iDownloadBlog.com

Hands-on with Apple TV 5.4 Beta: iTunes Radio, Conference Room Display, custom subtitles

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

To go along with the recently released iOS 7 Beta 1, Apple has also made a companion Apple TV beta software available for download to its registered developers. The pre-release code enables such new capabilities as iTunes Radio free music streaming, a new Conference Room Display setting and fully customizable subtitles.

The first beta of what would later become the Apple TV 5.4 software update was posted to Apple's portal for developers after last Monday's keynote. The pre-release version is meant to be used for testing AirPlay with third-party iOS apps. As we haven't had a chance to cover it extensively, here's what to expect in terms of features...

Sprint launches LTE in 22 new markets, expands in others

Cody Lee ∙ June 17, 2013

Sprint customers with an iPhone 5 or other LTE device will be happy to hear that the carrier has launched its next-gen 4G service in 22 new markets today, and has expanded its coverage in several areas.

Today's new cities include Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Napa, California. And between the roll out and the aforementioned expansion, Sprint's LTE network now covers 110 US markets...

Following iOS 7 flattening, Apple changes Jony Ive’s title to SVP, Design

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

This is quite interesting. Just as Apple has taken the wraps off iOS 7 which has undergone a major facelift under the guidance of Apple's Jony Ive, the design guru's official title on the company's Leadership section has been tweaked, going from Senior Vice President of Industrial Design to just Senior Vice President of Design.

The subtle but signifiable change of nomenclature is for sure meant to signal Ive's tremendously important and much broader responsibilities at Apple, that now encompass both hardware and software design across the company...

Eddy Cue talks Steve Jobs, page curls and iBooks launch at e-book hearing

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Eddy Cue once again took the stand today in Apple's ongoing antitrust case with the Department of Justice. The company's SVP of Internet software and services took the stand on Friday to talk about Steve Jobs' involvement in Apple's iBooks project. And this morning, he offered up a few more details.

Cue spoke more candidly on the witness stand today, providing several interesting tidbits about Jobs' participation in Apple's iBooks launch back in 2010. Apparently, the then-CEO had a big hand in the project, doing everything from designing minor UI details to choosing which book to offer for free...

Digg’s Google Reader replacement launching June 26 on iPhone first

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

In spite of die-hard users screaming and crying foul, Google quite unapologetically remains on track to shut down its popular news aggregation service dubbed Reader come July 1. But don't worry, there are plenty of alternatives to Google Reader such as the popular Mac/iOS app Reeder, the unavoidable Flipboard and many other apps.

The social news aggregator Digg is among the companies looking to exploit the opportunity. In March, Digg announced that work had begun on its own Reader replacement. Today, the firm said the app will be rolling to everyone by June 26, giving Google Reader refugees almost a full week of head start before the July 1 cut-off deadline...

Shazam updated with new ‘Pulse’ feature for discovering new music

Cody Lee ∙ June 17, 2013

It seems like music discovery is all the rage these days. Twitter launched a new iPhone app back in April, and Apple launched its iTunes Music service earlier this month, both of which place a large focus on helping users discover new music.

And today, Shazam pushed further into the space. The popular song, album and artist identifier released a significant update to its iPhone and iPad apps this morning with, among other things, a new 'Pulse' feature for discovering new music...

Facebook rumored to step on Vine’s turf with Instagram Video

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

Facebook last week sent out invitations for its June 20 press event snail mail style, down to clean white envelopes. The graphics alludes the social networking giant has been working on "big ideas" and today TechCrunch chimes in to claim knowledge of the event's agenda.

What Facebook apparently has in store is a video sharing feature for the Instagram generation. Rather boldly proclaiming that "Instagram will get video on June 20", the story cites sketchy sources as asserting that the Instagram video service is much like Twitter's Vine, which focuses on short six-second videos...

Gameloft previews Modern Combat 4 ‘Meltdown’ update, coming Wednesday

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour made its way into the App Store last December and today French developer Gameloft is teasing a forthcoming update. Titled 'Meltdown,' the content update is of course free to players who bought the game and will be available on iOS starting Thursday, June 19, and "coming very soon" to Android.

The trailer included right below the fold mentions three new maps (Fracture, Extraction and Backfire), two new game modes and a brand new specialization (Demolition)...

pod2g is considering switching to Android

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Frustrated with what he's seen thus far with iOS 7 beta 1, iOS hacker pod2g has announced via Twitter that he's considering switching to an Android device. Pretty surprising news for someone who is arguably the most famous iOS hacker of all time. This is significant, because pod2g has been at the forefront of the last few jailbreaks on iOS, and without him, it's quite possible that we wouldn't have any of the more recent jailbreaks to hit the scene.

Of course, this doesn't mean that pod2g is totally giving up on iOS — as he acknowledges, it is just a beta after all. But with a switch to Android, the possibility exists that the iOS 6 jailbreak, dubbed evasi0n, was the renowned hacker's swan song when it comes to Apple devices.

Forrester: iOS is shoppers’ platform of choice

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Owners of mobile gadgets running on Apple's iOS operating system are more likely to make purchases from their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and use their iDevices for product research. According to research firm Forrester, iOS owners are nearly one-third, or thirty percent, more likely to make purchases using their smartphone or tablet and fifteen percent more likely to research products, compared to Android users.

Although Apple's software is overwhelmingly chosen by shoppers, 96 percent of e-businesses planned to develop mobile applications for both Android and iOS. However, while companies such as Microsoft and others encourage developers to create apps for their platform, only very large companies intend to stray from the iOS-Android duopoly...

Apple building ‘visually stunning’ Palo Alto store next to Microsoft

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 17, 2013

While most Apple retail locations which grab headlines are in China or New York City, the iPhone maker is working hard to finish work on its flagship store in Palo Alto, California. Unlike other huge glass Apple flagship stores, this one is most known for overwhelming a nearby Microsoft store built just last year to out-do Apple.

Aside from the one-upsmanship between the two rivals, the 12,000-square feet store in the city's Stanford shopping center expected to open in November may have been one of the last decisions made by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. According to a report Monday, Jobs approved the store's design just six months before Tim Cook became CEO...

Skype rolls out Video Messaging

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

Microsoft-owned Skype started testing out Video Messages in mid-February. The new feature is meant to let Skype users send short video snippets to each other up to three minutes long, even when offline. Now out of beta, Skype Video Messaging is available to everyone via a free update to Skype mobile and desktop apps across Windows, Mac, iOS, BlackBerry and Android platforms. Here's a closer look at Skype Video Messaging and how to use this new capability on your devices...