AT&T installing solar-powered charging stations around New York

This is quite interesting. It appears that AT&T has begun installing charging stations in parks throughout New York to help keep smartphones and other mobile devices up and running. The stations are solar-powered and capable of charging a wide range of gadgets.

The carrier says that the new Street Charge project was born out of its work during the recovery from Superstorm Sandy. After the hurricane ripped through most of the eastern US, AT&T setup charging stations in the blacked out areas. And now it's expanding on the idea...

Readdle’s premium Calendars+ app goes free for 48 hours

Eagle-eyed readers will remember Readdle back in March released a free version of its awesome Calendars+ application on the App Store. Naturally, the free download omits several major features present in the more advanced paid version.

For example, multiple event reminders, recurring appointments, event invitations and a few other biggies meant for power users remain the exclusive realm of the paid Calendars+ app.

If you wanted to take the plunge but were put off by the app's high asking price of seven bucks, good news: Readdle has decided to drop the premium Calendars+ app to zero bucks. The promotion runs over the next 48 hours only so download Calendars+ now before the price goes up back again...

Apple’s IP chief leaves for patent troll Technicolor

After sparking its long-running patent war with Samsung, Apple's intellectual property chief has left to head a similar job at a French media company. Boris Teksler, who in 2012 testified Samsung was copying iPhone technology, left his job of four years Wednesday.

Teksler had no immediate comment on why he left to become president of the Technology Group for Technicolor, a media and entertainment company based in France.

Technicolor's CEO said the former Apple IP chief was well-suited to the firm's plans for expanding use of patents...

Feedly opens RSS web app to everyone ahead of Google Reader shutdown

Following Google's disappointing announcement that its Reader service will be retired on July 1, after running for eight straight years, Feedly back in May announced work had started on a clone of Google’s RSS API to help user transition from Google Reader to Feedly.

Today, the startup shed more light on the subject by announcing a new Application Programming Interface (API) along with a lineup of first third-party apps that will leverage the Feedly Cloud platform. In addition, they've opened the Feedly RSS web app to everyone...

Default iOS hotspot passwords can be cracked in under a minute

You may want to reconsider using a default password iOS provides for hotspot functionality as researchers at a German university warn of the weaknesses that let attackers crack any default iOS hotspot password in under a minute. Although Windows Phone uses even weaker passwords and some Android vendors weaken their device's security by modifying the Wi-Fi-related components, Apple's problem is that iOS generates "random" hotspot passwords using a dictionary of only 1,842 different entries...

In a blow to Microsoft, Apple wins $30M LA school iPad contract

Apple again is flexing its muscle in classrooms. Every student in the Los Angeles Unified School District will receive an iPad, a contract worth $30 million. Apple has received the nod from the nation's second-largest school district as students and teachers overruled Microsoft, which argued its tablets better prepared school kids for the workplace.

In a unanimous vote, the LA school district board approved the contract to pay $678 per Apple tablet, one member telling The Los Angeles Times newspaper that the deal is "as big as they come." The contract is just the latest sign schools with tight budgets are opting for less-expensive tablets over traditional PCs for the classroom...

Apple TV update enables WatchESPN, HBO GO, Sky News, Crunchyroll and Qello

Apple on Tuesday announced that users can now stream ESPN and HBO to their television through the $99 Apple TV set-top box. Available as a free software update for the second and third-generation Apple TV, the just-released Apple TV software version 5.3 enables the popular iOS apps, WatchESPN and HBO GO, on your Apple TV, as well as an additional three content providers, UK's Sky News, anime site Crunchyroll and music concert streaming service Qello...

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour ‘Meltdown’ update explodes into the App Store

True to its promise, French developer Gameloft today unleashed a massive content update to the fourth installment of its popular wartime shooter franchise, Modern Combat. The 'Meltdown' content pack, as they're calling it, is of course free to players who've previously purchased the game.

The download brings with it three new maps, two new weapons - the portable 40mm Thor GLP grenade launcher and the SFS CTK-12 sniper rifle - two new game modes, a brand new Demolition specialization and a whole host of goodies aimed at balancing the gameplay...

How much is too much for mobile games?

I was going to write this post when everything was raw, soon after the news had developed and the internet was awash with people seemingly frothing at the mouth. Frothing, apparently, for one of two reasons.

Firstly, we had the people frothing because "ZOMG, 20 dollars for an iPad game!!!!." Apparently anything the wrong side of free is just about the developers trying to squeeze money out of their hard work. Because, well, it's their living.

Then secondly, there were the polar opposites. People screaming back, apparently oblivious to the fact they were wasting their time, claiming that developers deserve to be paid and that free to play games have ruined the App Store, caused world hunger and possibly even kicked a kitten once.

The truth though, as is so often the case, is somewhere in-between...

Capture and share short videos with Lightt

Micro video sharing has become a huge hit with the launch of Twitter’s popular video app Vine. While Twitter is not the first company to come up with such technology, it certainly made it famous.

Lightt is a video upload app that turns mini movies into a social experience. You can make stop motion animation shorts similar to the features of Vine, or you can make a one-minute unedited movie to share with others…

Apple testing system-wide integration of LinkedIn in iOS 7

Move over Twitter and Facebook, it looks like Apple is planning to add a third social network to the system-wide share sheet in iOS 7. According to code-based references found inside the first beta, the company is testing deep LinkedIn integration.

Similar to the setup with the two aforementioned networks, the code points to a single-sign-on system for LinkedIn accounts. This would allow users to easily post content, such as Web URLs, to LinkedIn from native and third party applications...

Video claims to show off iOS 7 running on iPad

A video is making rounds on the web claiming to depict iOS 7 running on an iPad. iDB was recently tipped of its existence and although we couldn't verify its authenticity, we've decided to post it for the sake of discussion. The clip runs one minute and 32 seconds long and looks genuine, showcasing what running the iOS 7 user interface and stock apps on a bigger canvas looks like (at least in the early stage of development).

We're unsure whether YouTube user Rozetked who posted video evidence has managed to hack iOS 7 to run on the device or if he got hold of an actual iPad build of the software. We'll let you be the judge, the clip is right after the break...