How to add a screen fade animation when sleeping or waking your device

ScreenFade is a jailbreak tweak that's currently available on the Hashbang Productions beta repo. It's a tweak that adds a fade in and out animation to iOS when putting the device to sleep or waking the device.

On a stock iOS device, you're met with an abrupt on or off when waking or putting the device to sleep; there's no transitional animation to speak of. ScreenFade makes the experience of waking or sleeping your device seem less abrupt. Take a look at our video walkthrough inside to see what I mean.

iFixit’s video walkthrough details DIY iPhone 5 battery replacement process

Teardown experts over at iFixit know a thing or two about repairing consumer electronics and just yesterday they posted a nice video walkthrough explaining the process of replacing your iPhone 5's battery. So, if your battery died on you and you're eager to bring life back yourself to the device with a new one, block out your next hour, grab your screwdrivers and prying tools and arm yourself with patience and a steady hand...

Apple could face hurdles applying for iWatch trademark in US and UK

Apple's iWatch trademark filing world tour could hit major roadblocks in the United Kingdom and over in Apple's home turf of the United States, it has been discovered.

According to two separate reports, a small California firm has taken steps to trademark 'iWatch' in the United States.

And over in the United Kingdom, a network services firm owns a Community trademark on 'iWatch', basically a trademark that applies across the European Community, which includes Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, France,, Netherlands, West Germany, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal and Spain.

As a result, Apple is likely going to have to either pay these companies to buy the trademark or face a legal battle should it in fact decide to launch a rumored wristwatch product...

Apple announces Nevada solar array in its 2012 Environmental Footprint Report

A filing Monday by NV Energy with the Public Utilities Commission revealed that Apple will pay for construction of an 18-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant to power its northern Nevada data centre. The company has now officially announced the facility in its 2012 Environmental Footprint Report, writing it will be "every bit" as environmentally responsible as its data center in Maiden, North Carolina. The Fort Churchill Solar Array, as it is called, could create hundreds of jobs during the construction period...

iPad tops customer satisfaction in South Korea

In what could only be described as a one-two punch to Samsung of South Korea, Apple's iPad has now been named the top tablet in the country's National Customer Satisfaction Index. Just yesterday, you'll remember, the iPhone beat Samsung in Quality Insights customer satisfaction rankings in the Galaxy maker's home territory.

The National Customer Satisfaction Index by the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy gave the Apple tablet the #1 ranking for the third consecutive year since the program's inception in 2010, praising the ecosystem of apps tailored specifically for the iPad, along with an "excellent touch user experience"...

Random Heroes 2 review: grab this platformer while it’s free

Ravenous Games has made a name for itself by launching epic side-scrolling platform games that look like they were made in 1987. With series runs of League of Evil and Random Heroes, the game development company has earned its reputation of making award winning and critically acclaimed games.

Last week, Ravenous Games launched the third installment of its League of Evil series and to celebrate, Random Heroes 2 has gone free for a limited time…

Turtle Shell, a go-anywhere Bluetooth boombox

True to its name, the Turtle Shell is weather resistant and can take a beating. Not all Bluetooth speakers can say the same. Designed by Outdoor Technology, the dust and shock proof unit is also water-resistant for those nights by the pool or occasional rainstorm.

Producing "Stuff you probably want" is the pride and driving mantra for this group of easy going devs. The pyramid triangular design and bold colors give Turtle Shell a unique design that is modern and appealing. When using it in the office, several passersby stopped just to comment on the aesthetic and one of my office mates even took it home for a party. But, according to Outdoor Tech, inside is the last place you should be using their wireless boombox...

Apple readying sweeping changes to iPhone sales tactics to deflect Android competition

Normally, Apple would just continue pushing its iPhone using same old marketing tricks, which entail heavy advertising, the power of the Apple brand and lots of free press. But heightened competition, slowing smartphone sales and ongoing uncertainty about the economy presumably prompted Tim Cook and his leadership team to implement changes to how the firm goes about selling smartphones.

Sales tactics changes on the agenda reportedly include a trade-in program, improvements to price-matching policies internationally and promotions akin to Apple's Back to School program. Jump past the fold for the full breakdown...

Disney’s The Lone Ranger movie tie-in lets you play as Texas Ranger in the Wild West

You, too, can become a legend of justice in Disney's new role-playing game inspired by its new The Lone Ranger feature movie starring Johnny Depp which hits the theatres today. As the title implies, The Lone Ranger puts you in the shoes of a Texas Ranger in the Wild West.

You'll be riding horses, protecting the citizens of Colby, bringing infamous outlaws to justice, facing-off the baddies in showdowns and more.

Graphics certainly look the part and Disney is billing the game as a 3D role-playing adventure so there's more to it than meets the eye. Your trailer and further details are right after the break...

Vine adds protected posts, revamped camera, channels, revining and more

If you care about sending quick clips up to six seconds long via Twitter-owned Vine for iPhone, you should pause for a second and take a look at today's Vine update which brings a few major enhancements. Most notably, Vine 1.3 enhances your privacy by introducing protected posts.

Protecting a post will make it unavailable to the web at large so only the people you approve to follow you can see them (you can also protect your entire account.

This release also brings out a redesigned camera, new channels and trending posts, the ability to re-share someone's vine (finally!) and other perks. Go past the fold for the full breakdown...

MuscleNerd: no A5+ bootrom exploit

For those of you holding out hope that a bootrom exploit has been discovered for newer iOS devices, you're going to have to keep hoping. That's because famed iOS hacker, MuscleNerd, has confirmed that no A5+ bootrom exploit exists. A bootrom exploit is extremely desirable, because it means that the device could be permanently susceptible to a tethered jailbreak, much in the same vein as limera1n for pre A5 devices.

Skyhook says Google bad-mouthed its Wi-Fi location tech to Apple

It's nearly unthinkable: a technology firm bad-talking a rival to a prospective customer. That's the heart of the latest claim by a location services company suing Internet giant Google for alleged patent infringement.

Skyhook Wireless is asking a court to compel Google to turn over documents showing co-founder Sergey Brin spoke badly of SkyHook's GPS location technology. As part of a recent court filing, Skyhook charges Brin told Apple co-founder Steve Jobs that the iPhone maker could do better if it went with Google...