fourth anniversary, Minigore 2: Zombies goes free

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

I reviewed the original Minigore for iPhone over at Geek.com three and a half years ago. Developed by the Finnish developer Mountain Sheep and put forth by the red hot UK publisher Chillingo, this dual-stick survival shooter with furries won me over with its rich visuals (especially with objects skewing slightly in 3D as they come in and out of the screen), unapologetic shooting and unsettling fantasy environments that include strange woods, mysterious mushroom and much more.

Four years and countless updates later, the magic is still alive. In fact, Minigore has kept up pace with technology and now looks just as cutting-edge on the latest hardware as it did back in 2009 on the iPhone  3GS. If you passed on the game, you can now download Minigore 2: Zombies free for a limited time, part of its fourth anniversary celebration...

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Forrester: the iPhone is still most-used smartphone

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 1, 2013

Yet another study throws a spotlight on the differences in how Apple and Android smartphone owners use their devices, with a heavy emphasis on 'use'. Both in apps and overall smartphone usage, iPhone owners rank higher than owners of Android handsets.

After surveying both U.S. and European smartphone owners, researchers not only found owners of the Apple device more frequently use apps, but conduct more tasks suitable to smartphones, such as browsing the Internet. This despite Android's advantage both in number of handsets out there and in sales.

The dichotomy just reinforces our Android in a Drawer theory, which says many owners of the Google-powered devices see their handsets as just a spiffier version of dumb feature phones, ignoring most of what makes smartphones smart...

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BlackBerry Messenger beta for iOS and Android invites rolling out

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

The long-rumored BlackBerry Messenger is finally launching on iOS and Android before the end of summer (so before September 22). It looks like the software is coming along nicely as Canada's embattled smartphone maker has started rolling out invites to a small number of users on its Beta Zone website, asking them to test out the Android and iOS versions of the software...

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Here’s Asphalt 8: Airborne gameplay footage

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2013

Mid-June, French games maker Gameloft released first screenshots depicting the upcoming eight installment in the Asphalt racing franchise, Asphalt 8: Airborne. The high-quality game is coming to iOS and Android later this summer, priced at just 99 cents.

Earlier this week, the prolific publisher posted a new teaser trailer, along with a dev diary video from earlier offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Asphalt 8, including interesting looking gameplay footage. I've included both videos for your viewing pleasure just after the break...

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Cobook Contacts makes your address book work for you

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

We are connected in so many different ways to so many different people in this age of technology that it is hard to keep it straight. In my days (because, you know, I’m so old), you had one address book and everyone you had a contact for was in the same place. Now, you can connect with people through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, phone, and so much more.

Cobook Contacts combines all of your social networking contacts with your iOS device’s contacts and the best part is that the app has been completely redesigned in the likeness of iOS 7…

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iOS 7 includes fix for malicious charger exploit

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2013

Back in June, a group of researches discovered a flaw in iOS that would theoretically allow an iOS device to be hacked  using a malicious USB charger. Their proof-of-concept allowed them to invisibly install malware on non-jailbroken iPhones and iPads.

The results of the experiment were called 'alarming,' and brought to the attention of Apple in hopes for a quick fix. The Cupertino company must have gotten the message, because according to a new report, the exploit has been patched in the latest iOS 7 beta...

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Rovio’s ‘Bad Piggies’ game goes free as App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Great news gamers! Rovio's popular Bad Piggies game has been named App of the Week by Apple, meaning you can download the iPhone and iPad versions of the title for free during the next 7 days.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Bad Piggies is fairly different from Angry Birds and Rovio's other titles in that it revolves around building contraptions to get your pigs safely through levels...

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Apple ordering Retina displays for new iPad mini, contemplating colored backs: WSJ

Cody Lee ∙ August 1, 2013

And the back and forth continues. Hot on the heels of a report this afternoon that iOS 7 contains references to an A6 iPad mini with a non-Retina display, comes a story from The Wall Street Journal that Apple has begun ordering hi-res screens from Samsung for the tablet.

Today's clash is just the latest in a long line of conflicting reports regarding Apple's next-gen 8-inch slate, which is set to debut this fall. Previous speculation has suggested that a Retina iPad mini would be nearly technically impossible, but tonight's story says the contrary...

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