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A closer look at smarter keyboard in iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

The iOS virtual keyboard has seen little changes since the iPhone's inception six years ago. Apart from a few baby steps here and there, each new major iOS release has brought little in terms of improving the typing experience on iPhones, iPads and iPods.

In turn, developers have readily stepped up their game with a number of keyboard-focused tweaks for jailbroken devices in order to, you know, just keep pace with Android. Virtual keyboard in iOS 7 is of course translucent and like other frosty panels seen throughout the system shows heavily blurred content underneath to an arguably stunning effect.

Apart from the visual updates, we have noticed a few under-the-hood improvements in iOS 7 seemingly aimed at making the iPhone's predictive keyboard smarter. Go past the fold for the full breakdown...

XCOM: Enemy Unknown lands on the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

If you thought casual mobile entertainment were becoming a tad too boring lately, how about something completely different? Something along the lines of a triple-A action strategy that has a long history and loyal following, a direct port of a massively popular PC hit?

Developer Fireaxis and publisher 2K Games have been trumpeting the forthcoming release of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Apple's iOS platform for quite some time and now it's finally arrived. The universal binary supports iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices and apart from touch-based controls, this is the full XCOM: Enemy Unknown experience you'd expect from the popular PC and console franchise...

Logitech to launch Harmony remote for iOS this August

Cody Lee ∙ June 20, 2013

I received a Logitech Harmony remote for Christmas last year, and it's been by far my most frequently used gift. It's completely replaced 5 of my living room remotes, it's easy to run, and it took me less than 15 minutes to set it up using my computer.

This being said, you can imagine how excited I was when Logitech announced last night that it would be bringing its Harmony line to iOS (and Android) via the Ultimate Hub. The accessory, it says, will turn your smartphone into an all-in-one remote...

Pegatron CEO says Apple’s budget iPhone won’t be ‘cheap’

Cody Lee ∙ June 20, 2013

Speaking at his company's shareholders meeting on Thursday, Pegatron CEO T.H. Tung made some interesting comments on Apple's often rumored 'budget iPhone.' He said don't expect the handset to be inexpensive, as the "price [on it] is still high."

For those unfamiliar with Pegatron, it's a manufacturing company and one of Foxconn's biggest rivals. The CEO's comments seem to confirm earlier reports that Apple has chosen the company, over Foxconn, as its primary budget iPhone maker...

Apple posts video of WWDC keynote to YouTube

Cody Lee ∙ June 20, 2013

Apple finally posted this year's WWDC keynote to its YouTube channel tonight. The media event, which has been one of the most talked about in recent memory, saw Tim Cook and company show off updated Mac hardware, a new version of OS X, and the biggest update to their mobile platform since its inception with iOS 7.

Most people prefer YouTube over any other video delivery service because of its versatility. So if streaming the keynote through Apple’s website isn’t your thing, and you don't feel like watching it on your Apple TV, you'll be happy to hear you can now watch the presentation from virtually any desktop or mobile device via YouTube...

AT&T lights up LTE in new Texas, Alabama markets and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Folks with an iPhone 5, iPad mini or any other LTE-enabled device with AT&T will be happy to hear that the carrier has activated the popular 4G service in several new markets across the United States today.

If you have an AT&T-flavored LTE device, and live in one of the following areas, you'll definitely want to check to see if you're now aboard what PC Mag calls the fastest Long Term Evolution network in the US...

Texas firm suing Apple over call forwarding feature found in iPhone 4S/5

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Apple's no stranger to being on the defendant side of patent infringement lawsuits. In addition to its ongoing court battle with Samsung, there are a number of smaller companies hoping to squeeze some money out of the tech giant via patent suits. And today, we're adding another one to the list.

Texas-based Bluebonnet Telecommunications filed a lawsuit against Apple yesterday in an [surprise] Eastern District Texas courtroom, claiming that the call forwarding feature found in the company's iPhone 4S and 5 handsets infringes on one of its patents it has owned for over a decade...

Rdio responds to iTunes Radio with new Song Stations feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Apple sent shutters through the music streaming industry last week when it confirmed rumors that it had been working on a new radio service. The still-in-beta service allows users to create custom radio stations based on their favorite songs, genres, artists or albums—similar to Pandora.

iTunes Radio won't be available to everyone until the fall, but early positive feedback has some music services scrambling to respond. And today, Rdio issued its response in the form of an app update that includes Song Stations, a feature that allows you to create custom radio stations...

Previously unseen 1994 video has Steve Jobs talking legacy

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

A rare, never-before-seen footage has been uncovered on the Interwebs, dating as far back as 1994. In it, a young Steve Jobs talks about his legacy. It's peculiar in how back then Jobs thought he would be forgotten by history (go figure).

And who could blame him: the interview was conducted during Jobs's wilderness years, at a time when he'd been running NeXT, his other startup. The clip amusingly shows us a young Jobs wearing a beard without looking like an axe murderer...

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

Cody Lee ∙ June 19, 2013

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

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

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

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...